Re: Confused

[Guest guest]

Hi there Joan! Yes, it can be confusing, can't it?? To make it more

comfortable for you, let me tell you that there are probably more

folks here than not who have done well on Armour without adrenal

support.

And the recommendation to folks to go up slowly is because we can't

tell who would have problems with the T3 or not. I, for example,

have MVP, and had to rise slow because the T3 aggravated my palps

with each rise.

I also remember a guy on Shomans' site who kept raising, but at one

grain at a time!!! And he didn't know that it can take several weeks

for the effect of the T4 to show itself. Before long, he was up to 6

grains and found himself VERY overdosed by his symptoms.

BUT, in spite of the above, I would bet that if you've been on 2

grains for 4 weeks and have the waves of fatigue you mention, it's a

strong sign you need to raise! At 2 grains, I only went up 1/4 grain

at a time because the T3 would aggravate my MVP each time. But

without the MVP, I would have gone up 1/2 grain at at time, and

maybe even gone up to 3 grains. I am currently on 3 grains, for

example, and there are many folks on much more than me!!

Also getting your hormonal situation touched on will help, such as

using natural progesterone, which I understand also helps raise the

estrogen a bit, combatting the hot flashes you mention.

I am also on testosterone, which made a difference in my energy

level.

Low Ferritin is common with hypos, so it's important to get that up,

since it, too, can bring on fatigue. When I was at 2 grains, I tried

to rise to 2 1/4 and got major palps. It was then that I discovered

I had miserably low Ferritin. I corrected it, and then got up to

where I am today---at 3 grains. What a difference!!

Hope that helps.

Janie

> The more I read the more confused I get. The symptoms of

hypoT, adrenal

> fatigue, menopause, are the same in many cases. I am in the

midst of

> changing doctors, which means I will have to start all over again

not only

> with the primary doc but also with new specialists. I am

converting to

> Armour and it seems like the consensus here is to go slowly. I

raised it

> to 2 grains almost 4 weeks ago. How do I know if I need

adrenal

> support? It will be awhile before I get to the new docs for

any

> possible testing, even if they go along with my requests. I

am

> suffering horribly from hot flashes, which I will address on the

natural HRT

> list which recommended. I have those waves of exhaustion

which folks

> have been talking about here recently. I know I have to be

patient, but

> sometimes it just gets to be too much.....

> ,,,,joan

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for the reply and advice, Janie! If I understand this,

I could try increasing 1/2 grain to 2 1/2. I was on .125 Synthroid

like you were, Janie, so I am guessing that 3 grains will probably be my

goal and optimal dose.

I had my ferritin checked and it was OK = 75.

How did you know that you needed testosterone?

....joan

>>>BUT, in spite of the above, I would bet that if you've been on 2

grains for 4 weeks and have the waves of fatigue you mention, it's a

strong sign you need to raise! At 2 grains, I only went up 1/4 grain

at a time because the T3 would aggravate my MVP each time. But

without the MVP, I would have gone up 1/2 grain at at time, and

maybe even gone up to 3 grains. I am currently on 3 grains, for

example, and there are many folks on much more than me!!

I am also on testosterone, which made a difference in my energy

level.

[Guest guest]

ok my conclusion, thus far, in the question of " how do you know what it is; as

all the symptoms are the same? " is, after the progesterone cream, to move into

the armour thyroid, slowly increasing...if, after 3-4 grains a day one does not

see improvement, check into the adrenal supplements like " delta " ?

is that a pretty accurate wrap up of slowly working on our bodies one supplement

at a time? (since i am only on step 2, in that i just ordered some armour, i

will not proceed to ask what would come after the adrenal support....lobotomy

maybe? sex change - no more estrogen problems? tee hee)

i really do NOT want to go to a dr for a blood test - they will tell me to stop

all my natural stuff and " let them have a shot at me " (almost direct phrasing

last time i went) and their shot was birth control and paxil....

but if i should get the blood work to determine cortisone, DHEA etc. then i will

(and am open to suggestions as to WHAT i should have them look for....)

am truly appreciating all of your input and suggestions and life

stories....wow....this list has been life giving to me in many ways...

THANKS to all of you for sharing your stories and taking your time with those of

us still floudering to find the complete answer to all these woman issues!!!

[Guest guest]

God bless you, Joan! I know what you mean. And I know the overwhelming feeling

of starting over

with doctors! Maybe make a list showing your medical history and symptoms and

possibly fax it to these

doctors a week before your visit. That might take a little pressure off of you

to remember everything

while you are there. Keep us posted.

We're with you!

in Va.

The more I read the more confused I get. The symptoms of hypoT, adrenal

fatigue, menopause, are the same in many cases. I am in the midst of

changing doctors, which means I will have to start all over again not only

with the primary doc but also with new specialists. I am converting to

Armour and it seems like the consensus here is to go slowly. I raised it

to 2 grains almost 4 weeks ago. How do I know if I need adrenal

support? It will be awhile before I get to the new docs for any

possible testing, even if they go along with my requests. I am

suffering horribly from hot flashes, which I will address on the natural HRT

list which recommended. I have those waves of exhaustion which folks

have been talking about here recently. I know I have to be patient, but

sometimes it just gets to be too much.....

,,,,joan