THYROID TESTS

[Liz1900]

Hi,

    I have been on Armour thyroid for about 40 years without problem, but in Dec 2007 I developed heart palpitations and have been dealing with adjusting my medicine since then - now almost the end of February.  I am hypothyroid which I know is I am not producing enough thyroid hormone and the medicine supplements that.  I have to admit that I am not very educated on thyroid problems because since I have been taking the medicine for so many years, I have never had the urge to investigate it until now.

   People on the boards have told me to ask for T3 and T4 testing in addition to TSH.  I don't believe my doctor does that because I have had no problems with my medication.  People on the boards refer to Free T3 and Free T4 - is that what they are referring to when they say to be tested for that?  I talked to my doctor and told him that I had been investigating this and he said when I go for blood work he could check those, but normally doesn't - probably because I had no symptoms.

   Is Free T3 and Free T4 what you thyroid is actually producing?  I want to understand what I am talking about.  I guess TSH testing is the overall amount you are getting with your own thyroid and the meds????   If what my thyroid is producing has changed and I am getting too much medicine - perhaps that is why I am having heart palpitations?

Any help would be appreciated.
Liz

[stella5349]

Actually  T0 is also in Armour too. As stated it covers all the T's. It is fast acting but still requires the same monitoring time with blood tests and dosage changes. 4 to 6 weeks until balanced.

Was the dose changed for you? It is very common to experience heart palps after a med change. and deminish after 3 to 4 weeks if dosage to close to your numbers. 1.0-1.5 Also if you are monthly cycling or going through a change (illness - virus cold - cycle - stress etc) You could notice Armour's effect differently. It is a tough thing to manage and 40 years is great. I am Armour. I had the dosage changed and started checking all this out. It has been a god send for me and literally saved my life. - but for some it just isn't right.

I am fighting to get the TPO antibody blood work right now !! I requested an ultra sound (due to posting here) and recieve a Dx of a nodule. Now I have to go through Kip's protocal FNA. Hoping for beign - but that doesn't guarentee anything either.

Get the full panel - I strikes me odd that you don't have that done on Armour anyway. At least T3.  Get full FreeT3 and 4 TPO TG with TSH.

Good Luck

[kipland]

I would ask for the whole thyroid panel when it's time for the bloodwork - which should include testing for antibodies.  If my doc hadn't ran that test, I would still have thyroid cancer and not know it.  My TSH, T3 and T4 were all within normal ranges at the time of testing.  It was the antibodies that finally gave it away, and I was sent for an ultrasound - which found the nodule, and a fine needle biopsy - which showed it was cancer.  

I'm not saying that's what you have, but in order for them to figure out what's going on with you, they need to look at everything.  Those antibodies can really mess with a thyroid - making them produce too much, or not enough.  

Good luck and keep us posted!

Lori

[authrjenn]

Armour has three drugs in already. t1, t2, t3. TSH goes to the pitutary and asks it to produce t3. Many peoples sysyems can not do that without help so they get placed on Armour. Because it contains alll of the above ingredients it helps by preventing any additional strain on your endrocrine system. Synthroid, only produces T4, so it asks my body to do all of the work. I don't think my body can do it because I have been sick for so long...worn out perhaps, age...etc I also take hormone replacement so it eats up the synthroid making my level drop almost in half...as for me.....I am looking for a doc who will place me on ARMOUR but having alot of trouble finding one..I think they like to keep you sick, make more money that way ....