Guest guest Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 Suzanne, There's alot to consider here. In general 2.5 is still too high for the majority of hypo folks. Many of us need our TSH much closer to the low end of the range (and some even lower than that). If you have autoimmune thyroid disease a TSH of 1.0 is often a target for some doctors. I can tell you that I personally felt like sludge when I had a TSH of 1.7 when I was going to an idiot doctor that only looked at TSH. That all said, TSH is pretty much useless if you are taking Armour (or any exogenous T3). The doctor should really be dosing based on your Free T3 and Free T4, which are the bioavailable thyroid hormones (TSH is a pituitary hormone). And, you want to make sure any testing is done before you take any thyroid hormone for the day otherwise, the numbers are usually falsely high. I spent a very miserable 6 months with a doctor lowering my T3 until I figured this one out - then she was puzzled as to why my levels dropped tremendously. As far as the headache, if you have seasonal allergies, I would say that might be the cause. The pollen and fungus are sky high right now with some new allergens like Mulberry having just arrived about 5 days ago: http://www.entdocs.com/thismonthspollen.htm Many of us that are hypo also have adrenal issues which tend to predispose us to allergies. Be well, B. > > My doctor finally switched me from the 25 mcg Synthroid to the 1/2 grain Armour. She was not aware that Armour is available now. My last lab work results showed that my TSH was 3.54. The lab range for the TSH is 0.1-5.54. So my TSH went down from 5.56 to 3.54. She said that the goal is for the TSH to reach 2.5. Is TSH 2.5 good enough? I started on the Armour 4 days ago and since then I am having a headache everyday? Is this related to the new Armour dose? > > Thank you all for your help. > Suzanne > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 Suzanne, There's alot to consider here. In general 2.5 is still too high for the majority of hypo folks. Many of us need our TSH much closer to the low end of the range (and some even lower than that). If you have autoimmune thyroid disease a TSH of 1.0 is often a target for some doctors. I can tell you that I personally felt like sludge when I had a TSH of 1.7 when I was going to an idiot doctor that only looked at TSH. That all said, TSH is pretty much useless if you are taking Armour (or any exogenous T3). The doctor should really be dosing based on your Free T3 and Free T4, which are the bioavailable thyroid hormones (TSH is a pituitary hormone). And, you want to make sure any testing is done before you take any thyroid hormone for the day otherwise, the numbers are usually falsely high. I spent a very miserable 6 months with a doctor lowering my T3 until I figured this one out - then she was puzzled as to why my levels dropped tremendously. As far as the headache, if you have seasonal allergies, I would say that might be the cause. The pollen and fungus are sky high right now with some new allergens like Mulberry having just arrived about 5 days ago: http://www.entdocs.com/thismonthspollen.htm Many of us that are hypo also have adrenal issues which tend to predispose us to allergies. Be well, B. > > My doctor finally switched me from the 25 mcg Synthroid to the 1/2 grain Armour. She was not aware that Armour is available now. My last lab work results showed that my TSH was 3.54. The lab range for the TSH is 0.1-5.54. So my TSH went down from 5.56 to 3.54. She said that the goal is for the TSH to reach 2.5. Is TSH 2.5 good enough? I started on the Armour 4 days ago and since then I am having a headache everyday? Is this related to the new Armour dose? > > Thank you all for your help. > Suzanne > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 Suzanne, There's alot to consider here. In general 2.5 is still too high for the majority of hypo folks. Many of us need our TSH much closer to the low end of the range (and some even lower than that). If you have autoimmune thyroid disease a TSH of 1.0 is often a target for some doctors. I can tell you that I personally felt like sludge when I had a TSH of 1.7 when I was going to an idiot doctor that only looked at TSH. That all said, TSH is pretty much useless if you are taking Armour (or any exogenous T3). The doctor should really be dosing based on your Free T3 and Free T4, which are the bioavailable thyroid hormones (TSH is a pituitary hormone). And, you want to make sure any testing is done before you take any thyroid hormone for the day otherwise, the numbers are usually falsely high. I spent a very miserable 6 months with a doctor lowering my T3 until I figured this one out - then she was puzzled as to why my levels dropped tremendously. As far as the headache, if you have seasonal allergies, I would say that might be the cause. The pollen and fungus are sky high right now with some new allergens like Mulberry having just arrived about 5 days ago: http://www.entdocs.com/thismonthspollen.htm Many of us that are hypo also have adrenal issues which tend to predispose us to allergies. Be well, B. > > My doctor finally switched me from the 25 mcg Synthroid to the 1/2 grain Armour. She