I take 90m ARMOUR.
TSH 2.43 (.35 - 4)
T3 1.7 (2.3 -4.2)
T3 .6 (.8 - 1.8)
Thanks
Understanding TSH test. : I take 90m ARMOUR. TSH... - Thyroid UK
Understanding TSH test.
Written by
Firefly5632
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
42 Replies
•
SeasideSusieRemembering
You have 2 results for T3 there, you might want to clarify them. We normally see TSH, FT4 and FT3.
Your TSH is too high and both your other results are below range, you appear to be undermedicated and I expect you don't feel particularly well.
Sorry
T3 1.7 (2.3 -4.2)
T4 .6 (.8 -1.8)
I'm being told it might be a pituitary problem.
So is that being investigated?
What were your levels when diagnosed?
If it was a pituitary problem you'd have had low TSH, and low Frees when diagnosed. But it makes no difference now as your free T4 and free T3 show that you are undermedicated and need an increase in Armour.
I've been on thyroid medication for 6 years. 120mcg of of zinthroid. Last year I went thru menopause felt like crap...had a tsh test done and it showed my TSH level was outta range...low..always has been and my T4 and T3 were in range but just barely.
Changed meds to ARMOUR after I did some research to 150..test done still ranges for t4 and t3 on the low side but not out of range. Moved to 180, t4 and t3 moved up to halfway point. 6 weeks later had another test done showed t4 and t3 sloping down. Added CYTOMEL. 5, didn't take it...as I felt ok even with t4 and t3 slightly lower on the mid range point, but could really understand why my t4 and t3 dropped. TSH at 0. Saw an endo in between, stated too much med get off all of it. Never tested my t3, lost confidence....said whatever..has a heart attack non stemi 2 weeks after I had a tsh test TSH 0 T4 1/2 range T3 1/2 range. Heart attack caused by TSH at 0 was the cause I was told by some.
Cut my med in half to 90 right after heart attack on thanksgiving.
That'
That is the most recent test.
I am 48 years old..no high cholesterol, no family history of heart problems. 120 lbs. 5'8".
Do you remember your TSH when you were diagnosed? Right now, your TSH isn't very high because you're taking Armour. But you're obviously under-medicated. That doesn't really look like a pituitary problem to me.
How do you take your Armour? On an empty stomach, with a large glass of water, leaving at least one hour before eating, etc.?
My TSH was slightly just slightly under. Went on 120 mcg, maybe 2009...stayed on that for years.. test on TSH were ALWAYS lower than normal range, but my T4 was always on the lower range as well so everyone was like whatever...if she feels fine leave it be. Never had T3 tested much untl last year.
I take ARMOUR the same way every day. With a big giant ice coffee extra light extra sweet. I was told to take thyroid med the same time, same way every day. And I do.
Well, it's not so much the time you take it as the way you take it, really. Caffeine will limit absorption of levo. It's fine taking it the same way every day, but the dose has to be raised to compensate. And, your dose is too low.
'My TSH was slightly just slightly under'
Under what? Under range, or under the top of the range? Do you have an exact number?
High cholesterol is a hypo symptom.
No high cholesterol, or high bp. 90/60.
Have a high heart rate though. Says great workout after I take a shower on my smart watch because my HR shows that it is workout mode. Yesterday it went up to 200 at one point.
No other meds taken besides ARMOUR.
Showed hypo. Hypothyroid. My TSH being like at .18 something like that the range .33 to 4.
OK. So, if your Frees were also low, then that would have been a pituitary or hypothalamus problem - Central hypo, we call it. You see how important it is to give all the details for people to understand what's going on.
Well, whether the problem lies with the pituitary, the hypothalamus or the thyroid, the treatment is still the same : thyroid hormone replacement of some sort or other. Just because you have Central hypo, doesn't mean you're any less hypo. The TSH is irrelevant, anyway, once you are on thyroid hormone replacement.
The doctor that did my recent test said it is central hypo or hypothyroxinema? Or pituitary problem. What all that? I don't understand what that is.
Hypothyroxinema is just low T4 - in other words, hypothyroidism. But we already know that!
Central hypo is when the problem is with the hypothalamus or the pituitary, rather than the thyroid itself. It could be due to a benign tumour, or something, but something is preventing the pituitary from secreting enough TSH to stimulate the thyroid.
The hypothalamus is a gland in the brain that controls the pituitary.
The pituitary is a gland in the brain that produces TSH and many other hormones.
If they think you have a problem with your pituitary, they should be testing your other hormones to see if any of them are low. The pituitary also controls the adrenals, so they really should be doing a lot more tests!
Oh, ok. Thank you.
Maybe it is the ARMOUR preventing all of this. My cardio guy looks at me like I'm a drug addict on ARMOUR. I am not kidding. My heart problems are from thyroid med.
What if I stop taking the 90. I cut it from 180 to 90 i feel ok besides my heart beating out of my chest which is being blamed on the armour.
