Guest guest Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Why is he hypo? They didn't say, they just said his TSH was a 9 when he was diagnosed and now it's a .5 His diagnosis? Hypothyroidism He's is checked with all kind of hormone tests every 3-6 months, by an internist, and he is completely within all levels, but I will obtain and pass on to you. I think he is taking 60 mg of thyroid.......... less and he has NO memory... and can't perform his job. At 90 he has complete strangers and co-workers telling him to lay off the coffee and simmer down.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Hi... I am new.... this is my first post. Three years ago my husband was diagnosed with low thyroid (9) and high cholesterol (300+). He's on Armour, and his tests confirm that he is where he should be (.5) and he's on a cholesterol medicine and it's down to 175. Problem? My husband has disappeared and been replaced by an aggravated, dramatic, emotional, self-pitying, sadsack, who is constantly anyalzing our life, my words. He absolutely argues every tiny little detail to the point of complete distraction and says that I am at fault, and that I have changed. He admits that this is not true when we have major blowups, and at the doctor's office he will also admit it..... in particular when I give examples of his behavior and he's done things he would have never done before. But.... I am about to lose my mind. I really can't handle it........ the first year I wrote it off to the illness and thought he would get it under control The second year I took prozac and wellbutrin, to overcome my own depression watching him turn into someone I didn't know. Now I don't know if I can make it. I am off the meds, and getting stronger as he gets even weaker. Everything is such a drama I can hardly recognize this as my husband. He is weak and sad and emotional and most recently his doctor put him on an anti-anxiety drug, but he insists that that " restricts him " , abd he doesn't feel anything or care about anything and he would rather be angry and anxious then restricted and not care. HELP....... ANYONE PLEASE HELP ME, RELATE TO ME, ANYTHING ..... I am at my wits end. Has anyone gone thru this? What is this? Why? Help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 This could all be management.... We need some info.. the doc isn't doing... so we'll give it a shot.... Questions that need to be answered... Why is he hypo? Did they give an actual diagnosis or just say low thyroid and not why? What are his labs? I assume that the .5 you mention is TSH... we need to the levels of the thyroid hormones, TSH is a pituitary hormone and doesn't tell what we need to know about what is going on. Call up the doc and get the diagnosis, and the results of the labs... the last several, if possible. We need to know is levels AND the lab's ranges for each of the tests. How much Armour is he on? How is he taking it? Is he open to changing things or???? We'll be asking questions about diet... there are foods that are really good for us and some that are really bad... some that even interfere with the hormone. Low TSH alone, does not tell what is going on with the thyroid levels.... a person can have a low TSH and still have insufficient thyroid hormone to feel well.... Could you have him do something for us? Check his heart rate..... after sitting quietly for about 20 minutes... check the pulse... let us know what it is... I have a bit of reading for you, that will explain more about the hormones, the tests and the meds.... www.thyrophoenix.com/thyroid_101.htm You and your hubby shouldn't have to deal with this.. it's not him... I think you know that, and it's just been so long for you you're reaching your limit...but you care enough to reach out and find answers... and we're here to help the best we can.... Glad to have you with us.... both of you! Topper () On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 01:14:02 -0000 "hogan_nancycatherine" writes: Hi... I am new.... this is my first post. Three years ago my husband was diagnosed with low thyroid (9) and high cholesterol (300+). He's on Armour, and his tests confirm that he is where he should be (.5) and he's on a cholesterol medicine and it's down to 175. Problem? My husband has disappeared and been replaced by an aggravated, dramatic, emotional, self-pitying, sadsack, who is constantly anyalzing our life, my words. He absolutely argues every tiny little detail to the point of complete distraction and says that I am at fault, and that I have changed. He admits that this is not true when we have major blowups, and at the doctor's office he will also admit it..... in particular when I give examples of his behavior and he's done things he would have never done before. But.... I am about to lose my mind. I really can't handle it........ the first year I wrote it off to the illness and thought he would get it under control The second year I took prozac and wellbutrin, to overcome my own depression watching him turn into someone I didn't know. Now I don't know if I can make it. I am off the meds, and getting stronger as he gets even weaker. Everything is such a drama I can hardly recognize this as my husband. He is weak and sad and emotional and most recently his doctor put him on an anti-anxiety drug, but he insists that that "restricts him", abd he doesn't feel anything or care about anything and he would rather be angry and anxious then restricted and not care. HELP....... ANYONE PLEASE HELP ME, RELATE TO ME, ANYTHING ..... I am at my wits end. Has anyone gone thru this? What is this? Why? Help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 This could all be management.... We need some info.. the doc isn't doing... so we'll give it a shot.... Questions that need to be answered... Why is he hypo? Did they give an actual diagnosis or just say low thyroid and not why? What are his labs? I assume that the .5 you mention is TSH... we need to the levels of the thyroid hormones, TSH is a pituitary hormone and doesn't tell what we need to know about what is going on. Call up the doc and get the diagnosis, and the results of the labs... the last several, if possible. We need to know is levels AND the lab's ranges for each of the tests. How much Armour is he on? How is he taking it? Is he open to changing things or???? We'll be asking questions about diet... there are foods that are really good for us and some that are really bad... some that even interfere with the hormone. Low TSH alone, does not tell what is going on with the thyroid levels.... a person can have a low TSH and still have insufficient thyroid hormone to feel well.... Could you have him do something for us? Check his heart rate..... after sitting quietly for about 20 minutes... check the pulse... let us know what it is... I have a bit of reading for you, that will explain more about the hormones, the tests and the meds.... www.thyrophoenix.com/thyroid_101.htm You