Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 , what were the normal lab reference ranges to compare this to? Also, what is this doctor's full name and address, etc...? Re: new tests > > Ok, test results are in. > My TSH is back up to 5.3 from less than .1 eight weeks ago (was 5 or > 7 something before that?. > 16 weeks ago he put me on .125 mcg synthroid up from another > doctor's script of .1 mcg. At my 8 week check up he noted that my > TSH was a little lower than he wanted at under .1 and he didn't want > me THAT far so he backed me down to .112 mcg. > My T4/T3 is 1.05/2.5 which appears to be in normal range. > So they called in a script for 1.5 grains of Armor. > He isnt sure why, with such small changes in the mcg of > synthroid/levothyroxine that my TSH is swinging so wildly. > He is hoping that will stop the wild swings. > So it looks like I'm on armor now! > What can I expect, anything dramatic or noticable? > > Its Dr. Exstrum in Dallas. > I love the man, he is one step ahead of me, I don't have to beg for > treatment, and he is willing to take the time to explain things and > try differnt things. So anyone in Dallas who doesn't care for their > endo... Try Exstrum!!! > I have high hopes for armor. I want to feel like me again, its > been over 2 years since my diagnosis, and thus about 3-4 years since > I've felt like me long term. It seems like when I get a new higher > dosage I feel great at first then I backslide. That explains the TSH > swings I guess. > > Thanks for all the help and advice~ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Yes, it looks like you can certainly afford to go up on your T3, since it is at the very lower " normal " range. I don't know, but that may be what he's looking at here. I'm taking the combination of the two (T4 and the Armour) because I can't seem to pump the T4 up even withing the normal range with just the Armour, yet, I KNOW that my body is enjoying the benefits of that little bit of extra T3. Everyone is so individual here. I think that that alone is probably why my thyroid is being so stimulated. It was used to all that T4 and it's taking a lot of time for it to stop (TSH lag, in my case). Thanks for the doc info! Re: new tests > Normal for the lab is: > T4: .73-1.95 Mine is 1.05 > T3: 2.3-4.2 Mine is 2.5 > > > Terry D. Exstrum, M.D., F.A.C.P. > Dallas Diagnostic Association > 7777 Forest Lane, Suite C-300 > Dallas, Texas > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Well, I didn't tell her exactly that, but I did tell her what I'm doing in my own case, as far as the combo. It is a roller coaster ride all right! I just still feel like I need that little bit of T3 and the other stuff the Armour has to offer. I know that I'm feeling better in some ways, but I am a little concerned about the amt of stimulation to my thyroid gland that's been going on. I'm going to just guess and say that I think it's antibodies doing their own thing. Won't know til I get that testing, along with the others again. I'm trying to give it plenty of time because I've been playing around with adjustment so much. Now I've put back 50 mcgs of the Levoxyl, with 45 mgs of the Armour. I don't want to lower the Armour too much, but also don't want the bugeyes or high pulse rate either. The thyroid irritation and swelling I really believe are the antibodies. Jan, she has listed a Dallas area doctor willing to prescribe the Armour. Is there any reason we can't put him on the list, or are there things I don't know here? Re: Re: new tests Hi, ! If you would repost your T3 and T4 numbers together with the reference ranges and the exact names of each test, we may be able to comment on them. Each lab has their own reference ranges. In any case, most of us need to have our Free T3 and Free T4 in the upper half of their ranges to feel well and be free of hypo symptoms. Many of us cannot get them there without our TSH being suppressed. Just being in the normal range is not good enough. If you do not have hard copies of the actual lab reports, I suggest that you ask for them. If the reference ranges are like the ones I have seen, you may not be a good candidate for straight Armour. How were you feeling on .100 mg of $ynthroid? How did you feel on .125 mg of $ynthroid? .112 mg? TSH can vary as much as 2 full points in a 24 hour period. It also tends to lag behind the Free T3 and Free T4. What is your diagnosis? Hashi? It comes with its own rollercoaster. . . . . Then there is the $ynthroid. . . . .speaking of rollercoasters! My experience with it was just like yours. I would feel better with each dose increase and then backslide. It had to do with the stability of $ynthroid itself. No thyroid med has had more potency related recalls than $ynthroid. Unithroid has never had a recall. . . .Armour has not had one in the last several years. But I have a suspicion that you are not a good candidate for straight Armour. . . . . (((Hugs!))) jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 There is a conversion chart on ArmourThyroid.com site. T3 is considered to be approximately 4 times stronger than the T4. I've done the math on it, but really there are differing opinions about this. You would multiply the amt of T3 times 4 and then add it to the mcgs of T4, and would supposedly be equal to the total mcgs of T4 that would supposedly be taken, if you were not doing the Armour. This is ONLY my opinion, mind you, but I personally think that, sometimes, in some cases, the introduction of T3 that was never there before could possibly mean that that person wouldn't have to take a larger replacement dose, i.e., not mathematically equal to what they were taking in T4 only meds. The introduction of T3 is very powerful to someone who's never known what it was like to have a proper amt of T3 going directly to their tissues. I would supposedly be taking I'm thinking around 90 mgs of Armour, had I been able to take Armour-only, but my body just simply couldn't cope with that large a dose, even introducing it gradually over a period of approximately 3 months or so. I'm still playing around with dosage adjustment, since September. You may take right off on it and feel wonderful. Everyone is different. I really think that the attacks of Hashi's antibodies does something to the grand scheme here. I would NOT take the Armour all at once, rather split the dosage into at least two, if not 3 separate doses, throughout the day. T3 acts directly on the tissues in a short period of time, and our thyroids originally only put it into our tissues in short spurts at a time. It sort of mimicks that idea. Re: new tests > I'll be sure to keep y'all posted, after my lil crisis is over. I > think he may have said, at one point but I forget. I'm not sure if I > have to be on surpressive doses forever? > Anyway... > I got my Armor pills. WOW are they so much cheaper!!! > So... the nurse said I was to take 1.5 grains a day. The pills say > 90MG. I guess 90MG = 1.5 Grains? > Is there a conversion factor or chart? > I'm just thrilled that they are cheaper > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2003 Report Share Posted December 19, 2003 Where are your blood levels w/lab normal ranges in this " hard copy " ? Re: new tests > I got the hard copy of the lab tests today. > The doctor's note reads: > Level (TSH) now borderline low, which is a bit surprising, given > small (decrease) in dose. Also, T3 & T4 a bit out of balance. As > discussed, will try armour thyroid. D/c LT & begin armour thyroid, > 1.5gr POqd #90x3 Follow up with me in 6 weeks. > > So, thats that. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2003 Report Share Posted December 19, 2003 My messages are appearing out of order. Don't know why this happened. Texas Re: new tests > My results on the hard copy are exactly the same as I posted > yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2003 Report Share Posted December 19, 2003 Hehe Re: Re: new tests Yahoo . . . .uh. . . .farted. . . .uh. . . wrote: My messages are appearing out of order. Don't know why this happened.Texas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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