Re: about the Armour journey--here's mine

December 1, 2003

>You are the FIRST person to tell me we

> need to stay at a dose for 5 weeks to feel the

> benefit.

Hi there Carol!! It's info I got from reading various literature on

the net from Top Docs. Several of them mention it--it's the T4 that

takes that long to accumulate. And I was additionally shocked by the

experience of that guy on the other site who did just what your doc

recommended. Before long, he was up to 6 grains, and found himself

extremely hyper. He had to go off Armour for a few weeks, then start

all over at one grain.

And for someone like me, having MVP, I could not have started with 2

grains without bad palps.

BUT, no matter! There may be something your doc knows that I don't.

I am so glad to read that you had a little more energy recently.

Here's hoping that you find your way!!

Janie )

December 1, 2003

>I told my husband that God made me a dreamer (I really

> have LOT'S of dreams) and then put me in a body half

> dead. LOL Hugs, Carol B

Carol, that absolutely breaks my heart....and I identify. I have

always been an emotionally and psychically energetic person. I have

always had a deep love for life, and longed to live it very

physically. Yet, for 17 years on T4, and several years before that,

when I tried to express my inner energy in a physical way, I paid

such a price and would end up miserable and/or in bed. Before I

switched to Armour, here was this ball of light (me), who could do

nothing, nothing, and felt like syrup all spread out in a blob on

the ground, pulsating in misery. Oh, I understand.

I am behind you all the way.

Janie

December 2, 2003

Hi Janie and Carol!

Well, ever since I saw Dr. Derry's interview, I've been increasing.

The first increase was 1/4 of a grain (this increased me to 2

grains). I did fine for 1 1/2 weeks. So I increased by 1/2 of a

grain. Doing just fine. No palps or any signs of being hyper. From

my exprience you don't have to wait 5 weeks to increase (just my

experience - others may need to go slower). I'm planning on

increasing another 1/4 of a grain here in about 1 week. I'm aiming

for 3 grains. Then I will do some blood work and see how my Free T3

is doing. I'm not staying hypo any longer than I have to!

Zina (ThyroWarrior)

>

> ***it's important to let each increase be tried for at

> least 5 weeks

> so you give that T4 time to build up in your body

> (though last

> January, I knew it was too much after 3 weeks. Carol,

> did you ever

> get an answer about this with your doc??

>

> ---

> Hi Janie. All I know is that Dr. Odom has his patients

> up their Armour by 1 grain every two weeks provided

> there are no problems.They also start you on 2 grains.

> You do phone follow ups every two weeks with his

> wife and nurse to make sure their are no hyper

> symptoms. She asks TONS of questions and goes over

> your symptoms. This has worked for 100's of people all

> over the world. You are the FIRST person to tell me we

> need to stay at a dose for 5 weeks to feel the

> benefit.

December 2, 2003

>From my exprience you don't have to wait 5 weeks to increase (just

>my experience - others may need to go slower).

I think I know what you are saying---that for YOU with your

knowledge and the amount of time you've been on Armour, it's been

fine to increase faster than every 5 weeks, correct??

But for others, let me explain it this way. A person can increase

faster than 5 weeks, but you won't know the full effect of the

building T4 until you wait at least 5-7 weeks. And because of that,

there is a risk that you will have overmedicated yourself if you

increase too quick. Or, you might run into other issues that raising

that Armour dose too quickly will exasperate (like a heart condition

that you were not aware of, or blood pressure issues, or adrenal

issues).

The only exception to the above is if you are starting on a low

dose, and know that you will probably end up on a much higher dose

as an optimal dose. I did increase faster than 5 weeks when I was

working up my dose from the beginning. When I got off Levoxyl, my

doc started me on 3/4 grain. I had done enough research to know that

my optimal dose may be around 2 grains. SO, when I finally went up

to one grain, then 1 1/4 grain, then 1 1/2 grain, I didn't always

wait that 5 weeks!! hahaha. I was IMPATIENT!!!

