Switch from Armour to Synthroid

[SandyW1207]

HI:

After researching in several different places, I have heard some people say that they felt good on Armour for a little while and then went back to symptoms.  I felt great on armour for about 6-7 months and then my symptoms returned.  Right now I have all hypo symptoms and have steadily gained 12 pounds over the last few months. My meds have been increased but I have just continued to gain and have symptoms.  My new md did a bunch of bloodwork and added Synthorid to my Armour.  She said she may need to play around with my meds a bit.  Why would my symptoms suddenly re-appear and have progressively gotten worse with no relief with a med increase or addition of Synthroid.   I was thinking of switching back to Synthroid with Cytomel.  Has anyone had this problem where Armour worked for a while and then

[gimel]

Please post the reference ranges for those thyroid test results.  Results and ranges vary from lab to lab so we must always compare results to ranges.  Also, please post the iron and ferritin test results and ranges.  

[CLL34]

please help. I am on 30mg Armour. I am shedding terribly, have gained weight, feel tired and foggy and I am wondering if I need more t4 or if the t3 is too high. Like should I switch to synthroid?
T4 free 1.09
T3 free 4.30
TSH 1.23
Then I have a high serum iron, but low ferritin. I would take any input that I could get right now. This is all so new to me. thanks

[gimel]

Keep in mind that the whole purpose of thyroid medication is to relieve symptoms.  Symptom relief is all important, not test results.  Many of our members report that symptom relief for them required that FT3 was adjusted into the upper part of the range and FT4 adjusted to around the midpoint of its range.  Remember, "the well-replaced patient’s free T4 will be around the middle of its range or lower, and the FT3 will be high-“normal” or slightly high before the AM dose."

I think you are going to have to find out if your doctor is going to be willing to treat you clinically by testing and adjusting FT3 and FT4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  If not then you are most likely going to have to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so.

[SandyW1207]

I started with a new md who did a load of blood work.  She increased me to 120 Armour, but nothing changed.  After the 120 increase my labs were Free T4 1.02, Free T3 3.1, TSH .039, She added .25 of Synthroid, but based on how I felt after 1 week we lowered my Armour to 90.  However, my symptoms are the same or worse.  I have steadily gained at least .5 lb a week for the last few months now totaling about 13lbs and the weight gain is coming on faster.  For the record back when I was hyper before the RAI, I gained 35 pounds.  Back then I was starving all the time, now I have no appetite at all.  I am out of breath at the gym after about 20 minutes, tired depressed, etc.  I told my new md that I was good on Synthroid with a higher does of Cytomel, but my old doctor didn't like Cytomel and switched me to Armour.  I have an appointment in 3.5 weeks, but I was thinking of asking her to switch me now.  I felt great about 1.5 years ago on Synthroid / Cytomel, but my 1st md didn't do Free T3 tests and we don't know where my T3 was back then.  I think that may be the key.  

[gimel]

Sorry, I overlooked that I had seen your latest test results, which showed the need to increase your FT4 a bit and your FT3 more.  Remember this quote from the link that I gave you.

"The ultimate criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response. I have prescribed natural dessicated thyroid for your patient (Armour or Nature-Throid). These contain T4 and T3 (40mcg and 9mcg respectively per 60mg). They are more effective than T4 therapy for most patients. Since they provide more T3 than the thyroid gland produces, the well-replaced patient’s free T4 will be around the middle of its range or lower, and the FT3 will be high-“normal” or slightly high before the AM dose."

As for changing results, were you ever diagnosed for the cause of you being hypothyroid?  I'm wondering about Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, for which the tests would be the thyroid antibodies, TPO ab and TG ab.

[gimel]

The main thing we need to know to give you the best response is whether you have been tested for Free T3 and Free T4.  If so, please post the results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.  Also what dosage of Armour and Synthroid are you taking?