could someone please help me with regard to raising up my thyroid meds , which is proving uncomfortable?

[C70rol]

My blood test results which were done at the end of June were as follows.

TSH 0.01

T4. 15.8 (12.0-22.0)

T3. 4.6. (3.1-6.8)

As you can see my T3 is very low, so I am trying to increase my current Armour Thyroid by a 1/2 of a 1/4 grain tablet. Only a small amount but it is giving me some uncomfortable side effects ie very very tired, shaky, low, and woolly headed. Is this normal? I was expecting to feel better ?

I have been on 1 and 1/2 grain for several years, but I was always more optimal on 1 and 3/4 grain. Therefore that’s the reason I am trying to add in the 1/4 grain. Also wondering if age could be a problem, as I’m now 80.

Thank you.

Longing to feel a lot better, so would appreciate your help ,

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Do you split your Armour dose throughout the day?

How are your vitamin levels looking? Often intolerance of dose increases can be due to low vitamin levels.

What supplements do you take?

[C70rol in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thank you for your reply Jayden, my vitamin levels were good, in fact my B12 and D3 were a tad over, so I’m cutting my B12 supplements back and my D3 also for the summer months. I also take Magnesium, vit C, Fish oil, coq10, vit k2, selenium, zinc and Curcumin ., and I’m always regular in taking my supps.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to C70rol]

Are you taking folate or a B complex?

How's your ferritin level?

You could try splitting your dose and taking tiny increases.

[C70rol]

oh sorry I forgot to mention that. Its B complex, and I forgot to tell you that I don’t split my dose of Armour. I take it all in the beginning of the day., which has always been my worst time of day. I am a lot better in the afternoon, so don’t really need any help then .

[greygoose in reply to C70rol]

I take it all in the beginning of the day., which has always been my worst time of day

Which suggests that your adrenals might not be working very well. Have you had your cortisol tested?

[C70rol in reply to greygoose]

Thank you Greygoose. . I have been thinking the same thing this afternoon, though I didn’t want to give credence to it, because I have been seeing a very qualified medical herbalist for a a few months, for my adrenals. A Herbal tincture which should be stimulating my own adrenals to recover. So I think it’s time I bought an adrenal test kit to see where I’m up to. I do know that if the adrenals are low, then you can’t raise the thyroid without problems.

Thank you Greygoose, a very timely reminder.

[greygoose in reply to C70rol]

That sounds very ominous! By 'herbal', do you mean adaptogens? If so, they could have been reducing your cortisol rather than increasing it, because adaptogens are very unpredictable.

[C70rol in reply to greygoose]

Oh no Greygoose, adaptogens were what put my adrenals down originally. I took Ashwaghanda for several months, felt awful, went to see Dr Peatfield and he gave me another adaptogen, which made things worse. But I realised what was happening, so stopped it right away, and have been trying to get better ever since ( which is about 3 years.

This herbalist is using actual herbs some from this country and one from Egypt, and they are making a difference , albeit a tad slowly.