Hypo Advice, Please...

[BMMCINTOSH]

My primary care doc called me today with my lab results: TSH = 3.06 (Lab Range .4 - 5.5), T4 Free = 6.7, T4 Free Calculated = 2.02, T3 Uptake = 30.1, Cholesterol = 241 (up from 226 8/15)

After keeping a journal, it seems to me that I feel my best when my TSH is around 1.08 (with T4 Free = 1.1 and T3 Total = 121).  When it goes even a little bit higher (even 1.97), I notice the difference and feel sluggish, depressed, dry skin, hair coarse/falling out,cannot focus at all, etc...and when it goes lower (like at 1.02) I feel shaky and anxious, hair still falls out/is coarse, can't focus, can't sleep well, brain goes foggy, feel dizzy at times, etc.  Is such a change in how I feel with such little changes in levels normal?  Anyone else so sensitive to changes in TSH lvls?  

The last time I felt normal was the last week or so in Aug. after I had been on Wellbutrin (300 mg) for about 3 weeks and at a dose of 37.5 mcg of synthroid for about 2 mos (when my TSH was 1.08).  It was amazing!  I felt clear headed, not bloated, had energy, my sex drive came back, hair was smooth again, etc...then it all went down hill again when my TSH level started to decrease slightly (1.02).  I went down to 25 mcg again on 9/22 and this is where I am at now - with my TSH at 3.06.

I mentioned the alternatives of Armour/Thyrolar to my endo but he said that there's no scientific research that these help and that if I took them I would feel worse not better.  He took some blood and said he'd get back to me after speaking with my primary care doc.  

Any suggestions or advice on what to do next?

[PNWBabe]

Natural Dessicated Thyroid contain the same hormones that your own thyroid would produce--T4, T3, T2, T1 and
calcitonin, and that's why natural thyroid is SO superior over T4-only meds. They meet the stringent guidelines
of the US Pharmacopoeia and are approved by the FDA.

It can be wise to start on a smaller dose of Armour than you will ultimately need, such as 1 grain or
less. Why? Because your body may need to adjust to getting direct T3, and, you want to rule out any other issues
which can crop up, such as sluggish adrenals or low Ferritin.

I would suggest joining a thyroid support group online, it could be very beneficial to be able to see how others are dealing with this disease. There is a great natural thyroid group on yahoo!!!

PNWBabe

[jgirl55]

Please TELL ME WHAT IS ARMOUR? I'VE BEEN ON SYNTHROID.175 FOR 6 YEARS IM OVER WEIGHT ALMOST NO HAIR AND NO SEX DRIVE AT ALL> MOST OF THE TIME IM TOO TIRED TO EVEN GET OUT OF BED.

[lkwetter]

I wanted to comment to the person who wanted to get on natural thyroid or Armour. I dissagree with her doctor. In fact, if you do a little research, you will find that natural thyroid derived from animal thyroids has been used since the late 1800s. The first two patients were women and they lived quite long lives, all of it on natural thyroid. Natural thyroid has had a much longer history of successful use and has had fewer recalls for potency problems than Synthroid.

Natural thyroid contains all 7 of the hormones that the human thyroid makes. It has higher T3 than the human thyroid puts out. The porcine thyroid extract contains about 24% T3, where the human thyroid makes between 10 and 12% roughly.

I have been on Armour for about 3 years now and am doing excellently on it. Currently, I am 52 and am taking college computer programming and am at the top of my class. I credit Armour for making this possible. I got my brain back after years of not being able to remember anything more than 5 minutes.

I have also lost weight and am down to the weight I was in college as a 20 year old. All three of my sisters and my mother are on Synthroid and I am the only one in my family who is not very overweight and whose cholesterol and glucose levels are normal. I weigh 133 and am 5'4" and have a large frame.

My hair went from thin and dry to thick and shiny. It took about a year, but I have nice hair now.

I love my Armour and I will never willingly give it up. I was on Levoxyl for a short while and what I remember most was a feeling of air hunger and fog in my head.

Tish

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Go back to 37.5mcg to keep the TSH around 1 -- if consistently keeping the TSH around 1 does not relieve symtpoms - consider a trial of T4/T3 combination treatment - while the scientific data is lacking, certain patients do benefit.