Re: Just switched over to Armour from Synthroid

[Guest guest]

Dani

I don't know about the dosages but any Dr that is treating you that way will

NOT treat your thyroid right! I went to one here in McKinney and in one visit

she told me Armour was " inferior " I needed to get off of it. I never went

back. I was on Synthroid for YEARS and never could get regulated... lost hair..

felt like crap.. Armour helped me be a mom again and a wife and .... although

I'm having some dosage issues now I don't know that it is the Armour. I think

it is due to the dosage, adrenals and iodine...which I'm in the process of

finding out...

But I do know, you need a doctor that is willing to listen and admit they

might be wrong.. ( personal opinion having been ignored by about 6 so called

" thyroid " experts... for over 10 years... )

Blessings

Melody

le <danosova@...> wrote:

I just took my first grain of Armour last night. My doctor is a giant weenie

and I am struggling to switch to a more Armour friendly doc ASAP. Anyway, she

refused to draw my free T4 and T3 yesterday. So I don't have a baseline to start

with for the switch over. I wish I could convince her but she already loathes me

for insisting on switching to " such an inferior med " . She is also one of those

doctors who doesn't touch you at all when you come in for an appointment. It is

weird how she has never palpated my thyroid once. Really no touch.

Is it a problem to not know my T4 and T3 at the beginning of taking Armour? I

did get her to draw my cholesterol labs so hopefully being on Armour will bring

those numbers down.

I will let you all know how I progress as I am on Armour longer.

FYI - I was on 100 mcg Synthroid and now am on 1 grain of Armour.

I was also wanting to know if most of you break your daily dose of Armour into

two half doses or take one dose whole each day? When do you take your dose and

do you eat something with it?

Thanks,

Dani

---------------------------------

The fish are biting.

Get more visitors on your site using Search Marketing.

[Guest guest]

you should take 1/2 grain morning and 1/2 grain afternoon and do not eat

anything for a couple hours before and after taking it...........no iron or

calcium before or after, 2 hrs.

le <danosova@...> wrote: I just took my first grain of

Armour last night. My doctor is a giant weenie and I am struggling to switch to

a more Armour friendly doc ASAP. Anyway, she refused to draw my free T4 and T3

yesterday. So I don't have a baseline to start with for the switch over. I wish

I could convince her but she already loathes me for insisting on switching to

" such an inferior med " . She is also one of those doctors who doesn't touch you

at all when you come in for an appointment. It is weird how she has never

palpated my thyroid once. Really no touch.

Is it a problem to not know my T4 and T3 at the beginning of taking Armour? I

did get her to draw my cholesterol labs so hopefully being on Armour will bring

those numbers down.

I will let you all know how I progress as I am on Armour longer.

FYI - I was on 100 mcg Synthroid and now am on 1 grain of Armour.

I was also wanting to know if most of you break your daily dose of Armour into

two half doses or take one dose whole each day? When do you take your dose and

do you eat something with it?

Thanks,

Dani

---------------------------------

The fish are biting.

Get more visitors on your site using Search Marketing.

[Guest guest]

palma joshi wrote:

>

>

> you should take 1/2 grain morning and 1/2 grain afternoon and do not eat

> anything for a couple hours before and after taking it...........no iron

> or calcium before or after, 2 hrs.

Calcium and iron should be FOUR hours away from any thyroid meds.

Chuck

[Guest guest]

Same boat totally - thanks Melody.

I was always told - TSH is pretty much fine so why are you in my office?

The doctor I saw yesterday told me the t4 and t3 have nothing to do with my

thyroid?! I tell you all I just smiled and nodded, eye on the future and in one

ear out the other as she went on about Armour being very bad. I know she was

laughing at me (after all who would be so dumb to go off Synthroid after a

decade of ill health still right? NOT!) once I left her exam room. However, I

got the prescription out of her and that was the goal.

Hooray,

Dani

Melody Dolle-Ducote <hipmmmy@...> wrote:

Dani

I don't know about the dosages but any Dr that is treating you that way will NOT

treat your thyroid right! I went to one here in McKinney and in one visit she

told me Armour was " inferior " I needed to get off of it. I never went back. I

was on Synthroid for YEARS and never could get regulated... lost hair.. felt

like crap.. Armour helped me be a mom again and a wife and .... although I'm

having some dosage issues now I don't know that it is the Armour. I think it is

due to the dosage, adrenals and iodine...which I'm in the process of finding

out...

