Chicago area thyroid doc and armor test results

[Lliman]

New to this site and need to locate a doctor in Chicago area

Just received test results and current dos comments

TSH .09
Free t4 .8 .8 to 1.8 range
T3 95 ( 76 to 181)
Taken at 8 am and no armor since 2nd dose prior day at 3pm

Doctor wants to lower, says tsh suppressed and says rarely test free t3 and free t4 because it is difficult to interprete.  on armor patience. Says the tsh is the best representation of what the body is sensing. Says this is what may be causing my fatigue and weight gain now.

Recent test was requested because of great fatigue since February and sudden weight gain without ability do drop any ( at all). This is not a normal state for me, usually full of energy and extremely fit.

Last summer we increased my dose to 90 4 days per week and 120 3 days per week. Increased because tsh had gone up to 1.0 and other ranges not good. Always aimed for a Tsh at about .5 which would put free t3 in about mid range and t4 in lower quarter of range. Now coming in at above test and seems with tsh at .09 actually decreased the free t3 and t4.
This test was taken at 8 am with no armor since prior day at 3

Symptoms are
Sleep but no rest
Horrible cramps in calf muscles
Tired
Gain weight (eat very clean used to be a trainer so get it, work out 5 days per week)
Forgetful
Vision issues


Have NEVER been able to get my free t3 up above mid range on armor

Would like some thoughts on this and any doc recommendations for the Chicago area.

Thanks

[gimel]

I assume you meant to send that to me.  If so, what area of Chicago?  I have several names and I will try to give you one that is closer to you.  

[Chicago7]

Vimeo, will you send me the doc info please?

[Stufftie]

My doctor tests TSH but pays no attention to it.  This last week my TSH tested at .008

Yup, that is the correct number of 0's before the 8.

My T4 and T3 are lower and I am trying to get them up.

I am on Armour 120 mg since Thursday - just increased from 90 mg - even with a low TSH.  For me a good indicator of not being optimal  was the day of the blood draw I didn't take my Armour and was exhausted the entire day.  As soon as I got home I took it, but still several hours behind threw me off. I thought my numbers would be better because I feel so good.  I am excited to see what this increase can bring :)

I completely agree with Gimel :)

[gimel]

Sorry, just noticed this was a duplicate thread.  

[gimel]

TSH is certainly not the "best representation of what the body is sensing".  Doctors like to think that TSH accurately reflects levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones; however, TSH cannot be shown to correlate well with either Free T3 or Free T4, much less correlate well with symptoms, which are the most important consideration.  From all the searching I have done for the last 5 years, the graph in the following link shows the very best correlation of TSH to Free T4 and Free T3 that I have been able to locate.  It is very clear that the correlation is so poor that with any value of TSH you cannot come close to predicting what Free T4 would be, and the correlation of TSH with Free T4 is even worse.

http://www.clinchem.org/content/55/7/1380/F2.expansion.html

The utility of TSH is even less when a patient is already taking thyroid meds.  In that case, frequently TSH is suppressed below the range.  That does not mean hyperthyroidism, unless you have hyper symptoms due to excessive levels of Free T3 and Free T4, which you do not have.  

From what you have said about TSH and dosing only some days a week, even though taking T3 med, I don't think you doctor understands very much about treating hypothyroid patients.  A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation.  The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment.  In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

Maybe the reason you have never gotten your Free T3 above mid-range is that you have not taken enough.  Dosage is irrelevant, only the clinical response matters.  I have taken up to 3 grains of Armour in order to get into the high end of the range on Free T3.

You really do need a good thyroid doctor.  I am sending a PM with info.