new test results 2-17-2012

[jill82590]

Can you tell me if my test results are good ?

Tsh 1.8    range 0.3-    -5.1

Free T4  1.19   range    0.73---1.95

FreeT3   2.7     range  2.3-----4.2

Keep in mind that I took my reg dose of 0.05 syntroid at 6:30 am

   but did not take my cytomel until  later that afternoon

[jill82590]

I meant to Thank You and the others that reply so nicely to my questions and the promptness is great

[jill82590]

Thanks for all your help

[jill82590]

I think that's a good idea, so will just up the syntroid for now. How long do you think it'll take before I can tell a difference ?

[goolarra]

I'm just wondering if it might be better to increase one at a time.  If you just change one thing, you can really isolate its effect.  

Often, after FT4 reaches about midrange, it still takes FT3 a while to "catch up".  Conversion still has to ramp up once the T4 is available to convert.  

Since your FT4 isn't too far away from midrange, it might be worthwhile to increase T4 meds until FT4 gets to midpoint.  I'm just worried that if you increase T3 meds now AND conversion ramps up, you might swing over to hyper.

Are you usually sensitive to meds or meds changes?

[jill82590]

I was thinking of increasing my  synthroid to 75 every 5th day and increasing my cytomel from 10 to 15 .  Do you think this would help my Free T4 and Free T3 go up?

[jill82590]

I am currently taking 0.05 of synthroid in the am along with 5 cytomel and I take another 5 cytomel in the afternoon.  What would you suggest I take to get my FT3 and Ft4 levels up.  My symtoms, can't get the weight off and also extremely dry skin, face peeling, lips dry all the time and hair still falling out. Achy leg and hip bones at night.  Please suggest what I should try

[Super_sally888]

I think she means .50 every second day and .75 the other day to increase to 67.5.  

Given that you are still low in range, a small increase could be appropriate to see if it helps how you feel.

If you are adding a second dose of cytomel, you may want to try splitting it (ie. take the first 0.05 in the morning, and the second 0.05 in the early afternoon).

Assume you'd test 6 weeks after any change and see where your numbers are...

[goolarra]

So, you're thinking of decreasing your FT4 to 75 mcg every other day (37.5 per day average) and increasing your T3 to 15 mcg per dy total?  Is that correct?

What symptoms do you have?

[jill82590]

Could I take an extra 5 cytomel  in the am. and  increase my synthroid to 0.075 mcg every other day instead of the 0.05.  I currently take 0.05 of synthroid and one tablet of the 5 cytomel along with it in the morning and then about 4 I take another 5 cytomel

[goolarra]

Whether they are good or not really depends on how you are feeling.  Do you still have lingering hypo symptoms?

Your FT4 is still quite a bit below midrange, so it has room in it for an increase.  FT3 is still quite low also.  Target for FT3 is upper half to upper third of the range, and yours is in the bottom quarter.  That might also indicate an increase in Cytomel.

However, these rules of thumb do not hold true for everyone.  We all have to find levels we feel best at.