But I do know, you need a doctor that is willing to listen and admit they might

be wrong.. ( personal opinion having been ignored by about 6 so called " thyroid "

experts... for over 10 years... )

Blessings

Melody

le <danosova@...> wrote:

I just took my first grain of Armour last night. My doctor is a giant weenie and

I am struggling to switch to a more Armour friendly doc ASAP. Anyway, she

refused to draw my free T4 and T3 yesterday. So I don't have a baseline to start

with for the switch over. I wish I could convince her but she already loathes me

for insisting on switching to " such an inferior med " . She is also one of those

doctors who doesn't touch you at all when you come in for an appointment. It is

weird how she has never palpated my thyroid once. Really no touch.

Is it a problem to not know my T4 and T3 at the beginning of taking Armour? I

did get her to draw my cholesterol labs so hopefully being on Armour will bring

those numbers down.

I will let you all know how I progress as I am on Armour longer.

FYI - I was on 100 mcg Synthroid and now am on 1 grain of Armour.

I was also wanting to know if most of you break your daily dose of Armour into

two half doses or take one dose whole each day? When do you take your dose and

do you eat something with it?

Thanks,

Dani

---------------------------------

The fish are biting.

Get more visitors on your site using Search Marketing.

[Guest guest]

it is really tough to be undermedicated. I chew up 240mg Armour in the

morning, then drink coffee etc. I don't wait for a couple hours to eat!

Gracia

you should take 1/2 grain morning and 1/2 grain afternoon and do not eat

anything for a couple hours before and after taking it...........no iron or

calcium before or after, 2 hrs.

le <danosova@...> wrote: I just took my first grain of Armour last

night. My doctor is a giant weenie and I am struggling to switch to a more

Armour friendly doc ASAP. Anyway, she refused to draw my free T4 and T3

yesterday. So I don't have a baseline to start with for the switch over. I wish

I could convince her but she already loathes me for insisting on switching to

" such an inferior med " . She is also one of those doctors who doesn't touch you

at all when you come in for an appointment. It is weird how she has never

palpated my thyroid once. Really no touch.

Is it a problem to not know my T4 and T3 at the beginning of taking Armour? I

did get her to draw my cholesterol labs so hopefully being on Armour will bring

those numbers down.

I will let you all know how I progress as I am on Armour longer.

FYI - I was on 100 mcg Synthroid and now am on 1 grain of Armour.

I was also wanting to know if most of you break your daily dose of Armour into

two half doses or take one dose whole each day? When do you take your dose and

do you eat something with it?

Thanks,

Dani

---------------------------------

The fish are biting.

Get more visitors on your site using Search Marketing.

[Guest guest]

Chuck wrote:

Calcium and iron should be FOUR hours away from any thyroid meds.

So, what do y’all eat for breakfast and/or lunch when you need to avoid

calcium and iron for four hours? I gotta be honest here . . . this is

something I’m really struggling with! Now, don’t laugh. I’m serious! I

used to eat cereal for breakfast or when I was in a hurry, I would grab a

can of Slim-Fast. Well, there’s obviously calcium in milk, so I switched to

the Slim-Fast granola bars only to find out they’ve got calcium in them too.

So, here I sit having taken my Armour ½ an hour ago, STARVING, wondering

what I can eat and when I can eat it!

Edie

[Guest guest]

if you take your armour sublignually you do not have to worry about

what you eat and when.

renee

>

> Chuck wrote:

>

>

> Calcium and iron should be FOUR hours away from any thyroid meds.

>

> So, what do y'all eat for breakfast and/or lunch when you need to

avoid

> calcium and iron for four hours? I gotta be honest here . . . this

is

> something I'm really struggling with! Now, don't laugh. I'm

serious! I

> used to eat cereal for breakfast or when I was in a hurry, I would

grab a

> can of Slim-Fast. Well, there's obviously calcium in milk, so I

switched to

> the Slim-Fast granola bars only to find out they've got calcium in

them too.

> So, here I sit having taken my Armour ½ an hour ago, STARVING,

wondering

> what I can eat and when I can eat it!

>

>

>

> Edie

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

i just think this applies to calcium and iron supplements not natural forms of

the minerals, like in food............

