First Post - Efficacy of my Thyroid Treatment

[TW1689]

I'm interested in other subscribers' views relating to the efficacy of my thyroid treatment. I am lucky enough to have an excellent, open-minded, endocrinologist whom I have consulted over the last five years and who has helped me considerably. I have been on NDT / NDT Combo for all of that time and am currently on 1.5 grains Armour + 37.5mcg Thyroxine but have never felt that the correct balance, or "sweet spot" has been achieved. All the numbers, as indicated in the attachment below, seem to be OK except that the Red Blood Count has been falling over the last year without any obvious anaemia symptoms and the Salivary Cortisol levels are outside of the range in the early afternoons and late evenings. As well as hypothyroidism, I suffer from hypertension and obstructive sleep apnoea; my weight is 215lbs and height 69inches. I am 77 years of age.

[Lalatoot]

For me your FT4 and FT3 levels would be too low. I need my FT4 over halfway through the range so somewhere around 18 and my ft3 70% at least through range so 5.8. We are all different and need to find our own levels but I would be looking for an increase in Armour and thyroxine - only changing one at a time.

[TW1689 in reply to Lalatoot]

Thanks for your interest and comments.I have always been a little reluctant to increase levels since suppression of TSH seems to exacerbate my arrhythmia.

I have thought about altering the ratio of NDT: Thyroxine but have not much confidence that the overall situation will improve.

[Hafsah2345 in reply to Lalatoot]

Oh my! So that means my T3 of 4.2 must be ridiculously low😭 no wonder I feel like death

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hafsah2345]

But your Free T3 is 4.74 - not 4.2. Or am I missing something?

[TW1689 in reply to helvella]

Hi Helvella,My FT3 (TW1689) is 4.74; I think that Hafzaa123 is saying that his/her level is 4.2!

I should be interested in any comment that you might have relating to arrhythmia and thyroid medication. When I have increased my Thyroid medication in the past to achieve the 70% range figures for FT3 & FT4 the TSH falls < 0.2. I have had pituitary and adrenal checks recently ( MRI / CT ) and they are "unremarkable".

How common is very suppressed TSH with NDT and does FT4 tend to be lower when using NDT?

[helvella Administrator in reply to TW1689]

I was missing something!

Thank you.

I have had a couple of periods of what they said was atrial fibrillation. But they passed after a few weeks and I am none the wiser.

[reliablerebel in reply to TW1689]

very supressed tsh is normal with ndt. Also I find T4 stays lower in range whilst T3 is higher in range once optimal on ndt.

[TW1689 in reply to reliablerebel]

Thanks, that is my experience also.