lab results, any suggestions (emmy4337)

[emmy37075]

Couldn't remember my password and can't access email it is registered to so had to sign up again.  
Just received my latest labs after switching back to Nature Throid from 137mg synthroid  Taking 3-4 grains of NT (195-230 mcg)
SAME - TSH - .02 (range 0.34-5.60) --- same as 1/18/10 labs
UP -      FT3 -  4.43 (range 2.39-6.79)  ---3.46 at 1/18/10 labs  SHOULD BE AT 5.19 I THINK
DOWN -FT4 -  0.84 (range 0.58-1.64)   ---1.48 at 1/18/10 labs SHOULD BE AT 1.11 I THINK
DOWN -cholesterol - 195 (range 75-200)   ---211 at 1/18/10 labs
SAME - HDL - 35 (range 40-131)   ---same as 1/18/10 labs
UP      - LDL - 124 (range 0-100)  ---142 at 1/18/10 labs
UP      - Triglycerides - 178 (range 11-150)  ---168 at 1/18/10 labs
UP      - sugar - 99 (range 65-99)  ---87 at 1/18/10 labs

Dr. not happy with TSH of course. Letting me stay at 4 grains & come back in 4 weeks to retest. I want to increase 1 grain more which will get me where I want to me I think. Starting me on Niaspan to reduce triglycerides and I'll start my fish oil again.  Does anyone have any links to medical reports saying dessicated results in lowered TSH?  I'm taking Vit D3 & selenium at night as well with a good multi vitamin and restarted my exercise at the YMCA. ZUMBA just about killed me this morning but I liked it. I'll be back at the Y in the morning for class 2! Any suggestions or help?  I will say I was very pleased with the PA I saw.  He suggested combo of synthroid & Nature Throid or compounded.  Didn't have to argue to get the Frees tested either.  He said he always checks them with thryoid patients.  Can we list names here of good drs?

[goolarra]

Adding more NT SHOULD get both your frees closer to where they ought to be.  What I'm concerned about after the switch in meds is that your FT3 has gone up nicely, but your FT4 has "tanked".

I have to say that if you can manage it, the more often you take it, the more constant it's going to keep your FT3 levels and keep your symptoms at bay.  It would definitely be worth the shot to try it, especially since your doctor has held your meds steady.  Now, you'll have a chance to see what taking it more often does without a change in dose.  I always like the idea of changing only one variable at a time...then you can really isolate what that particular change did.  I think that's a great idea.

[emmy37075]

main hypo symptom left is the knee joint pain.  The first few hours after each NT dose it doesn't hurt at all but by 7 hrs it is painful again.  I tried sublingual for all of it but that made my hands start trembling terrible and after about a week of all sublingual I was getting the itching crawly feeling in my scalp that I got with 25 cytomel.  The PA had suggested adding synthroid when we talked but the dr. said leave it as is for 4 more weeks.  Wouldn't adding a little more NT get both Frees closer to where they need to be?  I'm aiming for the upper 1/3 on FT3 and about mid range on FT4. Maybe I just need to take it every 4 hrs like maggiepieannie's daughter.  I think I'll try that for 2 weeks before adding anything else.  I love that my cholesterol came down again!  Of course it will all change again when I have to refill with the reformulated NT.  Not sure why I'm even trying with the old version.

[goolarra]

Do you still have hypo symptoms?

Bear in mind that the rule of thumb for FT4 is "midrange" and for FT3 is upper half to upper third of range, BUT that is just a guideline and, as individuals, each of us might be very miserable at those exact numbers.  

It sounds to me like your PA knows what he's talking about.  I agree with his assessment.  Your FT4 is quite low and has fallen since previous labs.  I think I might be looking into adding a little T4 to balance out your FT3/FT4 ratio rather than just increasing NT.  However, it all depends on your symptoms...