You're welcome. 
Sorry, I'm just rereading your posts. You were told that your TSH at 0 was the cause of your heart attack? That is absolute rubbish! TSH has nothing to do with hearts, it cannot cause a heart attack.
Have you ever had your antibodies tested?
Yes I had antibodies a full blood work up. Showed I have no hashimotos
Well, that can never be proved, but you didn't have high antibodies, which is something.
Problem is this. No matter what dose I seem to be on, my T4 and T3 gradually start falling back to low range. Just a matter of time. Takes about 8 weeks, then the T4 and the T3 start sliding down. I go on a higher dose...builds back up..than slopes back down.
My cardiologist wants my TSH at 4.
He says t4 and t3 are immaterial.
Your cardiologist is dangerously ignorant! Having a TSH of 4 is more likely to cause a heart attack than prevent one, because it means that your FT3 will be too low. Low T3 is very dangerous for hearts. Hearts need T3 to function correctly.
Your FT4 and FT3 levels going down again, are just a sign that you need another increase in dose.
So, what exactly is your doctor doing about your adrenals?
Adrenal glands I have no idea.
You haven't had any sort of cortisol test?
No.
As I've said above, given that you have Central hypo, they should be doing more tests on your pituitary. A brain scan and more hormone tests should be done. Having a problem with your pituitary could also be affecting your adrenals. So, they really need to get their you-know-what into gear, and start doing something about it!
What if I stop taking the armour. Will it raise my TSH. Is the armour inhibiting my thyroid?
I had heart problems on 180..got it on the 90 too! They think it was a spasm releasing protein enzymes ..could be from too much ARMOUR!
But you're not on too much Armour, your Frees are below range! You're not on enough armour!
No, stopping your Armour will not raise your TSH, because your pituitary is incapable of producing it. But, if you stop your Armour, you will probably die, because your Frees will drop very, very low.
Taking Armour is not inhibiting your thyroid, because your thyroid isn't working, anyway. And your thyroid isn't working because you have low TSH - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone - without it your thyroid won't function. But TSH is not a thyroid hormone, it is a pituitary hormone, so your Armour is not affecting your TSH in any way.
'They think it was a spasm releasing protein enzymes'
A spasm of what? I don't think they have the first idea what they're talking about. I think they're making it up as they go along.
No, it won't if you have central hypo as that means TSH CANNOT rise. And TSH DOES NOT MATTER! You need a dose increase so that free T3 is in the top quarter of the range. T3 is the important hormone needed by heart and brain and every cell in the body. If you have too little t3, the body tries to compensate by increasing adrenaline, giving you palpitations, sweats. disturbed sleep etc.
Cardiac spasm releasing tropomin because my TSH was at 0. Heart rate too high BECAUS of med ARMOUR causing this. 0 TSH. t4 in mid range, t3 in mid range...all blamed on 0 TSH from 2 endocrinologist. I was told that only people with Hashimotos shoy d have a 0 TSH level.
How long will it take me to die.
How low is too low.
Sorry..spelling errors.
T3 is given to cardiac patients to improve outcomes. So how do they explain that? Most healthy people have a TSH around 1.2. It's your free T3 that is important.
With low T3 it can take quite a few years to die first you get heart disease then dementia, so you won't know much about it, but it will be herd for your carers.
My heart rate caused the cardiac spasm which released tropomin into my blood stream because of the 0 TSH level taking 180 mg of ARMOUR.
Overmedication caused this. That is all I'm hearing.
My HR is higher now than it was before.
Have you tried taking your Armour with just a glass of water at least an hour before food and other drink, just to give it a chance of being absorbed? All your results show undermedication, so you might want to sack your endo or try levo + t3 in a ratio controlled by you - you might need more T3 than there is an Armour.
Back in the day nobody even looked at T4 and T3. Only the TSH, and mine is within range. Will it get higher if I stop the Armour. What will my TSH be with no medication. I had a test done showing my thyroid is still working.
Back in the day, no one looked at TSH at all, just relief of symptoms
I am 100 listening to what you are stating. I just want to have my ducks lined up in a row after a endocrinologist
reviews the recent TSH test.
By the way. Here is another crazy thing the cardiologist said to me. The pituitary gland used to be thought of as the place of your soul. I'm not kidddding.......WTF my soul is broken.
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Understanding Test Results
Dear All,
I get terribly confused with Blood results and contradictory opinions from...
TSH test
For interest I am posting my wife's TSH test done last week. She is currently on 75 Levo + 5 Lio,...
Understanding my cortisol test please
Hi, I hope you all had a great festivity and am looking forward to the new year to follow.
I've...
Understanding
So if you take thyroxine ,is there a steady consistant flow of t4 then t3 once it is converted...
Understanding Thyroid test results
Hello everyone - I have not posted before, but have been following related topics. I Just got a...
Understanding blood test results
Understanding Thyroid Test Results 
Latest TSH Blood Test
Understanding results 
