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[ticker]

Hi everyone. I have Hashimoto's. My continued symptoms are fatigue, sluggishness, heavy periods, low body temp, cold, some muscle weakness, high cholesterol, inability to lose weight. I also have some heart palpitations which in the past was helped when the meds were increased.

My labs from last week are:

TSH .03 (.4-4.5)
Free T3 323 (230-420)
Free T4 .8 (.8-1.8)

I am currently on Armour and Cytomel. What do you make of these labs and what changes do think need to made in my meds? Do my labs justify the symptoms I have?

I have a follow up with this new doctor on Thursday morning. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[dea4]

Originally Posted by ticker

Hi everyone. I have Hashimoto's. My continued symptoms are fatigue, sluggishness, heavy periods, low body temp, cold, some muscle weakness, high cholesterol, inability to lose weight. I also have some heart palpitations which in the past was helped when the meds were increased.

My labs from last week are:

TSH .03 (.4-4.5)
Free T3 323 (230-420)
Free T4 .8 (.8-1.8)

I am currently on Armour and Cytomel. What do you make of these labs and what changes do think need to made in my meds? Do my labs justify the symptoms I have?

I have a follow up with this new doctor on Thursday morning. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Your labs look a lot like mine do at the moment only my FT3 is lower.
And yes, with those low frees you will still have symptoms.
Don't let the dr tell you your TSH is too low and you need to drop down your dose. Your frees are too low at least the FT4 is and a dose increase in in order. Once on meds the TSH generally needs to be suppressed to get the free levels at the point they need to be. The key is not to panic over the low TSH because its not the one you need to be watching at this point.

Why are you on Armour and Cytomel? That's an unusual combination. Looks like you need to up the Armour or add a synthetic T4 to get that T4 up. Its more important to keep the T4 stable since its the one that converts to T3. My guess is your symptoms are because the FT4 is way too low.

[ticker]

dea4, thank you so much for your response. I am sorry you are in the same boat.

I don't know what this doctor's reaction will be to the low TSH. So many go only by that. The Cytomel was added over the summer because the Free T3 was low (I actually asked for it to be prescribed hoping to bring the Free T3 up and feel better). I charted my labs over the last two years and the TSH has been low for some time and the Free Ts have gotten lower over time.

So you think it would be beneficial to raise the Armour and add a T4 only med and stop the Cytomel?

Thank you!

[dea4]

Originally Posted by ticker

dea4, thank you so much for your response. I am sorry you are in the same boat.

Hope that boat doesn't sink on us
My new dr is working with me to get my levels back up. My previous dr did the damage (actually only saw her a couple of visits, she replaced my dr that moved)

Originally Posted by ticker

So you think it would be beneficial to raise the Armour and add a T4 only med and stop the Cytomel?

If it were me I think I would probaly up the Armour, drop the Cytomel and see where my labs were in 6 weeks. Then if additional T4 was needed add it then.

I currently take a T4 and Nature Throid (same as Armour). And I'm on a higher dose of the T4 than the Nature Throid.

[ticker]

Hi dea. Yes let's hope it doesn't sink!!!

I am glad your new doctor is helping. I think your suggestion is great and it will be interesting to see what this doctor wants to do. I will let you know what he says. If you don't mind saying, what dose of Armour do you take? I am currently taking 2 grains.

Thanks again!