Are you kidding!? Have you *seen* my posts LOL Your post is not long, and glad you posted.

You've done a great job keeping track of your labs! Pat yourself on the back.

I plugged your number in and this is what it looks like - maybe it will give you a clearer picture of what's going on:
I calculated your ranges at the point the *most* people feel well, so these would be a target range to shoot for - granted it can vary from person to person a bit:
Free T4 1.44-2.0 or 60-100% of the range
Free T3 3.44-4.2 or 60-80% of the range

Next, I used the above "target ranges" to calculate where your actual lab results fall in that "target range" Listed as "percent of range" below:

January 2012
Free T4 1.0 or 28.57 percent of range
Free T3 3.2 or 47.37 percent of range

March
Free T4 1.4 or 57.14 percent of range
Free T3 3.3 or 52.63 percent of range

Dec
Free T4 1.8 or 85.71 percent of range
Free T3 3.2 or 47.37 percent of range

January 2013
Free T4 1.4 or 57.14 percent of range
Free T3 3.3 or 52.63 percent of range

march 2013
Free T4 1.5 64.29 percent of range
Free T3 3.5 63.16 percent of range

As you can see from the numbers I listed, in Dec at 1.8 you were at 85.71 percent of the target Free T4 range and pretty close to the target range of Free T3 at 47.37 which means you *would* feel better because you're in the T4 range. And you're pretty close to the target ranges at that time than at any other time in your lab history.

Here's the kicker though, you're titrating up in your dosage.....which we *all* have to do. Your thyroid levels have to be optimized and you have to be on the correct dosage. As your body adjusts to the new dosage...your levels will change. That's why we have labs every six weeks to evaluate where we are in the target range.

You did hit very close to that target range but not quite. And, as CD has said...you're either pregnant or your not....and you were not in the target ranges at any time until March. But, you're at the bottom of that target range...rock bottom. So, you will most probably need a dosage increase at your next visit....

The reason your Free T4 is slooowly moving up is because thyroid disease causes our cells to be like a dry sponge..thristing for Free T4. You have to saturate your cells with enough Free T4 for it to soak it up and retain it....but slowly and steadily so as not to overwhelm the body. As you're clearly doing.

Your Free T3 is finally moving in the right direction, so that's good news.

The bad news is: You probably won't be free of symptoms until your body has enough Free T4 and Free T3 and is "in the target ranges". Keep journaling until you are within those ranges...and even then...some people have to "play" with those ranges a bit to find that true *sweet spot*. Until then, unfortunately, you will continue to have symptoms. Blech.

Just keep your eye on the prize and realize that it can be done. And, I wouldn't worry about the Free T3 since it IS moving up at this point.

Make sense?

Typo alert:
"As you can see from the numbers I listed, in Dec at 1.8 you were at 85.71 percent of the target Free T4 range and pretty close to the target range of Free T3 at 47.37 which means you *would* feel better because you're in the T4 range. And you're pretty close to the target ranges at that time than at any other time in your lab history. "

Should read: As you can see from the numbers I listed, in Dec at 1.8 you were very close to the target Free T4 range and close to the Free T3 range which means you probably would feel a bit better for a while. And you're pretty close to the target ranges at that time than at any other time in your lab history...

Thanks MButterfly! It all does make sense, I think I just really needed a pep talk. I am lucky enough to have a Dr. who listens to me and I am able to increase the meds as needed. The only problem with that is I feel like I am treating myself and want to make sure that I am doing the right thing.
Thanks for posting my percentages for me. It is interesting how for the most part my T3 & T4 are very close in range except for in December. I felt so good in December and was even experiencing illness and a lot of stress. Basically I realized what it was like to feel good and I want it back. I will continue with slow and steady wins the race.
I would like to hear from CD. I read one of her posts yesterday where I thought it said since 2010 she has only been on the same dose for about 3 months. Does that mean we are always adjusting? Forever?? May need another pep talk! Thanks!

Frankly, I would like to hear from Cd too.. :)

But I can tell you...yes. You will be constantly testing every 6-8 weeks...and once you reach optimized you'll have to adjust to stay there too...

Just be gratefuly we're not diebetic right? They have to test several times a day....

Hi there, Kaycar!

Long time! You have been doing VERY well. I completely relate to your thoughts of feeling like you are treating yourself....I have suggested every single dose adjustment to my doctor. At least our doctors work with us - I think our situations are the best any thyroid patient can expect.

MButterfly really explained things well.

Please know that stress interferes with conversion so, it's common for the FT3 level to be affected.

You can get back to feeling better and, most importantly, with proper dose adjustments/levels, you can look forward to being free from thyroid symptoms.

Just keep getting labs every six weeks and push the doctor for dose adjustments based upon your labs and the advice MButterfly already gave you - this is what worked for me.
'
And, yes, it's true I have never lasted on any dose longer than 10 wks.

That doesn't mean the same will apply to you.

