Re: Iodoral and TSH Spike

[Guest guest]

I would refuse. We will never touch that stuff again here. Armour has helped but not enough here. My question is are you taking the supporting supplements for Iodoral? As for upping or lowering I will leave that to the pros.

Marcie Dingerson Burger Professionals

REALTOR Your Home Buying Specialist www.MarcieDingerson.com 360-292-2569

http://threeboysandglutenfree.blogspot.com/ Check out my monkey's

From: mkcwrites <mkcwrites@...>Subject: Iodoral and TSH Spikeiodine Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 4:53 PM

Hi, I'm a newbie. I've been on Iodoral (3/day) for almost two months now and it's helped a lot with hypo-like symptoms. (It's not Hashi's as I have low antibodies, though I did have low T3.) However, my TSH has spiked from around 2.0 before I started Iodoral to over 6.0 as of last week. I've heard this sometimes happens with iodine and that it eventually evens out. Is this true? Do I need to cut back on Iodoral? Trouble is, my (very traditional doc) now wants to put me on levothyroxine (15mcg). What do I do? Refuse to take it? Take it and see if it helps? Just don't want to start on something I'll have to take the rest of my life if the Iodoral is going to do the trick. Any advice appreciated. MK

[Guest guest]

Hi MK:

My TSH went up to 9.2 from 1.7 bc of the Iodoral(12.5mgs.). My holistic doctor said it would come back down and it did after about 4 months. I also take Armour which really alleviated most of my hypo symptoms. I used to take Levothyroxine, but feel so much better on the Armour.

Good luck,

From: mkcwrites <mkcwrites@...>Subject: Iodoral and TSH Spikeiodine Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 7:53 PM

Hi, I'm a newbie. I've been on Iodoral (3/day) for almost two months now and it's helped a lot with hypo-like symptoms. (It's not Hashi's as I have low antibodies, though I did have low T3.) However, my TSH has spiked from around 2.0 before I started Iodoral to over 6.0 as of last week. I've heard this sometimes happens with iodine and that it eventually evens out. Is this true? Do I need to cut back on Iodoral? Trouble is, my (very traditional doc) now wants to put me on levothyroxine (15mcg). What do I do? Refuse to take it? Take it and see if it helps? Just don't want to start on something I'll have to take the rest of my life if the Iodoral is going to do the trick. Any advice appreciated. MK

[Guest guest]

Marcie and ,

Thanks for your input. As for what else I am taking, Vit C, B12, B6,

Ca/Mg, glucosamine, and probiotics (Threelac and Acidophilus Pearl). I

tried zinc, selenium, L-tyrosine (sp?), Nutrimeds (desiccated thyroid),

B-50 complex, and other things that litter my medicine cabinet. ;-)

Iodoral was the only thing that I tolerated well and that worked. Which

makes it ironic that only now is my doc saying I need anything. I may

try a few days of levothyroxine just to see what happens. I tend to

react quickly and strongly to medications. Then I can drop it or not,

as I feel. I'm supposed to get blood drawn to retest my TSH in 6 weeks.

My doc isn't holistic nor do I know one I can go to under my HMO. So

I'm stuck doing this on my own pretty much. But I do need to decide

whether to pick up the prescription and/or come clean to my doc. (Who

would no doubt see the TSH spike as an indication of how dangerous it

is to supplement on your own!)

MK

[Guest guest]

When you tested last week, did you do T3 and T4 as well? If so, what are

those values now, and what were they before you started Iodoral? If you

didn't do T3 and T4, insist your doctor do those tests now (or preferably

Free T3 and Free T4). Starting iodine can impact TSH initially, but I don't

think it impacts T3 and T4.

Are you also taking selenium or any of the other recommended supplements for

the iodine protocol?

Lynn

> Hi, I'm a newbie. I've been on Iodoral (3/day) for almost two months

> now and it's helped a lot with hypo-like symptoms. (It's not Hashi's as

> I have low antibodies, though I did have low T3.) However, my TSH has

> spiked from around 2.0 before I started Iodoral to over 6.0 as of last

> week. I've heard this sometimes happens with iodine and that it

> eventually evens out. Is this true? Do I need to cut back on Iodoral?