Edie <ediemarie@...> wrote: Chuck wrote:

Calcium and iron should be FOUR hours away from any thyroid meds.

So, what do y’all eat for breakfast and/or lunch when you need to avoid

calcium and iron for four hours? I gotta be honest here . . . this is

something I’m really struggling with! Now, don’t laugh. I’m serious! I

used to eat cereal for breakfast or when I was in a hurry, I would grab a

can of Slim-Fast. Well, there’s obviously calcium in milk, so I switched to

the Slim-Fast granola bars only to find out they’ve got calcium in them too.

So, here I sit having taken my Armour ½ an hour ago, STARVING, wondering

what I can eat and when I can eat it!

Edie

[Guest guest]

Edie,

You wrote:

> ...I used to eat cereal for breakfast or when I was in a hurry, I would grab a

> can of Slim-Fast. Well, there’s obviously calcium in milk, so I switched to

> the Slim-Fast granola bars only to find out they’ve got calcium in them too...

>

Calcium in dairy is bound, so it is NOT a problem. It is the Ca++ ions,

for example, in calcium carbonate binders, that form complexes with

thyroid meds. Antacids or calcium _supplements_ need the four hour

separation, not milk or cheese.

Enjoy your cereal.

Chuck

[Guest guest]

,

You wrote:

>

> if you take your armour sublignually you do not have to worry about

> what you eat and when.

Most of the absorption of T4 or Armour still takes place in the small

intestine. However, studies have also shown that iron and calcium will

form complexes with free thyroid meds, even after they have been

absorbed. You still need to allow four hours, just as it says on the

note from the pharmacy.

Chuck

[Guest guest]

I was the original poster of the switch. I have been on the Armour dose for a

few days and don't feel so great. I have had nausea. And it feels like it just

wears off by midday or so. It felt like I wasn't getting anything at all when I

split the dose half in the am and half in the pm. My dose is only 1 grain (60

mg). It was to replace my 100 mcg of Synthroid which I always felt bad on.

What should I do? Up the dose to a bit to get two higher doses in each day?

How do I get the doctor on my page about this?

Dani

Army wife with bad Army medical care, sigh

---------------------------------

Need a vacation? Get great deals to amazing places on Travel.

[Guest guest]

From what I understand and have been told by my pharmacist, You should take

thyroid

meds I hour before or two hours after eating. This is not supplements etc; for

that you do

need to wait 4 hrs. but you also need to take the meds as directed. It did not

matter if it

was synthroid, levoxyl or Armour the directions have also been on the bottle.

Venizia

> > ...I used to eat cereal for breakfast or when I was in a hurry, I would grab

a

> > can of Slim-Fast. Well, there's obviously calcium in milk, so I switched to

> > the Slim-Fast granola bars only to find out they've got calcium in them

too...

> >

>

> Calcium in dairy is bound, so it is NOT a problem. It is the Ca++ ions,

> for example, in calcium carbonate binders, that form complexes with

> thyroid meds. Antacids or calcium _supplements_ need the four hour

> separation, not milk or cheese.

>

> Enjoy your cereal.

>

> Chuck

>

[Guest guest]

My bottle simply reads " take one tablet every day " ?! I also have asked my docs

and pharms and they always say it doesn't matter when in the day or with or

without food. I still have my earlier question out there about splitting,

raising my dose.....

Dani

venizia1948 <nelsonck@...> wrote:

From what I understand and have been told by my pharmacist, You should

take thyroid

meds I hour before or two hours after eating. This is not supplements etc; for

that you do

need to wait 4 hrs. but you also need to take the meds as directed. It did not

matter if it

was synthroid, levoxyl or Armour the directions have also been on the bottle.

Venizia

> > ...I used to eat cereal for breakfast or when I was in a hurry, I would grab

a

> > can of Slim-Fast. Well, there's obviously calcium in milk, so I switched to

> > the Slim-Fast granola bars only to find out they've got calcium in them

too...

> >

>

> Calcium in dairy is bound, so it is NOT a problem. It is the Ca++ ions,

> for example, in calcium carbonate binders, that form complexes with

> thyroid meds. Antacids or calcium _supplements_ need the four hour

> separation, not milk or cheese.

>

> Enjoy your cereal.

>

> Chuck

>

---------------------------------

Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles.

Visit the Auto Green Center.

