Re: Synthroid To Armour

[Guest guest]

Yes, as far as I know I just have an underactive thyroid. She said my antibodies were normal and I do still have my thyroid. I'm going to call this morning and see if I can get it changed to 30mg or at least 60mg so that I can split it in half and ease into it. Once I get the pills, I'll come back for advice as to how long to take each dose as I work my way up. It sounds like you're taking 30mg and 30mg, but you were on a higher dose of the levothyroxine, 175mg to my 100mg.

Having said all that, do some people actually feel better at the high end of TSH. Mine is now 1.18 and it's never been that low. It seems the lower it gets, the more tired I feel. I think I felt better when I was around 5, but maybe the tests have changed since then. What could cause a person to be more tired with a lower TSH. I don't have any other symptoms, I don't think, in terms of constipation, dry skin & hair etc. I may have some of the more subtle symptoms but they can be other hormones too.

I'm still hopeful that the Armour will help some. My bad cholesterol is 167, so I guess we'll be working on that too!

Judy

Re: Synthroid To Armour

Judy, sounds like you're in the same boat as I was earlier this week -- going back & forth between calling the pharm. and the doc's office. I hope they get it sorted out quickly so you can get your meds. Do you have a thyroid that's just underactive?So far (this is only the 2nd day for me on Armour) I'm doing fine. This morning I split my 2-grain pill in half and then split one of the halves in half. I took 3/4 of the pill this morning and will take the other 1/4 later today, a couple of hours after lunch probably.~Chelle>> I think so too, thanks so much. The kicker is that they don't even make a 150mg Armour, so the pharmacy had to call the docs office anyway. I told the pharmacist of my concern about the dosage conversion and he said I would be getting 2.5 x as much as I am now. He could only leave a message at the docs office, so I'll have to get it sorted out tomorrow. Thanks for the advice though, I would have worried about the jitters and thought I was going hyper. I've been there and I don't like it one bit. I'd rather be hypo for sure. She did tell me to take 1.5 of my current pills, which would make 150mg of the levothyroxine, but they didn't convert for the Armour. So, I guess I have to wait a couple of days to do my conga dance of joy. Thanks everyone for the feedback... Judy

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Actually it's more like 90 and 30 (1.5 grains = 90 mg). I think I probably do need most of it in the first part of the day; but to split it into equal thirds would require a pill splitter that looks like a Mercedes-Benz hood ornament. LOL> >> > I think so too, thanks so much. The kicker is that they don't even make a 150mg Armour, so the pharmacy had to call the docs office anyway. I told the pharmacist of my concern about the dosage conversion and he said I would be getting 2.5 x as much as I am now. He could only leave a message at the docs office, so I'll have to get it sorted out tomorrow. Thanks for the advice though, I would have worried about the jitters and thought I was going hyper. I've been there and I don't like it one bit. I'd rather be hypo for sure. She did tell me to take 1.5 of my current pills, which would make 150mg of the levothyroxine, but they didn't convert for the Armour. So, I guess I have to wait a couple of days to do my conga dance of joy. Thanks everyone for the feedback... Judy> > > > #ygrp-mlmsg { FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif}#ygrp-mlmsg TABLE { }#ygrp-mlmsg SELECT { FONT: 99% arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif}INPUT { FONT: 99% arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif}TEXTAREA { FONT: 99% arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif}#ygrp-mlmsg PRE { FONT: 100% monospace}CODE { FONT: 100% monospace}#ygrp-mlmsg { LINE-HEIGHT: 1.22em}#ygrp-text { FONT-FAMILY: Georgia}#ygrp-text P { MARGIN: 0px 0px 1em}#ygrp-tpmsgs { CLEAR: both; FONT-FAMILY: Arial}#ygrp-vitnav { FONT-SIZE: 77%; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana}#ygrp-vitnav A { PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px}#ygrp-actbar { CLEAR: both; MARGIN: 25px 0px; COLOR: #666; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; TEXT-ALIGN: right}#ygrp-actbar .left { FLOAT: left; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap}..bld { FONT-WEIGHT: bold}#ygrp-grft { PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 77%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; PADDING-TOP: 15px; FONT-FAMILY:> Verdana}#ygrp-ft { PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: #666 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 77%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 5px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana}#ygrp-mlmsg #logo { PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px}#ygrp-vital { PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 20px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 8px; PADDING-TOP: 2px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #e0ecee}#ygrp-vital #vithd { FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 77%; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; COLOR: #333; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana}#ygrp-vital UL { PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 2px 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px}#ygrp-vital UL LI { CLEAR: both; BORDER-RIGHT: #e0ecee 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #e0ecee 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #e0ecee 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0ecee 1px solid; LIST-STYLE-TYPE: none}#ygrp-vital UL LI .ct { PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FLOAT: right; WIDTH: 2em; COLOR: #ff7900; TEXT-ALIGN: right}#ygrp-vital UL LI .cat { FONT-WEIGHT: bold}#ygrp-vital A { TEXT-DECORATION: none}#ygrp-vital A:hover {> TEXT-DECORATION: underline}#ygrp-sponsor #hd { FONT-SIZE: 77%; COLOR: #999}#ygrp-sponsor #ov { PADDING-RIGHT: 13px; PADDING-LEFT: 13px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 20px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 6px; PADDING-TOP: 6px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #e0ecee}#ygrp-sponsor #ov UL { PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px}#ygrp-sponsor #ov LI { PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 77%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 6px; PADDING-TOP: 6px; LIST-STYLE-TYPE: square}#ygrp-sponsor #ov LI A { FONT-SIZE: 130%; TEXT-DECORATION: none}#ygrp-sponsor #nc { PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 20px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #eee}#ygrp-sponsor .ad { PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 8px; PADDING-TOP: 8px}#ygrp-sponsor .ad #hd1 { FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 100%; COLOR: #628c2a; LINE-HEIGHT: 122%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial}#ygrp-sponsor .ad A { TEXT-DECORATION: none}#ygrp-sponsor .ad A:hover { TEXT-DECORATION:> underline}#ygrp-sponsor .ad P { MARGIN: 0px}o { FONT-SIZE: 0px}..MsoNormal { MARGIN: 0px}#ygrp-text TT { FONT-SIZE: 120%}BLOCKQUOTE { MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 4px}..replbq { }> __________________________________________________>