> Trouble is, my (very traditional doc) now wants to put me on

> levothyroxine (15mcg). What do I do? Refuse to take it? Take it and see

> if it helps? Just don't want to start on something I'll have to take

> the rest of my life if the Iodoral is going to do the trick. Any advice

> appreciated. MK

[Guest guest]

Marcie,

I doubt very much my doc would be receptive to Armour. (Nor was it the

doc who called me. The nurse just said, you're moderately hypo and

we're putting you on this. What pharmacy? Past experience with this

doc tells me that alternative medicines are frowned on.) That's why,

on my own, several months ago I tried Nutrimeds, which is desiccated

thyroid w/o prescription. But I had a bad reaction within a couple

days. That's why I'm willing to try a few levothyroxine just to see. I

know people are different. But what my question was really about was,

do I take any thyroid meds at all, if my TSH is going to come back

down and I feel okay on Iodoral?

Sorry about your husband. I don't know why docs are so stubborn on

this issue. Clearly the patient should be the barometer, not the test!

MK

[Guest guest]

Lynn,

I had to test T3/T4 on my own so I don't know if that's changed.

Like I said, I have a very traditional doc who doesn't see the point

of further testing or anything other than levothyroxine for

treatment. (And will only dispense treatment if the lab says TSH is

out of the normal range.) I've tried to find a more holistic doc but

without success. So I sort of work around the one I've got.

I'm still waiting to get the hardcopy of the lab results in the mail

from my doc. But I'm pretty sure that it's just TSH. However, I am

going to get my own thyroid panel done after a couple more months. I

just was caught off guard by suddenly being labeled hypo after my

prior doc noted that I had hypo-like symptoms but refused to treat

because of normal TSH. ;-) Now, when I am feeling better on Iodoral,

they tell me I'm hypo and want to treat! LOL

As for supplements, I take some of the recommended ones like Bs and

Mg and am retrying selenium. As I recall, after a few days when I

took selenium before, it felt like someone was sitting on my chest

and the brewer's yeast triggered IBS (which I keep in check with

probiotics). Anyway, I've now ordered Dr. Brownstein's book and am

hoping he discusses this TSH spike and whether one needs to be only

on Iodoral or on Iodoral plus thyroid medication. Basically, I am

trying to decide whether to just pick up the levothyroxine

prescription then quietly let the whole thing die...and retest in a

couple months on my own penny to see where I'm at. If I test back in

the normal range at my next annual physical, my doc will be happy

and so will I. Maybe I need to be on thyroid meds. But maybe I

don't. If Iodoral takes care of it, that would be great.

Thanks for your input.

MK

[Guest guest]

MK...

Have you checked out http://stopthethyroidmadness.com yet? Janie

recommends you test your free T3 (FT3) and free T4 (FT4). Most

doctors don't even know to order those tests. If your doctor isn't

receptive to armour, ask your pharmacist which doctors in town do. Or

go to the armour site: http://www.armourthyroid.com/con_phLocator.aspx

to see if they have one listed in your area. It'll make your life way

easier.

Also, you might want to add extra B3 and B2 (niacin and riboflavin)

also known as ATP co-factors, Dr. Brownestein recommends them to help

get the iodine into the cells. http://www.optimox.com/pics/ATP_Cofact.htm

Lorie

>

> I'm still waiting to get the hardcopy of the lab results in the mail

> from my doc. But I'm pretty sure that it's just TSH. However, I am

> going to get my own thyroid panel done after a couple more months. I

> just was caught off guard by suddenly being labeled hypo after my

> prior doc noted that I had hypo-like symptoms but refused to treat

> because of normal TSH. ;-) Now, when I am feeling better on Iodoral,

> they tell me I'm hypo and want to treat! LOL

>

> As for supplements, I take some of the recommended ones like Bs and

> Mg and am retrying selenium. As I recall, after a few days when I

> took selenium before, it felt like someone was sitting on my chest

> and the brewer's yeast triggered IBS (which I keep in check with

> probiotics). Anyway, I've now ordered Dr. Brownstein's book and am

> hoping he discusses this TSH spike and whether one needs to be only

> on Iodoral or on Iodoral plus thyroid medication. Basically, I am

> trying to decide whether to just pick up the levothyroxine

> prescription then quietly let the whole thing die...and retest in a

> couple months on my own penny to see where I'm at. If I test back in

> the normal range at my next annual physical, my doc will be happy

> and so will I. Maybe I need to be on thyroid meds. But maybe I

> don't. If Iodoral takes care of it, that would be great.

>

> Thanks for your input.

