My inital diagnosis for hypothyroidism was in Feb 2004.
TSH : 232.60 (0.40 - 5.80)
T3 : 40 ( 72 - 180)
T4 : 1.1 (5 - 12)
With a high antibody count. I have been taking "LEVOXYL 0.1 MG" (100 MCG)since then.
Got my lab results for May 2004. Looks like 7 weeks of meds (1 MG Levoxyl) got my TSH down to 4.11 (0.40 -5.80). I continue same dose for another 6 weeks or so. Free T3/T4 tests were not done.
Got my lab results for June 2004. 6 more weeks got my TSH down to 3.52 (0.40 -5.80). I continue same dose for another 6 weeks or so. Free T3/T4 tests were not done.
Got my lab results for July end. Urged the doc to do Free T3/T4 tests.
TSH: 0.42 (0.40 - 5.80)
Free T4: 1.61 (0.8 - 1.6)
Free T3: 3.56 (2.3 - 4.2)
I asked for Armour, so doc explained that the proportions of T3-T4 in Armour are almost equal, whereas body needs only lesser of T3,... but since I complained of sleepiness, weight gain and no energy - added Cytomel .005 MCG to my prescription (along with previous Levoxyl 100MCG).
I started taking Cytomel also since 12th August. Today is 31st, I think I've gained some more weight, have loss of appetite since last couple of days, have bad cramps in lower legs (calf area)either at a time in the night, when I lie down, I need to tie crape-bandage to rest it. in daytime, if I lie down to nap, I get up in two hours. Non-productive and low energy gives me guilt and frustation. Any suggestions for meds, symptoms? Am I on low dose, or high?
The amount of Cytomel you've been given is equal to a piddly 20 mcgs of T4. Not enough to even talk about. No wonder you don't feel much better.
You and I had a conversation about the ratio of T4 to T3 in Armour. Remember?
[url]http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=195462&[/url]
Didn't you direct your doctor to Armour's website for the correct information about it? Knowing how Armour often works when synthetics don't, if I were you, I would do that next visit... especially in light of how bad you still feel.
It's hard to be sure, but your free Ts are so high at this time that it's possible they're too high for you. You may even be slightly hyper... but that would be a hard judgement call for me to make.
Hi Midwest,
Yes, I remember, but I haven't visited the doc since. I would be visiting in 6-7 weeks from12th August, when I started taking Cytomel. The tiny amount that I am taking, also perplexed me... and might be doing the same to my thyroid gland ... am just watching symptoms after dose adjustment...
I am not feeling any hyper sypmtoms as listed in Information Archive, but my periods before starting Cytomel were closer. My calf muscles twitched when I lied down couple of nights during last week.
Should my dose change if I am hyper now? Doc did say that with Cytomel the TSH should go up a bit.
If your doc knew what he was doing, he wouldn't be watching TSH at all. It doesn't matter if it comes up, and it doesn't matter if it falls. It doesn't matter at all for proper treatment.
Your FT4 is very slightly above the range. That's what indicates that you might be hyper... not the lowish TSH. If you are hyper, the only thing that will help is for the FT4 to fall somewhat lower to with the upper third of the range.
I'm at a loss to suggest any dosage changes, because I don't know that much about it. Your FT3 in July looked pretty good, so I don't know why he added Cytomel at all, really. And it seems he should have slightly reduced the Levoxyl when he added the Cytomel, because your FT4 was already high. Maybe reducing the Levoxyl to .88 would help... but I'm not sure. Wish I could be more help. Keep working on him to get that Armour... lol.
Here are my levels 
... am just watching symptoms after dose adjustment... 