and your hubby shouldn't have to deal with this.. it's not him... I think you know that, and it's just been so long for you you're reaching your limit...but you care enough to reach out and find answers... and we're here to help the best we can.... Glad to have you with us.... both of you! Topper () On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 01:14:02 -0000 "hogan_nancycatherine" writes: Hi... I am new.... this is my first post. Three years ago my husband was diagnosed with low thyroid (9) and high cholesterol (300+). He's on Armour, and his tests confirm that he is where he should be (.5) and he's on a cholesterol medicine and it's down to 175. Problem? My husband has disappeared and been replaced by an aggravated, dramatic, emotional, self-pitying, sadsack, who is constantly anyalzing our life, my words. He absolutely argues every tiny little detail to the point of complete distraction and says that I am at fault, and that I have changed. He admits that this is not true when we have major blowups, and at the doctor's office he will also admit it..... in particular when I give examples of his behavior and he's done things he would have never done before. But.... I am about to lose my mind. I really can't handle it........ the first year I wrote it off to the illness and thought he would get it under control The second year I took prozac and wellbutrin, to overcome my own depression watching him turn into someone I didn't know. Now I don't know if I can make it. I am off the meds, and getting stronger as he gets even weaker. Everything is such a drama I can hardly recognize this as my husband. He is weak and sad and emotional and most recently his doctor put him on an anti-anxiety drug, but he insists that that "restricts him", abd he doesn't feel anything or care about anything and he would rather be angry and anxious then restricted and not care. HELP....... ANYONE PLEASE HELP ME, RELATE TO ME, ANYTHING ..... I am at my wits end. Has anyone gone thru this? What is this? Why? Help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 This could all be management.... We need some info.. the doc isn't doing... so we'll give it a shot.... Questions that need to be answered... Why is he hypo? Did they give an actual diagnosis or just say low thyroid and not why? What are his labs? I assume that the .5 you mention is TSH... we need to the levels of the thyroid hormones, TSH is a pituitary hormone and doesn't tell what we need to know about what is going on. Call up the doc and get the diagnosis, and the results of the labs... the last several, if possible. We need to know is levels AND the lab's ranges for each of the tests. How much Armour is he on? How is he taking it? Is he open to changing things or???? We'll be asking questions about diet... there are foods that are really good for us and some that are really bad... some that even interfere with the hormone. Low TSH alone, does not tell what is going on with the thyroid levels.... a person can have a low TSH and still have insufficient thyroid hormone to feel well.... Could you have him do something for us? Check his heart rate..... after sitting quietly for about 20 minutes... check the pulse... let us know what it is... I have a bit of reading for you, that will explain more about the hormones, the tests and the meds.... www.thyrophoenix.com/thyroid_101.htm You and your hubby shouldn't have to deal with this.. it's not him... I think you know that, and it's just been so long for you you're reaching your limit...but you care enough to reach out and find answers... and we're here to help the best we can.... Glad to have you with us.... both of you! Topper () On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 01:14:02 -0000 "hogan_nancycatherine" writes: Hi... I am new.... this is my first post. Three years ago my husband was diagnosed with low thyroid (9) and high cholesterol (300+). He's on Armour, and his tests confirm that he is where he should be (.5) and he's on a cholesterol medicine and it's down to 175. Problem? My husband has disappeared and been replaced by an aggravated, dramatic, emotional, self-pitying, sadsack, who is constantly anyalzing our life, my words. He absolutely argues every tiny little detail to the point of complete distraction and says that I am at fault, and that I have changed. He admits that this is not true when we have major blowups, and at the doctor's office he will also admit it..... in particular when I give examples of his behavior and he's done things he would have never done before. But.... I am about to lose my mind. I really can't handle it........ the first year I wrote it off to the illness and thought he would get it under control The second year I took prozac and wellbutrin, to overcome my own depression watching him turn into someone I didn't know. Now I don't know if I can make it. I am off the meds, and getting stronger as he gets even weaker. Everything is such a drama I can hardly recognize this as my husband. He is weak and sad and emotional and most recently his doctor put him on an anti-anxiety drug, but he insists that that "restricts him", abd he doesn't feel anything or care about anything and he would rather be angry and anxious then restricted and not care. HELP....... ANYONE PLEASE HELP ME, RELATE TO ME, ANYTHING ..... I am at my wits end. Has anyone gone thru this? What is this? Why? Help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 We definitely need to look closer at this.... Hypothyroidism isn't a diagnosis... it's like diagnosing someone with a runny nose... You need to know what is causing the runny nose... it is a cold, or the flu, allergies or did you just fill the pepper shaker? It's very important to know what is causing it and to deal with it from that direction and not just be handing him a Kleenex and saying that it's good enough.... Topper () On Mon, 28 Nov 2005 21:05:57 EST nanchogan@... writes: Why is he hypo? They didn't say, they just said his TSH was a 9 when he was diagnosed and now it's a .5 His diagnosis? Hypothyroidism He's is checked with all kind of hormone tests every 3-6 months, by an internist, and he is completely within all levels, but I will obtain and pass on to you. I think he is taking 60 mg of thyroid.......... less and he has NO memory... and can't perform his job. At 90 he has complete strangers and co-workers telling him to lay off the coffee and simmer down.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 We definitely need to look closer at this.... Hypothyroidism isn't a diagnosis... it's like diagnosing someone with a runny nose... You need to know what is causing the runny nose... it is a cold, or the flu, allergies or did you just fill the pepper shaker? It's very important to know what is causing it and to deal with it from that direction and not just be handing him a Kleenex and saying that it's good enough.... Topper () On Mon, 28 Nov 2005 21:05:57 EST nanchogan@... writes: Why is he hypo? They didn't say, they just said his TSH was a 9 when he was diagnosed and now it's a .5 His diagnosis? Hypothyroidism He's is checked with all kind of hormone tests every 3-6 months, by an internist, and he is completely within all levels, but I will obtain and pass on to you. I think he is taking 60 mg of thyroid.......... less and he has NO memory... and can't perform his job. At 90 he has complete strangers and co-workers telling him to lay off the coffee and simmer down.