Re: New to the group and question about hypothyroidism

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/29/2004 8:36:09 PM Eastern Standard Time,

nll320@... writes:

> . My mother has

> low thyroid and I hear it is hereditary.

yes..it is...and your symptoms all sound hypo. try to get some Armour

Thyroid. you can order from www.myrxforless.com if you want to give it a trial

and

see if it helps your symptoms.

cindi

[Guest guest]

HI . What a coincidence.

How wonderful you have a husband who is supportive like that...let me

say first off.

Proactive doctor is an oxymoron. Thats why they use words

like " idopathic " when they don't know what is wrong. Its close to

psychopathic but...well, you get the picture.

Good for you to take a stand and look at your options. Armour is

natural thyroid hormones, derived from pig thyroids. It delivers all

thyroid hormones...not just the synth T4 they are giving you...to

your body. Once you get the right dose for YOU...yum. I'll allow the

others who explain it best to convince you. And convince you they

will. The biggest hurdle is convincing your doctor after you are

convinced.

My concerns is your antibody test. Did they tell you it was

hashimotos? AND Did they mention what type diabeties...

With all the symptoms you have...and the fact that you do carry anti

thyroid antibodies...did they test you for any other auto antibodies?

When you say you have a hard time swallowing...is food

getting " caught " ? Or is it liquid, too?

Also

My husband thinks I

> should find another dr as he said mine is not proactive enough as

we

> have been trying to figure this out for well over a year now.

> Thank you for listening.

[Guest guest]

Hi there and welcome. Yes, you have much to be excited about

that you joined this group. Because we can definitely confirm to you

that you are most likely very hypothyroid....and your doctor is an

idiot.

Additionally, you seem to have female hormonal issues, but we can

get to that later.

First, your labs are hard to comment on when you don't give ranges.

So please grab those and repost them, ok?? Also you said you

requested the free's, but you then said the tests were T3 and T4.

Let us know exactly what you got, because a T3 is different from a

Free T3.

Next, you need to be on Armour, NOT levothyroxine. Levothyroxine is

a T4-only med. T4 is a storage hormone. It is meant to convert to

the active hormone T3. But it never converts enough to what you

need. It's a med that docs were hoodwinked about by the

pharmaceuticals many decades ago--and it's left millions of folks

SICK for the same amount of decades. Read my own bio on the homepage

of this site.

Compare what you are on...to Armour. Armour contains exactly what

our own thyroids would be making: T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin. Big

difference, isn't it? My life made a 360 degree turn around on

Armour. Imagine what YOU can do by getting off of levothyroxine and

getting on Armour!!

You may need another doc. Your doc is awful. There are Top Doc lists

in the LINKS section of this site. Try the Armour locate-a-doc site

first. With Shoman's Top Doc site, you have to read the lists

CAREFULLY since anyone can post any doc whether they prescribe

Armour or not.

Also, take time to read the articles in the FILES section. That will

certainly give you a head start. YOU, , are you own best health

professional!!

Janie

> I'm new to the group and I am excited to be a part of this group.

I

> hope to find some answers that I am not getting from my dr. Here

are some of the symptoms... hot flashes, extreme

> sweating when everyone is comfortable(but if you touch me I am

cool

> to the touch), night sweats, extreme memory loss, foggy brain,

> easily confused, hair thinning, dry skin and brittal nails,

> significant weight gain in just a few months(even though watching

> what I eat and exercising regulary), headaches, ringing in ears,

> sore throat, hard time swallowing, severe fatigue and sleepiness,

> achy muscles and joints, and more but I won't go on. My mother

has

> low thyroid and I hear it is hereditary. My temperature has been

> below normal for almost 3-4 years now. It use to stick right

around

> 96.9 but is right about 97.2-97.5 now.

[Guest guest]

Thank you I will try that site.

> In a message dated 7/29/2004 8:36:09 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> nll320@h... writes:

>

> > . My mother has

> > low thyroid and I hear it is hereditary.

>

> yes..it is...and your symptoms all sound hypo. try to get some

Armour

> Thyroid. you can order from www.myrxforless.com if you want to

give it a trial and

> see if it helps your symptoms.

