Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

[Guest guest]

What I'm having trouble figuring out is why this doctor ran ONLY the antithyroglobulin antibody test, but didn't run the one most common to Hashimoto's or Graves', either one, which is the antithyroidperoxidase antibody test. This does not make sense why he didn't do this. BOTH of mine, including the one you had, are very elevated, but in Hashis or Graves, it is more common for the aforementioned missing one to be elevated. Your TSH would have nothing to do with your heart flutters, but your actual thyroid hormones would, whether they're either too high or too low. I would say that, if your disease is in a "stepwise" process, beginning to slowly progress, you may have begun treatment at a time when it happens to be in that progressive stage. Hence, the thyroid gland may be failing more, and you either need an increase in thyroid hormone, or change to another type, and, of course, I'm going to say the Armour because of the types of symptoms you're having. Armour has it all to deal with all, though it may take some time.

Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

I am having many "issues" right now, and I just want to exclude the possibility of them being thyroid-related, so I can deal with them in a "non-thyroid" way. With that having been said, let me make sure I understand what you are saying. Here are my labs again:

TSH .184 (.35-5.0) My doc thinks this is too low...I have been having timed that my heart pounds while I am at rest, or feels like it is "fluttering" a little. My TSH was at 4.68 on .05mcg of Levoxyl, and now at this level on .075mcg. of Levoxyl

FT4 1.29 (.61-1.76) This is above the midrange, which is where it is supposed to be, right?

FT3 3.3 (2.3-4.2) This is a hair above the midrange, which you are saying is low compared to the FT4?

Thyroid Antithyroglobulin AB <20 (0-40) Is this Antibodies? If so, I have none, right?

Here are the symptoms that are NEW since being on thyroid meds: Weight gain (20 pounds), achy joints in hands and feet, especially in the morning, watch and rings are tight and leave prints on me, and depression (which could be "other" related).

Positives: My skin seems less dry, I used to feel like I am going to pass out in the afternoon anymore, but now it is very erratic (some days I feel ok, some days I am exhausted for no reason).

My memory and "brain fog" is just as bad as ever! My doctor is just "ok" with his knowledge level, but he is very open to whatever I want. So...I'm just trying to figure that out. Any help would be appreciated!

[Guest guest]

Armour Thyroid is the oldest thyroid treatment, having THE best track record, never having had an FDA recall. It is natural dessicated porcine thyroid, with not just T4 (have to depend on that to convert to T3 in your body, and if you don't convert well, you're fried!), but also direct T3, T2, T1, and calcitonin (puts calcium into the bones where it belongs). The best way to use Armour, though, to get the benefits of the calcitonin, is to take it sublingually. Calcitonin is destroyed by the stomach acids, but not when absorbed through the blood vessels in the mouth, under the tongue. You are probably surrounded here by great testimonies about it.

Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

Hmmm...interesting...I guess he wants me to make a decision whether to I want to decrease my Levoxyl due to my low TSH and come back to get rechecked in two months, or stay the same and get rechecked in one month. I guess I will have him check the antithyroidperoxide antibody test then. In the meantime, should I change to armour or just add Cytomel to what I am taking, or neither? Thanks so much for your help. It seems like we are doctoring ourselves and just telling the doctor what to prescribe us. He doesn't really know that much about thryoid but is open to what I have to say.

"Armour has it all to deal with all, though it may take some time."

What do you mean by the last statement?

Again, I am so grateful for your help.

[Guest guest]

Ok, NOW I've got to go research and see how that might affect us. Never even thought about that, but it's got to mean even more calcitonin.

Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

It actually has to have parathyroid hormone, too, since the parathyroids are not trimmed from the thyroid glands before processing. It, like calcitonin is a peptide hormone and is destroyed by stomach acids.

[Guest guest]

Ok, NOW I've got to go research and see how that might affect us. Never even thought about that, but it's got to mean even more calcitonin.

Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

It actually has to have parathyroid hormone, too, since the parathyroids are not trimmed from the thyroid glands before processing. It, like calcitonin is a peptide hormone and is destroyed by stomach acids.

[Guest guest]

Ok, NOW I've got to go research and see how that might affect us. Never even thought about that, but it's got to mean even more calcitonin.

Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

It actually has to have parathyroid hormone, too, since the parathyroids are not trimmed from the thyroid glands before processing. It, like calcitonin is a peptide hormone and is destroyed by stomach acids.

[Guest guest]

,

My doctor is a bit clueless, I am afraid. How important is it that I get the antithyroidperoxidase antibody test? I am so sick of having my blood taken PLUS I've used up my offive visits so now it is out of pocket. What's the difference between the two tests? Do you think TSH .18 is dangerously low? Does it mean I am hyper? (I don't feel hyper) Why do you recommend Armour? wrote:

What I'm having trouble figuring out is why this doctor ran ONLY the antithyroglobulin antibody test, but didn't run the one most common to Hashimoto's or Graves', either one, which is the antithyroidperoxidase antibody test. This does not make sense why he didn't do this. BOTH of mine, including the one you had, are very elevated, but in Hashis or Graves, it is more common for the aforementioned missing one to be elevated. Your TSH would have nothing to do with your heart flutters, but your actual thyroid hormones would, whether they're either too high or too low. I would say that, if your disease is in a "stepwise" process, beginning to slowly progress, you may have begun treatment at a time when it happens to be in that progressive stage. Hence, the thyroid gland may be failing more, and you either need an increase in thyroid hormone, or change to another type, and, of course, I'm going to say the Armour because of

the types of symptoms you're having. Armour has it all to deal with all, though it may take some time.

Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

I am having many "issues" right now, and I just want to exclude the possibility of them being thyroid-related, so I can deal with them in a "non-thyroid" way. With that having been said, let me make sure I understand what you are saying. Here are my labs again:

TSH .184 (.35-5.0) My doc thinks this is too low...I have been having timed that my heart pounds while I am at rest, or feels like it is "fluttering" a little. My TSH was at 4.68 on .05mcg of Levoxyl, and now at this level on .075mcg. of Levoxyl

FT4 1.29 (.61-1.76) This is above the midrange, which is where it is supposed to be, right?

FT3 3.3 (2.3-4.2) This is a hair above the midrange, which you are saying is low compared to the FT4?

Thyroid Antithyroglobulin AB <20 (0-40) Is this Antibodies? If so, I have none, right?

Here are the symptoms that are NEW since being on thyroid meds: Weight gain (20 pounds), achy joints in hands and feet, especially in the morning, watch and rings are tight and leave prints on me, and depression (which could be "other" related).

Positives: My skin seems less dry, I used to feel like I am going to pass out in the afternoon anymore, but now it is very erratic (some days I feel ok, some days I am exhausted for no reason).

My memory and "brain fog" is just as bad as ever! My doctor is just "ok" with his knowledge level, but he is very open to whatever I want. So...I'm just trying to figure that out. Any help would be appreciated! Cummings phoenixtutorials@...

Do you Yahoo!?Yahoo! Mail - 50x more storage than other providers! Cummings phoenixtutorials@... __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

,

My doctor is a bit clueless, I am afraid. How important is it that I get the antithyroidperoxidase antibody test? I am so sick of having my blood taken PLUS I've used up my offive visits so now it is out of pocket. What's the difference between the two tests? Do you think TSH .18 is dangerously low? Does it mean I am hyper? (I don't feel hyper) Why do you recommend Armour? wrote:

What I'm having trouble figuring out is why this doctor ran ONLY the antithyroglobulin antibody test, but didn't run the one most common to Hashimoto's or Graves', either one, which is the antithyroidperoxidase antibody test. This does not make sense why he didn't do this. BOTH of mine, including the one you had, are very elevated, but in Hashis or Graves, it is more common for the aforementioned missing one to be elevated. Your TSH would have nothing to do with your heart flutters, but your actual thyroid hormones would, whether they're either too high or too low. I would say that, if your disease is in a "stepwise" process, beginning to slowly progress, you may have begun treatment at a time when it happens to be in that progressive stage. Hence, the thyroid gland may be failing more, and you either need an increase in thyroid hormone, or change to another type, and, of course, I'm going to say the Armour because of

the types of symptoms you're having. Armour has it all to deal with all, though it may take some time.

Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

I am having many "issues" right now, and I just want to exclude the possibility of them being thyroid-related, so I can deal with them in a "non-thyroid" way. With that having been said, let me make sure I understand what you are saying. Here are my labs again:

TSH .184 (.35-5.0) My doc thinks this is too low...I have been having timed that my heart pounds while I am at rest, or feels like it is "fluttering" a little. My TSH was at 4.68 on .05mcg of Levoxyl, and now at this level on .075mcg. of Levoxyl

FT4 1.29 (.61-1.76) This is above the midrange, which is where it is supposed to be, right?

FT3 3.3 (2.3-4.2) This is a hair above the midrange, which you are saying is low compared to the FT4?

Thyroid Antithyroglobulin AB <20 (0-40) Is this Antibodies? If so, I have none, right?

Here are the symptoms that are NEW since being on thyroid meds: Weight gain (20 pounds), achy joints in hands and feet, especially in the morning, watch and rings are tight and leave prints on me, and depression (which could be "other" related).

Positives: My skin seems less dry, I used to feel like I am going to pass out in the afternoon anymore, but now it is very erratic (some days I feel ok, some days I am exhausted for no reason).

My memory and "brain fog" is just as bad as ever! My doctor is just "ok" with his knowledge level, but he is very open to whatever I want. So...I'm just trying to figure that out. Any help would be appreciated! Cummings phoenixtutorials@...

Do you Yahoo!?Yahoo! Mail - 50x more storage than other providers! Cummings phoenixtutorials@... __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Getting the other antibody tests helps you to further what you're dealing with here, as stated in my previous email. Armour? Looking at your tests, there's a possibility that your cells are not taking on enough T3 inside of them, or possibly not enough T4 being converted to T3 (these are both major problems with some of us who are still seeking help "after all these yrs"). As stated in my previous letter, you may just now be into further failure of the gland, so it's vitally important to know what BOTH antibodies are, whether they're high or low, or what. This helps in knowing how much destruction may be going on at the present time, so that you won't be in the dark. For instance, with Hashimoto's, the general consensus is not to eat much iodine, not that you can totally avoid it altogether, but you would want to watch your intake more of this and the intake of way too many goitrous foods (I eat them anyway, just not to the ridiculous point). You would also want to prepare to intake more of certain vitamins, and to know why you would be tireder at some times and not at others (antibodies? we don't necessarily always know). Finally, great amts of antibodies can skew all the thyroid testing because of where they attack on certain receptor sites and such, so you must test, yes, but possibly take your lab values with a grain of salt, so to speak, just using them as a general guideline for treatment. The one that can be the most skewed in the case of high antibodies is probably the TSH, and also the T3. If some of your T3 is not getting into your cells, it would show as higher in the bloodstream outside the cells. The reason for this CAN be antibodies blocking the entrance of it. This is why it is NOT simple to treat Hashimoto's, as many doctors have implied who don't know details of thyroid disease. This is why I believe that Armour is better, hands down, because it is going to give more direct T3 to the cells, right away, with some T4 in the med, to be converted later. Everyone is different, and I take up to 7 doses a day of the Armour, at least presently, in very small increments, so that I can continue that tiny blast of T3 direct, during any given time of day. The effects of T3 are very short lived, but as you say you're still having brain fog problems and depression, this was my first clue that your body is not processing enough T3 to be used properly. I'm not saying that you will never feel tired again because anyone is going to feel tired if they keep "pushing it" and pushing it, never getting enough sleep and the like (we can't go on like that forever, whether we have thyroid disease or not, it's not good for ANYone!), but "brain fog" has it's own description, and when a person feels like they never wake up, so to speak, this is classic brain fog, especially if they've been getting pretty regular sleep. Sleep problems are also common with thyroid disease, with not enough rem sleep, because the body does all it's repairs in the sleep, and with hypo, the repairs are not properly being made at ANY time. These are just a few of the clues, IMHO, of course. Nutrient tests for B12, Folic Acid, B6, probably magnesium (just guessing here), the Ferritin, most particularly, are ALWAYS in order for anyone who has thyroid disease that is not presently completely regulated, with the person feeling very well.

Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

,

My doctor is a bit clueless, I am afraid. How important is it that I get the antithyroidperoxidase antibody test? I am so sick of having my blood taken PLUS I've used up my offive visits so now it is out of pocket. What's the difference between the two tests? Do you think TSH .18 is dangerously low? Does it mean I am hyper? (I don't feel hyper) Why do you recommend Armour? wrote:

What I'm having trouble figuring out is why this doctor ran ONLY the antithyroglobulin antibody test, but didn't run the one most common to Hashimoto's or Graves', either one, which is the antithyroidperoxidase antibody test. This does not make sense why he didn't do this. BOTH of mine, including the one you had, are very elevated, but in Hashis or Graves, it is more common for the aforementioned missing one to be elevated. Your TSH would have nothing to do with your heart flutters, but your actual thyroid hormones would, whether they're either too high or too low. I would say that, if your disease is in a "stepwise" process, beginning to slowly progress, you may have begun treatment at a time when it happens to be in that progressive stage. Hence, the thyroid gland may be failing more, and you either need an increase in thyroid hormone, or change to another type, and, of course, I'm going to say the Armour bec! ause of the types of symptoms you're having. Armour has it all to deal with all, though it may take some time.

[Guest guest]

Getting the other antibody tests helps you to further what you're dealing with here, as stated in my previous email. Armour? Looking at your tests, there's a possibility that your cells are not taking on enough T3 inside of them, or possibly not enough T4 being converted to T3 (these are both major problems with some of us who are still seeking help "after all these yrs"). As stated in my previous letter, you may just now be into further failure of the gland, so it's vitally important to know what BOTH antibodies are, whether they're high or low, or what. This helps in knowing how much destruction may be going on at the present time, so that you won't be in the dark. For instance, with Hashimoto's, the general consensus is not to eat much iodine, not that you can totally avoid it altogether, but you would want to watch your intake more of this and the intake of way too many goitrous foods (I eat them anyway, just not to the ridiculous point). You would also want to prepare to intake more of certain vitamins, and to know why you would be tireder at some times and not at others (antibodies? we don't necessarily always know). Finally, great amts of antibodies can skew all the thyroid testing because of where they attack on certain receptor sites and such, so you must test, yes, but possibly take your lab values with a grain of salt, so to speak, just using them as a general guideline for treatment. The one that can be the most skewed in the case of high antibodies is probably the TSH, and also the T3. If some of your T3 is not getting into your cells, it would show as higher in the bloodstream outside the cells. The reason for this CAN be antibodies blocking the entrance of it. This is why it is NOT simple to treat Hashimoto's, as many doctors have implied who don't know details of thyroid disease. This is why I believe that Armour is better, hands down, because it is going to give more direct T3 to the cells, right away, with some T4 in the med, to be converted later. Everyone is different, and I take up to 7 doses a day of the Armour, at least presently, in very small increments, so that I can continue that tiny blast of T3 direct, during any given time of day. The effects of T3 are very short lived, but as you say you're still having brain fog problems and depression, this was my first clue that your body is not processing enough T3 to be used properly. I'm not saying that you will never feel tired again because anyone is going to feel tired if they keep "pushing it" and pushing it, never getting enough sleep and the like (we can't go on like that forever, whether we have thyroid disease or not, it's not good for ANYone!), but "brain fog" has it's own description, and when a person feels like they never wake up, so to speak, this is classic brain fog, especially if they've been getting pretty regular sleep. Sleep problems are also common with thyroid disease, with not enough rem sleep, because the body does all it's repairs in the sleep, and with hypo, the repairs are not properly being made at ANY time. These are just a few of the clues, IMHO, of course. Nutrient tests for B12, Folic Acid, B6, probably magnesium (just guessing here), the Ferritin, most particularly, are ALWAYS in order for anyone who has thyroid disease that is not presently completely regulated, with the person feeling very well.

Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

,

My doctor is a bit clueless, I am afraid. How important is it that I get the antithyroidperoxidase antibody test? I am so sick of having my blood taken PLUS I've used up my offive visits so now it is out of pocket. What's the difference between the two tests? Do you think TSH .18 is dangerously low? Does it mean I am hyper? (I don't feel hyper) Why do you recommend Armour? wrote:

What I'm having trouble figuring out is why this doctor ran ONLY the antithyroglobulin antibody test, but didn't run the one most common to Hashimoto's or Graves', either one, which is the antithyroidperoxidase antibody test. This does not make sense why he didn't do this. BOTH of mine, including the one you had, are very elevated, but in Hashis or Graves, it is more common for the aforementioned missing one to be elevated. Your TSH would have nothing to do with your heart flutters, but your actual thyroid hormones would, whether they're either too high or too low. I would say that, if your disease is in a "stepwise" process, beginning to slowly progress, you may have begun treatment at a time when it happens to be in that progressive stage. Hence, the thyroid gland may be failing more, and you either need an increase in thyroid hormone, or change to another type, and, of course, I'm going to say the Armour bec! ause of the types of symptoms you're having. Armour has it all to deal with all, though it may take some time.

[Guest guest]

Getting the other antibody tests helps you to further what you're dealing with here, as stated in my previous email. Armour? Looking at your tests, there's a possibility that your cells are not taking on enough T3 inside of them, or possibly not enough T4 being converted to T3 (these are both major problems with some of us who are still seeking help "after all these yrs"). As stated in my previous letter, you may just now be into further failure of the gland, so it's vitally important to know what BOTH antibodies are, whether they're high or low, or what. This helps in knowing how much destruction may be going on at the present time, so that you won't be in the dark. For instance, with Hashimoto's, the general consensus is not to eat much iodine, not that you can totally avoid it altogether, but you would want to watch your intake more of this and the intake of way too many goitrous foods (I eat them anyway, just not to the ridiculous point). You would also want to prepare to intake more of certain vitamins, and to know why you would be tireder at some times and not at others (antibodies? we don't necessarily always know). Finally, great amts of antibodies can skew all the thyroid testing because of where they attack on certain receptor sites and such, so you must test, yes, but possibly take your lab values with a grain of salt, so to speak, just using them as a general guideline for treatment. The one that can be the most skewed in the case of high antibodies is probably the TSH, and also the T3. If some of your T3 is not getting into your cells, it would show as higher in the bloodstream outside the cells. The reason for this CAN be antibodies blocking the entrance of it. This is why it is NOT simple to treat Hashimoto's, as many doctors have implied who don't know details of thyroid disease. This is why I believe that Armour is better, hands down, because it is going to give more direct T3 to the cells, right away, with some T4 in the med, to be converted later. Everyone is different, and I take up to 7 doses a day of the Armour, at least presently, in very small increments, so that I can continue that tiny blast of T3 direct, during any given time of day. The effects of T3 are very short lived, but as you say you're still having brain fog problems and depression, this was my first clue that your body is not processing enough T3 to be used properly. I'm not saying that you will never feel tired again because anyone is going to feel tired if they keep "pushing it" and pushing it, never getting enough sleep and the like (we can't go on like that forever, whether we have thyroid disease or not, it's not good for ANYone!), but "brain fog" has it's own description, and when a person feels like they never wake up, so to speak, this is classic brain fog, especially if they've been getting pretty regular sleep. Sleep problems are also common with thyroid disease, with not enough rem sleep, because the body does all it's repairs in the sleep, and with hypo, the repairs are not properly being made at ANY time. These are just a few of the clues, IMHO, of course. Nutrient tests for B12, Folic Acid, B6, probably magnesium (just guessing here), the Ferritin, most particularly, are ALWAYS in order for anyone who has thyroid disease that is not presently completely regulated, with the person feeling very well.

Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

,

My doctor is a bit clueless, I am afraid. How important is it that I get the antithyroidperoxidase antibody test? I am so sick of having my blood taken PLUS I've used up my offive visits so now it is out of pocket. What's the difference between the two tests? Do you think TSH .18 is dangerously low? Does it mean I am hyper? (I don't feel hyper) Why do you recommend Armour? wrote:

What I'm having trouble figuring out is why this doctor ran ONLY the antithyroglobulin antibody test, but didn't run the one most common to Hashimoto's or Graves', either one, which is the antithyroidperoxidase antibody test. This does not make sense why he didn't do this. BOTH of mine, including the one you had, are very elevated, but in Hashis or Graves, it is more common for the aforementioned missing one to be elevated. Your TSH would have nothing to do with your heart flutters, but your actual thyroid hormones would, whether they're either too high or too low. I would say that, if your disease is in a "stepwise" process, beginning to slowly progress, you may have begun treatment at a time when it happens to be in that progressive stage. Hence, the thyroid gland may be failing more, and you either need an increase in thyroid hormone, or change to another type, and, of course, I'm going to say the Armour bec! ause of the types of symptoms you're having. Armour has it all to deal with all, though it may take some time.

[Guest guest]

I think I sort of forgot to say here one important thing----just because the thyroid is no longer being stimulated to make thyroid that it may not be able to make ANYway, doesn't make a person hyper, i.e., TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone, made by the pituitary gland). It is the actual thyroid hormones, T4 and T3, that would determine that, but, as I said, the T3 in particular, can be skewed higher-looking, with high antibodies. THAT'S why knowing which antibodies are up is so important to know, during this time.

Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

[Guest guest]

I think I sort of forgot to say here one important thing----just because the thyroid is no longer being stimulated to make thyroid that it may not be able to make ANYway, doesn't make a person hyper, i.e., TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone, made by the pituitary gland). It is the actual thyroid hormones, T4 and T3, that would determine that, but, as I said, the T3 in particular, can be skewed higher-looking, with high antibodies. THAT'S why knowing which antibodies are up is so important to know, during this time.

Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

[Guest guest]

This is why I'm thinking that my pituitary is VERY damaged, though not

inoperative, as my TSH was kept at a 5.5 for yrs, probably with the

antibodies messing around with everything there. Now, since a low dose (or

midrange dose) of Armour, suddenly it's at a very low .005, out of nowhere,

maybe from blocking from antibodies, maybe from actual damage from

antibodies, I don't know. But with both antibodies at over 1000 and almost

2000, it would be no small wonder if either thing was taking place! This is

another reason why I just won't rely on it to tell me anything about myself,

I'll go by the Frees testing, thank you, and even then, it's only a part of

the whole picture, me not really knowing the rest of the picture.

Sometimes, with this disease, it's like dancing in the dark. Even with my

Armour onboard.

Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

>

> T4 only meds like synthroid are more suppressive of TSH and it

> doesn't take much T4 to suppress it quite low. Synthroid is more

> suppressive of TSH than for those on all T3 replacment. Often in

> many patients, T4 especially or any thyroid medication taken will

> overly suppress TSH. This can happen on very small doses. Dr.

> Derry has written that small doses of thryoid hormone taken can turn

> off the th thyroid almost completely in many people. The result is

> that you can become more hypothryoid on small doses of thryoid.