>

> MK

>

[Guest guest]

Lorie,

I did have FT3/T4 and antibody testing done on my own dime. The FT3

was low at that time, everything else in normal range, before I took

Iodoral. (Armour may be a struggle to get but Cytomel is probably

impossible, so I couldn't try T3 on its own.) I intend in a few

months to retest myself to see where I'm at. I have indeed seen Stop

the Madness. I did a lot of research several months ago on

hypothyroidism but I am not currently on any kind of thyroid

medication. Nor have I ever been except to try out desiccated

thyroid (Nutrimeds) and various other supplements like L-tyrosine,

selenium, zinc. None worked for me until I found Iodoral. My prior

doc thought I was hypo but tests didn't support that (even though I

know the TSH is iffy at best).

My question isn't Armour vs levothyroxine so much as, should I take

anything AT ALL, if Iodoral works for me. The TSH spike caused my

doc to prescribe levothyroxine (I wasn't asking for testing, even,

just noted at my annual physical that my parents are both hypo now).

My original question was more, is it true that Iodoral spikes the

TSH temporarily. If so, and answers so far lean that way, then I may

not need anything else. I just have to decide what to do about that

prescription of levothyroxine sitting at the pharmacy... ;-) MK

[Guest guest]

MK,

Selenium is important for both thyroid and iodine function. You don't want

to be taking the selenite form of selenium, which is what is most commonly

found in supplements, and can actually have some toxic effects . Instead,

make sure you're taking the selenomethionine form.

The initial TSH spike that occured in lab animals given iodine is referred

to as the Wolff-Chaikoff effect. Dr. Guy Abraham has written an article

discrediting the Wolff-Chaikoff effect, saying the rise in TSH is just

temporary and short-term, and any changes in TSH don't mean that the T3 and

T4 are affected. You can read it here:

http://www.oasisadvancedwellness.com/learning/wolff-chaikof-effect.html

If I remember right, it's a more detailed discussion than what is in Dr.

Brownstein's book.

The amount of levothyroxine your doctor prescribed for you is just a

pittance. It seems like just enough to mess up your feedback loop. Plus

your problem might not be an insufficient amount of T4, but rather

converting the T4 to T3. And if that is the case, taking T4 will just

suppress your own thyroid production, which will have the effect of further

diminishing your T3, making you even more hypothyroid at the cellular level.

It seems irresponsible to prescribe levothyroxine based just on the TSH, but

I know that is a pretty typical conventional doctor practice. It doesn't

sound like this doctor is your friend in health.

Sometimes if a patient is assertive enough and studied enough to present a

cogent argument on the issue, a doctor will order a test or prescribe

something they wouldn't ordinarily do or even agree with, just to get the

patient off their back and not lose the patient from the practice. If

you're willing to be assertive, you could call the doctor's office back and

say you don't want to take the levothyroxine until you know for sure that

you don't have a conversion problem. Far better to find a really

knowledgable doctor. I drive 180 miles one way to see my doctor.

I hope you are avoiding any soy products, because they will depress thyroid

function.

Lynn

> As for supplements, I take some of the recommended ones like Bs and

> Mg and am retrying selenium. As I recall, after a few days when I

> took selenium before, it felt like someone was sitting on my chest

> and the brewer's yeast triggered IBS (which I keep in check with

> probiotics). Anyway, I've now ordered Dr. Brownstein's book and am

> hoping he discusses this TSH spike and whether one needs to be only

> on Iodoral or on Iodoral plus thyroid medication. Basically, I am

> trying to decide whether to just pick up the levothyroxine

> prescription then quietly let the whole thing die...and retest in a

> couple months on my own penny to see where I'm at. If I test back in

> the normal range at my next annual physical, my doc will be happy

> and so will I. Maybe I need to be on thyroid meds. But maybe I

> don't. If Iodoral takes care of it, that would be great.

>

> Thanks for your input.

>

> MK

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi, I'm a newbie. I've been on Iodoral (3/day) for almost two months

> now and it's helped a lot with hypo-like symptoms. (It's not Hashi's as

> I have low antibodies, though I did have low T3.) However, my TSH has

> spiked from around 2.0 before I started Iodoral to over 6.0 as of last

> week. I've heard this sometimes happens with iodine and that it

> eventually evens out. Is this true? Do I need to cut back on Iodoral?

> Trouble is, my (very traditional doc) now wants to put me on

> levothyroxine (15mcg). What do I do? Refuse to take it? Take it and see

> if it helps? Just don't want to start on something I'll have to take

> the rest of my life if the Iodoral is going to do the trick. Any advice

> appreciated. MK

>

In Dr. Brownstein's book " Iodine, why you need it why you can't live without it "

he explains

the increase in TSH after supplementation. The pituitary controls the secretion

of TSH and

when iodine is added the iodine transport cells - called the

sodium-iodide-symporter or

NIS - which tells the thyroid gland to secrete more t4 to be converted to t3.

