Test results - I'm hypo (what a shock, eh? LOL)

[Guest guest]

It's official. I'm hypo. Now here I come into the milieu: another

menopausal, progesterone cream using hypothryoid lady!

HOW do y'all have time to read ALL the messages here? I can't keep

up, so I will no doubt ask questions that have been asked over and

over... I apologise in advance.

I don't have time to copy all the results for all the tests right

now, but basics:

Free T3 3.5 Range (4.0-6.8) pmol/L

TSH 1.305 Range (0.35-5.5) mIU/L

TotaI T3 1.61 Range (1.3-3.1) nmol/L

Free T4 12.09 range (9.1-23.8) pmol/L

(I'm in Ireland - diff units).

He had lots of other test results, so I got quite overwhelmed.

He prescribed " Eltroxin " and " Tertroxin " - turns out that's Synthroid

and Cytomel. I protested a bit, and he said he was giving me T3.

Said he didn't want to give me Armour because it appears that I have

a problem converting T4.

Well... now I'm completely confused. Why prescribe T4 (Synthroid) if

I have a problem converting it?

He also said Armour is much more expensive here, and sometimes

difficult to get. The Eltroxin, for 56 days' worth was only EUR6.35.

So that is very cheap. He says the Armour is about 35 per month. I

forget how much the Tertroxin is, but it wasn't awul.

He WILL prescribe Armour if I really really really push it, but when

he said that about the conversion problem, I bought it.... But now

that I'm home and trying to sort it out, it doesn't make sense.

He seems very good, thorough, aware, etc. His yardstick for how I

respond will be based on my basal temp (10 mins, axillary, mercury

thermometer). So he treats symptoms, not lab tests. That's a relief.

In a week and a half I'm going home to the States for 3 weeks, so

I'll be getting into results time on the European version of

Synthroid over there. Won't see my doc again til early April.

Any advice?? I'm swirling in too much info, confusion, etc.

I have to say though, that I am RELIEVED, exonerated, etc. I KNEW it

was hypo, and now a lot about the last 40 years of my life makes

sense. I wasn't pretending to be sick back in my school days when I

complained, but my temp was " only " 99º... not enough to worry about.

Nowadays I know when I have 99º I am one sick puppy. Now I know I'm

not just lazy and fat and a lot of other unpleasant things. So I

feel better to know that it wasn't just all in my head. But I'm

overwhelmed...

I'll try to read more of the messages and try to keep up! I have

learned so much here. I've already thanked everyone, but thanks

again for being here!

Muddled,

Vicki in Ireland