> cindi

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for the time you put in to answer me. There is a

lot of good advice. I may have to change docs as my insurance

requires a referral for an endocrynoligist and my doc doesn't think

I need one. Also thank you both that answered for helping me

realize I am not crazy. Sometimes I wonder as I am losing my mind,

literally.

I will definitely look into the Armour and I guess I will have to

change my family doc to someone who will give me a referral. I just

hate changing docs again. This will be my third doc trying to

figure out what is wrong.

I apologize for the confusion. The tests were Free T3 and Free T4.

I was told Free T3-34.9 and Free T4-1.10, Thyroid Antibodies-less

than 75. I was not given ranges. I don't understand, I guess as I

thought what they gave me were my results. I thought there was a

range that the medical profession has that determines whether you

are in the normal range or high or low. I'm not sure what you mean

by what are my ranges? Sorry.

I will research all the links and references here. It really helps

to hear from others that they are having the same symptoms. I'm

assuming that there are many more on this forum that have a lot of

the same symptoms.

Thanks again.

> Hi there and welcome. Yes, you have much to be excited about

> that you joined this group. Because we can definitely confirm to

you

> that you are most likely very hypothyroid....and your doctor is an

> idiot.

>

> Additionally, you seem to have female hormonal issues, but we can

> get to that later.

>

> First, your labs are hard to comment on when you don't give

ranges.

> So please grab those and repost them, ok?? Also you said you

> requested the free's, but you then said the tests were T3 and T4.

> Let us know exactly what you got, because a T3 is different from a

> Free T3.

>

> Next, you need to be on Armour, NOT levothyroxine. Levothyroxine

is

> a T4-only med. T4 is a storage hormone. It is meant to convert to

> the active hormone T3. But it never converts enough to what you

> need. It's a med that docs were hoodwinked about by the

> pharmaceuticals many decades ago--and it's left millions of folks

> SICK for the same amount of decades. Read my own bio on the

homepage

> of this site.

>

> Compare what you are on...to Armour. Armour contains exactly what

> our own thyroids would be making: T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin.

Big

> difference, isn't it? My life made a 360 degree turn around on

> Armour. Imagine what YOU can do by getting off of levothyroxine

and

> getting on Armour!!

>

> You may need another doc. Your doc is awful. There are Top Doc

lists

> in the LINKS section of this site. Try the Armour locate-a-doc

site

> first. With Shoman's Top Doc site, you have to read the lists

> CAREFULLY since anyone can post any doc whether they prescribe

> Armour or not.

>

> Also, take time to read the articles in the FILES section. That

will

> certainly give you a head start. YOU, , are you own best

health

> professional!!

>

> Janie

>

>

> > I'm new to the group and I am excited to be a part of this

group.

> I

> > hope to find some answers that I am not getting from my dr. Here

> are some of the symptoms... hot flashes, extreme

> > sweating when everyone is comfortable(but if you touch me I am

> cool

> > to the touch), night sweats, extreme memory loss, foggy brain,

> > easily confused, hair thinning, dry skin and brittal nails,

> > significant weight gain in just a few months(even though

watching

> > what I eat and exercising regulary), headaches, ringing in ears,

> > sore throat, hard time swallowing, severe fatigue and

sleepiness,

> > achy muscles and joints, and more but I won't go on. My mother

> has

> > low thyroid and I hear it is hereditary. My temperature has

been

> > below normal for almost 3-4 years now. It use to stick right

> around

> > 96.9 but is right about 97.2-97.5 now.

[Guest guest]

Thanks. I do have a wonderful husband who has been so good to me

through all of this. I am definitely into anything more natural and

definitely anything that will make me feel better at this time. I

owe it to my husband and myself to figure this out so we can get on

with our lives. They didn't tell me it was hashimotos. In fact the

nurse said my tests were all normal. We haven't received the

thyroid ultrasound results back yet. No he hasn't tested me for any

other diseases except hypoglycemia. He thought the symptoms sounded

like hypoglycemia and when I had blood work done it came back at 58

on a fast. Pretty low but only one time test. Then when they gave

me a monitor to keep tract it was usually around 100-130's. So then

he said I was borderline diabetic. Which I don't agree with but it

runs in my family very highly(mother, grandparents, aunts,

cousins). As far as the swallowing. When I lay down at night I

fell like I have a lump in my throat and it is a little harder to

breathe. I can't turn my head and breathe very well and it seems

restricted with me facing forward(laying down). It is hard to drink

and eat. Well I don't mean it is real difficult, I mean it is

diffently harder than usual and feels kinds like a sore throat most

of the time. It just feels like there is something in my throat all

the time and burns just slightly(I believe from the irritation of

swallowing). Anyway, I hope that makes sense.

