Another baffling question

[MKlacza]

Ok.. My Endo just called me.. I had labs done Wed. He just called me and said that my TSH was at 240 and my T3 was .001. He said he is baffled because he just lowered my dose from 90 mcgs to 75 of the Armour. He said my numbers have gone the wrong way since lowering. How is this possible? How can I be at a .01 on the 90 and now even lower on the 75? So now he wants me to to do 60 one day and 75 the next.. Any advice? I just had my period, can that have an effect on my blood work? I said I had taken my dose the day of the labs at 7am. I had labs done at 8am. He said maybe the TSH could be effected but not the T3. I'm baffled. I feel good though. I mean I have my days, but I just dont understand.

MK

[AR-10]

Do you mean that your TSH is 0.001, and your T3 is 240?
Just trying to figure it out...

Your TSH is highest early in the morning.
Taking your med before the blood draw will not affect the TSH. It affects a Free T4 test, and with Armour it may affect the Free T3 test, as your T3 would rise shortly after taking Armour.

Your T4 rises about 20% for the first 4 hours after taking thyroid hormones. If you are taking a T4 only med, the Free T3 is not affected. With a combo drug, my guess is the Free T3 would also be slightly elevated.

[MKlacza]

Thanks AR.. Yes, that is what I meant. So what are you thoughts then? I mean is the bloodwork accurate if I did it early in the am and took my meds an hour before?

[AR-10]

My personal opinion is that it is close enough to acurate.

Your TSH was not affected. Your Free T4 would be slightly elevated, and I'm not sure but I think your Free T3 may be affected slightly.

It's not a perfect test, but very few of my tests have been drawn under perfect conditions.

I think it is close enough for the doctor to work with unless you are not planning on having another round of tests for six months. Then I would want perfect testing conditions.

I'm not sure what to say about your results when compared to your last tests. Was it six weeks between tests? If it were only three weeks, then it could be explained away by saying you needed to wait a few more weeks.

If it's been a month or more between tests, then it is not so easy to come up with a reason for the backward progress.

It may be that your monthly cycle had some influence. I'm not sure.

Do you know the upper limit on your Free T3 test? It seems like it should be around 350 or 360, but there are so many different ranges.

Did you have a free T4 run this time?
Was your Free T3 lower on your last test?

Do you feel hyper?
If your Free T3 is not overly high, I wonder if there is something going on with your TSH.

Don't you love all the questions?  

[MKlacza]

Thanks AR. I am waiting for the actual paperwork. Dr told me this iver the phone. I wasnt really feeling hyper but my Dr said that I am use to being somewhat hyper. He thinks a one is great for me. I am wondering if my cycle had any bearing. When I get the actual numbers.. I will PM you!!