Re: Finally got some Armour!

[Guest guest]

Kate,

Personal opinion here.... I'd start with the 30.. for the first couple of

weeks at least ... if hypo symptoms rear their heads.. then move up.....

if you take too much too soon.. not such a good thing.... Remember it

takes 4 to 6 weeks to build up T4 in your tissues.... As you'll be adding

other supps at the same time... the combined effect, there is a slight

possibility, that it will increase the effect of the Armour. Having just

pushed myself hyper while doing a med increase I'm for erring on the side

of less then more.... Since you've not taken Armour before, T3, you're

not sure how your body will react... Also, adding the Selenium will

increase conversion... which will also boost your T3 levels... so that is

like a double whammy right there....

.... just the thoughts that came to my mind....

Great news that you're able to switch to Armour! Naturals, will all the

T's and the calcitonin are SO MUCH better then just Synthroid!!!!

*smile*

Topper ()

On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 22:32:52 -0600 " Kate Kopasz "

writes:

> I really could use some advice as I begin using Armour starting

> tomorrow. I finally got my primary doc to switch from Synthroid 75

> mcg after giving it a 4 month trial. Very soon I will be going to

> 's highly recommeded doctor....but I am dying to get started.

>

> A quick bit of background...I am Hashi/hypo with normal TSH.

> Multi-nodular goiter. Previous history of post-partum thyroiditis

> in 92 and 95, but went off Synthroid after a year both times.

> Pregnancy in 2000 left me with same symptoms (x 10) but all testing

> was coming back " normal " ... it took me over 3 years to finally get

> my Hashi's diagnosis and convince a Dr. to even give me the small

> dose of Synthroid I am presently on.

>

> Primary doc just prescribed Armour 30 mg which, from what I

> understand, is equivalent to Synthroid 50 mcg - so I am actually

> taking a step back in dosage equivalents.

>

> So, here's are my questions:

>

> 1. Would anyone recommend taking twice as much as prescribed -

> perhaps 30 mg in the morning and 30 in the afternoon ? This would be

> eqiuvalent to 100 mcg Synthroid and wold just be a step up from what

> I was formerly prescribed. The dr. was about to do that until I

> insisted on trying Armour. Any other ideas?

>

> 2. I also got some Selenium 200 mcg, some Melatonin 3mg and some

> Adrenal-Cortex Complex from the health food store today until I can

> figure out what to order online. Up until now, all I've been taking

> is a multi-vitamin. I really am desperate to feel better - but

> should I not start all of these new things at once?

>

> What would all of you recommend?

> Thanks for your sound advice - all those of you that have gone

> before !

>

> KATE

[Guest guest]

Let me add to that. It took me longer switching from t4 to Armour to see any

change than it had shown in the past, but I felt better than I had. My tests

results didn't show at 5 weeks, but did at 8. Very strange for me. I think the

added t3 was helping some healing though. My body was acting differently. I am

still not where I want to be, but many issues are better like cravings, anger,

etc. I find I would rather go slowing forward than even the slightest fall back.

Re: Finally got some Armour!

Kate,

Personal opinion here.... I'd start with the 30.. for the first couple of

weeks at least ... if hypo symptoms rear their heads.. then move up.....

if you take too much too soon.. not such a good thing.... Remember it

takes 4 to 6 weeks to build up T4 in your tissues.... As you'll be adding

other supps at the same time... the combined effect, there is a slight

possibility, that it will increase the effect of the Armour. Having just

pushed myself hyper while doing a med increase I'm for erring on the side

of less then more.... Since you've not taken Armour before, T3, you're

not sure how your body will react... Also, adding the Selenium will

increase conversion... which will also boost your T3 levels... so that is

like a double whammy right there....

... just the thoughts that came to my mind....

Great news that you're able to switch to Armour! Naturals, will all the

T's and the calcitonin are SO MUCH better then just Synthroid!!!!

*smile*

Topper ()

On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 22:32:52 -0600 " Kate Kopasz "

writes:

> I really could use some advice as I begin using Armour starting

> tomorrow. I finally got my primary doc to switch from Synthroid 75

> mcg after giving it a 4 month trial. Very soon I will be going to

> 's highly recommeded doctor....but I am dying to get started.

>

> A quick bit of background...I am Hashi/hypo with normal TSH.

> Multi-nodular goiter. Previous history of post-partum thyroiditis

> in 92 and 95, but went off Synthroid after a year both times.

> Pregnancy in 2000 left me with same symptoms (x 10) but all testing

> was coming back " normal " ... it took me over 3 years to finally get

> my Hashi's diagnosis and convince a Dr. to even give me the small

> dose of Synthroid I am presently on.

>

> Primary doc just prescribed Armour 30 mg which, from what I

> understand, is equivalent to Synthroid 50 mcg - so I am actually

> taking a step back in dosage equivalents.

