Can anyone provide input on my Thyroid results

[Guest guest]

Hi Patty and all,

In mid-December, I had my thyroid measured and the results were as

follows:

TSH = 4.8

Free T3 = 252 (Normal range listed as less than 420)

Free T4 = 1.2 (Normal range listed as 0.8-1.8)

At that point (mid December), my doctor put me on 1/2 grain Armour

thyroid daily to start. New resuls on January 26 just came back as

follows:

TSH = 6.71

Free T3 = 339 (Normal range listed as less than 420)

Free T4 = 1.1 (Normal range listed as 0.8-1.8)

Thyroid Antibodies = still awaiting the results

It almost seems as though my Free T3 is improved, but my TSH is

obviously worse--and I am concerned about how high it is. As I

mentioned in a previous post, my doctor has asked me to increase my

Armour Thyroid to 1 grain, and we will test all of these again in 1

month. I do plan to also have my Reverse T3 measured next time, as

someone in this group had suggested.

I am a little nervous, as this is the highest my TSH has ever been.

In previous years it always hovered around 3.5. I do not want to do

anything that might make me worse. I am confused, and frankly have

not been able to find a doctor who really understands hormones. At

this point I have more faith in the knowledge of people in groups

like these.

So anyway, if anyone has any opinions on this, please let me know. At

this point my plan is to go up to one grain of Armour for the next

month, be re-tested at that point, and if my numbers are still

getting worse, then I will have to probably find a BHRT doctor--

although that is not covered by my insurance and I haven't found a

good one in my area either.

As far as symptoms, I'm not sure there has been any change one way or

the other in the past month or so. Possibly I am a bit more fatigued.

Thanks for any thoughts, advice, opinions, experiences, etc.

[Guest guest]

,Don't forget that both iodine and selenium are very important in thyroid metabolism, so you might want to make sure you are getting the right ratio of those supplements as well.In fact, with the addition of iodine and/or selenium, you can expect to see your need for Armour thyroid go down. There is some controversial information out there about adding in, or not adding in, iodine supplements. Certainly selenium should be added.Check into it. Here is a start with an interesting snip from the article at http://www.krispin.com/thyroid.htmlYou have been diagnosed as having some form of thyroid disease.

You may be hypothyroid, hyperthyroid, have Graves Disease or

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. This information has not been prepared

to take the place of being monitored by your physician. It is to

help you help your physician determine your correct dose of

thyroid medication and help you both maintain the correct dose.

A CAUTIONARY NOTE: It is important to make sure your symptoms

and blood work are not a result of adrenal insufficiency.

Depressed thyroid and depressed adrenal symptoms are very similar.

Cortisol, a primary adrenal hormone that is elevated under stress

and depressed when the adrenal gland is exhausted, alters TSH and

thereby T4 and T3. Alterations in adrenal function alter thyroid

function but treating the thyroid will not make the underlying

adrenal condition, if it exists, better and may make the

situation much worse. A simple, and relatively inexpensive, 24

hour salivary cortisol and DHEA test can rule out (or in) adrenal

involvement. Also consider this test if you are currently being

treated for thyroid and the results are not what you expected. If

you have thyroid disease and are treated with a good combination

of T3 and T4 your symptoms should resolve rapidly. Your symptoms

will remain, alter, or become worse if adrenal dysfunction is

present. The cortisol/DHEA test is available from your physician. It is important that the

health care professional you are working with understand this

testing, how to interpret it, and how to treat the results, or the

testing will be of no value to you.

A secondary cautionary note to mention is that there

is now

recognized in the literature a 'thyroid resistance syndrome'

similar in character to 'insulin resistance'. This manifests as

symptoms of low thyroid function but normal thyroid blood work. An

imbalance of

omega-3/omega-6 fatty acids can contribute to this condition. Lowering

omega-6

fats and dramatically increasing omega-3 (fish oil NOT flax) has

improved or

normalized thyroid function in some persons. A small dose (not less

than 200 mcg nor greater than 400 mcg) of yeast based selenium

(methylselenocysteine) may also improve this condition. Recent

research has determined selenium is critically important to thyroid

function and selenium is being used to treat both Graves Disease and

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Excess iodine is frequently implicated in autoimmune thyroid disease, especially Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Iodine

is critically important for healthy thyroid function and heart

function. Iodine excess increases the possibility of autoimmune thyroid

disease. Selenium effectively treats iodine excess. Selenium

and iron both play an important role in normal thyroid function.