[Guest guest]

Right, I see that now. I thought it said 1/4 and 1/4, but I see the 3/4 and 1/4. So you are taking the whole 2 grains per day. That's good to know. Let me know if you get the jitters or anything else like that. You can be my guinea pig, since you'll be a few days ahead... Judy

Re: Synthroid To Armour

Actually it's more like 90 and 30 (1.5 grains = 90 mg). I think I probably do need most of it in the first part of the day; but to split it into equal thirds would require a pill splitter that looks like a Mercedes-Benz hood ornament. LOL> >> > I think so too, thanks so much. The kicker is that they don't even make a 150mg Armour, so the pharmacy had to call the docs office anyway. I told the pharmacist of my concern about the dosage conversion and he said I would be getting 2.5 x as much as I am now. He could only leave a message at the docs office, so I'll have to get it sorted out tomorrow. Thanks for the advice though, I would have worried about the jitters and thought I was going hyper. I've been there and I don't like it one bit. I'd rather be hypo for sure. She did tell me to take 1.5 of my current pills, which would make 150mg of the levothyroxine, but they didn't convert for the Armour. So, I guess I have to wait a couple of days to do my conga dance of joy. Thanks everyone for the feedback... Judy> > > > #ygrp-mlmsg { FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif}#ygrp-mlmsg TABLE { }#ygrp-mlmsg SELECT { FONT: 99% arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif}INPUT { FONT: 99% arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif}TEXTAREA { FONT: 99% arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif}#ygrp-mlmsg PRE { FONT: 100% monospace}CODE { FONT: 100% monospace}#ygrp-mlmsg { LINE-HEIGHT: 1.22em}#ygrp-text { FONT-FAMILY: Georgia}#ygrp-text P { MARGIN: 0px 0px 1em}#ygrp-tpmsgs { CLEAR: both; FONT-FAMILY: Arial}#ygrp-vitnav { FONT-SIZE: 77%; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana}#ygrp-vitnav A { PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px}#ygrp-actbar { CLEAR: both; MARGIN: 25px 0px; COLOR: #666; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; TEXT-ALIGN: right}#ygrp-actbar .left { FLOAT: left; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap}..bld { FONT-WEIGHT: bold}#ygrp-grft { PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 77%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; PADDING-TOP: 15px; FONT-FAMILY:> Verdana}#ygrp-ft { PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: #666 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 77%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 5px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana}#ygrp-mlmsg #logo { PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px}#ygrp-vital { PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 20px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 8px; PADDING-TOP: 2px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #e0ecee}#ygrp-vital #vithd { FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 77%; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; COLOR: #333; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana}#ygrp-vital UL { PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 2px 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px}#ygrp-vital UL LI { CLEAR: both; BORDER-RIGHT: #e0ecee 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #e0ecee 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #e0ecee 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0ecee 1px solid; LIST-STYLE-TYPE: none}#ygrp-vital UL LI .ct { PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FLOAT: right; WIDTH: 2em; COLOR: #ff7900; TEXT-ALIGN: right}#ygrp-vital UL LI .cat { FONT-WEIGHT: bold}#ygrp-vital A { TEXT-DECORATION: none}#ygrp-vital A:hover {> TEXT-DECORATION: underline}#ygrp-sponsor #hd { FONT-SIZE: 77%; COLOR: #999}#ygrp-sponsor #ov { PADDING-RIGHT: 13px; PADDING-LEFT: 13px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 20px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 6px; PADDING-TOP: 6px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #e0ecee}#ygrp-sponsor #ov UL { PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px}#ygrp-sponsor #ov LI { PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 77%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 6px; PADDING-TOP: 6px; LIST-STYLE-TYPE: square}#ygrp-sponsor #ov LI A { FONT-SIZE: 130%; TEXT-DECORATION: none}#ygrp-sponsor #nc { PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 20px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #eee}#ygrp-sponsor .ad { PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 8px; PADDING-TOP: 8px}#ygrp-sponsor .ad #hd1 { FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 100%; COLOR: #628c2a; LINE-HEIGHT: 122%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial}#ygrp-sponsor .ad A { TEXT-DECORATION: none}#ygrp-sponsor .ad A:hover { TEXT-DECORATION:> underline}#ygrp-sponsor .ad P { MARGIN: 0px}o { FONT-SIZE: 0px}..MsoNormal { MARGIN: 0px}#ygrp-text TT { FONT-SIZE: 120%}BLOCKQUOTE { MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 4px}..replbq { }> __________________________________________________>

[Guest guest]

>

> Yes, as far as I know I just have an underactive thyroid. She >

I'm still hopeful that the Armour will help some. My bad

cholesterol is 167, so I guess we'll be working on that too!

Judy,

For me, the TSH means nothing unless it's real high. I would go

into the Dr's office feeling like I was dead, and my TSH was within

normal ranges.

Not until I found this group and was educated about the TSH. It is

only a good test to indicate whether you have a thyroid problem.

Once you start to take your Armour, your TSH will most likely end up

way low, if not supressed below the " normal " ranges.

That is when your Dr (if she's good) will go by your Free T3 and

Free T 4 blood tests.

When they are either in the middle of the range or in the upper

half, then you're on the right tract.

As far as your cholesterol goes. It's a very good indicator that

your thyroid isn't working well. Before I was medicated with the

right dose, my cholesterol was high. Once I got on the correct

dose, I went below 200. First time in several years. All because

my dose wasn't correct. My cholesterol was high even when I was

close to suppression. But the key is getting your Free's in the mid

point, if not higher.

When I switched from Armour to synthetic T3/T4 my Dr. went by my

weight, and gave me WAY too much T3. I slowly worked myself up to

where I felt better. I have to admit, at first I went too quickly,

and realized I wasn't feeling well. Then I backed myself down, and

went a lot slower.

Good luck, we'll be with you thru the whole thing.