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 We definitely need to look closer at this.... Hypothyroidism isn't a diagnosis... it's like diagnosing someone with a runny nose... You need to know what is causing the runny nose... it is a cold, or the flu, allergies or did you just fill the pepper shaker? It's very important to know what is causing it and to deal with it from that direction and not just be handing him a Kleenex and saying that it's good enough.... Topper () On Mon, 28 Nov 2005 21:05:57 EST nanchogan@... writes: Why is he hypo? They didn't say, they just said his TSH was a 9 when he was diagnosed and now it's a .5 His diagnosis? Hypothyroidism He's is checked with all kind of hormone tests every 3-6 months, by an internist, and he is completely within all levels, but I will obtain and pass on to you. I think he is taking 60 mg of thyroid.......... less and he has NO memory... and can't perform his job. At 90 he has complete strangers and co-workers telling him to lay off the coffee and simmer down.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Hi , Welcome to the group. You have every right to feel the way you do - you're frustrated, trying to take care of yourself and to help your husband...and you feel alone in all of it because you don't recognize your husband right now. I agree with Topper - tell us more - tell us about his history over the past 3 years. How has this progressed? Does he have any other diagnoses? Was he tested for thyroid antibodies? I have the thyroid antibodies - therefore, I'm diagnosed with Hashimotos thyroiditis...I was very Hyperthyroid and I know I'm going Hypo...I have yet to fully understand where I'm at right now and what to do to get better. This group is helping me do this... Speaking from my own experience of having a thyroid disorder, I experience depression and anxiety....in the past few months, I've been rather " paranoid " at times...I, like your husband, sometimes find myself obsessing about things - analyzing every little piece of a conversation I've had with someone...doubting what people tell me, feeling insecure and out of control...it makes me feel angry and vulnerable, stupidly emotional....but I'm determined to get better. It's going to be a process. So, in my opinion, as someone who is experiencing a thyroid disorder, I don't think your husband is " choosing " to act much of the ways he has been. I sometimes don't recognize myself, to the point where I wonder who I really am...sometimes, I wonder if I'm crazy. I know that sounds dramatic, but it's true, and it's all related to the shifting hormones. At the same time, you need to take care of yourself, . Try to take comfort in the fact that you're not alone. We're all here to support each other. Maybe it's time to seek another opinion/advice...another doctor....please share more with us.... ((hugs)) --- hogan_nancycatherine wrote: > Hi... I am new.... this is my first post. Three > years ago my husband > was diagnosed with low thyroid (9) and high > cholesterol (300+). He's > on Armour, and his tests confirm that he is where he > should be (.5) > and he's on a cholesterol medicine and it's down to > 175. Problem? > My husband has disappeared and been replaced by an > aggravated, > dramatic, emotional, self-pitying, sadsack, who is > constantly > anyalzing our life, my words. He absolutely argues > every tiny little > detail to the point of complete distraction and says > that I am at > fault, and that I have changed. He admits that this > is not true when > we have major blowups, and at the doctor's office he > will also admit > it..... in particular when I give examples of his > behavior and he's > done things he would have never done before. > But.... I am about to > lose my mind. I really can't handle it........ the > first year I > wrote it off to the illness and thought he would get > it under > control The second year I took prozac and > wellbutrin, to overcome > my own depression watching him turn into someone I > didn't know. Now > I don't know if I can make it. I am off the meds, > and getting > stronger as he gets even weaker. Everything is such > a drama I can > hardly recognize this as my husband. He is weak and > sad and > emotional and most recently his doctor put him on an > anti-anxiety > drug, but he insists that that " restricts him " , abd > he doesn't feel > anything or care about anything and he would rather > be angry and > anxious then restricted and not care. HELP....... > ANYONE PLEASE HELP > ME, RELATE TO ME, ANYTHING ..... I am at my wits > end. Has anyone > gone thru this? What is this? Why? Help. > > > > > __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Hi , Welcome to the group. You have every right to feel the way you do - you're frustrated, trying to take care of yourself and to help your husband...and you feel alone in all of it because you don't recognize your husband right now. I agree with Topper - tell us more - tell us about his history over the past 3 years. How has this progressed? Does he have any other diagnoses? Was he tested for thyroid antibodies? I have the thyroid antibodies - therefore, I'm diagnosed with Hashimotos thyroiditis...I was very Hyperthyroid and I know I'm going Hypo...I have yet to fully understand where I'm at right now and what to do to get better. This group is helping me do this... Speaking from my own experience of having a thyroid disorder, I experience depression and anxiety....in the past few months, I've been rather " paranoid " at times...I, like your husband, sometimes find myself obsessing about things - analyzing every little piece of a conversation I've had with someone...doubting what people tell me, feeling insecure and out of control...it makes me feel angry and vulnerable, stupidly emotional....but I'm determined to get better. It's going to be a process. So, in my opinion, as someone who is experiencing a thyroid disorder, I don't think your husband is " choosing " to act much of the ways he has been. I sometimes don't recognize myself, to the point where I wonder who I really am...sometimes, I wonder if I'm crazy. I know that sounds dramatic, but it's true, and it's all related to the shifting hormones. At the same time, you need to take care of yourself, . Try to take comfort in the fact that you're not alone. We're all here to support each other. Maybe it's time to seek another opinion/advice...another doctor....please share more with us.... ((hugs)) --- hogan_nancycatherine