Thanks for all your help. It is nice to know I am not crazy. And

that others do have the same symptoms. I do believe that I am on

the right track and that it has something to do with my thyroid. Now

I just have either get a referral from my doc for an endo dr or

change my family doc to someone who can help me.

Have a good day.

> HI . What a coincidence.

>

> How wonderful you have a husband who is supportive like that...let

me

> say first off.

>

> Proactive doctor is an oxymoron. Thats why they use words

> like " idopathic " when they don't know what is wrong. Its close to

> psychopathic but...well, you get the picture.

>

> Good for you to take a stand and look at your options. Armour is

> natural thyroid hormones, derived from pig thyroids. It delivers

all

> thyroid hormones...not just the synth T4 they are giving you...to

> your body. Once you get the right dose for YOU...yum. I'll allow

the

> others who explain it best to convince you. And convince you they

> will. The biggest hurdle is convincing your doctor after you are

> convinced.

>

> My concerns is your antibody test. Did they tell you it was

> hashimotos? AND Did they mention what type diabeties...

>

> With all the symptoms you have...and the fact that you do carry

anti

> thyroid antibodies...did they test you for any other auto

antibodies?

> When you say you have a hard time swallowing...is food

> getting " caught " ? Or is it liquid, too?

>

> Also

>

> My husband thinks I

> > should find another dr as he said mine is not proactive enough

as

> we

> > have been trying to figure this out for well over a year now.

> > Thank you for listening.

[Guest guest]

>> lot of good advice. I may have to change docs as my insurance

> requires a

, Endocrinologists are usually the worst docs you can go to for

optimal thyroid care. They tend to test only the TSH and T4---lousy

tests. They tend to think that if you fall in a normal range, you

couldn't possibly be hypothyroid. Wrong. And they tend to be

Synthroid-Nazi's---that means they usually only prescribe T4 like

you are on. With a few exceptions, they are generally horrible.

Ranges were developed to help a doc assess whether you are OK, or

not OK. But they are only guides, and they are very fallible. And

that is ESPECIALLY true when it comes to the thyroid ranges. They

are dead wrong, especially the TSH. You can have a TSH in the so-

called normal range, and be horribly hypothyroid. The best ranges

which help us to help you are the free T3 and free T4 ranges. BUT

once treatment begins, the labs and ranges become even LESS

important. MORE important are symptoms!

Tuck the following comment away in the back of your mind for future

reference: when you find your optimal dose of Armour--the dose that

removes all your hypo symptoms, you will find your TSH BELOW the

range and your FREE T3 over the range.

Call your doc back and ask them for the ranges. And, ask them to

send you a copy of your labwork. It's yours. It's not just there's.

It was your blood, your money, your results.

Use the Armour locate-a-doc. Or, go to you nearest large pharmacy

and ask the pharmacist (not the tech--ask the pharmacist) who

prescribes Armour. I drive almost 2 hours to see my great doc. Check

out the GOOD DOCS folder in the FILES section and see if there is a

site-recommended doc for your area. Or, tell us where you are and

perhaps someone here has already found a good one there.

It also sounds like you have thyroiditis, or Hashimotos.

Janie

> I will definitely look into the Armour and I guess I will have to

> change my family doc to someone who will give me a referral. I

just

> hate changing docs again. This will be my third doc trying to

> figure out what is wrong.

> I apologize for the confusion. The tests were Free T3 and Free

T4.