>

> So, here's are my questions:

>

> 1. Would anyone recommend taking twice as much as prescribed -

> perhaps 30 mg in the morning and 30 in the afternoon ? This would be

> eqiuvalent to 100 mcg Synthroid and wold just be a step up from what

> I was formerly prescribed. The dr. was about to do that until I

> insisted on trying Armour. Any other ideas?

>

> 2. I also got some Selenium 200 mcg, some Melatonin 3mg and some

> Adrenal-Cortex Complex from the health food store today until I can

> figure out what to order online. Up until now, all I've been taking

> is a multi-vitamin. I really am desperate to feel better - but

> should I not start all of these new things at once?

>

> What would all of you recommend?

> Thanks for your sound advice - all those of you that have gone

> before !

>

> KATE

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

[Guest guest]

Hi Kate. Congrats on starting the Armour. Armour gives you exactly

what your own thyroid would be giving you, so your choice is wise.

First, with Hashi's, I've noted based on reports by others that

Hashi symptoms don't totally go away until the TSH is suppressed

i.e. below one. Or, another way of looking at it, you are dosing

yourself until the symptoms go away, whether you are able to do a

TSH or not. That is something for you to consider down the line.

As far as your starting dose, if it was me, I would only stay on the

30 mg. for a week or two--no more. That way I could adjust to any

reaction it might cause (or might not). Then I personally would do

the 30 mg. twice a day, such as morning and early afternoon, and

stay with it to see the results and move up from there, if needed.

Starting doses are such a call from individual to individual. If you

are like the majority, you'll do fine, and could have even started

on the 30 mg twice a day with no problem. But, some like me, who

have MVP, are sensitive to the introduction of the T3, causing me to

have palps which the starting dose (mine was 3/4 grain), and with

each subsequent raise. Another minority are those who are extremely

sensitive in many ways and have to start low and raise only in

increments. They also usually need adrenal support.

As far as the adrenal support, that's another call from individual

to individual. I had none and did well! I'm on it now--starting over

a year after I started on Armour. But I am only trying it for female

hormonal support, and can't tell if I need it! Others DEFINITELY

need it and couldn't tolerate the Armour without it. You just have

to find your place in there!!

Your doc may have started you on such a low dose because Armour uses

30 mg. as a recommended starting dose on it's information sheet. But

the bottom line with starting doses is to be aware that it can cause

your symptoms to return with a vengeance if you stay on it too long.

Also, if your doc is not too knowledgeable, he will pay far too much

attention to labs (i.e not allow you more meds that your body may

cry out for because he thinks your TSH should not fall as low as you

may need it). That will be another issue to deal with.

There is a good file in the FILES section on supplements, and I

highly recommend you check it out.

Keep us informed how you are doing!! Remarkably, the " patients "

here can be far more knowledgeable than docs.

Janie aka ThyroDiva

[Guest guest]

--- In NaturalThyroidHormones , " loboshe " <usns@r...>

> As far as the adrenal support, that's another call from individual

> to individual. I had none and did well! I'm on it now--starting

over

> a year after I started on Armour. But I am only trying it for

female

> hormonal support, and can't tell if I need it! Others DEFINITELY

> need it and couldn't tolerate the Armour without it. You just have

> to find your place in there!!

> Janie aka ThyroDiva

I agree about adrenal support...I was on Armour for many years, more

than 9 before I ever used adrenal support, ...but when I think back,

I have always used lots of B-complex and C vitamins for 30 years and

adrenal glandulars from time to time over the years, but I would say

no more than a bottle a year...never put an emphasis on adrenals

until a few months ago though...and strangely I have always been a

very sensitive person to all things in the enviroment and food, with

sensitive skin, etc - I am very surrised to find how many very

sensitive -WAY more than me - individuals there are on this

list....but I also think that in the past, these women were either

not given thyroid meds or they went quietly to endos who doled out a

teeny amount of T4 like it was gold and there they stayed...with

groups like this, we actually draw strength and information from one

another and are alerted to what's going on....in the past, if a woman

had problems or sensitivites to Armour, it only served to prove to

the endo who loves his $ynthroid, that she cannot take Armour and he

would put her back on Synthroid and tell her you aren't a candidate

for Armour and you are safest with synthroid....here, we are able to

help each other with our pooled wisdom and experiences.

[Guest guest]

>...in the past, if a woman had problems or sensitivites to Armour,

>it only served to prove to the endo who loves his $ynthroid, that

>she cannot take Armour and he would put her back on Synthroid and

>tell her you aren't a candidate for Armour and you are safest with

>synthroid....here, we are able to help each other with our pooled

>wisdom and experiences.

You description above is similar to the occasional person here who

says they are not sure Armour is right for them. Armour IS right!!

It's exactly what your own thyroid would be giving you!! The

problem is NOT that Armour is not right for anyone--the problem is

that you have to work out what keeps what is right from BEING right.

That could be adrenals, or it could be other issues. That's why I

hope we can help folks like ne in France plus a few others who

struggle so much trying to make Armour work!!! There is a puzzle for

some.

And.......some folks have no adrenal issues and just need MORE

Armour to make it right. If you take too little, you definitely

won't get the good results.

Janie