Help! Numbers don't match symptoms

March 13, 2005

I'm seeing my doctor tomorrow and I'm sure he will want to lower my

dose of Armour. I have been on 2 grains of Armour since December 6th

except for two weeks when my doctor wanted me to lower my dose to

1 3/4 grains because my TSH was low. Within a week I felt awful! I was

exhausted, I fell asleep every time I sat down, I couldn't think

clearly, I was cold all the time, my tinnitis was so bad I thought the

locusts had returned, I had to go in for a pain injection for my

migraines, and my body aches started waking me up at night. I went

ahead and upped my dose back to 2 grains and felt better within 24

hours. I was due for more blood work anyway so this time I requested

testing for thyroid antibodies. I just got off the phone with the

nurse and here are my test results:

TSH 0.015 ref. 0.35-5.5

free t3 5.22 ref. 2.3-4.2

free t4 1.17 ref. 0.61-1.76

t4 7.5 ref. 4.5-12

t3 223 ref. 85-205

TPO AB 12 normal range 0-34

anti-throid globulin <20 normal 0-40

Generally I have felt good taking 2 grains Armour. Before that I was

on Synthroid and Cytomel. I do not want to take a lower dose. I know

how awful I felt. If anything I think I may need a higher dose. My

body temp can't seem to get above 97.5F and my fingers, toes, and nose

have been so cold the last few days we have

been making jokes about knitting nose warmers.

But I also think I will have a VERY difficult time convincing my

doctor that I need this dose.

Can anyone help me? PLEASE??? What can I tell him?

He's generally been very reasonable and listened to me but I'm afraid

this is going to stretch his professional imagination to the limit. If

he listens to me and not the numbers I will nominate him for the top

docs list for sure.

Suzanne....a lurker until now, but very appreciative of all that I

have learned from you wonderful people

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