Why is my blood work so different on Armour?

[trish061]

It has been five months since I switched from 125mcg of Unithroid to now 97.5mg of Armour Thryoid.  It raised my FT3 to 4.0 (2.0-4.4), but lowered my FT4 to 0.82 (0.82-1.77).  My TSH was normally between 0.5 to 1.0 and now it is 3.830 (0.450-4.500).  I am feeling much better than on the Unithroid, more energy, not cold or constipated...but when I have tried to increase my dose to 105mg, I start to have heart palpitations and periods of rapid heart rate at rest (100 bpm).  What do I do to increase my FT4 level and bring down the TSH?

[trish061]

Thank you so much for your imput.  I do feel much better than I ever thought I would and so I will continue on the Armour dose I am on and not worry so much about my blood work.

[gimel]

Personally I would not be overly concerned with the FT4, as long as the FT3 is high enough to relieve symptoms.  Symptom relief is the important thing.  Have a look at this link to a letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he consults with from a distance.  The letter is sent to the PCP of the patient to help guide treatment.  

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

Note especially this statement in the letter.

"But this is not sufficient; the ultimate criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient. I have prescribed
natural dessicated thyroid for your patient (Armour, Nature-Throid) because it contains both T4 and T3 (40mcg and 9mcg respectively per 60mg). This assures sufficient T3 levels and thyroid effects in the body. Since NDT has more T3 than the human thyroid gland produces, the well-
replaced patient’s FT4 will be below the middle of its range, and the FT3 will be high “normal” or slightly high before the next AM dose."

Since your FT3 level is reflective of taking the A.M. dose before blood draw, there is room to raise your FT3 level if necessary to relieve any lingering symptoms.  Since you are taking Armour, any increase will slightly increase your FT4 as well.  So I don't see any need to take T4 only type meds to increase that FT4 level.

[trish061]

I take half my dose at 7am and the other half at 3pm, so I was on half the dose when I had the blood test.  I feel so much better on the Armour, especially mentally.  No depression and my fuzzy thinking is much improved.  When I was on Unithroid, if my TSH went up to 3.8 I probably would not feel like getting out of bed and I would definitely be dragging, lethargic and cold.  That is why I am having such a hard time with the numbers.  I know my FT4 should be in the middle range.  Don't care about the TSH, since I feel fine.  Should I just ignore the low FT4?  My doctor thinks it is fine.  

[gimel]

You said that you are feeling better.  Does that mean no further symptoms, or do you still have lingering hypo symptoms?  Did you take your Armour in the morning,  before blood draw for the tests?