NEW Results are in for 11 Dec

[kkbaroness]

My Dec 11th results are in!
Can anyone interpret for me?
I appreciate any help or insight :-)
FYI
Previously, I was on 125 mcg Synthroid.
On Dec 1, 2012 I stopped Synthroid and was switched to120 mg Armour
I did NOT take my Armour dose- until AFTER my labs were drawn.
(LabCorp)
So I was only on Armour for only 10 days at lab draw.

TSH   0.058 uIU/ml   ( 0.450 - 4.50 )
FT3    2.5    pg/mL   ( 2.0 - 4.4 )
RT3  14.3    ng/dL    ( 9.2 - 24.1 )
FT4    0.76   ng/dL    ( 0.82 - 1.77 )
TPO ab  19  IU/mL   ( 0 - 34 )

Still waiting for Saliva Adrenal Cortisol kit to arrive in the mail.

I have an appt with my MD Dec 28. I am going to forward the results before my appt.
Any Help you can give me would be great!

Still trying to to find a new MD in RIchmond VA.
Anyone know of  a doctor? Name?
Thx

[Barb135]

I think once you split your Armour doses, you will see quite a change, but with both your FT3 and FT4 being so low, I can understand why you're tired.  I have to get up when I wake up and start my day, otherwise I, sometimes, feel drowsy all day.

Don't forget that getting up earlier, will also require going to bed earlier.

[kkbaroness]

Thanks for the advice about dividing doses.
I do feel that zoom zoom zing and do not like that.
Sounds like a better plan to split doses....6 am 10 am 2 pm
My husband wakes me up at 6-630 am to take my Armour -
He says I am like in a "sleep trance".
I rarely- if ever- remember him waking me up or taking my pill!!!  

My plan is to set my alarm an hour earlier than I usually get up and work backwards to an earlier and earlier wake up.
Might be a slow process -but I WANT to be awake for most of my day!
Change is slow...... but slow and steady wins the race, right?
Thx

[Barb135]

Maybe when your husband wakes you up at 6:30 to take your medication, you should stay up and begin your day, instead of going back to bed.  

Another thing is:  Are you taking your Armour all in one dose or are you splitting it into multiple doses throughout the day?  Because Armour has T3, which is in, and out, of your system quite quickly, most people have to split the total into multiple doses, in order to keep the T3 levels constant in the blood.  Taking it all at once gives you "zoom zoom" feeling, then when the T3 is used up/wears off, you crash.

As a suggestion, you might try splitting your 120 mg into, say, 3 doses, taking one at 6:30, one late morning and the 3rd mid afternoon.  Avoid taking a med with T3 in it, after about 3:00 pm, as it can affect sleep.

[kkbaroness]

thank you so much for the insight.

I am a hot mess!!!!.
OK..Yes, One day at a time...
I actually just started the alarm to get up earlier about a week ago. So far no luck. Sleep right thru  I think I am going to have to work backwards from getting up at 11 am....not just try to get up at 630 am right from the start.

I have also started taking my Armour at 630 am- my husband wakes me up long enough for me to take it.  Then I fall back asleep really HARD until 11 am.

I will keep on trying...
Thanks.... :-)

[Barb135]

Well, I guess I'll start at the bottom of your post and work up........ lol

Yes, a head injury could affect pituitary function. You should get that checked out.

I also wonder if you should make a point to reset your schedule; particularly, if you want to get up before 11:00 am; my day is nearly 1/2 over by 11:00 am.  It might take a while, but you can do it, simply by setting an alarm for whatever time you think you should get up and when the alarm goes off, get up.  By doing that, you would be tired enough to go to bed before 11:00 pm.  I had to do this, when I changed jobs and my new job required me to get up at 3:30 am.  I had to "reset" myself, and ultimately, I had to be in bed before 8:00 pm, in order to get up at 3:30 am.  I did this for 6 years before I retired.

Another thing is that I'd suggest that you get vitamin B12 tested.  Your low thyroid levels can explain your symptoms, but vitamin B12 deficiency can mimic hypo and/or make the symptoms worse.  