And there is a GENUINE problem for folks who increase too quick,

especially if they don't know if they are at their optimal dose yet,

or have issues which could cause problems with increases. Take me,

for example. Earlier this year, when I had just increased 1/4 grain

(from 2 grains which were fine, to 2 1/4 grains), I got major strong

palps three weeks later. Now imagine what would have happened to me

if I had not waited, added another 1/4 grain on top of that intial

1/4 grain increase before those 3 weeks had passed!! Gulp.

And, the problem on this site is that we don't know who might have

problems increasing too quick, since several come on here self-

dosing and without adequate knowledge.

So the bottom line for folks who are new to Armour dosing is to be

very careful with increasing as quick as Zina is doing, unless you

know from lots of research where you might end up on Armour as an

optimal dose, and just want to get there a lot faster!! Also, there

are folks who come on here who can have heart issues, and increasing

too fast can aggravate that. With every single increase I did, even

the 1/4 grain, it took me a full week for my heart to settle down!!

Janie )

December 4, 2003

Well My journey has been complicated but I'm still on th road!!!

Trying to get up to optimal dose because of no thyroid fuction to

fast and going hyper and then going hypo by going to slow. Very

stressful to my body! But I refuse to give up.

Because of this I've uncovered issues like needing adrenal support

and not thinking I did. Needing vitamins neccessary to recover full

health again. I have had to stop and then restart several times.

T4 went to low last time so again I crashed.

Not to mention the fact that I have problems with reproduction system.

Going from Post meno to peri meno and then no periods for two years

because of thyroid crisis a few years back.

And now it seems the adrenal suport seem to be switching things back

on and I'm experiencing cramping at times, still no bleeding. This is

very complexing. I also don't have insurance to check out levels of

estrogen and progestone but it wouldn't matter until it stablizes

more as my adrenals heal.

I realize now that it may take a long time for them to heal as well

as for Armour to undo the damage done to my body over the years. So

for me I will go slow, so the healing can take place. I prefer to be

well right now!:] But my body needs time and I have had to realize

that. I have almost given up a few times, but I am stubborn if

nothing else:}

So for me at this point, I'm at 1 grain and a small amount of t4 to

keep from going hypo. I'm using adrenal support and vitamins and

trying to be patient. I have had improvements, especially with

depression and anxiety has lessened. Less brain fog, body is taking a

little longer to regain the energy I want it to have right now! But

I'm getting there. Still a ways to go in many other areas... but I

read someone post's somewhere that stated it could take 18 months to

heal? I didn't beleive that at first, but now I think that could be

true for me and that's okay, because I know there is light at the end

of the tunnel.:} Post Graves RAI 13 years

Take care

Jewel Dartt

http://www.geocities.com/jkdartt

December 4, 2003

Great to hear the you're hanging in there Jewel... It does take a long

time and when you're impatient for improvement is SO frustrating... You

and I have talked a bit... my struggle has sucked too.... but I decided a

while back that I'd rather take baby steps and move steadily toward

better health than to take steps that are too big and have to keep

falling back and starting over again.....

I've read two years for adrenals to recover if badly fatigued... I've

been on adrenal glandular since last February, I'm feeling tons better..

but I'm not 'there' yet... but if each day is no worse than the last and

next week is better than last week, even if only a wee bit... I consider

that a coup!

Topper () *nearly 14 years post genetic hyperthyroidism RAI*

On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 17:59:57 -0000 " Jewel Dartt "

writes:

> Well My journey has been complicated but I'm still on th road!!!

> Trying to get up to optimal dose because of no thyroid fuction to

> fast and going hyper and then going hypo by going to slow. Very

> stressful to my body! But I refuse to give up.

> Because of this I've uncovered issues like needing adrenal support

> and not thinking I did. Needing vitamins neccessary to recover full

> health again. I have had to stop and then restart several times.

> T4 went to low last time so again I crashed.

> Not to mention the fact that I have problems with reproduction

> system.

> Going from Post meno to peri meno and then no periods for two years

> because of thyroid crisis a few years back.

> And now it seems the adrenal suport seem to be switching things back

> on and I'm experiencing cramping at times, still no bleeding. This is

> very complexing. I also don't have insurance to check out levels of

> estrogen and progestone but it wouldn't matter until it stablizes

> more as my adrenals heal.