> I was told Free T3-34.9 and Free T4-1.10, Thyroid Antibodies-less

> than 75. I was not given ranges. I don't understand, I guess as

I

> thought what they gave me were my results. I thought there was a

> range that the medical profession has that determines whether you

> are in the normal range or high or low. I'm not sure what you

mean

> by what are my ranges? Sorry.

[Guest guest]

> Many of us have or had your symptoms and most of us at one time or

>another have felt like we were losing our minds...Unfortunately ,

>It seems to be usually be after we see our doctors...

Laughing. I hope you caught the humor, . hit it right

on the head of the nail!! When it comes the good thyroid assessment

and care, the vast majority of docs can drive you CRAZY!! They are

ignorant about thyroid. They tell you that you are are normal when

you are not. They put labwork and ranges ahead of obvious symptoms.

They tell you that you need an antidepressant when what you need is

Armour to raise your T3 (a low T3 causes the depression!) They test

this and that and this and that---when all they needed to do was

acknowledge you are HYPO and need Armour. And then tend to put you

on an INADEQUATE med like T4-only meds, then tell you there is

noting more than can do for your " strange " symptoms while on a T4-

only med!

ARGHHHHH. is RIGHT!!

Janie

[Guest guest]

Why is it that this Free T3 reading doesn't sound like a Free T3 at all,

rather a Total T3? I know that different parameters are used for this test,

but I believe that if it was a Free test, then it would either be in the

hundreds readings, or the single digit readings, as in 2.0, 3.3, 4.0,

etcc....you get the picture. Someone correct me if I am wrong about this.

For instance, the top end of my Free T3 with HealthCheckusa is 4.3, I

believe. In other types of readings, in the metric system, that would be

about a 430, am I right. , you know a lot more about this than I do?

New to the group and question about

hypothyroidism

> I'm new to the group and I am excited to be a part of this group. I

> hope to find some answers that I am not getting from my dr. I have

> read many books on thyroid and I think that a lot of my symptoms are

> related.

> I have been dealing with symptoms for almost 3-5 years now but have

> gotten really bad in the last year. I believe it may be

> hypothyroism. Here are some of the symptoms... hot flashes, extreme

> sweating when everyone is comfortable(but if you touch me I am cool

> to the touch), night sweats, extreme memory loss, foggy brain,

> easily confused, hair thinning, dry skin and brittal nails,

> significant weight gain in just a few months(even though watching

> what I eat and exercising regulary), headaches, ringing in ears,

> sore throat, hard time swallowing, severe fatigue and sleepiness,

> achy muscles and joints, and more but I won't go on. My mother has

> low thyroid and I hear it is hereditary. My temperature has been

> below normal for almost 3-4 years now. It use to stick right around

> 96.9 but is right about 97.2-97.5 now. I kept asking my dr to check

> my thyroid but he said that the symptoms didn't sound like thyroid.

> They did blood work and first said I was hypoglycemic. Then they

> gave me a monitor and had me check it for a month. They said I was

> more borderline diabetic. Then a week ago I complained about it

> felt like I was having a harder time breathing when I laid down and

> that it was getting harder to swallow. So he checked my neck and

> stated my thyroid felt enlarged. So he did tests. I had Free T3,

> Free T4, and thyroid antibodies. The nurse said the tests came back

> in the normal ranges. The results are T3-34.9, T4-1.10, Thyroid

> Antibodies-less than 75. I know they have changed the ranges a few

> times to what is normal, high and low. I just don't know what the

> latest ranges are. The dr also sent me for an thyroid ultrasound

> last week but I have not received the results yet.

> The dr started me on Levothyroxine Tabs 88 MCG right after the tests

> were run. I don't know much about this medication but I am into

> natural alternatives to medications. I have seen Armour mentioned

> many times but don't know anything about it. Where can I find out

> about the different choices I have?

> I'm sorry this is so long but I am so frustrated because I really

> thought that we had finally figured out what was wrong and could

> treat it. I still think it could be related to my thyroid.

> What do you guys think of the results? What are the normal ranges

> for these? Does this sound like hypothyroid? My husband thinks I

> should find another dr as he said mine is not proactive enough as we

> have been trying to figure this out for well over a year now.

