Here's an update - any comments welcome: got blood test results back - this Dr insists on blood work 3-5 hrs after taking thyroid medication to see how it is working in the body; fasting otherwise. He is a holistic/MD doctor. The blood tests were from about 2 weeks ago and he also did saliva and urine testing. About 10 days before med increase my daughter began complaining of being cold again and her hair turned brittle. Positive benefits thus far are increased energy and concentration. Still low mood and lots of anxiety (typical for her but currently exacerbated by boyfriend breaking up with her and winter sport starting). She has lost about 6 lbs since starting thyroid tx (she works out a lot and also feels hungry a lot). She is losing a lot of hair :( - he increase compounded sustained release armour to 60mg starting Friday - hair is now shiny but falling out more! She has lost about 1/2 her volume in the past 4 months of treatment.
Results: CBC and metabolic panel all normal
Urinalysis and lipids normal
Vit B12 high 1003 (211-946) - said not to worry
Vit B6 - high 49.8 (2.0-32.8) - said not to worry
Sex hormones fine
Iron panel fine
Ferritin 49 (15-77) -- this was 18 before gluten free and supplementing
Vit C, copper, zinc, IGF-1 fine
DHEA high 1153 (40-491) said this is stress as DHEAs is normal
DHEA-sulfate 227.7 (110-433.2)
Thyroid - 45mg compounded suspended release Armour taken 4 hrs earlier so it is "in her system"
TSH 2.01 (.45-4.5)
T3 164 (71-180)
Free T3 3.9 (2.3-5)
Total T4 7.5 (4.5-12)
Free T4 1.17 (.93-1.6)
Reverse T3 14.5 (9.2-24.1)
Antibodies - negative
Saliva test
cortisol
8am 28.5 (5.1-11.6) high
2pm 2.6 (2.3-5.3)
6pm 1.4 (1.0-2.4)
11:30pm .9 (.4-2.1)
DHEAS 8am 4.5 (1.0-3.0) high
DHEAS 6pm 1.5 (1.0-3.0)
Neurotransmitters
serotonin low - 71.8 (optimal 200-415)
GABA low 181.5 (600-1100)
dopamine low 100.6 (250-400)
nor-epinephrine low 23.4 (30-50)
epinepherine low 6.0 (10-15)
Glutamate 10.2 (5-10) high
He increased thyroid meds from 45 to 60 mgs - with her weight loss, hair loss and anxiety I worry about overmedication, but I would assume that she even has room in free T3 since she took her medication before this test correct? Heart rate and blood pressure are fine. Does this plan below sound adequate? I am very nervous about so many supplements. Any suggestions on hair loss?
He said she could stop iron supplement except during her cycle; keep up with Vit D and C
To help with anxiety he gave her GABA (at a very large dose) and TravaCor (5-HTP, Taurine, L-theanine plus vitamins) to start for a few weeks as he wanted to calm her down, esp with the increase in thyroid meds before adding Adrenal support (ND), a dopamine supplement, and ExcitaPlus (for low epinephrine).
Thanks for any input.
Your daughter really needs to be tested for Free T3. I am surprised that the doctor put her on the Armour without testing for Free T3. I suggest that you go back and somehow get that done now, rather than waiting. Without a Free T3 test it is really like flying blind. The 50 mcg of Levoxyl is equivalent to somewhere between 1/2 and 2/3 of a grain of Armour, dependent on which conversion factor you choose to use. So, no I don't think it is too much of a change.
Switching meds and dosages frequently results in unexpected reactions for a while. So for the interim I would just insist on the Free T3 test and a Reverse T3 test also, while she is there, just to check that out. I am very surprised that her ferritin is still low since I think she has been supplementing with a good dose of iron. That is also something to discuss with the doctor.
Hello - it is compounded armour with an additive for sustained release to last through the day, so it can't be split and is supposed to be taken in the morning. I sent in the saliva/urine test by mail this morning; all the other tests are to be done the first day of her menstrual cycle (probably in about 10 days) - we see him again beginning of December to get results back. She is taking 106mg elemental iron (325mg ferrous fumarate with Vit C) and he added 5000iu D3. Said he thinks there's an adrenal problem as well, but waiting for test results. He didn't want her to have to continue to struggle on the Levoxyl for another month so he changed her thyroid medication.
She said she was tired all day but stopped falling asleep after the first few periods. Moodiness has been increasing over past month - she is not feeling hot, racing heartbeat/palpitations, no shaking hands. From what I have read the equivalent dose between Armour and Levoxyl (she was on 50 mcg) should have been 30mg? Maybe 45 is too much of a change with the added T3? I have a call into the Dr. Just wondering if this will pass in a few days and stay the course or try to get a lower compounded dose of Armour? Thank you gimel.
How long before the ND will be able to test your daughter? Was your daughter advised to split her Armour Thyroid and take 1/2 in morning and the other 1/2 in the early afternoon? Was anything suggested for her low ferritin level?