Armour thyroid/synthroid

[brandimaemama30]

I am a 38 year old woman who had a thyroidectomy and most lymph nodes removed from neck due to medullary thyroid cancer three years ago...want to know what test can I get to see if I need both T3 and T4 because the synthroid is terrible...i want to try armour thyroid but want to be sure I need both first or am I converting it properly...so is there a test for this...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Are you in UK?

[brandimaemama30]

Nope somehow it gave me a UK group either way do you know of any test

[greygoose in reply to brandimaemama30]

You just test the FT4 and the FT3 at the same time, and compare them. If the FT4 is up near the top of the range, and the FT3 below mid-range, then you are a poor converter. But, you don't need to be a poor converter to feel better on Armour, or any of the other NDTs. You just need to try it to find out. It doesn't suit everyone, but nothing does. It's all trial and error.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to brandimaemama30]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies. Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, (and T3 or NDT 12 hours prior to test), delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

[brandimaemama30 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you all...i have a hard time getting my endo to test anything but my tsh...my surgeon only does my calcitonin...my primary doc the usual cbc cmp...i just want someone to evaluate alk of it to come up with what's best for me