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Hypo and Armour plus thyroxine

So i tested positive for Graves last June. had an Ablation became very Hypo in Dec. Went on Armour 15mg in March. here are my most recent labs. My Endo seems to think these are normal. I am wondering if i should start taking a small 25mcg dose of Levothyroxine to get my T4 up and my TSH down. or am i on to small of does of Amrour? my T4 has not moved in number since i began armour but my T3 is now on the high side plus my TSH keeps getting higher. i do not have a lot of confidence in my endo but we are limited in this area and she agreed to armour. so any adivce would be great. i am going to read the book what your doctor may not tell you about hypothyroidism and im thinking starting a low dose of levo would help. i also believe i am at the beginning of TED. the thing that scares me is the endo says my labs are normal and i dont have TED. but i have dry sandy eyes and the right one is a little bigger than the left. these results are after rasing my Armour from 15 to 30 after a few weeks.

Total T3 194
free T3 3.8
free T4 0.90
TSH 19.5
3 Responses
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649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
Sorry I missed your post last night...

Okay, so here's what I got:

FT3...         3.8    (2.2-4.0)
FT4            0.90  (0.76-1.46)
TSH           19.5  
Total T3      195    ((60-181)

Your FT3 is at 89% of its range, while your FT4 is only at 20% of its range; while total T3 is obsolete, yours is actually over range, which goes right along with the Free T3 being as high as it is.

It's not uncommon for people on a T3 med to have high FT3 and low FT4, but many don't need that much T3.  Since you're on such a small dose of Armour, I'm wondering if you need additional T3 at all.

While both your FT3 and FT4 are "in range", having such a low FT4 can leave you with hypo symptoms.  

Typically, one needs a T3 med if they don't convert the storage hormone, FT4 to the usable FT3, but you don't know if you convert adequately or not, because your FT3 so high, your body doesn't have to convert anything.  

You might try going off the Armour and onto a T4 only med and see how that works for you.  Keeping your FT3 as high as it is could cause the eye symptoms you describe, as well as insomnia, fatigue, migraines, etc.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
thanks for the response
reference range
Total T3
60-181
free T3
2.2-4.0
Free T4
0.76-1.46

I do have other symptoms.
weight gain
hair loss
fatigue
migraines
pain all over
brain fog
insomnia




Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
What are the reference ranges for the Free T3 and Free T4?  Reference ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.

Your FT4 does seem quite low, but that will depend on the reference range.  

Since you've had the ablation and your thyroid is "dead", so to speak, I'd say that TED is probably not an issue, though dry, sandy eyes can be.  Just because one eye is a little bigger than the other doesn't mean you have TED.  Have you tried using any of the OTC "artificial tears" to help with the dry, sandy feeling? They can work wonders.  But if you really have questions, you could see an opthamologist.

Do you have any other symptoms of hypothyroidism?  

There are some people who just have a high TSH, even though FT3 and FT4 are in the normal ranges and they have no hypo symptoms.
Helpful - 0
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