Medication amounts

[Desperatemom24]

My daughter is taking 2 grains of nature throid ( split, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon) and 25mcg of slow release T3.  I'm not sure what the T3 is called.  She has just been switched from 10mcg of the slow release T3.  She has noticed a very small change in the way she feels, a little more energy.  She has some extra 10mcg tablets and just bumped herself up to 35mcg of the slow release.  Does that seem like a lot of medication?  Also she has very high RT3, not out of range but at the very top.  In the test she had the max was 24 and she had 23.

Other then that question, does it take so long to see any improvement in symptoms.  I would think that the active hormone would act more quickly.

Please advise

[goolarra]

I haven't seen numbers that low in a very long time, either.

I'd still like to see her most recent labs.  The SR T3 wouldn't affect her FT4 number, and it really shouldn't affect her FT3 that much, either (since it's SR).  Had she taken her NT before the most recent draw?  How long had she been on 2 grains of NT and 10 mcg of T3 when this last lab was drawn?  What are the dates on the two labs?

On what are you basing her conversion problem?  While the labs you have
posted are dismal, her FT3 relative to her almost non-existent FT4 actually indicates really good conversion.

Sorry to ask so many questions...

[Desperatemom24]

No, these were taken on the 50mg synthroid.  Her most recent labs we cannot use because the doc didn't tell her not to take the slow release T3 before the tests which threw off her numbers.  I rechecked the results and those are accurate.    The doctor said she hadn't seen numbers that low in a very long time.  She upped her doses based on how she was feeling.  She is scheduled for more blood work in two months.

[goolarra]

I'm sorry, but I have to ask you to verify those labs.  FT4 is 0.06 (not 0.6)?  Also, these labs were drawn while she was taking 2 grains of NT and 10 mcg of T3?

Have her labs ever been anywhere near range on anything she's taken?

[Desperatemom24]

thanks for your response.  Most recent labs
TSH - .052   range .450 - 4.5
Free T3  - .9 range 2.0 - 4.4
Free T4 - .06 range .82 - 1.77

RT3 = 24 range 13.5 - 34.2

As far as history my daughter has been suffering with undiagnosed hypothyroidism for 3 years.  In July we finally had our Dr. put her on 50mg Synthroid based on a 4.2 TSH level.  She is lethargic, very bad muscles aches, and gained 20 pounds while surviving on about 1200 calories a day.  She has not mensturated since 2008, she has osteopinia, low estrogen, stomach issues.  Last year they found a microadenoma of the pituitary gland which is probably the cause for the multiple hormone deficiencies.  Anyway, we are trying to get thyroid stable and then we need to address the estrogen and reproductive issues.  

We started seeing new endocrin doc who took her off synthroid in October and put her on the two grains and 10mcg on slow release T3 then.  After the latest bloodwork she bumped her to the 25mcg.

We know she has a conversion problem but she also has the RT3 issue.  I think that basically comes from a severe diet and the stresses of a college athlete.

She had a slight increase in energy with the 25mcg.  Originally the doctor wanted to bump her to 30mcg and then said no will just use the 25 we have switched her to the 35 and she feels better then she has in 3 years.  It is our intention to continue this medication for the next two weeks and then call the doctor and see if she will change her prescription.  I suppose we have become a little impatient but there is no build up of the slow release T3 it is used through out the day.  

Also, the doc told her to split the nature throid.  One grain in the morning and one grain in afternoon

[goolarra]

It's rather unusual to have to take both NT and added T3, especially that much added T3.  NT already has a very high T3 content, compared to what our thyroids would produce were they working properly.

Please post her latest labs.  Include reference ranges as they vary lab to lab and have to come from her own lab report.  Also include actual RT3 result.

If she was just bumped by her doctor from 10 mcg T3 to 25 mcg T3, AND she's gone ahead and added another 10 mcg of T3 on her own, she's playing with fire.  10 to 25 is already a HUGE increase.  T3 increase increments are usually more in the 5 mcg range.

T3 is much more fast acting than T4.  However, it can still take some time to see the change.

Can you provide a brief meds history?