was not aware that Armour is available now. My last lab work results showed that my TSH was 3.54. The lab range for the TSH is 0.1-5.54. So my TSH went down from 5.56 to 3.54. She said that the goal is for the TSH to reach 2.5. Is TSH 2.5 good enough? I started on the Armour 4 days ago and since then I am having a headache everyday? Is this related to the new Armour dose? > > Thank you all for your help. > Suzanne > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 You may be allergic to one of the fillers or to pork. Or you may have adrenal issues and/or difficulty tolerating the T3. >> My doctor finally switched me from the 25 mcg Synthroid to the 1/2 grain Armour. She was not aware that Armour is available now. My last lab work results showed that my TSH was 3.54. The lab range for the TSH is 0.1-5.54. So my TSH went down from 5.56 to 3.54. She said that the goal is for the TSH to reach 2.5. Is TSH 2.5 good enough? I started on the Armour 4 days ago and since then I am having a headache everyday? Is this related to the new Armour dose?> > Thank you all for your help.> Suzanne> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 Thank you so much for your reply. My doctor actually is testing for the TSH and the T4 only. She said that T3 is the inactive one and there is no nedd to test for it. I will post the results once I get them. Suzanne To: Texas_Thyroid_Groups Sent: Wed, March 31, 2010 11:26:10 AMSubject: Re: Headaches and Armour Suzanne,There's alot to consider here. In general 2.5 is still too high for the majority of hypo folks. Many of us need our TSH much closer to the low end of the range (and some even lower than that). If you have autoimmune thyroid disease a TSH of 1.0 is often a target for some doctors. I can tell you that I personally felt like sludge when I had a TSH of 1.7 when I was going to an idiot doctor that only looked at TSH.That all said, TSH is pretty much useless if you are taking Armour (or any exogenous T3). The doctor should really be dosing based on your Free T3 and Free T4, which are the bioavailable thyroid hormones (TSH is a pituitary hormone). And, you want to make sure any testing is done before you take any thyroid hormone for the day otherwise, the numbers are usually falsely high. I spent a very miserable 6 months with a doctor lowering my T3 until I figured this one out - then she was puzzled as to why my levels dropped tremendously.As far as the headache, if you have seasonal allergies, I would say that might be the cause. The pollen and fungus are sky high right now with some new allergens like Mulberry having just arrived about 5 days ago:http://www.entdocs. com/thismonthspo llen.htmMany of us that are hypo also have adrenal issues which tend to predispose us to allergies.Be well, B. >> My doctor finally switched me from the 25 mcg Synthroid to the 1/2 grain Armour. She was not aware that Armour is available now. My last lab work results showed that my TSH was 3.54. The lab range for the TSH is 0.1-5.54. So my TSH went down from 5.56 to 3.54. She said that the goal is for the TSH to reach 2.5. Is TSH 2.5 good enough? I started on the Armour 4 days ago and since then I am having a headache everyday? Is this related to the new Armour dose?> > Thank you all for your help.> Suzanne> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 Thank you for your reply and support. If it is an allergic reaction to T3, what could I do in this case? BTW - headaches are mentioned as a side effect of too much Armour. It seems to me the more I read about a subject, the more confused I get. Do you think it would help if I add Iodine to my diet? To: Texas_Thyroid_Groups Sent: Wed, March 31, 2010 11:49:52 AMSubject: Re: Headaches and Armour You may be allergic to one of the fillers or to pork. Or you may have adrenal issues and/or difficulty tolerating the T3. >> My doctor finally switched me from the 25 mcg Synthroid to the 1/2 grain Armour. She was not aware that Armour is available now. My last lab work results showed that my TSH was 3.54. The lab range for the TSH is 0.1-5.54. So my TSH went down from 5.56 to 3.54. She said that the goal is for the TSH to reach 2.5. Is TSH 2.5 good enough? I started on the Armour 4 days ago and since then I am having a headache everyday? Is this related to the new Armour dose?> > Thank you all for your help.> Suzanne> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 If your doctor really thinks that T3 is inactive then she is totally clueless about thyroid and based on my experiences with such doctors, she will not be able to help you. She likely is measuring Total T4, then and not the Free T4, the former of which is also not useful information. Sorry to be so blunt, but I'm just trying to save you from some of the grief some of the rest of us went through before we found this group. You'll learn alot more here than you will in just about any doctor's office. Be well, . > > > > My doctor finally switched me from the 25 mcg Synthroid to the 1/2 grain Armour. She was not aware that Armour is available now.  