Advice on thyroid lab readings please

[Anna0778]

Hi there, I am a 36 year old with underactive thyroid diagnosed two years ago for which I take armour thyroid. I have had two blood tests in the last week the first set I was taking two grains per day and as my t3 was towards the low end of the range and I was having problems losing weight plus low energy levels and feeling nhs generally bleurgh, I introduced 12.5mg of cytomel and upped my armour to 2.5 grains.

My first set of readings (on 2 grains Armour) were as follows:

TSH 0.05 ( 0.30 - 5.00 miu/L)

Free T4 9.9 (11.00 - 22.00 pmol/L)

Free T3 4.8 (3.10 - 6.80 pmol/L)

My second readings a week later after 7 days of 2.5 grains Armour and 12.5mg cytomel are:

TSH 0.05 ( 0.30 - 5.00 miu/L)

Free T4 12 (11.00 - 22.00 pmol/L)

Free T3 11 (3.10 - 6.80 pmol/L)

Now my GP doesn't know I take armour, I'm scared they will refuse to see me if they find out I'm self medicating? BUT I've tried levothyroxine and I was so ill on it, and have been so well on armour for the last 18 months.

So based on my latest readings my GP says I am now in the overactive zone. Should I reduce my armour and stop the T3 or wait to see if the figures settle as I've only been on this dose for a week?

Any advice appreciated thanks!

Anna

[MikeM46]

Your latest T3 results speak for themselves! Overmedicated.

Couldn’t myself advise you on the best course of action to reduce the T3 content of your medication ... hopefully others can.

[Anna0778 in reply to MikeM46]

Thanks for the reply Mike, I just wondered if it was normal for the t3 readings to look high initially as I have only been on the increased dose one week. I do not have any side effects of being overmedicated, e.g. Hot flashes, racing heartbeat. Hopefully someone else may be able to advise! Thanks again 😊

[researcherUK]

Good Morning, Anna! Did you by any chance take T3 and NDT just before the test? Two observations, if I may add, definitely your T3 is very high which suggests overmedication. Your dose increase was also on the high side and in one go. Symptoms can lag a bit before you start feeling any signs of overmedication and all depends on how your system absorbs and also how it metabolises T3.

How long have you been on 2 grains before the first reading/test?

[Anna0778 in reply to researcherUK]

Hi, thanks for the reply. I was on 2 grains for about ten months. And yes I did take my medication about an hour before my last blood test and on an empty stomach.

I think I am going to revert back to 2 grains but keep on with the 12.5 mg cytomel to see how things go. I will stop the T3 if I start experiencing side effects. I am due to be referred to an endocrinologist to whom I will confess my self medicating and hopefully they will be more sympathetic than the GP! Many thanks

[researcherUK in reply to Anna0778]

That explains it as to why T3 showed very high. Perhaps it is best to stay on the new dose that you have indicated, 2 grains but keep on with the 12.5 mg Cytomel, for 8 weeks and test your levels again. You need to leave at least 12 hrs between your last dose and the blood draw for the test. T3 has its highest peak 4-8 hrs after the dose and the aim to test to assess your T3 levels at their low levels. You can take your dose afterward.

[Anna0778 in reply to researcherUK]

Thanks so much for the advice, I think I already have more energy on the increased dose, which is what I was struggling with in the main. I will see how things go. Thanks

[thyroidrose]

Anna if I were you and I was feeling fine I would stay put where I was at, medication wise. Of course I do like your idea of asking the new endo what they think.

[Anna0778 in reply to thyroidrose]

Yes, I think I may do that l. Geez if only we had dr's who knew what they talking about! Thanks for your help

[Hidden]

Why did you test after only 7 days this is not long enough. You also should have left off your T3 and NDT for about 8-10 hours before blood draw. It would be a good idea to start again with maybe 2.5 grains for 6 weeks and then again test properly. Good Luck