wrote: > Hi... I am new.... this is my first post. Three > years ago my husband > was diagnosed with low thyroid (9) and high > cholesterol (300+). He's > on Armour, and his tests confirm that he is where he > should be (.5) > and he's on a cholesterol medicine and it's down to > 175. Problem? > My husband has disappeared and been replaced by an > aggravated, > dramatic, emotional, self-pitying, sadsack, who is > constantly > anyalzing our life, my words. He absolutely argues > every tiny little > detail to the point of complete distraction and says > that I am at > fault, and that I have changed. He admits that this > is not true when > we have major blowups, and at the doctor's office he > will also admit > it..... in particular when I give examples of his > behavior and he's > done things he would have never done before. > But.... I am about to > lose my mind. I really can't handle it........ the > first year I > wrote it off to the illness and thought he would get > it under > control The second year I took prozac and > wellbutrin, to overcome > my own depression watching him turn into someone I > didn't know. Now > I don't know if I can make it. I am off the meds, > and getting > stronger as he gets even weaker. Everything is such > a drama I can > hardly recognize this as my husband. He is weak and > sad and > emotional and most recently his doctor put him on an > anti-anxiety > drug, but he insists that that " restricts him " , abd > he doesn't feel > anything or care about anything and he would rather > be angry and > anxious then restricted and not care. HELP....... > ANYONE PLEASE HELP > ME, RELATE TO ME, ANYTHING ..... I am at my wits > end. Has anyone > gone thru this? What is this? Why? Help. > > > > > __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2005 Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 Dear and Group, It is so much easier to hear someone you don't know talk about feeling crazy or paranoid. As for 's history......... We've been married for 9 years. When I met him he was really together and full of energy, balanced and stable ................every once in a while he'd have a spell.... two different things......... one was breaking into a sweat, flushing, feeling dizzy, feeling choked up, having a hot flash and then it was gone, but he was knocked out. The second thing that was happening was the sudden onset of serious depression, that would take him from happy and social to literally crying on the couch and not knowing why. These things happened very infrequently, and I thought it was blood sugar. I read the books and we cut back on the use of sugar. The spells were so infrequent they didn't seem to tie together with anything. Next ..... as a few years passed, I began to see him as becoming lazy........... and this was a problem for me. I thought he should jump up and take care of something and he just didn't see the point, almost like....... What's the use? (to me, a depressive attitude).............. Also, when he got sick, with a cold, with a stomach ache, with anything, he became a complete and total needy baby, sad and depressed like it was the end of the world, to be sick for several days. We hadn't had insurance for a while, so when we got it with his new job I made an appointment for a complete physical. The doctor tested everything and said that his thyroid was off. They did a retest and put him on synthetic thyroid, which he hated and which made him feel nervous. They changed the medicine and levels several times over the course of a year and a half, testing him regularly. Finally after doing his own research, he asked to be put on Armour, and was. He took 30, moved to 60, moved to 90, moved to 120 and then backed off to 90. At 90 his thyroid was at 1.5, good according to his doctor, but he'd like to make it even better. Then when on cholesterol medicine... he had insomnia and turned into a monster. He was insulting, rude, short tempered, angry, condescending and I thought I'd lose my mind. He finally spoke to a family friend who said she couldn't take the med he was on, because she couldn't sleep and became a complete bitch, so he believed me (before the conversation with the friend, he was trying to say that I had changed, I was the problem, he couldn't remember what I had said or done that set him off, but he was sure that the whole problem was mine). Then he went without the cholesterol med for a while, and was much better but still somewhat argumentative ...... after dumping on his friends a few times he began to think that maybe he did have a problem.......... and said that he can feel himself "ramping up"........ that a conversation about anything with anyone will excite him, and he will become elevated in his feelings and he can't control it and becomes upset, aggressive, angry, etc...... So he reduced his thyroid to 60........... and the doctor put him on Vytorin for cholesterol. His thyroid is .5 .... his cholesterol is 175.... all good. But he is an emotional wreck, angry and judgmental and sad and emotional and afraid and paranoid and in tears, and most of all, self-pitying. It's not just that he has these feelings.......... I just don't know if I can take it any more, and he knows that, and that just makes it way worse for him.......... the doctor added Bupar, an anti-anxiety drug .......... 3 times a day.......... just to get him down from the peak he's backed himself into. Apparently, people who quit smoking have a high degree of thyroid problems (he quit smoking 5 years ago after 30)................ I think he was hyper thyroid when he was young, because he says that he worked nights at GM, and always had a second job or business from age 20-30, and rarely slept more then 5 hours a night. He says he lived on mostly Snickers Bars, Cigarettes and Coffee for 15 years........ The main thing........... everything is exaggerated and dramatic.......... drama, drama, drama .... and I can't deal with it anymore. His internist suggested a referral to an endocrinologist, but doesn't want to change doctors because a Yahoo Group that he belonged to has convinced him that the doctors who will allow you to take Armour are few and far between, and that without Armour he will never be in harmony with his body. So there we sit.............. his doctor is very willing to try anything would like him to investigate.... he has admitted that he is learning more about this each day and as it goes, so ANYONE WANT TO SHARE WITH ME? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2005 Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 Dear and Group, It is so much easier to hear someone you don't know talk about feeling crazy or paranoid. As for 's history......... We've been married for 9 years. When I met him he was really together and full of energy, balanced and stable ................every once in a while he'd have a spell.... two different things......... one was breaking into a sweat, flushing, feeling dizzy, feeling choked up, having a hot flash and then it was gone, but he was knocked out. The second thing that was happening was the sudden onset of serious depression, that would take him from happy and social to literally crying on the couch and not knowing why. These things happened very infrequently, and I thought it was blood sugar. I read the books and we cut back on the use of sugar. The spells were so infrequent they didn't seem to tie together with anything. Next ..... as a few years passed, I began to see him as becoming lazy........... and this was a problem for me. I thought he should jump up and take care of something and he just didn't see the point, almost like....... What's the use? (to me, a depressive attitude).............. Also, when he got sick, with a cold, with a stomach ache, with anything, he became a complete and total needy baby, sad and depressed like it was the end of the world, to be sick for several days. We hadn't had insurance for a while, so when we got it with his new job I made an appointment for a complete physical. The doctor tested everything and said that his thyroid was off. They did a retest and put him on synthetic thyroid, which he hated and which made him feel nervous. They changed the medicine and levels several times over the course of a year and a half, testing him regularly. Finally after doing his own research, he asked to be put on Armour, and was. He took 30, moved to 60, moved to 90, moved to 120 and then backed off to 90. At 90 his thyroid was at 1.5, good according to his doctor, but he'd like to make it even better. Then when on cholesterol medicine... he had insomnia and turned into a monster. He was insulting, rude, short tempered, angry, condescending and I thought I'd lose my mind. He finally spoke to a family friend who said she couldn't take the med he was on, because she couldn't sleep and became a complete bitch, so he believed me (before the conversation with the friend, he was trying to say that I had changed, I was the problem, he couldn't remember what I had said or done that set him off, but he was sure that the whole problem was mine). Then he went without the cholesterol med for a while, and was much better but still somewhat argumentative ...... after dumping on his friends a few times he began to think that maybe he did have a problem.......... and said that he can feel himself "ramping up"........ that a conversation about anything with anyone will excite him, and he will become elevated in his feelings and he can't control it and becomes upset, aggressive, angry, etc...... So he reduced his thyroid to 60........... and the doctor put him on Vytorin for cholesterol. His thyroid is .5 .... his cholesterol is 175.... all good. But he is an emotional wreck, angry and judgmental and sad and emotional and afraid and paranoid and in tears, and most of all, self-pitying. It's not just that he has these feelings.......... I just don't know if I can take it any more, and he knows that, and that just makes it way worse for him.......... the doctor added Bupar, an anti-anxiety drug .......... 3 times a day.......... just to get him down from the peak he's backed himself into. Apparently, people who quit smoking have a high degree of thyroid problems (he quit smoking 5 years ago after 30)................ I think he was hyper thyroid when he was young, because he says that he worked nights at GM, and always had a second job or business from age 20-30, and rarely slept more then 5 hours a night. He says he lived on mostly Snickers Bars, Cigarettes and Coffee for 15 years........ The main thing........... everything is exaggerated and dramatic.......... drama, drama, drama .... and I can't deal with it anymore. His internist suggested a referral to an endocrinologist, but doesn't want to change doctors because a Yahoo Group that he belonged to has convinced him that the doctors who will allow you to take Armour are few and far between, and that without Armour he will never be in harmony with his body. So there we sit.............. his doctor is very willing to try anything would like him to investigate.... he has admitted that he is learning more about this each day and as it goes, so ANYONE WANT TO SHARE WITH ME? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2005 Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 Topper............. Doesn't Armour (by Forrester) only come in 30mg increases? has taken 30, 60, 90, 120 at various times. said they measure several different things and on his most recent testing the doctor found him within range on all tests. He was 1.5 and the doctor would have preferred under 1.0, but thinks that he will become more agitated and angry if he takes more, (jumping to 90). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2005 Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 .. if his current doc is willing to work with him... and he's willing to work at finding out what is going on... it's time to find out if they are actually doing the correct tests.... I'm still assuming that the number that you are referring to is TSH... that's a common test given for thyroid screening.. but once on meds just doesn't tell enough about how the body is doing as far as thyroid hormones... TSH is a pituitary hormone. The levels of Armour his was on were at 1/2 grain increments... that's actually a pretty large jump, 1/2 grain, 30 mg, if his optimal dose is some where in between those 1/2 grain increments..... and, it's also important to know if his body is properly converting hormone... It's very important to find out why his thyroid is off.... what his body is doing with the Armour that he is taking..... Topper () On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 11:41:38 EST nanchogan@... writes: Dear and Group, It is so much easier to hear someone you don't know talk about feeling crazy or paranoid. As for 's history......... We've been married for 9 years. When I met him he was really together and full of energy, balanced and stable ................every once in a while he'd have a spell.... two different things......... one was breaking into a sweat, flushing, feeling dizzy, feeling choked up, having a hot flash and then it was gone, but he was knocked out. The second thing that was happening was the sudden onset of serious depression, that would take him from happy and social to literally crying on the couch and not knowing why. These things happened very infrequently, and I thought it was blood sugar. I read the books and we cut back on the use of sugar. The spells were so infrequent they didn't seem to tie together with anything. Next ..... as a few years passed, I began to see him as becoming lazy........... and this was a problem for me. I thought he should jump up and take care of something and he just didn't see the point, almost like....... What's the use? (to me, a depressive attitude).............. Also, when he got sick, with a