New Labs - help in reviewing appreciated

[Maureen57]

I am hoping those of you who are experienced with all this can help me as it is still soooo new. These are the first labs since I was diagnosed with Hashi's and started the Armour in March. I am now at 150 mg of Armour per day.

TSH 0.02 (0.35-5.60)
FT3 4.5 (2.4 - 6.8)
Ft4 1.0 (0.6 - 1.6)

Estradiol 80 (50 - 150)
Progesterone 4.1 (4.1-23.7)

As I said in my first and only post, I am feeling alive again but not really where I should be. Do you see room here to increase the Armour? My doctor said that if I thought I needed to, I could just split one of the tablets in half to go up another 30 mg. I have had so many increases in med so fast that I am a little leary - and yet I would like to get to that best dose - any thoughts? Thanks!

[ErinBeth]

Since you are taking Armour which contains a high ratio of T3 to T4, you can pretty much disregard the TSH. Armour tends to suppress that as you increase it nearer your feel good place.

I "think" you appear to be right about mid range for FT3 and quite low in range for FT4. Hopefully, if I'm wrong, midwest1 will peek in and fix it. If she says something else, believe her.

Edit: What dea4 said, believe her. I read the FT4 range numbers quite wrong in my haste.

Right or wrong about that, you're not so high in range for either that you wouldn't have room to tweak it up if symptoms indicate. But that's probably why the doctor said you could, right?

You won't know if it will help unless you try, of course. If you're sensitive, you could move up slowly to the amount he said was ok, as long as he knows what you did and you give ample time after reaching the full amount before doing labs again. And if it proves to be too much T3 before you are done, next lab and symptoms may indicate a combo of T4 added to the Armour, like some others do. Not trying to confuse you, just letting you know there are options and no need to be leery about following your doc's suggestions, I think.

Feel better soon! We're pulling for you!

[dea4]

Originally Posted by Maureen57

I am hoping those of you who are experienced with all this can help me as it is still soooo new. These are the first labs since I was diagnosed with Hashi's and started the Armour in March. I am now at 150 mg of Armour per day.

TSH 0.02 (0.35-5.60)
FT3 4.5 (2.4 - 6.8)
Ft4 1.0 (0.6 - 1.6)

Estradiol 80 (50 - 150)
Progesterone 4.1 (4.1-23.7)

As I said in my first and only post, I am feeling alive again but not really where I should be. Do you see room here to increase the Armour? My doctor said that if I thought I needed to, I could just split one of the tablets in half to go up another 30 mg. I have had so many increases in med so fast that I am a little leary - and yet I would like to get to that best dose - any thoughts? Thanks!

I'd say a bit more is needed if you are not feeling as well as you could. The mid range would be 4.6 for the Ft3 and 1.1 for the Ft4. You are just below this. Most feel well between the mid and upper range.

[Maureen57]

Originally Posted by dea4

I'd say a bit more is needed if you are not feeling as well as you could. The mid range would be 4.6 for the Ft3 and 1.1 for the Ft4. You are just below this. Most feel well between the mid and upper range.

I see what you mean about not being quite to the midpoint and so I talked to the doctor and he said to go ahead and keep increasing as needed as long as I am aware of what the symptoms would be if it is too much. So now I have had two additional increases and as of 5/10 up again to 210 mg of Armour. The effect seems to improve the symptoms for about a week to ten days and then all of a sudden I again get this unbelievable fatigue and need to take a nap in the middle of the day. Also, all along, I am still having a terrible time trying to get going in the morning....reminds me of trying to get the kids out of bed to get them to school on time... but instead it is me trying to get to work! I am afraid of taking too much - too soon. I haven't had any symptoms of it being too much though...any thoughts would be appreciated.

[ErinBeth]

Originally Posted by Maureen57

So now I have had two additional increases and as of 5/10 up again to 210 mg of Armour.

According to Armour's manufacturer site 210 mg of Armour = 3 1/2 grains = 350 mcg of a synthetic T4 med like Synthroid/Levothroid/Levoxyl/Unithroid.

That's an enormous dose to be taking, especially without testing levels. Does your doc know you have increased the dose that high?

My doctor told me at the outset he would never increase a dose without doing labs, much too dangerous.