[Guest guest]

This is why I'm thinking that my pituitary is VERY damaged, though not

inoperative, as my TSH was kept at a 5.5 for yrs, probably with the

antibodies messing around with everything there. Now, since a low dose (or

midrange dose) of Armour, suddenly it's at a very low .005, out of nowhere,

maybe from blocking from antibodies, maybe from actual damage from

antibodies, I don't know. But with both antibodies at over 1000 and almost

2000, it would be no small wonder if either thing was taking place! This is

another reason why I just won't rely on it to tell me anything about myself,

I'll go by the Frees testing, thank you, and even then, it's only a part of

the whole picture, me not really knowing the rest of the picture.

Sometimes, with this disease, it's like dancing in the dark. Even with my

Armour onboard.

Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

>

> T4 only meds like synthroid are more suppressive of TSH and it

> doesn't take much T4 to suppress it quite low. Synthroid is more

> suppressive of TSH than for those on all T3 replacment. Often in

> many patients, T4 especially or any thyroid medication taken will

> overly suppress TSH. This can happen on very small doses. Dr.

> Derry has written that small doses of thryoid hormone taken can turn

> off the th thyroid almost completely in many people. The result is

> that you can become more hypothryoid on small doses of thryoid.

[Guest guest]

This is why I'm thinking that my pituitary is VERY damaged, though not

inoperative, as my TSH was kept at a 5.5 for yrs, probably with the

antibodies messing around with everything there. Now, since a low dose (or

midrange dose) of Armour, suddenly it's at a very low .005, out of nowhere,

maybe from blocking from antibodies, maybe from actual damage from

antibodies, I don't know. But with both antibodies at over 1000 and almost

2000, it would be no small wonder if either thing was taking place! This is

another reason why I just won't rely on it to tell me anything about myself,

I'll go by the Frees testing, thank you, and even then, it's only a part of

the whole picture, me not really knowing the rest of the picture.

Sometimes, with this disease, it's like dancing in the dark. Even with my

Armour onboard.

Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

>

> T4 only meds like synthroid are more suppressive of TSH and it

> doesn't take much T4 to suppress it quite low. Synthroid is more

> suppressive of TSH than for those on all T3 replacment. Often in

> many patients, T4 especially or any thyroid medication taken will

> overly suppress TSH. This can happen on very small doses. Dr.

> Derry has written that small doses of thryoid hormone taken can turn

> off the th thyroid almost completely in many people. The result is

> that you can become more hypothryoid on small doses of thryoid.

[Guest guest]

You've stated that you still have the brain fog, so unless you've been on this dose for up to 8 wks, you probably are not on YOUR optimal dose. Small increments every 6 to 8 wks or so. And I still prefer Armour, IMHO.

Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

Hey Tish,

Thanks for the clarification. My T4 and T3 are both above midrange (T4 moderately, T3 slightly) so I guess my pituitary is ok. I am on Levoxyl, so according to my results, am I good? Is it ever ok to just be on T4?

[Guest guest]

You've stated that you still have the brain fog, so unless you've been on this dose for up to 8 wks, you probably are not on YOUR optimal dose. Small increments every 6 to 8 wks or so. And I still prefer Armour, IMHO.

Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

Hey Tish,

Thanks for the clarification. My T4 and T3 are both above midrange (T4 moderately, T3 slightly) so I guess my pituitary is ok. I am on Levoxyl, so according to my results, am I good? Is it ever ok to just be on T4?

[Guest guest]

Remember that, in a lot of cases, the weight may be the last to go, keeping in mind that stabilizing your most uncomfortable symptoms should be top priority right now. I too, have a 20 lb weight gain, and that's it, and it is very important to me also, but I know that there may be factors present there, also caused by chronic undertreated thyroid for such a long time. By this I mean things like possible insulin resistance, though not diabetes yet, and cortisol that overworked and caused the fat to go straight to my waist line. Less strength of muscle tissue in the thighs, caused by a natural loss of growth hormone. The endocrine system is something in which ALL hormones are dependent on each other, so when one messes up, the chain reaction starts, especially the reactions between the adrenal glands and thyroid glands, then there's the sex hormones. The balance amongst all of these is very delicate, and weight gain in certain places on the body can come from them all being out of balance. Again, the thyroid is probably the major problem. I don't like being even slightly overweight, but first, I would give anything to feel completely well.

Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

Do you think that my weight gain of 20 pounds since being diagnosed (my weight was previously stable) could be attributed to a t4 only regime and, based on the weight gain, do you think that adding t3 would be beneficial?

[Guest guest]

Amen, ! I totally agree, yet I must say that when I was on T4 only and they added T3, I eventually lost about 20 pounds. But it took several months before that started happening. It's all back now and then some, but I'm with you -- feeling well again would be magnificent and that extra weight can wait. Weight can wait? I think it's been a long day ...

-----Original Message-----From: Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2004 7:34 AMTo: Texas_Thyroid_Groups Subject: Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

Remember that, in a lot of cases, the weight may be the last to go, keeping in mind that stabilizing your most uncomfortable symptoms should be top priority right now. I too, have a 20 lb weight gain, and that's it, and it is very important to me also, but I know that there may be factors present there, also caused by chronic undertreated thyroid for such a long time. By this I mean things like possible insulin resistance, though not diabetes yet, and cortisol that overworked and caused the fat to go straight to my waist line. Less strength of muscle tissue in the thighs, caused by a natural loss of growth hormone. The endocrine system is something in which ALL hormones are dependent on each other, so when one messes up, the chain reaction starts, especially the reactions between the adrenal glands and thyroid glands, then there's the sex hormones. The balance amongst all of these is very delicate, and weight gain in certain places on the body can come from them all being out of balance. Again, the thyroid is probably the major problem. I don't like being even slightly overweight, but first, I would give anything to feel completely well.

Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

Do you think that my weight gain of 20 pounds since being diagnosed (my weight was previously stable) could be attributed to a t4 only regime and, based on the weight gain, do you think that adding t3 would be beneficial?

[Guest guest]

Dumb question alert: Is suppression good or bad? If so, why? wrote:

This is why I'm thinking that my pituitary is VERY damaged, though notinoperative, as my TSH was kept at a 5.5 for yrs, probably with theantibodies messing around with everything there. Now, since a low dose (ormidrange dose) of Armour, suddenly it's at a very low .005, out of nowhere,maybe from blocking from antibodies, maybe from actual damage fromantibodies, I don't know. But with both antibodies at over 1000 and almost2000, it would be no small wonder if either thing was taking place! This isanother reason why I just won't rely on it to tell me anything about myself,I'll go by the Frees testing, thank you, and even then, it's only a part ofthe whole picture, me not really knowing the rest of the picture.Sometimes, with this disease, it's like dancing in the dark. Even with myArmour

onboard. Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?>> T4 only meds like synthroid are more suppressive of TSH and it> doesn't take much T4 to suppress it quite low. Synthroid is more> suppressive of TSH than for those on all T3 replacment. Often in> many patients, T4 especially or any thyroid medication taken will> overly suppress TSH. This can happen on very small doses. Dr. > Derry has written that small doses of thryoid hormone taken can turn> off the th thyroid almost completely in many people. The result is> that you can become more hypothryoid on small doses of thryoid. Cummings phoenixtutorials@... __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Suppression is good in MY case because the thyroid hormones are just now at a decent range. It is different from person to person. Suppression of the TSH does not a hyperthyroid person make, lol, but extremely elevated thyroid hormones DO make one hyperthyroid. When is the profession going to stop calling the TSH a thyroid hormone?! Antibodies change a person's lab tests completely, but I still do them as a "helper".

Re: Re: HOW DO MY LABS LOOK?

Dumb question alert: Is suppression good or bad? If so, why?