new test results

[sunrock]

New test results are as follows

TSH   .0008         range .450-4.500

Free T3  3.9         range  2.0-4.4

Free T4  1.16        range   .82-1.77

I took this test as I was feeling hypo......any suggestions
Test was taken with 100 mcg T4 Tirosint and 10 mcgs of T3   T3 med is split one early morning one later.

Thanks Mia  (still not there but hoping!!)

[Barb135]

I agree that if you're doing the best yet on your current dosage, maybe you need to give it more time to see if things will level out.  Even though we say it takes 4-6 weeks for a dosage change to take full effect, it often takes longer for levels to stabilize and symptoms to be alleviated.

T4 is not used directly by the body; it circulates in the blood until it is needed to be converted to T3, which is the hormone actually used by individual cells.

It's very rare for a person to be on a T3 only med for any length of time; I wouldn't recommend it, except under special circumstances.

There is no specific "conversion test"....... Conversion, or lack of, is determined by your FT3/FT4 ratio.  Usually if one is on a T4 only med and FT4 is high, with low FT3, you would not be converting adequately and a T3 med would be added.  You're already on a T3 med, with your Tirosint, so simply checking your levels at regular intervals is sufficient.  I'd give my eye teeth to have an FT3 like yours. I'm due for retesting in a couple of weeks; maybe mine is up there, too.

[sunrock]

I think I will see my Dr,  and see what her take is.

I have to say that this last combo of 100/10 has been the best yet so maybe I need to wait longer....I tested sooner (5 weeks) because I thought my T3 may be low...hence the symptoms, surprised they were so high... but maybe I should hang out here for another 4 to 5 weeks to see....or feel,

What problems arise when your T4 is low?
Isn't it  lowT3 that causes all the symptoms? or too high T3? but what about T4?

Met a women once who had thyroid problems so of course we had to talk about them....she said she only takes T3 medication as she can't convert.

I will ask for a test on conversion next.

Hope your traveling was to see your wonderful family and that all is going well with everyone!!
No stress....enjoy the warmer weather you have....right?

Mia

[Barb135]

I don't know how long you stayed on the alternating 100/112 mcg regime; as you know it takes several weeks for a dosage change to take effect, so if you didn't stay on it long enough, you wouldn't get "over the hump".  

Since you're on Tirosint, I can't suggest a reaction to fillers/binders in the med, because there are none.  Tirosint only came out in May of 2010, so, apparently, whatever you took before that wasn't working well either.  Were you on T3 med, prior to Tirosint?

With your FT3 as high as it is, you don't have a lot of room to play with your T3 med.  You might talk to your doctor about a slight increase...... try to get your pills in 5 mcg dosage and split a pill.  

Another thing you might want to consider is if your symptoms might be caused by something else. There are a number of other things that can cause hypo like symptoms....... I actually have a few, myself, the past couple of days, but we've just gotten home from a week of traveling, with long days riding, no exercise to speak of, way too much (and the wrong kind of) food, didn't take all my supplements every day, etc.  Not to mention stress from a situation that's been ongoing for several years. It all adds up.  

Stress is a huge factor when we don't have thyroid issues, so I've sort of concluded (for me) that there may be circumstances in which I need higher than normal levels, but not always.

[sunrock]

post reply 2.....I was having problem with my computer....
Anyway, It seems like I have done every T4 mcg from 75 to 135 in the last 5 years....but my T3 med was never "played" with
the fact that I was feeling good there makes me think that I need higher T3 then some....
Mia

[sunrock]

Thank you Barb!
Actually I was doing the 112 one day 100 the next and it was pretty bad feeling... my T4 were high and my T3 still low. Then you mentioned (something like) Why is it that Dr always raise the T4 to raise the T3 .....And that was something I really thought about...
So I went back to 100 only and upped the T3 and for the last 6  weeks felt the best in my whole life.... (was it true  did I find the right combo!!!)
then I started having some hypo symptoms start in
and for me they are.....weepy, tired, sluggish, brain fog, need to sleep and low energy, stiffness in my figures,
Now these are not BAD but they are starting.....

[Barb135]

Don't worry about your TSH level.  Mine has lived in the basement (< 0.01) for the past 5 yrs and it's no big deal, unless you have hyper symptoms.  

Your FT3 is pretty high in the range and some symptoms can "cross over" (apply to either hyper or hypo).  Exactly what symptoms are you having?

"every time my T4 is raised up a dose I feel worse."  Sometimes symptoms can worsen (or new ones surface) with a dosage change and you have to stay on the new dosage long enough to let your body adjust to it.

You could try alternating 100 mcg with 112 mcg (100 one day, 112 the next), for an average of 106, which is a relatively small increase, but sometimes we have to do it that way. I've done it several times, with a variety of dosages.

[sunrock]

No I did not take any meds before the draw and always do the same fast, time place, etc

Not sure if I can convert T4 to T3.....every time my T4 is raised up a dose I feel worse.
This has been the longest time for me feeling good until last week.
Is there a blood test to test for conversion problems??

I am so close....do I go to taking the next higher dose of 112 once a week and see what happens?

What if my THS drops too much?? What if T4 is really low is that a problem??

Thank you so much for your response!

[gimel]

Did you take your meds before the blood draw for tests?

[goolarra]

Maybe a tiny bit less T3 and a little more T4???