My last lab work results showed that my TSH was 3.54. The lab range for the TSH is 0.1-5.54. So my TSH went down from 5.56 to 3.54. She said that the goal is for the TSH to reach 2.5. Is TSH 2.5 good enough? I started on the Armour 4 days ago and since then I am having a headache everyday? Is this related to the new Armour dose? > > > > Thank you all for your help. > > Suzanne > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 You really don't have to appologize. I love this group and I really learned a lot from you. I know she is not one of the best doc (maybe sometimes clueless) but at least when I learn something from this group and I ask her to change my prescription she does not fight back. Anyways i am thinking about adding Iodine supplement to my diet what dose do you recommend to start with? Is it safe to add Iodine when I am taking Armour? Thanks for all your help. Suzanne To: Texas_Thyroid_Groups Sent: Wed, March 31, 2010 2:57:58 PMSubject: Re: Headaches and Armour If your doctor really thinks that T3 is inactive then she is totally clueless about thyroid and based on my experiences with such doctors, she will not be able to help you. She likely is measuring Total T4, then and not the Free T4, the former of which is also not useful information.Sorry to be so blunt, but I'm just trying to save you from some of the grief some of the rest of us went through before we found this group. You'll learn alot more here than you will in just about any doctor's office.Be well,. > >> > My doctor finally switched me from the 25 mcg Synthroid to the 1/2 grain Armour. She was not aware that Armour is available now.  My last lab work results showed that my TSH was 3.54. The lab range for the TSH is 0.1-5.54. So my TSH went down from 5.56 to 3.54. She said that the goal is for the TSH to reach 2.5. Is TSH 2.5 good enough? I started on the Armour 4 days ago and since then I am having a headache everyday? Is this related to the new Armour dose?> > > > Thank you all for your help.> > Suzanne> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 You really don't have to appologize. I love this group and I really learned a lot from you. I know she is not one of the best doc (maybe sometimes clueless) but at least when I learn something from this group and I ask her to change my prescription she does not fight back. Anyways i am thinking about adding Iodine supplement to my diet what dose do you recommend to start with? Is it safe to add Iodine when I am taking Armour? Thanks for all your help. Suzanne To: Texas_Thyroid_Groups Sent: Wed, March 31, 2010 2:57:58 PMSubject: Re: Headaches and Armour If your doctor really thinks that T3 is inactive then she is totally clueless about thyroid and based on my experiences with such doctors, she will not be able to help you. She likely is measuring Total T4, then and not the Free T4, the former of which is also not useful information.Sorry to be so blunt, but I'm just trying to save you from some of the grief some of the rest of us went through before we found this group. You'll learn alot more here than you will in just about any doctor's office.Be well,. > >> > My doctor finally switched me from the 25 mcg Synthroid to the 1/2 grain Armour. She was not aware that Armour is available now.  My last lab work results showed that my TSH was 3.54. The lab range for the TSH is 0.1-5.54. So my TSH went down from 5.56 to 3.54. She said that the goal is for the TSH to reach 2.5. Is TSH 2.5 good enough? I started on the Armour 4 days ago and since then I am having a headache everyday? Is this related to the new Armour dose?> > > > Thank you all for your help.> > Suzanne> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 You really don't have to appologize. I love this group and I really learned a lot from you. I know she is not one of the best doc (maybe sometimes clueless) but at least when I learn something from this group and I ask her to change my prescription she does not fight back. Anyways i am thinking about adding Iodine supplement to my diet what dose do you recommend to start with? Is it safe to add Iodine when I am taking Armour? Thanks for all your help. Suzanne To: Texas_Thyroid_Groups Sent: Wed, March 31, 2010 2:57:58 PMSubject: Re: Headaches and Armour If your doctor really thinks that T3 is inactive then she is totally clueless about thyroid and based on my experiences with such doctors, she will not be able to help you. She likely is measuring Total T4, then and not the Free T4, the former of which is also not useful information.Sorry to be so blunt, but I'm just trying to save you from some of the grief some of the rest of us went through before we found this group. You'll learn alot more here than you will in just about any doctor's office.Be well,. > >> > My doctor finally switched me from the 25 mcg Synthroid to the 1/2 grain Armour. She was not aware that Armour is available now.  My last lab work results showed that my TSH was 3.54. The lab range for the TSH is 0.1-5.54. So my TSH went down from 5.56 to 3.54. She said that the goal is for the TSH to reach 2.5. Is TSH 2.5 good enough? I started on the Armour 4 days ago and since then I am having a headache everyday? Is this related to the new Armour dose?> > > > Thank you all for your help.> > Suzanne> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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