6wks on Armour and confused about labs... Help?

[loutomaio]

Any thoughts on my before and after labs would be GREATLY appreciated...

I was borderline low on and off for years, which I managed with iodine and selenium...

This time I WAS SO FATIGUED I had trouble making up the stairs to my office, so I gave in to trying Armour 60mg. I started to feel better, but now I am hot and feeling more anxiety then usual... so I tested again and as you can see in my results below the free T3 improved but a few others dropped. I'm puzzled and tempted to get off the armour...

[greygoose]

Perfectly normal. The TSH is supposed to drop - although it wasn't very high to begin with. The FT4 will also drop when taking T3. But, you've got nothing to compare the FT3 with because it wasn't tested the first time.

The only useful tests are TSH, FT4 and FT3. The Totals and the uptakes, and all the rest don't give much useful information.

But, lay off the iodine! It is not a treatment for under-active thyroid, and can make things ten times worse. You say you 'controlled' your hypo with iodine, but what you actually did was stimulate your thyroid. And whilst that may make you feel a bit better in the short-term, in the long-term it will just hasten the demise of your thyroid. The worst thing you can do to a sick gland is stimulate it.

Didn't you ever get your antibodies tested?

[loutomaio in reply to greygoose]

Thank you Greygoose, that makes sense when you put it that way!

When it first showed up on a test that I was hypo, i decided to check iodine levels and they were so low even the WHO thought i was deficient, and my Bromine was very high too, so with everything I read i figured iodine and selenium were the answer...

I appreciate the feedback!!!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to loutomaio]

Are you in USA?

Iodine deficiency is more common in certain areas of the world

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Many of us find avoiding all soy including soya lecithin helps

[loutomaio in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, Austin TX

I think I provoked the problem by swimming in a brominated pool... it was irritating my skin and with in a few months I was really bottoming out, fatigue was extreme for me...

[greygoose in reply to loutomaio]

Your iodine may have been low, but just supplementing it is not the answer. It's not like B12 or magnesium, it's far more complicated than that, and you need an expert to guide you if you're not going to do yourself more harm than good. And, experts are very difficult to come by.

[loutomaio in reply to greygoose]

Yes, I realize not too many are familiar with iodine, let alone well versed... I was doing Amy Yasko's protocol at the time. That is a very intense regimen, i couldn't keep up with all the lab tests and supplements, although i do believe she knows her stuff and is helping many.

[greygoose in reply to loutomaio]

I'm not familiar with Amy Yasko.

[loutomaio in reply to greygoose]

I just looked back at the two tests I posted above and Free T3 is on both, the first time it was low at 2.2

6wks after taking Armour it went up to 3.4

[greygoose in reply to loutomaio]

Oh, yes! I didn't see it there. difficult when the photos are so small.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. If on Armour (or any NDT) make sure to take last dose 12 hours prior to test

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

As greygoose say iodine is best avoided unless tested and found to be deficient, ESPECIALLY if you have Hashimoto's

drknews.com/iodine-and-hash...

[loutomaio in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks slowdragon, I will retest shortly and add the TPOs and the rest of your suggestions. MUCH appreciated!