Guest guest Posted August 1, 2005 Report Share Posted August 1, 2005 Hi , Your TSH is definitely too high. I think 3 is the new cut off point -- everything above it indicates clear hypothyroidism, everything above 2 is quite suspicious .... Also with hashi's, the goal is not to have the TSH to be in the mid-range, it is actually to have it be at the low end of normal or below ... and the Free T3 should be at the high end of normal or above (can you get this test done? There is a somewhat inexpensive way to get this test done without a doctor if you need to -- if you want that info, just ask). It's possible that the reason you felt worse on the Armour was that your adrenals also needed support. That is what is happening to me (I think). When hypoT people start treatment that is effective in raising their metabolism, often the adrenals are not able to keep up which makes one feel worse ... Most conventional doctors don't test the adrenals, but it's extremely important ... the other possibility of why you felt worse on the Armour is if it was too low of a dosage. What was your dose? If it is too low, it is successful in turning off our own thyroid's production without providing enough to compensate and affect tissues. In this situation, the TSH will be suppressed and many doctors will say you are fine, when actually it just means that your own thyroid has decreased production ... tissue response is the real test. Taking your basal temps and pulse will help you determine your response to the meds, as well as measuring the free T3 and free T4 [or some other more obscure tests that are more accurate, but hard to find doctors that do them] ... and taking your blood pressure may help you guess a bit about your adrenals -- although getting them tested is more accurate ... in my experience it takes a lot of commitment to oneself to figure out what's going on -- doing research, journaling symptoms, taking care of diet and supplements, and monitoring your temps, pulse, and blood pressure -- asking us is a great step ... remember, it's not just that you are lazy and fat -- this is a very real physiological process ... ask all your questions! Marlena Marlena --- wrote: > Hi, to re-intor myself, I am , and was > diagnosed with Hashi's > back in may 2001. Didn't start medication until > around May of 2004, > 1. because I was in denial and thought I was just > fat and lazy, and > 2. because my doctor noticed that since having my > baby in Dec. 2002 > I gained another 20 pounds, after losing the > pregnancy weight. And > he knew of my exercise regimen and eating habits, > which normally I > would have lost more weight not gained. > > I started with Synthroid, and once I got stabilized, > I asked if I > could go on Armour which I did.. Generic Armour, and > used that for > about 9 months. Then we moved and in the midst of > the move, taking > pills is not a high priority, and I forgot one day > to take my > armour, and then another day and then it was a > couple weeks, and by > then, I said, well hell, I may as well wait until I > go back to the > doctor and get tested and see what happens. Infact, > I was feeling > better since being OFF of medication than I had felt > in a really > long time. After about 4 months of the Armour, I > was getting > headaches and total exhaustion, no energy, and > really cranky. I > just figured it was stress, from our living > situation (another long > story). > > So last week I went to the doctor, 4 months after I > stopped taking > the generic Armour, or any medication. > Here is what my results are: > > TSH: 3.06 (0.3-4.2) > T3 uptake: 28% (22%-35%) > Free T4: 1.04 (.7-1.85) > > He says I am right in the middle. Which seems like > it to me except > for the TSH being on the higher side. > > He put me on 100mcg of Synthroid I have taken it > since Friday > morning. Weird thing is, the last couple days I > have been so tired, > like I can barely keep my eyes open until nightime. > > > Before the tests,the only thing I can complain about > symptom wise is > my sleeping schedule is off, (sleep from 2 am to 11 > am or noon), and > I am feeling pretty lazy. But I still think that is > more to do with > the fact we are in a new place, it is a little too > cozy (small)and I > am feeling like I have nothing to do. I don't have > any friends to > work out with, and even if I did, I would have to > drag my 2yr old > along which serves no purpose becasue then I am > thinking about her > and not taking care of myself. > > So please, any advice, and input is welcome and > needed, as well as > interpreting my results. This is the first time > mind you that I was > given results, and that my tests that I asked for > were actually > taken. And this from a Navy Doc no less..imagine > that. My civilian > doc wouldn't do any other test than the TSH becasue > it would cost > too much, (my interpretation:, he wouldn't get paid > for it from my > insurance), but he would go ahead and prescribe me > Armour, which > they don't do here becasue they only carry > Synthroid. Also I think > I lucked out a little because my doc, bless his > little heart, I know > he wants to help, but when I told him I was on > Armour, he looked at > me like, they still have that? LOL.. and when I > asked about Cytomel, > he wasn't even sure of that.. Anyhow...so for now I > am off the > Synthroid, and he wants to retest in 2 months. > > Thanks again... > > > > > > __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail Stay connected, organized, and protected. Take the tour: http://tour.mail.yahoo.com/mailtour.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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