> Thank you for listening.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/30/2004 5:42:14 PM Eastern Standard Time, marin@...

writes:

> I know that different parameters are used for this test,

> but I believe that if it was a Free test

i agree with you....i simply adjusted the decimals to know what it was.

cindi

[Guest guest]

Hi, ,

I know I " m way behind, trying to catch up. I wanted to welcome you to the group!

I see

you've already gotten some excellent responses. I just wanted to add that I

suggest you

get a COPY of your test results. I always do and keep them in a binder. You

deserve a

copy. You paid for it. The copy will have the normal ranges in parentheses.

It is so exasperating to see that your doctor gave you thyroid medication and

didn't bother

to tell you you have Hashimoto's thyroid disease and the idiot nurse thinks the

tests are

normal! (Perhaps the doctor wasn't ready to admit you were right. LOL)

I agree that alot of your symptoms could be related to female hormone imbalance.

So

once you get your thyroid treated well and see what symptoms are left you can

address

this issue. How old are you?

When you begin to check for a new doctor, keep in mind, that you'll want to call

and ask if

they prescribe Armour. And don't expect an endocrinologist to be more up on the

thyroid.

If you're lucky they will be. But I've not seen that to always be the case.

Best to you and keep us posted!

in VA.

I'm new to the group and I am excited to be a part of this group. I

hope to find some answers that I am not getting from my dr. I have

read many books on thyroid and I think that a lot of my symptoms are

related.

I have been dealing with symptoms for almost 3-5 years now but have

gotten really bad in the last year. I believe it may be

hypothyroism. Here are some of the symptoms... hot flashes, extreme

sweating when everyone is comfortable(but if you touch me I am cool

to the touch), night sweats, extreme memory loss, foggy brain,

easily confused, hair thinning, dry skin and brittal nails,

significant weight gain in just a few months(even though watching

what I eat and exercising regulary), headaches, ringing in ears,

sore throat, hard time swallowing, severe fatigue and sleepiness,

achy muscles and joints, and more but I won't go on. My mother has

low thyroid and I hear it is hereditary. My temperature has been

below normal for almost 3-4 years now. It use to stick right around

96.9 but is right about 97.2-97.5 now. I kept asking my dr to check

my thyroid but he said that the symptoms didn't sound like thyroid.

They did blood work and first said I was hypoglycemic. Then they

gave me a monitor and had me check it for a month. They said I was

more borderline diabetic. Then a week ago I complained about it

felt like I was having a harder time breathing when I laid down and

that it was getting harder to swallow. So he checked my neck and

stated my thyroid felt enlarged. So he did tests. I had Free T3,

Free T4, and thyroid antibodies. The nurse said the tests came back

in the normal ranges. The results are T3-34.9, T4-1.10, Thyroid

Antibodies-less than 75. I know they have changed the ranges a few

times to what is normal, high and low. I just don't know what the

latest ranges are. The dr also sent me for an thyroid ultrasound

last week but I have not received the results yet.

The dr started me on Levothyroxine Tabs 88 MCG right after the tests

were run. I don't know much about this medication but I am into

natural alternatives to medications. I have seen Armour mentioned

many times but don't know anything about it. Where can I find out

about the different choices I have?

I'm sorry this is so long but I am so frustrated because I really

thought that we had finally figured out what was wrong and could

treat it. I still think it could be related to my thyroid.

What do you guys think of the results? What are the normal ranges

for these? Does this sound like hypothyroid? My husband thinks I

should find another dr as he said mine is not proactive enough as we

have been trying to figure this out for well over a year now.

Thank you for listening.

[Guest guest]

>>>>>When you begin to check for a new doctor, keep in mind, that you'll

>>>>>want to call and ask if

they prescribe Armour.

Well, I tried that. I have to find a new doctor due to health plan

changes, and I kept asking if they prescribe Armour and the answer was

always 'no' - even one doctor who was on the Armour website. Then I tried

just asking if they prescribe T3. No. So then I figured, well, if

I walk through the door and I'm already on Armour, and it's helping more

than years of Synthroid ever did, what will the doc do? So, I have an

appointment in a few weeks with a new doc and I'll find out!

I took Mom to a new endo - also on Armour website - and he won't prescribe

Armour, but at least he gave her Cytomel.