Lynn

>

[Guest guest]

ROFL I'll be happy to [be your 'guinea pig']. No jitters all day yesterday, and no jitters so far today. Remember, I have no thyroid, and I'm actually taking a lower daily dose than you are. Curious -- but understandable, seeing as how I've never been on Armour and I just started seeing a new doc. So we'll see how I feel in 6-8 weeks. I may need a dosage increase, who knows? ~Chelle>> Right, I see that now. I thought it said 1/4 and 1/4, but I see the 3/4 and 1/4. So you are taking the whole 2 grains per day. That's good to know. Let me know if you get the jitters or anything else like that. You can be my guinea pig, since you'll be a few days ahead... Judy

[Guest guest]

Judy, all I have to tell you is this -- no one knows your body better than you do. You do whatever you feel is best for yourself. For what it's worth, I agree with you -- 180 (3 grains) is definitely too high. It's probably better/safer to be a bit hypo than hyper. 120 may be just right, but again -- you have to listen to your own body and decide what's best for you. ~Chelle>> There is no way that I'm taking the 150mg that was called in yesterday. They don't even make that amount, so they'll have to change it to 120 or 180 and there is no way I'm taking either of those whole. If I can't get it changed before my visit, I'll split them however I can to start on 60mg (1grain) per day. I'm not starting with any more than that. That is the equivalent of 100mcg levothyroxine which I have been on forever.> > What I would really like to do is start on 30mg per day and work my way up following how I feel along the way. I don't think there is much short term danger in being hypo (besides the symptoms) as I work my way up. Plus I still have to get the T4 out of my system don't I? I'll post if and when I hear back from the docs office. Even the pharmacist said it was a 2.5x increase, so maybe he'll straighten it out. I've got a call in to the docs office now, but they only work 1/2 days Friday and so I'm not sitting by the phone. I still have plenty of Eltroxin to get me by until they figure it out... Judy

[Guest guest]

I can't remember what I was on before I switched to Armour, but I

was very able to tolerate 1 grain. Then I went up to 2 grains. Not

sure how long, months if I remember. That was many, many Dr's ago.

Then I went from 2 grains of Armour to 112mcg of Unithroid and

18.75mcg of Cytomel. Weird about, but that is what my body can

tolerate.

I do remember once in a while having the jitters in the begining,

but nothing I couldn't deal with.

I am wondering if you Dr was just thinking of the equivalent dose,

and not taking the T3 inconsideration?

Lynn

>

> There is no way that I'm taking the 150mg that was called in

yesterday. They don't even make that amount, so they'll have to

change it to 120 or 180 and there is no way I'm taking either of

those whole.

[Guest guest]

Just curious -- did you have a bad reaction of some kind to the Armour, and that's why you switched? How are you doing on the Unithroid/Cytomel now?~Chelle> >> > There is no way that I'm taking the 150mg that was called in > yesterday. They don't even make that amount, so they'll have to > change it to 120 or 180 and there is no way I'm taking either of > those whole.>

[Guest guest]

>> When I switched Dr's he wanted me to switch to to synthetics. I told > him I would try it, BUT if I didn't like it I would go back. I have a > much better time getting the correct dose of T3/T4. My problem is > converting from t4 to t3. There was trial and error, but I am finally > there. (for now)> LynnThat's good, Lynn. Here's hoping you stay there (if not get even better). Do you mean you have a hard time converting the T4 to T3 in your body, or figuring out the right T3 dose to combine with your T4?~Chelle

[Guest guest]

Hi Judy!

Someone may have already said this, but an adequate dose of Armour

has been known to correct high cholesterol levels (another thing

which happens to our bodies when the thyroid is not producing enough

hormone). It's good to keep a close eye on it though!

Good luck with the Armour! I would say 99% of the folks I know who

have switched have been glad. The TSH is not the best measure of

how the thyroid is doing. Free T4 and Free T3 give a better

picture. If those are low it won't matter what your TSH says, you

will feel tired!

>

> Yes, as far as I know I just have an underactive thyroid. She

said my antibodies were normal and I do still have my thyroid. I'm

going to call this morning and see if I can get it changed to 30mg

or at least 60mg so that I can split it in half and ease into it.

Once I get the pills, I'll come back for advice as to how long to

take each dose as I work my way up. It sounds like you're taking

30mg and 30mg, but you were on a higher dose of the levothyroxine,

175mg to my 100mg.

>

> Having said all that, do some people actually feel better at the

high end of TSH. Mine is now 1.18 and it's never been that low. It

seems the lower it gets, the more tired I feel. I think I felt

better when I was around 5, but maybe the tests have changed since

then. What could cause a person to be more tired with a lower TSH.

I don't have any other symptoms, I don't think, in terms of

constipation, dry skin & hair etc. I may have some of the more

subtle symptoms but they can be other hormones too.

