Guest guest Posted February 8, 2004 Report Share Posted February 8, 2004 Hi : Thank you so much for both your responses. I'm sorry for sounding impatient but I didn't think anyone saw my post and I've been feeling so b-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-d for so long. Probably everyone here understands that! You gave me what looks like very sound advice. It's exactly the kind of advice I was looking for. Thank you again. I've printed your responses out and will save them. I think I am one of those that is going to have to take it very slow also. I used to have no problems (at one time was able to add 12.5 mcg Cytomel all at once). I suspect that my continuing hypothyroidism is making dose adjustment harder to tolerate, or I may have adrenal issues, or like you, have trouble with the various fillers. I've been reading up on the adrenal stuff too. The link you provided yesterday was very helpful. Do you know anything about adrenal testing/treatment? Well thanks again. Don't want to make this too long. Take care and I'll no doubt be posting again soon! > > > Hello, fellow Texans! > > > > > > I'm hoping someone will be able to help me. I am on 75 mcg > > > Levothroid and have been hypo for several months with classic > > (blah) > > > hypo symptoms. My last blood test results were: > > > > > > T3, Total 124 60-181 > > > T-4, Free 1.3 0.8-1.8 > > > T-4, Total 8.4 4.5-12.5 > > > TSH 5.41 0.40-5.50 > > > > > > I have tried increasing the dose or adding cytomel in the past but > > > haven't been able to tolerate the increase. I'm feeling ready to > > try > > > again but would like to try adding Armour, instead of switching > > from > > > Levothroid to Armour and then possibly having to add T4 back in > > > later. I want to start out slow and easy because of sensitivities > > to > > > drugs in the past. But I don't want to start out so slow that I'll > > > have to drag on being hypo for another several months. > > > > > > Should I lower the Levothroid to 50 mcg or 25 mcg and add ¼ > > grain > > > Armour to start? The second question is, should I lower the > > > Levothroid for 2 or 3 weeks before I add the Armour to allow my T4 > > > levels to come down a bit first? I don't want to risk overloading > > > myself with T3 and T4. Thank you! (This is all presuming my > > doctor > > > will prescribe Armour but I'm prepared to beg.) > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2004 Report Share Posted February 9, 2004 Adrenal testing is done one of three ways, the blood test at 8 am for cortisol, which is sometimes followed by an ACTH test, if the results are iffy, the 24 hr urine test, or saliva testing, which does testing usually for 3 periods of the day. The saliva testing can be sent for, done at home, and sent off for analysis. Many believe that the blood testing is the least reliable. Some think that the urine test is most reliable, while others believe that the saliva test is. What's great about the saliva testing is that you can test for many things at one time, including estrogens, progesterone, DHEA, and the cortisol. These are usually connected to weaker adrenals, and one or more of these is usually off, if there is a problem. Tx Re: 2nd Try: Help would like to add Armour to Levothroid! > Hi : > > Thank you so much for both your responses. I'm sorry for sounding > impatient but I didn't think anyone saw my post and I've been feeling > so b-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-d for so long. Probably everyone here understands > that! You gave me what looks like very sound advice. It's exactly > the kind of advice I was looking for. Thank you again. I've printed > your responses out and will save them. > > I think I am one of those that is going to have to take it very slow > also. I used to have no problems (at one time was able to add 12.5 > mcg Cytomel all at once). I suspect that my continuing > hypothyroidism is making dose adjustment harder to tolerate, or I may > have adrenal issues, or like you, have trouble with the various > fillers. I've been reading up on the adrenal stuff too. The link > you provided yesterday was very helpful. Do you know anything about > adrenal testing/treatment? > > Well thanks again. Don't want to make this too long. Take care and > I'll no doubt be posting again soon! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2004 Report Share Posted February 9, 2004 You could always try it than switch back if it doesn't work or you can;t tolerate it, The biggest change I noticed were my energy increased, and I felt up emotionaly. 2nd Try: Help would like to add Armour to Levothroid! Hello again: I'm very sorry I didn't get any responses to my question here. Didn't I word it well? Is what I am trying to do too complicated? I only got a couple responses on the About thyroid forum. I was hoping for more input. I see the doctor on Thursday and I don't know what to do. I'm hesitant to add Armour or switch to Armour because of previous problems tolerating an increase in synthetic hormones. On the other hand, I'm really tired of feeling miserable. Anyone? <thanks> Any and all input would be very much appreciated. > Hello, fellow Texans! > > I'm hoping someone will be able to help me. I am on 75 mcg > Levothroid and have been hypo for several months with classic (blah) > hypo symptoms. My last blood test results were: > > T3, Total 124 60-181 > T-4, Free 1.3 0.8-1.8 > T-4, Total 8.4 4.5-12.5 > TSH 5.41 0.40-5.50 > > I have tried increasing the dose or adding cytomel in the past but > haven't been able to tolerate the increase. I'm feeling ready to try > again but would like to try adding Armour, instead of switching from > Levothroid to Armour and then possibly having to add T4 back in > later. I want to start out slow and easy because of sensitivities to > drugs in the past. But I don't want to start out so slow that I'll > have to drag on being hypo for another several months. > > Should I lower the Levothroid to 50 mcg or 25 mcg and add ¼ grain > Armour to start? The second question is, should I lower the > Levothroid for 2 or 3 weeks before I add the Armour to allow my T4 > levels to come down a bit first? I don't want to risk overloading > myself with T3 and T4. Thank you! (This is all presuming my doctor > will prescribe Armour but I'm prepared to beg.) > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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