.....joan

[Guest guest]

It isn't the same thing but my endo was surprised that I am taking

Thyrolar - he didn't know anyone still prescribed it. So of course he

wanted me to switch to $inthroid + cytomel. I held my ground saying I

felt better on thyrolar AND oh by the way it's a non preferred

medicine so it cost $80 for a 90 day supply and I checked and cytome

is too sooooooooo it would cose me more to take 2 meds instead of 1

that has both. hmmm that might work with Armour because it does have

T3.

Louise

> >>>>>When you begin to check for a new doctor, keep in mind, that

you'll

> >>>>>want to call and ask if

> they prescribe Armour.

>

> Well, I tried that. I have to find a new doctor due to health

plan

> changes, and I kept asking if they prescribe Armour and the answer

was

> always 'no' - even one doctor who was on the Armour website. Then

I tried

> just asking if they prescribe T3. No. So then I figured,

well, if

> I walk through the door and I'm already on Armour, and it's helping

more

> than years of Synthroid ever did, what will the doc do? So, I

have an

> appointment in a few weeks with a new doc and I'll find out!

>

> I took Mom to a new endo - also on Armour website - and he won't

prescribe

> Armour, but at least he gave her Cytomel.

>

> ....joan

[Guest guest]

Thyrolar is a nice alternative to Armour. BUT it has a higher % of T3

so it's not for everyone.

I am counting down the days to when it gets back on the market. Just

hope it doesn't change too much.

Louise

>

> My rheumatologist, who felt all along that my neuropathy could be

related to

> hypo, wanted me to try Thyrolar, but none of my doctors

agreed. This

> was before I found this group and heard about Armour. I asked the

new endo

> when I took my Mom if she could have Armour... no... how about

Thyrolar.....

> nope......... but he did add the Cytomel.

> ...joan

[Guest guest]

Nopes. Armour is a non preferred brand too.

And I actually got a refund from my insurance company. So I think a

90 day supply will be about $40. Still pricey but better than $80.

I don't eat much meat and donate to animal charities so Thyrolar is

better for me.

Louise

> If you took Armour, it would probably cost about one tenth that.

> Blessings,

> Debbie K.

>

> Re: New to the group and question

> about hypothyroidism

>

>

> It isn't the same thing but my endo was surprised that I am taking

> Thyrolar - he didn't know anyone still prescribed it. So of course

he

> wanted me to switch to $inthroid + cytomel. I held my ground saying

I

> felt better on thyrolar AND oh by the way it's a non preferred

> medicine so it cost $80 for a 90 day supply and I checked and

cytome

> is too sooooooooo it would cose me more to take 2 meds instead of 1

> that has both. hmmm that might work with Armour because it does

have

> T3.

>

> Louise

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

ok they must have fixed their website. Armour 120 mg 30 day retail is

$9.55. 90 day mail order is 20.11. It does look like that the mg

between armour and the generics aren't equal. Generic they have 1/2

gr (30 mg), 1 gr (65 mg), 2 gr (130 mg), 3 gr (195 mg) and for Armour

15 mg, 20 mg, 60 mg, 90 mg, 120 mg, 180 mg, 240 mg, & 300 mg.

oooh a 90 day supply of thyrolar 3 (which I split) is $71.08. If I

do 45 Thyrolar 3 it is $35.54.

Still pricey but worth it to me.

Louise

> > If you took Armour, it would probably cost about one tenth that.

> > Blessings,

> > Debbie K.

> >

> > Re: New to the group and

question

> > about hypothyroidism

> >

> >

> > It isn't the same thing but my endo was surprised that I am

taking

> > Thyrolar - he didn't know anyone still prescribed it. So of

course

> he

> > wanted me to switch to $inthroid + cytomel. I held my ground

saying

> I

> > felt better on thyrolar AND oh by the way it's a non preferred

> > medicine so it cost $80 for a 90 day supply and I checked and

> cytome

> > is too sooooooooo it would cose me more to take 2 meds instead of

1

> > that has both. hmmm that might work with Armour because it does

> have

> > T3.

> >

> > Louise

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

>