[Guest guest]

I think you ae on too low a dose to split. Most peeps take 3-5 grains of

Armour, then you might want to split it. But chew it up or let it dissolve and

then you don't have to worry about eating food.

Gracia

My bottle simply reads " take one tablet every day " ?! I also have asked my docs

and pharms and they always say it doesn't matter when in the day or with or

without food. I still have my earlier question out there about splitting,

raising my dose.....

Dani

Recent Activity

a.. 5New Members

Visit Your Group

[Guest guest]

pitch a fit and demand more, or order your own. I have sources.

Gracia

circe@...

I was the original poster of the switch. I have been on the Armour dose for a

few days and don't feel so great. I have had nausea. And it feels like it just

wears off by midday or so. It felt like I wasn't getting anything at all when I

split the dose half in the am and half in the pm. My dose is only 1 grain (60

mg). It was to replace my 100 mcg of Synthroid which I always felt bad on. What

should I do? Up the dose to a bit to get two higher doses in each day? How do I

get the doctor on my page about this?

Dani

Army wife with bad Army medical care, sigh

---------------------------------

Need a vacation? Get great deals to amazing places on Travel.

[Guest guest]

well I don't. no problems.

Gracia

,

You wrote:

>

> if you take your armour sublignually you do not have to worry about

> what you eat and when.

Most of the absorption of T4 or Armour still takes place in the small

intestine. However, studies have also shown that iron and calcium will

form complexes with free thyroid meds, even after they have been

absorbed. You still need to allow four hours, just as it says on the

note from the pharmacy.

Chuck

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.8.9/832 - Release Date: 6/4/2007 6:43

PM

[Guest guest]

venizia1948 wrote:

>

>

> From what I understand and have been told by my pharmacist, You should

> take thyroid meds I hour before or two hours after eating. This is not

supplements

> etc; for that you do need to wait 4 hrs. but you also need to take the meds as

directed...

I believe that is what I said. The complexes that supplements form can

happen in the blood after absorption. Calcium and iron cations will

actually follow the meds into the blood and interfere there. Ordinary

foods, including dairy products, only interfere when the meds are still

in the stomach. On an empty stomach, thyroid meds take about an hour to

be absorbed. Food can take up to two hours, hence the one before/two

after rule.

One additional caveat: calcium carbonate is a common binder in other

types of medications and supplements, as well as antacids.

Chuck

[Guest guest]

le wrote:

>

>

> My bottle simply reads " take one tablet every day " ?! ...

They don't always have to put it on the bottle. However, you should have

a paper insert with all the manufacturer's warnings and recommendations.

>...I also have asked

> my docs and pharms and they always say it doesn't matter when in the day

> or with or without food....

If this is true, you have grounds for a law suit or two.

Chuck

[Guest guest]

Tell me more...I kid you not, I have always been told it does not matter. I

follow these thyroid groups since I am the one who has to dose to be " normal " .

So I read about the time of day and the with or without food parameters a lot.

Then I bring it to a few docs and pharms now and they ALL say it doesn't

matter?! Tomorrow I will try this experiement again and let you all know what

they say.

Dani

Chuck B <gumboyaya@...> wrote:

le wrote:

>

>

> My bottle simply reads " take one tablet every day " ?! ...

They don't always have to put it on the bottle. However, you should have

a paper insert with all the manufacturer's warnings and recommendations.

>...I also have asked

> my docs and pharms and they always say it doesn't matter when in the day

> or with or without food....

If this is true, you have grounds for a law suit or two.

Chuck

---------------------------------

Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast

with the Search weather shortcut.

[Guest guest]

Gracia wrote:

>

> ... But chew it up or let it

> dissolve and then you don't have to worry about eating food.

Again, that does not work. They have tested absorption issues a lot and

found that most of the meds (any kind) are absorbed in the small

intestine, even if you try to hold it under your tongue all day. Thus,

food will still interfere with absorption, if you violate the

guidelines. OTOH, if you are very regular with what you eat and when you

eat it, you can roughly titrate to balance what is lost. I believe we

discussed that about your breakfast habits before.

That may also be why some people can take very large doses and still not

be hyperT. They simply ignore the guidelines and, as a result, only

absorb about half of what they take. The advantages of following the

guidelines are that you pay for less, since the use is more efficient,

and your effective dose is much more precise and regular.