The feedback

loop in progress is what you are witnessing when this happens. It's your body's

way of

saying - now that I have iodine I can create more thyroid hormone so let's do

it.

Figuratively speaking of course ;-)

I'm sure someone on here has suggested reading the studies that are available at

www.optimox.com. You can also buy ATP Cofactors there which I have found

helpful. My

TSH started out at 3.2 and last time I checked it was 9 or 10 but I'm not

worried because I

am feeling better. I actually printed out the study and handed it to my dr

because I had a

feeling it would go up and I didn't want him to freak out.

[Guest guest]

MK,

If you start on the levothyroxine now, and retest your T3 and T4 (or

hopefully Ft3 and FT4) in a couple months, you won't know if any

changes are due to the iodoral or to the levothyroxine. If you don't

start on the levothyroxine, then retesting in a couple months might

make sense. If you do think you will start on the levothyroxine,

maybe testing T3 and T4 now, before you start, would let you know

what effect the iodine is having.

You said your T3 was low and the other values were normal. So it

appears you do have conversion issues. I don't see how a T4 only

product is going to help you have more T3.

Lynn

> Lynn,

>

> I had to test T3/T4 on my own so I don't know if that's changed.

[Guest guest]

Lynn,

Thanks for all your advice. You and the others in the group have

convinced me not to even try the levothyroxine for now. (Just in

case, though, I might pick up that prescription that's waiting for

me, to hold in reserve.)

I found out a couple years ago that soy didn't agree with me and have

avoided it ever since. I am carb sensitive (but normal glucose) as

far as my IBS goes. I don't have a problem with dairy as long as it's

not first thing in the morning (and have tried gluten free products

but if they're carbs, they bother me period, so it's not the

gluten). I follow a sort of low glycemic/low carb/low fat diet. Sort

of. I allow myself dark chocolate and cheese (with organic apple

slices for lunch when not having homemade smoothies). And the

occasional night out with pasta or pizza. I just can't overdo the

carbs or my body talks back! (The probiotics helped a great deal and,

I think, even helped with hypo. For the first time since I started

them about three years ago, I have been able to cut back on the

probiotic levels after starting Iodoral.)

I'll read over the articles on the W-C effect and hunt up the correct

kind of selenium. I agree with you that since only my FT3 was low

(FT4 and TSH and antibodies normal), it's more likely a conversion

problem and increasing T4 isn't likely to help. That's why for a long

while I wished I could find a doc to prescribe me T3 (Cytomel) but

they're even harder to find than those who will prescribe Armour.

Since I did try Nutrimeds (like Armour if reputed to be weaker) and

it gave me some weird side effects (strangely enough it triggered

some kind of nerve problems on the left side of my face the two times

I tried it)...I'm not thinking that Armour would be any better but

will look harder for it if Iodoral doesn't pan out as a long-term

solution to my hypo symptoms.

I really appreciate you taking the time to answer so fully about my

questions. I'll wait another couple months, I think, to see if the

TSH quiets down and retest (on my own). If the doctor calls me on it

(which I doubt), then I'll be prepared to explain why I haven't

followed up with the 6-week TSH test.

Though it may not sound like it, I have been fairly assertive in the

past about my health (resisting having the recommended hysterectomy

when all I wanted out was two endometrial cysts). Went to a surgeon

about, well, 180 miles one way, to do so. ;-) And am happy I did so

as am now going through natural menopause without HRT and without

much problem. But you have to pick your battles and I was trying to

find out whether this was one worth having. From what you're saying,

it sounds like I can be passive-aggressive on this one! LOL

MK

[Guest guest]

Hi, thanks for the info on how the TSH spike happens. It's good to know

it's happening to other people and I'm not crazy. I mean, the medical

establishment would be thinking, this is a terrible thing...and you

must feel much worse. When actually, I feel much better (brain fog

lifted, more energy, better skin, working on reducing that extra 20

pounds that just wouldn't come off). Sounds like you had the same

experience about feeling better despite the higher TSH. I'll check into

the ATP Cofactors and the optimox studies. Maybe I'll be able to take

care of my T4>T3 conversion problem without ever having to take any

thyroid meds. Fingers crossed. MK

[Guest guest]

TSH can be elevated to up to 75 for up to 6 mos with no clinical signs of hypoT. You must watch the Free T3 and Free T4 to appropriately monitor the thyroid function. TSH is used to stimulate the thyroid cells to take up the iodine. It is kind of a "waking up" of the system when enough iodine is being supplied to the body.