cold, with a stomach ache, with anything, he became a complete and total needy baby, sad and depressed like it was the end of the world, to be sick for several days. We hadn't had insurance for a while, so when we got it with his new job I made an appointment for a complete physical. The doctor tested everything and said that his thyroid was off. They did a retest and put him on synthetic thyroid, which he hated and which made him feel nervous. They changed the medicine and levels several times over the course of a year and a half, testing him regularly. Finally after doing his own research, he asked to be put on Armour, and was. He took 30, moved to 60, moved to 90, moved to 120 and then backed off to 90. At 90 his thyroid was at 1.5, good according to his doctor, but he'd like to make it even better. Then when on cholesterol medicine... he had insomnia and turned into a monster. He was insulting, rude, short tempered, angry, condescending and I thought I'd lose my mind. He finally spoke to a family friend who said she couldn't take the med he was on, because she couldn't sleep and became a complete bitch, so he believed me (before the conversation with the friend, he was trying to say that I had changed, I was the problem, he couldn't remember what I had said or done that set him off, but he was sure that the whole problem was mine). Then he went without the cholesterol med for a while, and was much better but still somewhat argumentative ...... after dumping on his friends a few times he began to think that maybe he did have a problem.......... and said that he can feel himself "ramping up"........ that a conversation about anything with anyone will excite him, and he will become elevated in his feelings and he can't control it and becomes upset, aggressive, angry, etc...... So he reduced his thyroid to 60........... and the doctor put him on Vytorin for cholesterol. His thyroid is .5 .... his cholesterol is 175.... all good. But he is an emotional wreck, angry and judgmental and sad and emotional and afraid and paranoid and in tears, and most of all, self-pitying. It's not just that he has these feelings.......... I just don't know if I can take it any more, and he knows that, and that just makes it way worse for him.......... the doctor added Bupar, an anti-anxiety drug .......... 3 times a day.......... just to get him down from the peak he's backed himself into. Apparently, people who quit smoking have a high degree of thyroid problems (he quit smoking 5 years ago after 30)................ I think he was hyper thyroid when he was young, because he says that he worked nights at GM, and always had a second job or business from age 20-30, and rarely slept more then 5 hours a night. He says he lived on mostly Snickers Bars, Cigarettes and Coffee for 15 years........ The main thing........... everything is exaggerated and dramatic.......... drama, drama, drama .... and I can't deal with it anymore. His internist suggested a referral to an endocrinologist, but doesn't want to change doctors because a Yahoo Group that he belonged to has convinced him that the doctors who will allow you to take Armour are few and far between, and that without Armour he will never be in harmony with his body. So there we sit.............. his doctor is very willing to try anything would like him to investigate.... he has admitted that he is learning more about this each day and as it goes, so ANYONE WANT TO SHARE WITH ME? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2005 Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 .. if his current doc is willing to work with him... and he's willing to work at finding out what is going on... it's time to find out if they are actually doing the correct tests.... I'm still assuming that the number that you are referring to is TSH... that's a common test given for thyroid screening.. but once on meds just doesn't tell enough about how the body is doing as far as thyroid hormones... TSH is a pituitary hormone. The levels of Armour his was on were at 1/2 grain increments... that's actually a pretty large jump, 1/2 grain, 30 mg, if his optimal dose is some where in between those 1/2 grain increments..... and, it's also important to know if his body is properly converting hormone... It's very important to find out why his thyroid is off.... what his body is doing with the Armour that he is taking..... Topper () On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 11:41:38 EST nanchogan@... writes: Dear and Group, It is so much easier to hear someone you don't know talk about feeling crazy or paranoid. As for 's history......... We've been married for 9 years. When I met him he was really together and full of energy, balanced and stable ................every once in a while he'd have a spell.... two different things......... one was breaking into a sweat, flushing, feeling dizzy, feeling choked up, having a hot flash and then it was gone, but he was knocked out. The second thing that was happening was the sudden onset of serious depression, that would take him from happy and social to literally crying on the couch and not knowing why. These things happened very infrequently, and I thought it was blood sugar. I read the books and we cut back on the use of sugar. The spells were so infrequent they didn't seem to tie together with anything. Next ..... as a few years passed, I began to see him as becoming lazy........... and this was a problem for me. I thought he should jump up and take care of something and he just didn't see the point, almost like....... What's the use? (to me, a depressive attitude).............. Also, when he got sick, with a cold, with a stomach ache, with anything, he became a complete and total needy baby, sad and depressed like it was the end of the world, to be sick for several days. We hadn't had insurance for a while, so when we got it with his new job I made an appointment for a complete physical. The doctor tested everything and said that his thyroid was off. They did a retest and put him on synthetic thyroid, which he hated and which made him feel nervous. They changed the medicine and levels several times over the course of a year and a half, testing him regularly. Finally after doing his own research, he asked to be put on Armour, and was. He took 30, moved to 60, moved to 90, moved to 120 and then backed off to 90. At 90 his thyroid was at 1.5, good according to his doctor, but he'd like to make it even better. Then when on cholesterol medicine... he had insomnia and turned into a monster. He was insulting, rude, short tempered, angry, condescending and I thought I'd lose my mind. He finally spoke to a family friend who said she couldn't take the med he was on, because she couldn't sleep and became a complete bitch, so he believed me (before the conversation with the friend, he was trying to say that I had changed, I was the problem, he couldn't remember what I had said or done that set him off, but he was sure that the whole problem was mine). Then he went without the cholesterol med for a while, and was much better but still somewhat argumentative ...... after dumping on his friends a few times he began to think that maybe he did have a problem.......... and said that he can feel himself "ramping up"........ that a conversation about anything with anyone will excite him, and he will become elevated in his feelings and he can't control it and becomes upset, aggressive, angry, etc...... So he reduced his thyroid to 60........... and the doctor put him on Vytorin for cholesterol. His thyroid is .5 .... his cholesterol is 175.... all good. But he is an emotional wreck, angry and judgmental and sad and emotional and afraid and paranoid and in tears, and most of all, self-pitying. It's not just that he has these feelings.......... I just don't know if I can take it any more, and he knows that, and that just makes it way worse for him.......... the doctor added Bupar, an anti-anxiety drug .......... 3 times a day.......... just to get him down from the peak he's backed himself into. Apparently, people who quit smoking have a high degree of thyroid problems (he quit smoking 5 years ago after 30)................ I think he was hyper thyroid when he was young, because he says that he worked nights at GM, and always had a second job or business from age 20-30, and rarely slept more then 5 hours a night. He says he lived on mostly Snickers Bars, Cigarettes and Coffee for 15 years........ The main thing........... everything is exaggerated and dramatic.......... drama, drama, drama .... and I can't deal with it anymore. His internist suggested a referral to an endocrinologist, but doesn't want to change doctors because a Yahoo Group that he belonged to has convinced him that the doctors who will allow you to take Armour are few and far between, and that without Armour he will never be in harmony with his body. So there we sit.............. his doctor is very willing to try anything would like him to investigate.... he has admitted that he is learning more about this each day and as it goes, so ANYONE WANT TO SHARE WITH ME? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2005 Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 11:41:38 EST nanchogan@... writes: Dear and Group, It is so much easier to hear someone you don't know talk about feeling crazy or paranoid. As for 's history......... We've been married for 9 years. When I met him he was really together and full of energy, balanced and stable ................every once in a while he'd have a spell.... two different things......... one was breaking into a sweat, flushing, feeling dizzy, feeling choked up, having a hot flash and then it was gone, but he was knocked out. The second thing that was happening was the sudden onset of serious depression, that would take him from happy and social to literally crying on the couch and not knowing why. These things happened very infrequently, and I thought it was blood sugar. I read the books and we cut back on the use of sugar. The spells were so infrequent they didn't seem to tie together with anything. Next ..... as a few years passed, I began to see him as becoming lazy........... and this was a problem for me. I thought he should jump up and take care of something and he just didn't see the point, almost like....... What's the use? (to me, a depressive attitude).............. Also, when he got sick, with a cold, with a stomach ache, with anything, he became a complete and total needy baby, sad and depressed like it was the end of the world, to be sick for several days. We hadn't had insurance for a while, so when we got it with his new job I made an appointment for a complete physical. The doctor tested everything and said that his thyroid was off. They did a retest and put him on synthetic thyroid, which he hated and which made him feel nervous. They changed the medicine and levels several times over the course of a year and a half, testing him regularly. Finally after doing his own research, he asked to be put on Armour, and was. He took 30, moved to 60, moved to 90, moved to 120 and then backed off to 90. At 90 his thyroid was at 1.5, good according to his doctor, but he'd like to make it even better. Then when on cholesterol medicine... he had insomnia and turned into a monster. He was insulting, rude, short tempered, angry, condescending and I thought I'd lose my mind. He finally spoke to a family friend who said she couldn't take the med he was on, because she couldn't sleep and became a complete bitch, so he believed me (before the conversation with the friend, he was trying to say that I had changed, I was the problem, he couldn't remember what I had said or done that set him off, but he was sure that the whole problem was mine). Then he went without the cholesterol med for a while, and was much better but still somewhat argumentative ...... after dumping on his friends a few times he began to think that maybe he did have a problem.......... and said that he can feel himself "ramping up"........ that a conversation about anything with anyone will excite him, and he will become elevated in his feelings and he can't control it and becomes upset, aggressive, angry, etc...... So he reduced his thyroid to 60........... and the doctor put him on Vytorin for cholesterol. His thyroid is .5 .... his cholesterol is 175.... all good. But he is an emotional wreck, angry and judgmental and sad and emotional and afraid and paranoid and in tears, and most of all, self-pitying. ~EG Connecticut Total-T 16 months ago / 37.5 mg Synthetic/120mg Armour since August 7th Yahoo! Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2005 Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 Nope... it comes as small as 1/4 grain.. here's the chart from Armour's website: Armour ® Thyroid 1 T3 (mcg) T4 (mcg) ¼ grain (15 mg) 2.25 9.50 1/2 grain (30 mg) 4.50 19.00 1 grain (60 mg) 9.00 38.00 1 ½ grains (90 mg) 13.50 57.00 2 grains (120 mg) 18.00 76.00 3 grains (180 mg) 27.00 114.00 4 grains (240 mg) 36.00 152.00 5 grains (300 mg) 45.00 190.00 The problem is that for a great many of us, having the levels simply 'in range' doesn't get them close enough.... It's where they fall in there ranges that can make a HUGE difference for some of us that are hyper sensitive to adjustments and levels. For example... A person can have a Free T4 level that is at the top end of it's range.... and a Free T3 level that is in the bottom end of it's range... to someone that doesn't understand what that means... they will say the numbers are in range and you are just fine.... In reality. docs in the know... and those of us that have REALLY REALLY dug into this stuff have found an amazing fact... that 'most folks' seem to feel their very best with the Free T4 at about the middle of it's range... or a bit over... and the Free T3 at the top end of it's range... or a bit over.... Some of why this is has