Mercury toxicity also alters thyroid function and increases the need

for selenium. Confused?

Your thyroid needs iodine but it also needs other nutrients to function

normally. Trace elements and minerals such as mercury, toxic at any

dose, and iron and zinc, essential for health but toxic is excessive

amounts, alter thyroid function. You need enough of everything you need

but not too much. You may check your iron by monitoring your ferritin

levels. Optimal ferritin is 70-90, not lower or higher, no matter what

the lab normals are. Zinc supplementation usually remains between 15-50

mg. Daily doses higher than 70 mg are excessive and may suppress your

immune system and not in a good way.You

need a balanced diet with balanced minerals and trace elements to

support your thyroid. No one mineral or trace mineral or `pill' will

do. Low protein and/or inappropriate fatty acids also decrease your

body's ability to produce hormones or increase cellular resistance to

hormones. Making sure your diet contains adequate protein and potassium

(see other pages) and that your supplements contain enough but not too

much of essential elements may restore thyroid function, will support

thyroid disease treatment and likely protect the healthy thyroid from

disease.Patty>> Hi Patty and all,> In mid-December, I had my thyroid measured and the results were as > follows:> > TSH = 4.8> Free T3 = 252 (Normal range listed as less than 420)> Free T4 = 1.2 (Normal range listed as 0.8-1.8)> > At that point (mid December), my doctor put me on 1/2 grain Armour > thyroid daily to start. New resuls on January 26 just came back as > follows:> > TSH = 6.71> Free T3 = 339 (Normal range listed as less than 420)> Free T4 = 1.1 (Normal range listed as 0.8-1.8)> Thyroid Antibodies = still awaiting the results> > It almost seems as though my Free T3 is improved, but my TSH is > obviously worse--and I am concerned about how high it is. As I > mentioned in a previous post, my doctor has asked me to increase my > Armour Thyroid to 1 grain, and we will test all of these again in 1 > month. I do plan to also have my Reverse T3 measured next time, as > someone in this group had suggested.> > I am a little nervous, as this is the highest my TSH has ever been. > In previous years it always hovered around 3.5. I do not want to do > anything that might make me worse. I am confused, and frankly have > not been able to find a doctor who really understands hormones. At > this point I have more faith in the knowledge of people in groups > like these.> > So anyway, if anyone has any opinions on this, please let me know. At > this point my plan is to go up to one grain of Armour for the next > month, be re-tested at that point, and if my numbers are still > getting worse, then I will have to probably find a BHRT doctor--> although that is not covered by my insurance and I haven't found a > good one in my area either.> > As far as symptoms, I'm not sure there has been any change one way or > the other in the past month or so. Possibly I am a bit more fatigued.> > Thanks for any thoughts, advice, opinions, experiences, etc.> > >

[Guest guest]

Hi Patty,

Thank you for that information. I received the cortisol/DHEA saliva

kit in the mail today and will take the test shortly and send it in

to the lab. I have a sneaking suspicion that my adrenals are

exhausted or insufficient. I have not been managing my stress levels

well at all these past couple years since I have been ill--In fact I

have been in almost a constant state of anxiety and my sleeping

cycles are highly abnormal. When I am not anxious, I am depressed....

I am going from 1/2 grain Armour to 1 grain Armour (as suggested by

the doctor) for now, but depending on the Cortisol results, I may

have to change plans and get the adrenals fixed first before working

on the thyroid.

I do take some Iodoral (supplemental Iodine) on occasion. However,

about a week ago I took an iodine deficiency test which required me

to take 50mg Iodoral all at once. Ever since then, the vaginal

burning that I sometims get has come back. I am not sure if it is

related, but I suspect it is. But I don't know how or why. The

burning is not as bad as it was when I took the DMSA, and I think it

will subside, as it always has in the past (this is about my 5th bout

with it in the past couple years).

I will look into selenium and whether I am getting enough. I do take

a multimineral that has selenium and try to eat some foods with

selenium like sunflower seeds.

Tonight I am going to try my first coffee enema. Wish me luck!

Thanks again,

>

> ,

> Don't forget that both iodine and selenium are very important in

thyroid

> metabolism, so you might want to make sure you are getting the right

> ratio of those supplements as well.