I had a very similar exhaustion....... to the point where I'd pull up to a stop light and hope it would stay red long enough for me to catch a nap....... I was eventually diagnosed with pernicious anemia (autoimmune B12 deficiency) and started on shots.  The B12 helped immensely, but I still wasn't feeling better.  After I began gaining weight, a nurse was giving me my B12 shot one day and we were talking about it; she suggested that I make an appointment to get my thyroid tested....... so I did.  My TSH came back at 55+ (not outrageous but enough to be definitely hypo) and my FT4 was below range.

You're the opposite.  You've been dx'd hypo and on med, but still get B12 levels tested.  The range my lab uses for B12 is 200-1100 and I have to keep my levels at the very top (or over) in order to keep from falling asleep at the drop of a hat.  

Even though we know you're hypo, I'd rule out the B12 issue, because B12 deficiency and hypo together, only make matters worse.

Oh, and don't forget that both Pristiq and Wellbutrin can cause tiredness, too.  I took Wellbutrin for a while and it really knocked me out.  You might ask your doctor about Buspirone...... I did that and it helped the anxiety without turning  me into a zombie.

I might suggest that you have more than one thing going on.  Your TSH is very low (which could suggest a pituitary issue), as are your actual thyroid hormone levels, so that's 2 possible problems and that could explain all your symptoms, but because B12 deficiency can mimic and/or exacerbate those symptoms, I'd recommend getting that tested, while you wait for the Armour to stabilize.

The next possible problem: when we've been hypo for some time, the adrenals try to take of the slack for lack of thyroid hormones.  After a while, the adrenals begin to give out, as well, and eventually, they become fatigued and can't produce, either.  Once you get back those test results, we'll have more to on, as well.  

With the med change, so close to your labs, it's really hard to get a clear picture of the whole situation.

One step at a time.

[kkbaroness]

Thanks for the comments.

Well,... I am am also on Pristiq 50 mg and Wellbutrin 100mg for anxiety & chronic depression.
But...if my thyroid was right... I am sure I may not need it.

I read every night for a few hours then go to sleep about 11 pm...but I am AWAKE as the night time comes.
I have never been a nightowl in my life-- until these past few months.
I cannot sleep unless I uses Ambien.
My mind races with a million random thoughts when I try to go to sleep.
Takes me hours to get going int he morning -when I wake up-- at 11 am
Feel like I have lead in my veins,
Just a constant weary tiredness.
Any exercise wipes me out.
I sleep 12 hours every night....no day naps - but I used to nap daily.
I don't use caffeine at all, as much as I'd like to- to wake up a bit.

I am foggy headed and it is hard to focus most of the time.
I stopped working in May 2012.
I feel addled a lot of the time. Focusing is hard.
   Stuff like this happens a lot -->  
I ordered waffles for breakfast the other day.
But I wanted French toast, and I swear I ordered French toast.
But when the waffles showed up, I was so surprised it wasn't French toast.
My husband said- "You ordered waffles".  Oye.

My next Dr. appt is Dec 28.
Will retest everything again I hope.

I know my Free T3 & Free T4 are loooow and my TSH is loooow.

Wondering if my pituitary and adrenals area component too.?
Can a head injury affect or change your pituitary function?

Between 2000  to 2012 I have had A LOT of head bangs....
- 2000 - fell off a horse/hit my head
- 2002 - fell off a horse/hit my head on asphalt
- 2004- January car accident/
- 2004 - March car accident/
- 2006 - fell down off a cliff about 10 feet/ hiking
- 2012 -fell on the ice/banged the back of my head hard

I know I sound like a clutz.... but it was a string of weird falls.

Ok... waiting for next set of labs end of this month.  :-)

[Barb135]

Since you were only on the Armour for 10 days prior to the blood work, it's really hard to say, but both your FT3 and FT4 are really low in the ranges.  How do you feel?  I'd be like death warmed over if my levels were that low.

I'd almost think you need to wait a few weeks and let things stabilize on the Armour, then retest.