Re: Iodoral and TSH Spike

Hi, thanks for the info on how the TSH spike happens. It's good to know it's happening to other people and I'm not crazy. I mean, the medical establishment would be thinking, this is a terrible thing...and you must feel much worse. When actually, I feel much better (brain fog lifted, more energy, better skin, working on reducing that extra 20 pounds that just wouldn't come off). Sounds like you had the same experience about feeling better despite the higher TSH. I'll check into the ATP Cofactors and the optimox studies. Maybe I'll be able to take care of my T4>T3 conversion problem without ever having to take any thyroid meds. Fingers crossed. MK

[Guest guest]

MK,

Have you ever been tested for celiac disease? If not, I would highly

recommend it to anyone with IBS. There are blood tests available, but the

most sensitive test (of a fecal sample) is one from www.enterolabs.com. You

can order the test yourself. If you had a doctor's order for the test (fat

chance with your doctor, methinks), insurance would pay for it. I know you

said it's the carbs and not gluten that bothers you, but since celiac causes

so many different types of problems, a person would really need to be tested

to be sure.

If you are quite sure you just have carb sensitivity, have you read any of

the Weston A. Price Foundation material or Nourishing Traditions about the

problems from eating grains that haven't first been cultured in a

lactic-acid medium (e.g. sourdough or fermented grains)? Many people find

they can tolerate carbohydrates if they have been properly prepared, but not

the way they're found in the SAD (Standard American Diet). The fact that

probiotics helped you makes it likely that you could better tolerate

carbohydrates if they were prepared with lactobacilli culturing.

Alternatively, have you looked into the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD)?

It's very helpful for people with intestinal problems. They have found a

high fat diet to be beneficial, as long as it is not vegetable or

hydrogenated oils, but rather butter, coconut oil, ghee, unhydrogenated

lard, or tallow. I'm not sure what your reason is for following a low fat

diet, but I think you might do better by eating more good fats. T4 to T3

conversion occurs primarily in the liver and kidneys, so ensure they are

working well. I wouldn't be surprised if your impaired digestion was

impacting your thyroid function.

I'm not familiar with Nutrimeds, but it is my understanding that by law any

thyroid product sold without a prescription has had all of the active

thyroid hormone removed. The Nutri-Meds website makes it sound like it is

pretty comparable to Armour, but I am pretty dubious. I wouldn't judge

Armour by the way you felt on Nutri-Meds.

I'm glad you have had a positive experience of confronting doctors before.

Optimal thyroid health is foundational to the health of your entire body and

well worth battling for. I hope you continue with the iodine and let us

know how you're doing and how your tests turn out.

Lynn

> I found out a couple years ago that soy didn't agree with me and have

> avoided it ever since. I am carb sensitive (but normal glucose) as

> far as my IBS goes. I don't have a problem with dairy as long as it's

> not first thing in the morning (and have tried gluten free products

> but if they're carbs, they bother me period, so it's not the

> gluten). I follow a sort of low glycemic/low carb/low fat diet. Sort

> of. I allow myself dark chocolate and cheese (with organic apple

> slices for lunch when not having homemade smoothies). And the

> occasional night out with pasta or pizza. I just can't overdo the

> carbs or my body talks back! (The probiotics helped a great deal and,

> I think, even helped with hypo. For the first time since I started

> them about three years ago, I have been able to cut back on the

> probiotic levels after starting Iodoral.)

>

> I'll read over the articles on the W-C effect and hunt up the correct

> kind of selenium. I agree with you that since only my FT3 was low

> (FT4 and TSH and antibodies normal), it's more likely a conversion

> problem and increasing T4 isn't likely to help. That's why for a long

> while I wished I could find a doc to prescribe me T3 (Cytomel) but

> they're even harder to find than those who will prescribe Armour.

> Since I did try Nutrimeds (like Armour if reputed to be weaker) and

> it gave me some weird side effects (strangely enough it triggered

> some kind of nerve problems on the left side of my face the two times

> I tried it)...I'm not thinking that Armour would be any better but

> will look harder for it if Iodoral doesn't pan out as a long-term

> solution to my hypo symptoms.