> I realize now that it may take a long time for them to heal as well

> as for Armour to undo the damage done to my body over the years. So

> for me I will go slow, so the healing can take place. I prefer to be

> well right now!:] But my body needs time and I have had to realize

> that. I have almost given up a few times, but I am stubborn if

> nothing else:}

> So for me at this point, I'm at 1 grain and a small amount of t4 to

> keep from going hypo. I'm using adrenal support and vitamins and

> trying to be patient. I have had improvements, especially with

> depression and anxiety has lessened. Less brain fog, body is taking

> a little longer to regain the energy I want it to have right now! But

> I'm getting there. Still a ways to go in many other areas... but I

> read someone post's somewhere that stated it could take 18 months to

> heal? I didn't beleive that at first, but now I think that could be

> true for me and that's okay, because I know there is light at the end

> of the tunnel.:} Post Graves RAI 13 years

>

> Take care

> Jewel Dartt

> http://www.geocities.com/jkdartt

December 4, 2003

Jewel, I can see the difference in you just in the way you express

yourself. It is fabulous. Yes, stay stubborn, because it's what will

get you up that yellow brick road. You will get there, by hell or

high water!!

Janie aka ThyroDiva

> Well My journey has been complicated but I'm still on th road!!!

> Trying to get up to optimal dose because of no thyroid fuction to

> fast and going hyper and then going hypo by going to slow. Very

> stressful to my body! But I refuse to give up.

December 4, 2003

Jewel, I can see the difference in you just in the way you express

yourself. It is fabulous. Yes, stay stubborn, because it's what will

get you up that yellow brick road. You will get there, by hell or

high water!!

Janie aka ThyroDiva

> Well My journey has been complicated but I'm still on th road!!!

> Trying to get up to optimal dose because of no thyroid fuction to

> fast and going hyper and then going hypo by going to slow. Very

> stressful to my body! But I refuse to give up.

December 5, 2003

Yes!!! we need you writing more books! You are a fabulous author...

Blatant advertisement here... this lady has three books published and

they are wonderful!

Topper ()

On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 04:06:36 -0000 " loboshe " writes:

> Jewel, I can see the difference in you just in the way you express

> yourself. It is fabulous. Yes, stay stubborn, because it's what will

> get you up that yellow brick road. You will get there, by hell or

> high water!!

>

> Janie aka ThyroDiva

December 5, 2003

Yes!!! we need you writing more books! You are a fabulous author...

Blatant advertisement here... this lady has three books published and

they are wonderful!

Topper ()

On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 04:06:36 -0000 " loboshe " writes:

> Jewel, I can see the difference in you just in the way you express

> yourself. It is fabulous. Yes, stay stubborn, because it's what will

> get you up that yellow brick road. You will get there, by hell or

> high water!!

>

> Janie aka ThyroDiva

December 5, 2003

What are the names of the books? A real celeb in our midst?

Kat

In NaturalThyroidHormones , topper2@j... wrote:

> Yes!!! we need you writing more books! You are a fabulous author...

>

> Blatant advertisement here... this lady has three books published

and

> they are wonderful!

>

> Topper ()

>

> On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 04:06:36 -0000 " loboshe " <usns@r...> writes:

> > Jewel, I can see the difference in you just in the way you

express

> > yourself. It is fabulous. Yes, stay stubborn, because it's what

will

> > get you up that yellow brick road. You will get there, by hell or

> > high water!!

> >

> > Janie aka ThyroDiva

December 5, 2003

What are the names of the books? A real celeb in our midst?

Kat

In NaturalThyroidHormones , topper2@j... wrote:

> Yes!!! we need you writing more books! You are a fabulous author...

>

> Blatant advertisement here... this lady has three books published

and

> they are wonderful!

>

> Topper ()

>

> On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 04:06:36 -0000 " loboshe " <usns@r...> writes:

> > Jewel, I can see the difference in you just in the way you

express

> > yourself. It is fabulous. Yes, stay stubborn, because it's what

will

> > get you up that yellow brick road. You will get there, by hell or

> > high water!!

