Hi - my blood work shows that I can convert T4 just fine but my Dr wants to try me on Armour thyroid because of my symptoms. (Foggy brain, tried upon waking and throughout the day, dry hair/Skin) I was taking Levothyroxine.
Is it harmful at all to take a combination t3 & T4 if my body is making T4?
Lilyrae215
If you convert well and you still have symptoms, it would suggest you're not taking enough Levo and to me it makes sense to increase your Levo rather than change to a combination of T4 and T3 (Armour) where the T3 may make your FT3 go over range.
What are your current results - including reference ranges - for TSH, Free T4 and Free T3?
Have you had Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin tested?
What about adrenals, a 24 hour saliva test which does both cortisol and DHEA may also be helpful.
I have had Vit D, ferritin test as well as b12. I am on Iron Extra because it’s on the very low end of normal and on 2000 of Vit D.
I started the Iron supplement 1 week ago.
What happens if the FT3 goes over Range? I don’t want to create problems by starting a natural Armour medication.
Lilyrae215
What happens if the FT3 goes over Range? I don’t want to create problems by starting a natural Armour medication.
You may possibly get symptoms of overmedication which could be similar to symptoms of overactive thyroid. This is why is asked what are your current results - including reference ranges - for TSH, Free T4 and Free T3? [It needs to be Free T4 and Free T3, not Total T4/T3]. Your previous post showed Free T3 higher than Free T4 which doesn't indicate that T3 is needed, your levels showed that an increase in Levo was what was needed, as mentioned by Angel of the North
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
I have had Vit D, ferritin test as well as b12. I am on Iron Extra because it’s on the very low end of normal and on 2000 of Vit D.
If you post your results, with reference ranges and units of measurement for B12 and Vit D, I can comment. If your Vit D is low, 2000iu is possibly not enough to raise it. How low was ferritin? Very low end of normal suggests that it would be useful to do a full blood count and an iron panel because low ferritin suggests iron deficiency anaemia.
Guessing you are in USA?
Your previous post shows you have Hashimoto's diagnosed by high TPO antibodies
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 regularly
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first
Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet
(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)
Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...
drknews.com/changing-your-d...
restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...
Brain fog often improves as vitamins improves and/or gluten or grain free
Armour 120 vs Levothyroxine 175 
Back to levothyroxine after many years on Armour, etc
Adding Armour to Levothyroxine
Anyone changed from Armour to Levothyroxine only?
