help with test results

May 21, 2004

In a message dated 5/21/2004 1:40:26 PM Eastern Standard Time,

scrapbooker518@... writes:

> My question is where should my TSH

> be? I have read that most of us do better when the TSH is below a

> certain amount.

>

Suppressed below 1 for sure. Your TSH looked good.

Cindi

May 21, 2004

I have been on Armour 8 weeks, previously on synthroid for 3 months.

They just called me today with test results after 6 weeks use. I am

having them send me a copy for my files.

I do not have the ranges and did not here what my free T4 was other

than it was in " normal range " . My question is where should my TSH

be? I have read that most of us do better when the TSH is below a

certain amount.

TSH .61

The nurse also said my Free T3 was high, 5.4.

Per my previous test, from another lab and while I was on synthroid

my free T3 was 3.79 and the range was 2.39 - 6.79. Anyway I will

have a better idea what is going on when I get a copy of the lab

results.

I also had my testosterone checked it was .08 she said that

was " normal " .

I still fell for me this might be better. Since my hysterectomy i

July -03 I have lost muscle mass and have a low libdo.

And my DHEA Sulfate was .81 said t be in " normal range " .

Is this test sufficient to tell me about my adrenal glands? Is a

cortisol test different? I am thinking about doing the saliva test

( 4 in one day)

I have had a lot of stress the last 1 1/2 years. I had mononucleosis

Feb of 2003 then became very ill and had multiple ovarian cysts,

high levels of estrogen causing pain in all of my vital organs, a

hysterectomy in July. I took a bio-identical estrogen for about 2

months then had a really bad flare up of Hashi's. (had hyper

symptoms, high blood pressure, heart rate in excess of 200, body

twitches.) I then went hypo and gained 20 lbs in about 3 – 4 weeks.

I quit the estrogen as soon as I learned that it could cause a flare

of of lupus and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. When I went hypod it was

hell. I would be uncontoable freezing, a body temp of 93 -94 then I

would have a hot flash and be burning up sweating and striping my

cloths. Then back to freezing in 10 minutes. Many times I would be

burning up and chilling at the same time, how is that possible? Any

way my body has had tremendous physical stress in this period.

I have been on Armor for 2 months now. I started ½ grain 2 x day,

then 3 x day, because muscle twitches started coming back and so did

carpel tunnel symptoms.

I am felling much better since I have started Armor and bio-

identical hormones of all three estrogens and progesterone.

I still do not fell well though. Example today I let my self sleep

in because I had a very busy week and it is all I could do to drag

myself out of bed. I feel like I have been hit by a train. I also

notice I still have heart palps in the am. I usually get these when

I am tired and do not get enough rest.

Any input would be greatly appreciates.

May 21, 2004

Hi ,

Most people feel their best when their TSH is below 1. It would be

helpful if you could provide the lab ranges with your numbers. Its

easier for us to help you that way. My TSH, for example, is 0.01

(0.40 - 5.5), and I'm feeling pretty good right now. I'm taking 3

1/4 grains of Armour. My DHEA is at 80 (52 - 400). I think yours

is about the same (.81). My naturopathic M.D. wants my DHEA at

least at 200. So, I'm supplementing with DHEA right now. I just

started one week ago. I take 5 mg twice per day and my doc wants me

to increase up to 10 mg twice per day. I'm excited to see what

happens. DHEA is a precurse hormone. Its used by the body to

create other hormones like testosterone, estrogen, etc. It is

associated with the adrenal glands, but I don't think its sufficient

to determine if you have low adrenals. I'm not too clear on that,

though, so don't take my word on that. Maybe somebody else here

know more about the adrenals than I do. I would think that you

might do better on more Armour. How much are you taking? Maybe it

would be good for you to supplement with DHEA also.

Zina

>

> I have been on Armour 8 weeks, previously on synthroid for 3

months.

> They just called me today with test results after 6 weeks use. I

am

> having them send me a copy for my files.

>

> I do not have the ranges and did not here what my free T4 was

other

> than it was in " normal range " . My question is where should my TSH

> be? I have read that most of us do better when the TSH is below a

> certain amount.

> TSH .61

> The nurse also said my Free T3 was high, 5.4.

> Per my previous test, from another lab and while I was on

synthroid

> my free T3 was 3.79 and the range was 2.39 - 6.79. Anyway I will

> have a better idea what is going on when I get a copy of the lab

> results.

>

> I also had my testosterone checked it was .08 she said that

> was " normal " .

> I still fell for me this might be better. Since my hysterectomy i

> July -03 I have lost muscle mass and have a low libdo.

> And my DHEA Sulfate was .81 said t be in " normal range " .

> Is this test sufficient to tell me about my adrenal glands? Is a

> cortisol test different? I am thinking about doing the saliva test

> ( 4 in one day)

>

> I have had a lot of stress the last 1 1/2 years. I had

mononucleosis

> Feb of 2003 then became very ill and had multiple ovarian cysts,

> high levels of estrogen causing pain in all of my vital organs, a

> hysterectomy in July. I took a bio-identical estrogen for about 2

> months then had a really bad flare up of Hashi's. (had hyper

> symptoms, high blood pressure, heart rate in excess of 200, body

> twitches.) I then went hypo and gained 20 lbs in about 3 – 4

weeks.

> I quit the estrogen as soon as I learned that it could cause a

flare

> of of lupus and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. When I went hypod it was

> hell. I would be uncontoable freezing, a body temp of 93 -94 then

I

> would have a hot flash and be burning up sweating and striping my

> cloths. Then back to freezing in 10 minutes. Many times I would be

> burning up and chilling at the same time, how is that possible?

Any

> way my body has had tremendous physical stress in this period.

>

> I have been on Armor for 2 months now. I started ½ grain 2 x day,

> then 3 x day, because muscle twitches started coming back and so

did

> carpel tunnel symptoms.

>

> I am felling much better since I have started Armor and bio-

> identical hormones of all three estrogens and progesterone.

>

> I still do not fell well though. Example today I let my self sleep

> in because I had a very busy week and it is all I could do to drag

> myself out of bed. I feel like I have been hit by a train. I also

> notice I still have heart palps in the am. I usually get these

when

> I am tired and do not get enough rest.

>

> Any input would be greatly appreciates.

>

May 21, 2004

You're right about needing the cortisol tested, asap, but your first clue on

your female hormones would have been when you had very high estrogens, before

the hyst. Contrary to popular belief, we STILL make estrogen, even after a

hyst, mostly coming from the adrenals. Have you read any articles on Estrogen

Dominance/ No or Low Progesterone. You can have very little estrogen, but if it

is not balanced by progesterone, then you still have unbridled estrogen, with it

filling in all the receptors for thyroid hormone. I think that this is partly,

among other things, what happened to me, and I took estrogen for many yrs,

before my thyroid failed even further, before I quit the estrogen. All the

hormones need to be in balance, as well as any other problems with the adrenals.