> >

> > Janie aka ThyroDiva

December 5, 2003

Enemy Mine (same title as the movie with Quaid - But WHOLE different

story)

Moonlight Legacy

and

First Love Last Love

She has a web page set up.. go check them out!!!!

http://www.geocities.com/jkdartt/

Sorry Janie, for the ad... but heck, they're really good stories, and

Jewell is part of our family!!!

*shy smile*

Topper ()

On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 13:41:32 -0000 " katmidg " writes:

> What are the names of the books? A real celeb in our midst?

>

> Kat

December 5, 2003

Enemy Mine (same title as the movie with Quaid - But WHOLE different

story)

Moonlight Legacy

and

First Love Last Love

She has a web page set up.. go check them out!!!!

http://www.geocities.com/jkdartt/

Sorry Janie, for the ad... but heck, they're really good stories, and

Jewell is part of our family!!!

*shy smile*

Topper ()

On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 13:41:32 -0000 " katmidg " writes:

> What are the names of the books? A real celeb in our midst?

>

> Kat

December 6, 2003

> What are the names of the books? A real celeb in our midst?

>

>First let me say thank you to Janie and Topper because of their

wonderful support of me during my journey to getting well again:]If

not for you two as well as several others on this list and and

Topper's list I would have given up.

Secondly, I'll answer Kat about my books and do a little ...ahem...

promotion.:}

I write for a small publishing company and have published three

books, excerpts and names of books are on my web site as well as

where to buy them

http://www.geocities.com/jkdartt

Right now at my publisher Amber Quill you can buy my print books with

no shipping charge added. Also for those who prefer an e- book, those

can be bought as well at my publisher's site cheaper of course than

the print copies. My books are on sale at Amazon but I make more

money if they are bought through my publisher. I could use it to buy

more armour:}

Titles/ Author Jewel Dartt

Enemy Mine vampire Romance

Moon Light Legacy werewolf Romance

First Love , Last love, historical Romance

Oh and there is a free short story of mine called Out of the night

on my publisher's site

http://www.amberquill.com/ you can download for free!

Wow! I must be getting better I haven't promoted actively in quite

some time:}

Okay, sorry Janie:} Couldn't resist the temptation...lol If I get to

where I can ever start writing again, and I now beleive I will... I

will owe it all to you who have encouraged..advised...and just

knowing you are here when I need help....that is what keeps me going.

I'll have to dedicate my next book to all of you:} See Janie,

Topper... thinking postive!!!lol

Take care

Jewel Dartt

http://www.geocities.com/jkdartt

December 6, 2003

> What are the names of the books? A real celeb in our midst?

>

>First let me say thank you to Janie and Topper because of their

wonderful support of me during my journey to getting well again:]If

not for you two as well as several others on this list and and

Topper's list I would have given up.

Secondly, I'll answer Kat about my books and do a little ...ahem...

promotion.:}

I write for a small publishing company and have published three

books, excerpts and names of books are on my web site as well as

where to buy them

http://www.geocities.com/jkdartt

Right now at my publisher Amber Quill you can buy my print books with

no shipping charge added. Also for those who prefer an e- book, those

can be bought as well at my publisher's site cheaper of course than

the print copies. My books are on sale at Amazon but I make more

money if they are bought through my publisher. I could use it to buy

more armour:}

Titles/ Author Jewel Dartt

Enemy Mine vampire Romance

Moon Light Legacy werewolf Romance

First Love , Last love, historical Romance

Oh and there is a free short story of mine called Out of the night

on my publisher's site

http://www.amberquill.com/ you can download for free!

Wow! I must be getting better I haven't promoted actively in quite

some time:}

Okay, sorry Janie:} Couldn't resist the temptation...lol If I get to

where I can ever start writing again, and I now beleive I will... I

will owe it all to you who have encouraged..advised...and just

knowing you are here when I need help....that is what keeps me going.

