How to tell is this is correct armour dose.

[Alittleblues]

I'm new here, so here's a little history: I'm 48 years old. I was hypo years ago, but decided to go off Synthroid. Without treatment, I had no symptoms for ten years, and a 'normal' TSH (4.5.) which we tested every six months. However, a year ago I felt withdrawn and mildly hypo, so we tested TSH: 4.98. We did not do an antibody or T3 test.

I've been taking Synthroid ever since, but in the past 5 months, I've became very symptomatic. TSH was 46. We doubled Synthroid (100mcg) for two months, and now TSH is 2.5, but I feel exhausted, withdrawn, depressed, scattered, dull, voice is gravelly, strong cravings for carbs/sweets and hot/spicy, gained 20 lbs, fingers and face are puffy. I don't recall if I have any short term memory. :-) And now my hair is thinning.

So it's Hashimotos. My TPO antibodies are 6771.

Because Synthroid is clearly not relieving the symptoms, my Dr is supporting me to try Armour, but he knows little about it. Because my antibodies are so high I decided to start on one grain. I felt more energy after I took it, but not noticeably better, so after a week I decided to up to 1 and a 1/2 grains. No shakes or other issues and I'm sleeping better, so I think it's helping. After another week, I went up to 2 grains, which I split between 3 doses. I plan to stay on 2 grains for two or three weeks. My morning temp was averaging 97.3, but now hitting 97.8 almost every day.

How --or when-- can I tell if this is the correct dose? How will I know if it's too much or too little?
I would really appreciate advice.

[goolarra]

Well, it all sounds positive.  It will take a while to heal after being hypo, so you will most likely keep seeing imrpovement even after you stop increasing.  The longer you were hypo, the longer that can take.

Since you hadn't taken your Armour before the draw, your doctor is right...there are definitely times during the day when your FT3 is even higher than it showed on your labs, which was already over the top.

You don't have hyper symptoms, and I always say that if you don't have them, you're not hyper.  I don't know what to tell you about the decrease.  It's very small.  Were you ever on 3.5 before, or did you skip that dose and go from 3.25 to 3.75, for example?

[Alittleblues]

For clarification: My legs only ache after I sit down for a bit. And my voice has improved and I am peeing normally again. I still have puffy fingers and am withdrawn.

I do feel normal a lot, but wonder if I will ever become outgoing and vibrant again. I went through some severe trials a few years back which may have caused a change in my personality unrelated to thyroid disorder. But maybe it is thryoid.

Thanks for writing today.When I have the full results, I will post them. One thing I am thrilled about is that my liver enzymes have been rising for the past year and on this last lab, my ALT is still slightly high, but saw a 40 point drop and AST was normal again! I have been eating a TBSP coconut oil every morning in my coffee for two months and I think it helped!

[Alittleblues]

Yes, I do understand that is the RT3 ratio that will be revealing. I called again today and they they told me they won't have it until Friday or even next Monday.

I am sleeping straight through six hours a night. That is an improvement after years of frequent waking. I feel ok during the day and have noticed some improved memory in certain moments but super-tired after work. My feet and legs are still aching but I think that may be improving also. Muscle loss and fat are both factors in not having much energy or strength.

I rode my bike eight miles today and was so beat I had to stop a couple times. But I kept going. Even now, I want to get back out there and ride.

The Current lab showed Ft3 over the top of the range. I forgot the paper so I don't have the number or range in front of me. Still waiting on the others.

I don't have any hyper symptoms. No racing heart or racing thoughts. I was trembling when I was due for Armour but that has not been happening the past few days. I feel so normal, I forget to take the Armour and I end up taking them an hour or two late.

My DR said the fact that my Armour dose was so many hours before shows that it is in reality, my FT3 much higher when I am taking it.

[goolarra]

Do I have this right:  Your FT3 on this current lab is over the top, or it was back in February?  Your FT4 is at 53% of range, which is right on target.

Fatigue can be caused by both hypo and hyper.  Do you think you feel tired despite a good night's sleep or because you have insomnia or don't sleep well/too lightly?  How are your other hypo symptoms doing?

It will be interesting to see what your RT3 is doing.  Don't forget that it's the ratio of FT3 to RT3 that's important and not the raw numbers.  With FT3 over the top, you can expect your RT3 to be quite high as well.

[Alittleblues]

FYI; I had the test done 14 hours after my armour dose.

[Alittleblues]

I left my labs at my specialist's office so I can't recall numbers, but what I have is this: The Feb lab showed my TSH is suppressed  and my Ft3 on this lab is over the top of the range. My Ft4 is 1.53 with a range of .78 - 2.19 ng/dl (I have that one on paper)

My endo suggests I scale back to 3 and 1/2 grains for eight more weeks. He says I am hyper without outward symptoms. He said I may be feeling better from the last dose of 3 and 1/2 grains rather than the current dose of 3 and 3/4 grains, he also said fatigue can be caused from hyper as well as hypo. I actually liked him. He said we got all the tests he wanted and he also said if my cortisol test in a couple weeks shows a problem he will know how to treat.

His judgement that I scale back sounds reasonable, unless I become more symptomatic on the lower dose. Rt3 and Vitamin D won't be back for several days. I'm curious what you think, given this limited info? Thanks