levothyroixine or Armour

[dan4245]

i had radio active tretment in April and after a week had swollen knees went to the encro she said it is nothing to do with the tretment and put me on Levothyroixine 100mcg and feeling very bad hair fall out can not sleep low mood extremely tired very well body aches every where especialy my knees went back to the doctors asked him what is wrong with me had blood test he said your iron low but thyriod fine he put me onFerrous fumarate 210mg 3xa day.i want to try Armou if it is better but i don't know how i can make my doctor priscibe me please help me?

Thank u

[Barb135]

Oh my...... yes, you are extremely over medicated.  I'm assuming that the 11.8 is the Free T3?  Sometimes blood tests don't always post properly. Your levels are considerably higher than top of range.  

I agree that you should have stopped the levo.  I don't understand why your doctor keeps putting you on such a high dose, when it's obvious that you don't need that much.  You will continue to be on a roller coaster, as long as you keep starting and stopping medication.

How long ago were these tests? It will take a few weeks to get all that T4 medication out of your system, but you need to keep close tabs on it, so that when your levels start coming down, you can get back on medication, before you go completely hypo.  

I would certainly not start at dose higher than 25 mcg and stay on that for about 4-6 weeks, then retest and depending on your levels, you could then go up to 50 mcg, but again, make sure you retest after 4-6 weeks before going up again and don't make any huge jumps; I would never go more than 25 mcg at one time, and usually not that much.  Retesting prior to each dosage change will help prevent this from happening again.  

Taking very small increases at a time, takes longer to get you to an optimal point, but it will avoid the drastic swings you're having. There may even come a point, at which you might have to alternate dosages.  For instance, I once alternated 75 mcg and 88 mcg for an average of 81.5 mcg, because 75 wasn't enough, but 88 was too much.  I did the same thing with 88 mcg and 100 mcg for an average of 94 mcg.  That's called "tweaking" and when we get to that point, it takes a lot of patience.  

[dan4245]

Thanks I sent the blood test with their range twice i do not know if you got the second one.

Serum TSH level         0.01           mu/L       0.35-5.0  U
Serum free T4 level     34.9            pmol/L    7.0- 20.0 U
Serum free                 11.8            pmol/L    3.3-5.3    U

I hope you will get this one
Thanks

[Barb135]

I don't see the reference ranges for your FT 4 and T3.  

[dan4245]

Hi i hope u got all my blood test result with their range. I stopped taking 100mcg levothyroxine for 8 days.. I am still straggling but feels much better than last week.docotor said come back after a month for blood test until then do not take the med. i am worried if it is a good idea to stop as the other doc said take half but the other said u got to stop taking.Also i still got swollen knees what could it be? any idea pls help me?
Thanks

[Barb135]

What is the reference range for the Free T4?  Ranges vary from lab to lab, so must come from your own lab report; the range is usually printed in parenthesis next to the result, or maybe in a separate column.  We also need the reference range for the T3 and since it doesn't specify Free, I'm supposing that it's total, which is considered obsolete and of little value.

It does sound like you have gone hyper from the medication. You will need to start back on it, at some point, however, I'd strongly suggest that you start at a low dose (maybe 1/2 that) and work up slowly, in order to prevent the seesawing up and down that you seem to be doing.  

As far as eating - just stick with a good healthy diet, with lots of fresh veggies, lean protein, etc.

[dan4245]

Hey Barb Thanks for your help. I am overactive again doctor told me yesterday  to stop taking levothyroxine 100mcg.for palptation take propranolol 10mg. I am confused could you be overactive after RAI. feeling awful lost weight,my hair falling out palptation chest pain.I do not knw what to do what to eat my doctor said back after a month for blood test.here my blood test

TSH           0.01
FREE T4   34.9
T3             11.8

Any advice would be appricated.

Thanks
Luna