>

> I'm still hopeful that the Armour will help some. My bad

cholesterol is 167, so I guess we'll be working on that too!

>

> Judy

[Guest guest]

Hard time converting in my body. My body didn't have a problem

taking the t4 in, just didn't know what to do with in once it was in

there, except to suppress my tsh. ha ha

I have Hashimoto's and I am sure the cells in my body were so

wasted, that any amount of t4 wouldn't have worked with out t3.

I also run very low on several different things that I am taking

supplements for.

I am on a very slow path to recovery.

I just have the Texas thyroid group and every one that has joined,

to thank.

Lynn

>

> That's good, Lynn. Here's hoping you stay there (if not get even

> better). [] Do you mean you have a hard time converting the

T4 to

> T3 in your body, or figuring out the right T3 dose to combine with

your

> T4?

>

> ~Chelle

>

[Guest guest]

My former local internist prescribed both for me. I had raised myself from 250 mcg of $ynthroid. I have been adjusting my own doses ever since. Now I have to train a new primary care doc. Dr. had actually been encouraging me to raise my Armour for some time. But I could not do it until I increased my sex hormones. My initial target dose had been 180 mg of Armour plus 75 mcg of a T4 med. I took four weeks to get there from the 300 mcg of $ynthroid. I had been on 240 mg of Armour plus 75 mcg of Lannett levothyroxine for about four

years. Over the last six months, I have gone to 270 mg, then 285mg, then 300 mg of Armour. 315 was almost OK, but I went hyper when I went to 330 mg for two days. Keep in mind three things: 1. I am a large woman. 2. I take my meds with food, which can decrease absorption by as much as 50%. 3. I am a thyca survivor and need to keep my TSH suppressed to keep the cancer from coming back. In keeping our list of doctors, I try to weed out the ones who will only prescribe up to a certain

dose or have certain lab numbers beyond which they will not treat. I will put a doc on our list just because they willingly prescribe Armour. But they do not stay if they are keeping folks undermedicated for any reason. What you may need is highly individual. wrote: Whoa, Jan! Who did you get to prescribe to you 300 mcg of Synthroid? Or 300

mg of Armour, for that matter? What dose [of Armour] did you start with, and how long before you escalated to your current dose? The most I've ever been able to get a doc to Rx to me was 175 mcg of levothyroxine, and most recently 120 mg of Armour.~Chelle>> I had been on 300 mcg of $ynthroid. I cut it in half and started adding Armour in 30 mg increments every few days until I got to my initial target dose of 180 mg of Armour plus 75 mcg of $ynthroid four weeks later. I never did get completely off of the T4 med. I am currently on 300 mg of Armour and .0375 mg of Lannett levothyroxine. __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

OK -- taking all that into consideration, I can see why you would need a larger dose. I'm not going to mess with the dose that Dr. Gibbs prescribed, at least not just yet. I want to establish a relationship with him, and that would be difficult if he's telling me to do one thing and I'm doing something else (with regard to thyroid dosing). Maybe sometime "down the road" if/when I find myself unable to convince him or another doc that I need a dosage increase, I'll consider self-medication. For now, I'm going to stay with 2 grains. You are absolutely right -- it is highly individual.~Chelle>> My former local internist prescribed both for me. I had raised myself from 250 mcg of $ynthroid. I have been adjusting my own doses ever since. Now I have to train a new primary care doc. > > Dr. had actually been encouraging me to raise my Armour for some time. But I could not do it until I increased my sex hormones.> > My initial target dose had been 180 mg of Armour plus 75 mcg of a T4 med. I took four weeks to get there from the 300 mcg of $ynthroid.> > I had been on 240 mg of Armour plus 75 mcg of Lannett levothyroxine for about four years. Over the last six months, I have gone to 270 mg, then 285mg, then 300 mg of Armour. 315 was almost OK, but I went hyper when I went to 330 mg for two days.> > Keep in mind three things:> > 1. I am a large woman.> 2. I take my meds with food, which can decrease absorption by as much as 50%.> 3. I am a thyca survivor and need to keep my TSH suppressed to keep the cancer from coming back.> > In keeping our list of doctors, I try to weed out the ones who will only prescribe up to a certain dose or have certain lab numbers beyond which they will not treat. I will put a doc on our list just because they willingly prescribe Armour. But they do not stay if they are keeping folks undermedicated for any reason.> > What you may need is highly individual.