I'll have to dedicate my next book to all of you:} See Janie,

Topper... thinking postive!!!lol

Take care

Jewel Dartt

http://www.geocities.com/jkdartt

December 6, 2003

> Enemy Mine (same title as the movie with Quaid - But WHOLE different

> story)

> Moonlight Legacy

> and

> First Love Last Love

>

> She has a web page set up.. go check them out!!!!

>

> http://www.geocities.com/jkdartt/

>

> Sorry Janie, for the ad... but heck, they're really good stories,

and

> Jewell is part of our family!!!

>

> *shy smile*

>

> Topper ()

>

>Lol... I wrote basically the same thing before I saw your " ad "

..lol

Janie is going to kick us both off here!:]

Shutting up and tiptoeing away, before I get into trouble...:}

Jewel Dartt

December 6, 2003

> Enemy Mine (same title as the movie with Quaid - But WHOLE different

> story)

> Moonlight Legacy

> and

> First Love Last Love

>

> She has a web page set up.. go check them out!!!!

>

> http://www.geocities.com/jkdartt/

>

> Sorry Janie, for the ad... but heck, they're really good stories,

and

> Jewell is part of our family!!!

>

> *shy smile*

>

> Topper ()

>

>Lol... I wrote basically the same thing before I saw your " ad "

..lol

Janie is going to kick us both off here!:]

Shutting up and tiptoeing away, before I get into trouble...:}

Jewel Dartt

December 6, 2003

See, you are feeling better... this post is very positive... gosh, I love

to see you feeling better and getting enthused about your writing again!

You've been going through some REALLY rough times and it's time that you

got some good strong movement in the right direction!

For everyone else here that is feeling like things are never gonna get

better, let Jewel be your example that if you don't give up and keep at

it you will figure out what your body needs for meds and for supplements

and for general support to be able to feel better again, to feel human

again and to start doing things that you love to do. It may not be

writing, maybe it's working in a garden or playing with kids, or

grandkids or fur kids.... maybe it's hiking or biking... or maybe it's

just to be able to do things around the house to the level that you used

to. For many of us household chores become a challenge and just to be

able to accomplish that is something to take joy in!

Joy has struggled with finding the right med, the correct dosing, the

right supplements. She gone through allergic reactions, increasing dosage

too quickly and going hyper, just so many hurdles to overcome and she's

DOING IT!!!!

I'm so VERY proud and happy for you Jewel!

Topper () *doing happy happy joy joy dance for Jewel*

On Sat, 06 Dec 2003 09:46:41 -0000 " Jewel Dartt "

writes:

>

> > What are the names of the books? A real celeb in our midst?

> >

> >First let me say thank you to Janie and Topper because of their

> wonderful support of me during my journey to getting well again:]If

> not for you two as well as several others on this list and and

> Topper's list I would have given up.

> Secondly, I'll answer Kat about my books and do a little ...ahem...

> promotion.:}

> I write for a small publishing company and have published three

> books, excerpts and names of books are on my web site as well as

> where to buy them

> http://www.geocities.com/jkdartt

> Right now at my publisher Amber Quill you can buy my print books

> with

> no shipping charge added. Also for those who prefer an e- book,

> those

> can be bought as well at my publisher's site cheaper of course than

> the print copies. My books are on sale at Amazon but I make more

> money if they are bought through my publisher. I could use it to buy

> more armour:}

> Titles/ Author Jewel Dartt

> Enemy Mine vampire Romance

> Moon Light Legacy werewolf Romance

> First Love , Last love, historical Romance

> Oh and there is a free short story of mine called Out of the night

> on my publisher's site

> http://www.amberquill.com/ you can download for free!

> Wow! I must be getting better I haven't promoted actively in quite

> some time:}

> Okay, sorry Janie:} Couldn't resist the temptation...lol If I get to

> where I can ever start writing again, and I now beleive I will... I

> will owe it all to you who have encouraged..advised...and just

> knowing you are here when I need help....that is what keeps me

> going.

> I'll have to dedicate my next book to all of you:} See Janie,

> Topper... thinking postive!!!lol

> Take care

> Jewel Dartt

> http://www.geocities.com/jkdartt

December 6, 2003