Re: desperate for help!!

Heather,

In looking at your Free T3 and Free T4 levels, although you didn't include the reference ranges (could you post those), it does look like you are at the bottom of the ranges for these two. No wonder you are feeling terrible! You need to get your levels at least above the midpoint of the range and ideally into the top third of the range. Is your doctor going by the TSH? Many only look at that and won't increase meds even if the T3 and T4 levels are low.

I see that people have recommended Armour Thyroid. I am on a Levoxyl/Armour combo and really like it. My caution is to not take Armour alone. What many people and doctors don't understand is that Armour is 80%/T4 and 20%/T3 while the normal human thyroid makes approximately 93%/T4 and 7%/T3. This is why I combine the Armour with Levoxyl to bring the T4 meds up to 93%. Many people fail with Armour - initially they feel better but then they go hyper for T3 and hypo for T4 and don't feel well anymore. If only doctors understood this. My own doctor doesn't really get it but since I was already on these meds when I went to her, she continues to give me my meds. Even my friend's holistic doctor didn't get it - he only prescribes Armour alone but did agree to the Levoxyl/Armour combo for her.

Check out Mary Shomon's site at http://www.about.com - this is where I learned so much about the thyroid.

Willow