How do you know???

[katydid2807]

Or is it all just in the experimenting and fine tuning?

I can't decide how long I need to wait to see if the 3 grains of Acella is enough. I hear that improvement takes time once the numbers look good, but I don't even know if my numbers look good!!!

FT4 is at 19% of the lab range and FT3 is at 45.8% of the lab range.

I hear that most people do better with their numbers in the upper parts of the ranges, but that there still are some who don't and do better lower. How do I know? How long do I wait for symptom resolution before upping by 1/4 grain?

It seems some days like this is all guesswork. :)

Ps...reminder...I've been on Acella (switched from Armour) now for 2.5 months.

[gimel]

To me taking a full year for symptoms to improve would be doubtful.  Look at it this way, if you start increasing your meds gradually right now, you will feel better that much faster.  Also, you are taking it very slowly and if you should overshoot on the meds, you will know it pretty quickly from increased pulse rate, etc., and you can back off and see a fast response from that, since you are taking meds with T3.

[katydid2807]

Oh yes, I forgot about that reply! Thanks again!

I get so confused because some people say symptoms can improve for up to a full year, so don't overshoot if you're in range, and others say symptoms should be improving by now, and even though you're in range, it's not optimal range.

Agh! See why I'm confused?!

[gimel]

My opinion, previously posted on Wed., was as follows.

Even though symptom changes sometimes lag changes in blood test levels of thyroid hormone, you should have seen any effect by now.  I think the reason you have not is that your FT3 needs to be increased into the upper part of its range and FT4 increased to around the midpoint of its range.  I think I would start with an increase in your T4/T3 med and when symptoms are relieved, if your FT4 is still below midpoint, then add a bit of T4 med.