>

> I really appreciate you taking the time to answer so fully about my

> questions. I'll wait another couple months, I think, to see if the

> TSH quiets down and retest (on my own). If the doctor calls me on it

> (which I doubt), then I'll be prepared to explain why I haven't

> followed up with the 6-week TSH test.

>

> Though it may not sound like it, I have been fairly assertive in the

> past about my health (resisting having the recommended hysterectomy

> when all I wanted out was two endometrial cysts). Went to a surgeon

> about, well, 180 miles one way, to do so. ;-) And am happy I did so

> as am now going through natural menopause without HRT and without

> much problem. But you have to pick your battles and I was trying to

> find out whether this was one worth having. From what you're saying,

> it sounds like I can be passive-aggressive on this one! LOL

>

> MK

[Guest guest]

Thanks, . When I get tested again in a couple months, I'll pay

attention to whether the FT3 has gone into normal range and if the FT4

is still normal. Instead of looking at TSH. MK

[Guest guest]

Lynn,

I'm pretty sure I don't have celiac. I read over the symptoms and

they don't match up at all. Diarrhea is a big part of celiac and I

have the opposite problem (IBS-C). But it's mostly under control now

with diet and probiotics. I was diagnosed with spastic colitis at age

18 and didn't realize it had been renamed IBS until I started having

to be hauled out of restaurants with horrible gas pains about five

years ago. I didn't connect the two until I started to research. Loss

of weight is also not a problem. ;-) I've gained about 20 pounds in

the last three or four years despite better diet/exercise habits.

That's why I was looking at thyroid.

For many years (twenties and thirties), my IBS was dormant on a

lowfat diet (I never watched carbs and had a lot of processed food

labeled as " healthy " ). My guess is that all those carbs got my system

seriously out of whack and led to bacterial overgrowth in the

intestines (one of the hypotheses for IBS). When I started

probiotics, I almost stopped, because the die-off was so bad

(Herxheimer reaction). Thank goodness I didn't because they cleared

up a bunch of seemingly unrelated things (my eyesight was the most

dramatic and unexpected other than IBS; everything became

brighter/deeper/more colorful and I was able to drive at night for

the first time without my eyes blurring). Malabsorption is implicated

in bacterial overgrowth because we need the good bacteria to help

absorb nutrients. At least, that's one theory. It's been a couple

years since I researched on this issue.

I'd already discovered that eating more protein (eggs and salmon) and

cutting way back on carbs (grains and sugars), I felt better. And

here's where that " sort of " comes into play on lowfat: I also eat

handfuls of whole almonds. High fat. Sometimes I'll also cut up a

grass-fed-beef snack stick and put it in my eggs so that's also high

fat. Actually, I've started adding more fat, bit by bit, and use

olive oil for cooking. But I use lowfat yogurt in my smoothies and

lowfat or skim milk on those few occasions that I eat cereal. And,

yes, I do use butter on occasion. (My grandfather was a dairy

technologist who insisted on using butter all through the margarine

years. Looks like he was right after all.) I tried rye and sourdough

bread in hopes they wouldn't cause any trouble but more than a slice

every other day or so would be a problem. That's why it seems to be

simply carbs and not the kind or how they're processed. Which is a

big downer as I love freshly baked bread. ;-)

Per Nutrimeds, I read about them on stopthethyroidmadness in the list

for brands other than Armour that are available. From what they say,

Nutrimeds is indeed whole desiccated thyroid but they've decided not

to go through all the hoops of becoming a prescription drug. Which

means they can make no claims as to what it treats and like most

supplements, they have the standard FDA disclaimer. But I take your

point. I may have a different reaction to Armour. Right now, it looks

like I may be able to correct my hypo symptoms with Iodoral and not

have to take anything additional. But if this isn't so, I will find

someone to prescribe a trial dose of Armour.

I'm still at the beginning of this search for the right combination.

If I hadn't stumbled over Iodoral and had good results (at the urging

of the local health food store), I probably would have been more

aggressive about trying Armour. In a way, I'm glad that's not what

happened, because I probably would never have tried Iodoral

otherwise. ( Shomon's books are not very receptive to iodine

because she herself hasn't had a good experience with it.

Shames is also not a fan.)

I'll take the thyroid tests (TSH, FT3, FT4, TPO) again in another

couple months and let you know how it's going. If I need to, I'll get

more aggressive re: Armour. Thanks again for all your info. I've got

a list of things to get now like the right kind of selenium.

MK