[Guest guest]

I would surely agree with that. I tried to start at 1-1/2 grains, and

I had to back off to none for a few days, and then 1/2, then 1 grain.

My sister, on the other hand, just switched from 150mcg of levo to 3

grains (180mg) Armour, and she hasn't had any problems at all. I was

pretty shocked, but we're definitely all different!

Stephani R.

>

> How one person reacts to Armour is no prediction of how another

person will react. Some folks can go from a full dose of $ynthroid to

a full dose of Armour cold turkey over night with no ill effect.

Others need to start very low and work up slowly. What you may need is

highly individual.

[Guest guest]

I haven't the slightest idea. I have been pondering thatquestion for

quite some time.....I am not sure if I am going to see the Dr that was

assigned to me, or what.

I am going to see my regular MD and see if she still has a problem

with me being supressed. I am hoping once she sees that my nodule

shrunk that she won't have a problem. Plus if my bones show no more

loss, that will be another indicator. She is still of the belief that

suppression causes bone loss, but Sarlis disagreed.

I have been seriously thinking about Dr Gibbs in Katy.

Other than that, I don't know. I feel like a fish out of water. I

finally got a Dr that gave me free rein now I don't know....boo hoo.

Lynn

>

> What are you going to do about a doc now that Dr. Sarlis is gone?

>

[Guest guest]

Chelle,

I don'te remember if you said anyting about how he feels about

suppression. Ddid you say anything?

That would be another big factor, IF I saw him.

Thanks,

Lynn

- In Texas_Thyroid_Groups , " "

wrote:

>

> Well, so far Dr. Gibbs gets high marks in my book, in case your

regular

> MD won't budge from her position on the suppressed TSH issue. Just

> remember to check the Rx that Dr. Gibbs writes for you before he

sends

> you out the door, so you don't have to go through the hassle I went

> through getting the Rx filled. Also make sure to request 90-100

> tablets at a time (with 3 refills). Believe me, I've learned.

[] A

> good doctor is worth driving a fair distance. At least he's in

Katy and

> not in downtown Houston (driving in downtown Houston makes me

crazy

> [8-}] [] ).

>

> ~Chelle

>

>

> >

> > I haven't the slightest idea. I have been pondering

thatquestion for

> > quite some time.....I am not sure if I am going to see the Dr

that was

> > assigned to me, or what.

> > I am going to see my regular MD and see if she still has a

problem

> > with me being supressed. I am hoping once she sees that my

nodule

> > shrunk that she won't have a problem. Plus if my bones show no

more

> > loss, that will be another indicator. She is still of the

belief that

> > suppression causes bone loss, but Sarlis disagreed.

> > I have been seriously thinking about Dr Gibbs in Katy.

> > Other than that, I don't know. I feel like a fish out of

water. I

> > finally got a Dr that gave me free rein now I don't know....boo

hoo.

> > Lynn

>

[Guest guest]

Lynn,I'll have to get back to you about his views on treating with a suppressed TSH. (Maybe McSwain can provide some input on this since she recommended him to me and she's seen him more times than I have). I've only seen him once and had one set of lab tests done (I go back in 6-8 weeks); that's why I wrote "so far he gets high marks in my book". He was willing to Rx Armour for me, which is a heck of a lot more than any doctor I've been to in a very long time has done for me. So based on my to-date brief doctor-patient relationship, I have no complaints. The Rx dosing mix-up was a learning experience for me. I'm not counting that against him.~Chelle> > >> > > I haven't the slightest idea. I have been pondering > thatquestion for> > > quite some time.....I am not sure if I am going to see the Dr > that was> > > assigned to me, or what.> > > I am going to see my regular MD and see if she still has a > problem> > > with me being supressed. I am hoping once she sees that my > nodule> > > shrunk that she won't have a problem. Plus if my bones show no > more> > > loss, that will be another indicator. She is still of the > belief that> > > suppression causes bone loss, but Sarlis disagreed.> > > I have been seriously thinking about Dr Gibbs in Katy.> > > Other than that, I don't know. I feel like a fish out of > water. I> > > finally got a Dr that gave me free rein now I don't know....boo > hoo.> > > Lynn> >>