What do Free T numbers mean?

[deetee958]

Thyroid numbers

I just received my thyroid numbers and I would love some feedback.  
tsh  1.82
FT3 195  (200-490)
FT4  0.8  (0.7-1.8)
Ferritin 51

I currently am on 45mg of armour and am increasing to 60 as of today.  I have been experiencing major hair loss and some depression and mood swings.  Would these be common side effects of hypo?

Should meds be taken all together or split into two daily doses.  Thanks for your input.

deetee

[goolarra]

I am feeling well now (at least in terms of thyroid!).  I felt well immediately after starting levo.  I've been on 75 mcg Levoxyl since January.  I just had bloodwork done, and everything is pretty stable...FT3 even went up a bit!  Talk about a learning curve...Thanks for asking.

[thelma201]

WOW..what a trip you've been on with this.I hope you're feeling well now!!

[goolarra]

When they tried to lower the TSH, I didn't know that I had the pituitary issue, and I didn't know what I do now about thyroid. It was the journey through the inept PCP that inspired me to get tuned into my condition.

I'm really sensitive to levo, and I have a congenital heart defect that is exacerbated by the levo.  So, part of me was saying that my symptoms were all gone, and I felt good.  But part of me still believed the TSH needed to come down, and it was the heart issue that was in the way. In fact, back then, the climate regarding TSH on this forum was much different.  Virtually everyone was telling me I was still hypo (I just didn't know it, or the symptoms were "subtle").  

I think I had to go a little hyper to prove to both myself and my endo that something else was up here.  Also, he was a new endo at the time, and I was trying to be "cooperative", and he was telling me I was stilll hypo.

Enough people tell you you're hypo, and you begin to doubt yourself, no matter how good you feel...

[thelma201]

No preaching here! just an observation..the symptoms look hypo, as do the free's. i agree! you seem very in tune with your own condition, why did you "let" everyone try to lower the TSH?

[goolarra]

You're preaching to the choir here about TSH.  Mine just came back yesterday at 17.9, and I've been euthyroid for about seven months.  I have a little pituitary problem, but that didn't stop everyone from trying to "get that TSH down".  Oops...almost did me in.

[thelma201]

proof that tsh alone is worthless.look how nice and low that is!!

[goolarra]

Your FT3 is below the reference range, and your FT4 is just barely into the range.  So, you are hypo. And, yes, hair loss, depression and mood swings are all symptoms of hypo.  Your increase to 60 should help that a lot.

Any medication with T3 in it (like Armour) is often split into two doses.  T3 is very fast-acting, and neutralized by your body if not used promptly.  So, many people find that taking half first thing in the morning and the other half later in the day (early afternoon, late afternoon, whenever you feel you need a little more energy) works well.  You can experiment with what time works best for you.

Good luck with your increase!