TSH climbing, Dr. says all is normal

[MercyAnn]

My thyroid problems were pretty much under control until Armour did the new formulation. Then I couldn't even get it anyway, but my tsh had climbed to over 5.0 with symptoms. Dr. put me on 112 mcg. Synthroid, I got really sick with terrible pain and insomnia. Then he tried putting me on 50 mcg with 25 mcg Cytomel. My heart started to race so I stopped, plus fibro pain was still bad. For the past 6 weeks have been on compounded armour, but I could feel it wasn't working like the original formula. I don't know what to think of these test results. The nurse called me and said they were all normal. I told her, for me, that tsh was not normal, but high. She said the doctor said all was normal, keep the same medicine. Here are the results::

Tsh:  3.15    FT4: 0.9        FT3: 4.03

I don't know what to think, why is the tsh higher? I used to feel good when it was about 1.0 or under. I was in so much pain 2 days ago, that even though I was taking compounded armour (120 mg) I took 5 mcg cytomel twice yesterday. My pain let up significantly! Why is that though, since my FT3 was already  a bit higher? If I don't take that cytomel, I'm hurting so bad I can't sleep. My doctor isn't too helpul, however....he is so stuck on believing that if the tests are still in the normal range, all is well. The way I look at it, that means I can experiement and see if I can feel better. If I keep taking the bit of cytomel, will my FR3 get too high? And what would that mean if it was but I was feeling better?

[MercyAnn]

Thanks for your comments. It sure is hard trying to work out these health issues, yet we have to try. Yes, I cannot take that much T3. Even small amounts get me feeling strange for a bit. What I'm finding, is that I do need that second dose. Tonight I took it at 6 p.m. hoping it will help me tonight. I'm hoping to end this terrible fibro flare up that basically started with all the changes.

[annamae26]

it appears that your ft4 is alot lower than your ft3 so there may be a balance issue.  for me, i have given up trying to figure out the meds and i go by my symptoms. the numbers don t matter to me any longer.  when my numbers were great i still had symptoms. that is ft4 mid to upper range and ft3 rather high.  the meds, whether synthetic or compounded are a mystery and so i go by how i feel. it seems that your ft4 is too low. maybe you need more t4 med like levo. 25 of cytomel would put me up the wall and my ft3 would be too high regardless of what my ft4 was.  hopefully some of the more experienced answerers will write to you.  

[MercyAnn]

I forgot the ranges for these tests. Quest told me when I called them. What I do remember though is that the FT4 was almost under the range, I think it started at 0.8.
The FT3 was at the upper end of normal, and the TSH was in range because this lab still has the normal set at 5.0 instead of the current one of 3.0.

I'm still wondering why the cytomel works better for the pain than the compouned Armour and higher Ft3 reading. Oh well.

[annamae26]

can you post the ref ranges   i play with my t3 meds alot too. trying to find that right level.  if too much t3 i have symptoms if not enough i have other symptoms. im on a slippery slope but i have to figure it out myself.   have you considered finding another doctor?  your dr is stuck in the numbers and it won t benefit you.

[Smilerdeb]

Bumping this up for others to post.....

T3 med is 4 times more potent than T4 med so a dose of 50mcg T4 to 25mg T3 is way too high for the T3 med.
Taking 25mg of T3 should mean you are on 100mg of T4.
No wonder you have symptoms.