Labs are in!

[Rachel2033]

These were done
9/5/2014 (while on 88 mcg Levothyroxine)
TSH 0.020 (0.36-3.74)
FT3 3.6 (2.18-3.98)
FT4 1.2 (0.76-1.46)

7/2014 (while on 90mg Armour)
TSH 0.010 (0.36-3.74)
FT3 4.0 (2.18-3.98)
FT4 1.0 (0.76-1.46)

6/2014 (while on 60 mg Armour)
TSH 0.06 (0.36-3.74)
FT3 3.0 (2.18-3.98)
FT4 0.9 (0.76-1.46)

Everything was great the first 3 weeks. When the 4th week came on so did the cold hands and feet, tiredness, and a mild case of brain fog. Still wasn't able to lose the weight, I gained 2 additional pounds as well. Sunday I decided to go on a raw juice diet, since then I've lost 2.5 lbs. I've heard some people claim their hashimotos symptoms reduced so I figure I'd give it a try. Haven't been as tired as I was before. Planning on sticking with this for 2 weeks because the constipation hasn't gone away hoping this will move things along.
Should I ask my doctor to increase my meds or just try to deal with these issues separately on my own with diet and exercise?
Thank you in advance.

[Rachel2033]

Update:
Doctor said based on my last labs I do not have insulin resistance.
I did ask him what his thoughts were on the juice diet, he said he didn't see any problem with it mainly since it's not a life long diet which I agree. He said I can go as long as I can go just as long as I continue to take my multivitamins. I'm only doing it for 2 weeks to jump start my health and start fresh on the paleo diet again after falling into some bad eating habits.
I'm starting my second week on the juice diet, it's very evident what I can and cannot handle when I try to introduce simple carbs or dairy.  I have had a whole lot more energy than before though which is awesome. Started walking 3 miles a day (3 days a week) again with roller skating on the weekends.
   My doctor thought I would be fine to just stay at the same dose and recheck in a year or if I feel symptoms are returning. Which I'm completely fine with since my hashimoto's symptoms seem to be almost gone. Only ones I'm dealing with are: some says I can be more tired than others but still manageable. Another issue is not being able to lose weight. I've only lost 3 lbs on the juicing diet but 2 lbs of that was obviously water weight and that's with exercising 3 days a week.
I don't believe in the vegan lifestyle...I like my meat. This is only solidifying what I need to obstain from when it comes to certain foods.

[Barb135]

There are a number of good brands of probiotics on the market.  The one I take is The Vitamin Shoppe brand that has about 10 different live cultures in it.

You're getting almost no protein, unless you're adding a protein powder, or vitamin B-12 (the B complex does not contain enough), not enough calcium and again, if you're juicing, you're tossing the fiber, which you really need.  I think you're going to be very disappointed with the juice diet, as far as Hashimoto's symptoms are concerned.  Besides, it's not something that can be maintained, long term.  IMO, you'd be a lot better off to implement a regular healthy diet, that gives you the nutrients you need and exercise that you can stick with.

You should probably just leave your med dosage as is, for the time being, until everything stabilizes, since you don't have hyper symptoms.  

[Rachel2033]

I make sure to include 3 veggies and 2 fruits in eat juice smoothy I make. I include a good cup of spinach in at least 2 out of the three juices. My intake a day includes: spinach, kale, celery, cucumber, carrot, beets, jalapeño, bell pepper, apple, banana, pineapple, mango, pear, and tomato. I have increased my water intake drastically because the site I'm following says I have to but I've never been a huge water fan so I have to remind myself constantly. Haha!

[Rachel2033]

Thank you! Is there a probiotic you'd recommend?

[Rachel2033]

My last labs drawn in June 2014
Glucose 79 (70-99)
Not sure if that says anything.

I'm currently taking daily:
Vitamin D3 (last labs drawn a year ago showed it was low)
Iron
B complex vitamin
Magnesium
Zinc
Acidophilus

So should I ask that my med be decreased?

[Barb135]

Your levels are still high enough that you shouldn't need an increase right now; I'd give it more time.  The body takes care of the most important functions first and that usually doesn't include weight loss.

Try a probiotic that has more than Acidophilus and try adding some digestive enzymes, with meals.  Also make sure you're drinking plenty of water; lack of water can make stools hard and difficult to pass.  One drawback to your juicing is that you're tossing the fiber, which is the best part of your fruits and veggies... it's the fiber that helps fill you up and it also helps keep you regular.

Insulin resistance has nothing to do with your lipid panel.  It has to do with how your body handles insulin, which is the hormone that determines how your body handles sugar.  Insulin is often referred to as the fat storage hormone, because any food that's not used for immediate energy is shuttled into fat cells to be stored for later use.  

[flyingfool]

Lipids is cholesterol and triglycerides.  Insulin is related to blood sugar.  So the two are nearly completely unrealated to each other.

It takes up to 8 weeks to stabilize the blood levels of T4.  So you are still not "there" yet with only 8 weeks.

Symptoms usually lag behind blood labs.  So you still have some chance that your FT4 may still rise.  And FT3 may lag behind even that.  Plus you are still not at the full blood stabilization yet.  

So what I'm saying is that you need to be patient.  I know it is hard when youre not feeling you best and you just want to feel well and NOW.

I calculated FT3 to be 78.8% of the range and FT4 to be 62.9% of the range.  Many people would KILL to have those numbers.  But everyone feels well at different levels.

The rule of thumb is FT3 to be 50% to 67% and FT4 to be about 50% of the range.  As barb pointed out you exceed both.  And chances are they will both continue to rise.

Many people find it impossible to lose weight until they have their thyroid levels optimized.  And afater that, it probably won't be easy to shed weight.

I think you need to have a bit more patience to let things settle out.

Have you tested other things such as:

Vitamin D
Vitamin B-12
Iron
Ferritin

These are fairly common to be low in one or more of them. These would alll relate primarily to fatigue.  But may be worth testing to see where you are at.

[Rachel2033]

I'm sorry, didn't mention these were taken 6 weeks after starting Levothyroxine.
I've been taking Acidophilus for 8 weeks, so far it hasn't been helping. might have to look for a higher dose of better brand.
I highly doubt I have insulin resistance because my last lipid panel (6/2014) came out normal.

[Barb135]

You've been on the levo for 4 weeks now?  Your FT3 is at 78% of the range and your FT4 is at 62% of its range.  We, typically, recommend that FT4 be around mid range and FT3 be in the upper half to upper third of the range.  Your FT4 is actually higher than recommended, but since you don't have hyper symptoms, it's probably nothing to worry about.  I don't think you need a dosage increase, at this point.

It takes time for the body to adjust, when changing medications and 4 weeks is probably not long enough for a full adjustment.  

I hope the raw juice isn't the only thing you're eating/drinking.  You're missing out on a lot of nutrients, if it is.  Have you considered taking a probiotic and digestive enzymes to help with the constipation?  I find that even when my thyroid hormone levels are good, I still have an issue, but probiotics and the digestive enzymes really help keep things moving.

You might also look into insulin resistance/impaired fasting glucose as a cause for inability to lose weight.

I'd recommend looking into the probiotic/digestive enzymes and the possibility of insulin resistance before I'd consider an increase in thyroid med, with your levels as high as they are.  Possibly after your next round of tests, you'll need an increase.