Chuck

Chuck

[Guest guest]

Chuck,

Thanks! I think I'm going to have some for supper now!!

>Enjoy your cereal.

>Chuck

[Guest guest]

I don't even know the original question but you know I figured out why I was

overloaded with 120 mg's... as my thyroid really changed after weight loss. I

was taking it with NEXIUM.... in the morning.. when it specifically states..

not to because it can cause it not to absorb....

I felt so dumb when I read it just a week ago.. I'm doing much better now

that I am taking it without the nexium and waiting.... ha ha

m

Chuck B <gumboyaya@...> wrote:

Gracia wrote:

>

> ... But chew it up or let it

> dissolve and then you don't have to worry about eating food.

Again, that does not work. They have tested absorption issues a lot and

found that most of the meds (any kind) are absorbed in the small

intestine, even if you try to hold it under your tongue all day. Thus,

food will still interfere with absorption, if you violate the

guidelines. OTOH, if you are very regular with what you eat and when you

eat it, you can roughly titrate to balance what is lost. I believe we

discussed that about your breakfast habits before.

That may also be why some people can take very large doses and still not

be hyperT. They simply ignore the guidelines and, as a result, only

absorb about half of what they take. The advantages of following the

guidelines are that you pay for less, since the use is more efficient,

and your effective dose is much more precise and regular.

Chuck

Chuck

[Guest guest]

Gracia wrote:

>

>

>

> why isn't the hormone absorbed through the mucosa?

Some is, but different drugs are absorbed differently. Thyroid hormones,

all kinds, are slow to be absorbed until they get to the small intestine.

Chuck

[Guest guest]

Dani~

I know you posted this a few days ago but I'm just getting to my e-mails,

sorry! I used to be on 75 mcg of $ynthroid and then made the switch to armour.

I am currently taking 4 grains and feel fabulous. I recently upped my

dosage. When I first started taking Armour it was a really low dose as well, 1

tablet (60 mg). Durring this transitional period from $ynthroid to Armour

because the doctor would only start me out on such a low dose I took half of my

old

synthroid grain with the 1 tablet of Armour. I'm not sure if you still have

your old pills, or if this is the best way to do it, but both my Mom and I

made the switch that way and it helped a lot until our Armour dose could be

raised.

You said:

I was the original poster of the switch. I have been on the Armour dose for

a few days and don't feel so great. I have had nausea. And it feels like it

just wears off by midday or so. It felt like I wasn't getting anything at all

when I split the dose half in the am and half in the pm. My dose is only 1 grain

(60 mg). It was to replace my 100 mcg of Synthroid which I always felt bad

on. What should I do? Up the dose to a bit to get two higher doses in each day?

How do I get the doctor on my page about this?

Dani

Army wife with bad Army medical care, sigh

**************************************

See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

4 grains is a big jump from 1 grain. I am confused why 75 mcg of Synthroid

equates for you to 4 grains of Armour. Not questioing that it makes you feel

better, just worried how the conversion charts are useless! I have the call in

to go up 1/2 grain but the doc is not calling back!

Did you go up in 1/2 doses and over what period of time? Why do you think you

require such a differing level of thyroid med on Armour?

Dani

bear339@... wrote:

Dani~

I know you posted this a few days ago but I'm just getting to my e-mails,

sorry! I used to be on 75 mcg of $ynthroid and then made the switch to armour.

I am currently taking 4 grains and feel fabulous. I recently upped my

dosage. When I first started taking Armour it was a really low dose as well, 1

tablet (60 mg). Durring this transitional period from $ynthroid to Armour

because the doctor would only start me out on such a low dose I took half of my

old

synthroid grain with the 1 tablet of Armour. I'm not sure if you still have

your old pills, or if this is the best way to do it, but both my Mom and I

made the switch that way and it helped a lot until our Armour dose could be

raised.

You said:

I was the original poster of the switch. I have been on the Armour dose for

a few days and don't feel so great. I have had nausea. And it feels like it

just wears off by midday or so. It felt like I wasn't getting anything at all

when I split the dose half in the am and half in the pm. My dose is only 1 grain

(60 mg). It was to replace my 100 mcg of Synthroid which I always felt bad

on. What should I do? Up the dose to a bit to get two higher doses in each day?

How do I get the doctor on my page about this?

Dani

Army wife with bad Army medical care, sigh

**************************************

See what's free at http://www.aol.com.