However, each of us needs to first optimize our levels and continue to get labs every 6 wks. for awhile to make sure those levels "stick".

Maybe you will find a pattern that evolves over time.....as in, 3-6 months of regular labs (after optimal levels are "sticking"), you only needed one dose adjustment.

You might find that labs every 3 months will "catch" any changes in your levels.

You see, our bodies aren't dong the same things all the time so it's unrealistic to think our dose will stay the same. Thyroid hormone is, after all, the "gas in our tank".

While our levels don't necessarily bounce all over the place after being optimized (usually), they will fluctuate possibly as a result of extended stress, changes in weight/activity level, possibly changes in the seasons, etc.

Each of us needs to find what works best for us with lab frequency *after* optimal levels have "stuck" for awhile. We all work too hard to optimize our levels so it makes sense to me that we'd be motivated to maintain them.

To use MButterfly's analogy: having thyroid disease is similar to having diabetes.....it requires regular monitoring.

Here's a link to a thread I wrote about what I have to do to maintain optimal levels and a little info about what I've heard about others doing the same thing:

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Hypothyroidism/forum/15907594-face-optimized-levels

I do suggest that you continue to work towards optimizing your FreeT4 level.....and pay close attention to your FreeT3 level.

Both levels need to be optimized if we are to be free of ALL thyroid symptoms.

You're doing great - congrats!!!

Cd thanks for your reply! You have been the biggest factor in getting me to where I am now. I know you don't hear from me much, but I have gained so much knowledge from you and this group. I was happy to read your post about your journey. I had not seen that one and that answered a lot of questions for me. I am curious when you have to lower your T4 is it just because your number is out of range or does it make you feel a certain way or both?? I guess I am fearful of taking too much T4. I have enough meds that I am usually able to increase on my own but try to keep my Dr. in the loop and make him think he is in charge.

It also makes a lot of sense that in December my T3 was so much lower in range than my T4. I was under a lot of stress and was surprised that I was still feeling good but my T3 was obviously affected. Thanks again!

MButterfly and Cd thanks for the pep talks! It was just what I needed. I agree with being thankful that I am not diabetic but wish a finger stick could give us our Free T3 & Free T4 numbers. Wouldn't that be great? As hard as this journey is, I know there are many much worse things in life.

You are both so good at explaining things to the group. I definitely understand the process to an extent but could never help people the way that you guys can. The time that you both and others give is amazing. Thanks to everyone!

Yes Kaycar....I *do* wish we could finger stick and get our Free's lol
My labs were recent and they're always no fun. At least we could skip the waiting room, right? lol

Mbutterfly: especially this time of year. I never want to leave the office with more problems than I went with. lol It would be nice to just say I feel crappy today, I wonder what my free's are doing??

Glad we've been helpful :)

It's great to read success stories, BTW :)

As we all know, everyone is different and I can only tell you my experience with over-range FT4/FT3 levels.

Firstly, I can actually still feel very good with a slightly over-range FT4 level....this is not uncommon for people taking T4 and is actually listed in thyroid textbooks as "acceptable".

However, my doctor doesn't like my FT4 level to go *too* over-range.

For example, she's been OK (and I felt great) with FT4 1.84 (.82-1.76). However, when on two separate occasions it went up to 2.0, she wanted to reduce my T4 dose.

I agreed to the T4 dose reduction the first time only because my FT3 had also gone hyper. (my FT3 went from my usual comfort zone of 3.8-4.4 (range 2.0-4.4) up to 4.7.

This happened a month or so after I went off hormonal BC (estrogens affect thyroid levels and I anticipated this).

My doctor thought my FT3 4.7 was "good" and didn't lower my T3 dose.

However, shortly after seeing her and over the weekend, I developed this full body electric shock feeling (weird)....I admit to lowering my T3 dose on my own when this happened and the symptom resolved within 1 1/2 days.

My FT4/FT3 were optimal by the time of my next labs.

The second time my FT4 went up to 2.0 was right after my mother's strokes - stress levels were very high. My FT3 was within my comfort zone so I asked her to keep my T4 dose the same and she did. By the time of my next labs, I actually needed a T4 dose INcrease - go figure lol

The slow and steady approach should really work with "easing into" optimal levels and not risking the patient going hyper.

Dose increases should be no larger than 12.5mcg T4, 2.5mcg T3 or 15mg desiccated thyroid.

I'm actually happy about going hyper only because I've confirmed my "high end" levels so I definitely know my "comfort zone".


(I wouldn't mind the pin prick thing rather than going to the doctor's office or a lab to have my blood drawn. However, we are still stuck with waiting 6 wks. to see what a dose adjustment accomplishes - no express route there...blech :)

In a perfect world...wouldn't it be great when you're having wicked symptoms to prick your finger and go... AHA! Of course if I understand correctly, the T4 you take today doesn't make into our systems until much later...

Still when I'm having issues like those of late, it would be nice to have vindication.... ;)