Guest guest Posted March 26, 2003 Report Share Posted March 26, 2003 Thank you so much Jan. I have an appointment scheduled for next Wednesday. I will ask him exactly the way you suggested. At 09:45 AM 3/26/2003 -0800, you wrote: Hi, ! It's too bad that they did not do a Free T3. Since your Total T4 is so much higher than your Free T4, I can only surmise that your Total T3 may be higher than your Free T3. My suggestion would be to leave your Armour at the current dose and add .025 mg of synthetic T4. Then, next time you are tested, insist on getting Free T3 and Free T4. The Totals are really not necessary. Most of us do not feel well unless our Free Ts are in the upper half of the range. I feel cold when T4 is too low. What you say to the doc is something like: I am not asking you to make me hyper and put my T3 and T4 over range. I would just like to see if I might feel better on a dose that would bring my Free Ts higher within range. I understand that a small increase in dosage can make a large increase in blood levels and symptoms, so I am suggesting that we add just .025mg of T4 and then retest in 6-10 weeks. We will be interested in hearing further reports. jan McSwain wrote: Hi all. I wanted some input on my labs, please. I currently take 2.5 grains of Armour - I had a bout with a liver problem and diabetes and went with a holistic approach. During a liver cleanse, it was suggested to me that I refrain from taking ALL of my medications. While I am no longer in need of my meds for the diabetes (the sugar levels are diet controlled) I am definitely in need of my Armour. I will give you the results with and without the Armour. On Armour 12 days without my Armour Total T3 - 164 (60-181) Total T3 - 159 (60-181) Free T4 - 1.0 (.8-1.8) Free T4 - .9 (.8-1.8) Total T4 - 10.3 (4.5-12.5) Total T4 - 9.0 (4.5-12.5) TSH - 1.38 (.4-5.5) TSH - 3.31 (.4-5.5) It's obvious to me that I definitely need my thyroid meds. I know that some of you may wish to " scold " me for being " doofy " enough to stop my Armour...lesson well learned. My question is this...while I have yet to speak to the doc about this report, I need to know exactly what to say to him to ensure that my Armour is the correct dose. His nurse felt my ranges were normal, so I hope he does not share her opinion. I was very quick to let her know that my ranges were NOT normal and that I feel much better when my TSH is lower. To date, I do not feel bad now that I am back on my Armour, but I don't know if it's due to a HUGE change in my lifestyle. I am now vegan and I exercise on a regular basis. Would it be best to just ask the doc to leave me on my current dosage of Armour for now, or do you think it would hurt to tweak it a bit? I still have a few problems with the cold intolerance, but my energy is doing pretty good. Thanks all, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 26, 2003 Report Share Posted March 26, 2003 Jan, OH yeah...I forgot to tell you something else. I took my last email from you as to which tests to have run. When I showed it to him, he said it would be no problem. I was just as surprised as you were when the nurse said they didn't do a Free T3. I will bring this up to the doc on my next appointment. Thanks again, At 09:45 AM 3/26/2003 -0800, you wrote: Hi, ! It's too bad that they did not do a Free T3. Since your Total T4 is so much higher than your Free T4, I can only surmise that your Total T3 may be higher than your Free T3. My suggestion would be to leave your Armour at the current dose and add .025 mg of synthetic T4. Then, next time you are tested, insist on getting Free T3 and Free T4. The Totals are really not necessary. Most of us do not feel well unless our Free Ts are in the upper half of the range. I feel cold when T4 is too low. What you say to the doc is something like: I am not asking you to make me hyper and put my T3 and T4 over range. I would just like to see if I might feel better on a dose that would bring my Free Ts higher within range. I understand that a small increase in dosage can make a large increase in blood levels and symptoms, so I am suggesting that we add just .025mg of T4 and then retest in 6-10 weeks. We will be interested in hearing further reports. jan McSwain wrote: Hi all. I wanted some input on my labs, please. I currently take 2.5 grains of Armour - I had a bout with a liver problem and diabetes and went with a holistic approach. During a liver cleanse, it was suggested to me that I refrain from taking ALL of my medications. While I am no longer in need of my meds for the diabetes (the sugar levels are diet controlled) I am definitely in need of my Armour. I will give you the results with and without the Armour. On Armour 12 days without my Armour Total T3 - 164 (60-181) Total T3 - 159 (60-181) Free T4 - 1.0 (.8-1.8) Free T4 - .9 (.8-1.8) Total T4 - 10.3 (4.5-12.5) Total T4 - 9.0 (4.5-12.5) TSH - 1.38 (.4-5.5) TSH - 3.31 (.4-5.5) It's obvious to me that I definitely need my thyroid meds. I know that some of you may wish to " scold " me for being " doofy " enough to stop my Armour...lesson well learned. My question is this...while I have yet to speak to the doc about this report, I need to know exactly what to say to him to ensure that my Armour is the correct dose. His nurse felt my ranges were normal, so I hope he does not share her opinion. I was very quick to let her know that my ranges were NOT normal and that I feel much better when my TSH is lower. To date, I do not feel bad now that I am back on my Armour, but I don't know if it's due to a HUGE change in my lifestyle. I am now vegan and I exercise on a regular basis. Would it be best to just ask the doc to leave me on my current dosage of Armour for now, or do you think it would hurt to tweak it a bit? I still have a few problems with the cold intolerance, but my energy is doing pretty good. Thanks all, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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