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Lab results...what now?
Ok, had labs drawn yesterday and here are my results:
TSH 1.99 (0.27-4.20)
T3 Free 3.0 (2.3-4.2)
T4 Free 1.2 (0.9-1.8)
I am taking 1/4 grain of Armour Thyroid and have low vitamin D. I take 2000 IU a day/per my doctors orders. I started with vitamin D at 20.9 (32.0-100.0) got it up to 41 last August and retested earlier this month and it was 36.5. Any recommendations? I've bounced all over the place with different meds, both synthetic and dessicated. I prefer dessicated. I feel almost normal again, but have a little anxiety. Any recommendations, suggestions? Just purchased some new, better quality Vitamin D3 and will start taking some magnesium with it. Thanks for your help!!
TSH 1.99 (0.27-4.20)
T3 Free 3.0 (2.3-4.2)
T4 Free 1.2 (0.9-1.8)
I am taking 1/4 grain of Armour Thyroid and have low vitamin D. I take 2000 IU a day/per my doctors orders. I started with vitamin D at 20.9 (32.0-100.0) got it up to 41 last August and retested earlier this month and it was 36.5. Any recommendations? I've bounced all over the place with different meds, both synthetic and dessicated. I prefer dessicated. I feel almost normal again, but have a little anxiety. Any recommendations, suggestions? Just purchased some new, better quality Vitamin D3 and will start taking some magnesium with it. Thanks for your help!!
Best Answer
What symptoms are you having?
But by the labs I'd say you need an increase. But only if you still are having symptoms.
But by the labs I'd say you need an increase. But only if you still are having symptoms.
Thank you so much!!
Some of us, myself included, just have to take increases very slowly. You might have to increase by only 1/4 grain each time, or even less (I know there's a limit to pill splitting).
Each increase does take some getting used to. For me, it was very important to be absolutely consistent in taking my meds (same dose every day), and I had to do it very slowly and wait until any hyper symptoms went away before moving forward.
Best of luck with your appointment. Let us know how it goes.
Each increase does take some getting used to. For me, it was very important to be absolutely consistent in taking my meds (same dose every day), and I had to do it very slowly and wait until any hyper symptoms went away before moving forward.
Best of luck with your appointment. Let us know how it goes.
Thanks! I have an appt on Wednesday and will discuss this info. I originally started on 50.000 IU for 12 weeks and then went to 2000IU a day. I am wondering if maybe the brand I'm using is not good enough. Just bought a new brand to try. I will definitely ask about taking a higher dose of Vitamin D3. Also thank you on the magnesium advice. I had a feeling that I might need to go up on the Armour. I used to be on NP thyroid (1/2 grain) and started having severe anxiety and panic attacks. My then doctor said my labs were good and that anxiety was not a symptom of thyroid issues. Well, we the patients, know it is. I convinced my NP in my family care office to try going up 1/2 grain and I felt terrible. Probably just my body making the adjustment, but I requested a new Endo and we are now working on starting from the beginning. I know I will get there and I think we are on the right track. Thanks again!!
Thanks for your suggestion and while I don't rely on labs alone, I think they hold some validity.
If I were you I would forget the labs!
Take your temperature with a glass thermometer in days 1,3,5,&7 in any 7 day sequence with no covers or clothes over your shoulder and not in any close proximity to your partner in your bed. Your 4 day average, if below
97.8, means you need to up your desiccated thyroid dose slightly and wait for symptom improvement.
Low thyroid should be treated according to symptoms and not labs, as they often have no validity as far as thyroid cellular function goes.
Blood levels are useless when there's hormone resistance.
Temperature testing is the only accurate testing, except when an infection is present and it can be used for adjusting the desiccated dosing.
If you take iron supplements, make sure they are 4 hours apart from your thyroid intake, as iron interferes with its absorption.
Low cortisol is also another cause for hypo symptoms so you can have this checked. There are other deficiencies also that cause low thyroid function.
Magnesium is notoriously slow to build up orally, as digestion cuts down its absorption to 3-5% and if you take too much mg you get laxative effects.
Consider transdermal magnesium oil (from magnesium chloride and spring
or filtered water), look it up or pm me for details. safer and more efficient.
Expose your whole body to natural sun light, now that the weather is still warm, away from peak hours for 30 minutes daily, to boost your D3 levels.
I hope this helps but please note that it is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.
Love and Light
Niko
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Your FT4 is at 33% of range, and 50% is the target for FT4 until you know where you feel best. So you have a lot of room for improvement there.
FT3 is at 32% of range. Target here is 50+% to 66+%, so a long, long way to go. Also, you're on desiccated, and with its high T3 content, you should be much higher in the range.
An increase might help you feel better.
Have you asked your doctor about supplementing D more aggressively? Severe deficiencies are often treated with as much as 50,000 IU per week temporarily, then a slightly lower maintenance dose. Yes, sunshine will help.
As far as magnesium is concerned, you want to avoid magnesium oxide as its effect is mostly laxative. Magnesium citrate and magnesium glycinate have good oral absorption. Oxide, because of its laxative effect, can actually lower serum Mg levels.