to do with how the hormones work inside the body. T4 is the Thyroid storage hormone... it is distributed throughout the body and stored in body tissues.. where it waits until the body determines that it needs to be converted to the active hormone T3, which is used for most of the body processes... that conversion is a chemical process involving modification of the T4 molecule... we can get into that more later.... If the body doesn't have sufficient levels of T4 stored in the tissues... conversion won't be sufficient for proper T3 levels in the body... If that is combined with poor conversion, then there is even less T3 available for body processes. There is also another aspect of conversion that may come into play here.... a very small percentage of folks don't convert their T4 properly and instead of making T3, usable by the body, they produce reverse T3, which does some pretty nasty things to some folks. I think now might be the time to introduce you to someone that I know that will be able to shed a bit more light on that aspect of thyroid hormone conversion.... His name is Fred, he belongs to another support group here on Yahoo and in his particular case he has trouble with excess reverse T3 production which caused him to go into rages.... He's worked very hard on figuring out just what he has to do by way of meds and nutrition to be able to keep his hormones at the correct levels, without excess levels of reverse T3 to cause him problems.... It's interesting that he is also a man... and right now the only one that I have 'met' that has this particular problem.. You can find him at: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/hypothyroid You can tell him that Topper sent you... I am a member there.... It is still really important, and I'm sure that Fred will ask you this too, that you get copies of his labs, to find out where the levels fall and what the docs have been testing.. they may be taking all kinds of tests, but are the taking the ones that will tell what is going on? may not be dealing with this odd conversion.. .it could be very likely that the labs are showing that his level are incorrect and the docs simply don't understand how to interpret them correctly... it could be that they are doing the wrong tests and haven't even seen the levels of the active thyroid hormones to be able to make a determination as to how his body is utilizing the Armour... it could even be that his body, like mine, is VERY sensitive to changes and that the 1/2 grain jumps are too much to be taken at one time.... or that the dosage increases have been made too quickly, not allowing his body to be able to adjust to the new dosages.... My particular quirk is that I have to multi-dose throughout the day... I break my dose up into six parts... taking them six times during the day.... Another thought to throw into the air, since we don't know the actual diagnosis, is that he may be dealing with thyroid antibodies that are cycling and causing things to be skewed and all flummoxed as his body goes through the cycles.... I'm referring to Hashi's (Hashimoto's Thyroiditis), the most common of the thyroid disorders. A lot of things to examine up close to see if we can pin point which one, or which combination, of these variables are causing your Husband to have such a difficult time.... Topper () On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 15:02:58 EST nanchogan@... writes: Topper............. Doesn't Armour (by Forrester) only come in 30mg increases? has taken 30, 60, 90, 120 at various times. said they measure several different things and on his most recent testing the doctor found him within range on all tests. He was 1.5 and the doctor would have preferred under 1.0, but thinks that he will become more agitated and angry if he takes more, (jumping to 90). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2005 Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 Nope... it comes as small as 1/4 grain.. here's the chart from Armour's website: Armour ® Thyroid 1 T3 (mcg) T4 (mcg) ¼ grain (15 mg) 2.25 9.50 1/2 grain (30 mg) 4.50 19.00 1 grain (60 mg) 9.00 38.00 1 ½ grains (90 mg) 13.50 57.00 2 grains (120 mg) 18.00 76.00 3 grains (180 mg) 27.00 114.00 4 grains (240 mg) 36.00 152.00 5 grains (300 mg) 45.00 190.00 The problem is that for a great many of us, having the levels simply 'in range' doesn't get them close enough.... It's where they fall in there ranges that can make a HUGE difference for some of us that are hyper sensitive to adjustments and levels. For example... A person can have a Free T4 level that is at the top end of it's range.... and a Free T3 level that is in the bottom end of it's range... to someone that doesn't understand what that means... they will say the numbers are in range and you are just fine.... In reality. docs in the know... and those of us that have REALLY REALLY dug into this stuff have found an amazing fact... that 'most folks' seem to feel their very best with the Free T4 at about the middle of it's range... or a bit over... and the Free T3 at the top end of it's range... or a bit over.... Some of why this is has to do with how the hormones work inside the body. T4 is the Thyroid storage hormone... it is distributed throughout the body and stored in body tissues.. where it waits until the body determines that it needs to be converted to the active hormone T3, which is used for most of the body processes... that conversion is a chemical process involving modification of the T4 molecule... we can get into that more later.... If the body doesn't have sufficient levels of T4 stored in the tissues... conversion won't be sufficient for proper T3 levels in the body... If that is combined with poor conversion, then there is even less T3 available for body processes. There is also another aspect of conversion that may come into play here.... a very small percentage of folks don't convert their T4 properly and instead of making T3, usable by the body, they produce reverse T3, which does some pretty nasty things to some folks. I think now might be the time to introduce you to someone that I know that will be able to shed a bit more light on that aspect of thyroid hormone conversion.... His name is Fred, he belongs to another support group here on Yahoo and in his particular case he has trouble with excess reverse T3 production which caused him to go into rages.... He's worked very hard on figuring out just what he has to do by way of meds and nutrition to be able to keep his hormones at the correct levels, without excess levels of reverse T3 to cause him problems.... It's interesting that he is also a man... and right now the only one that I have 'met' that has this particular problem.. You can find him at: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/hypothyroid You can tell him that Topper sent you... I am a member there.... It is still really important, and I'm sure that Fred will ask you this too, that you get copies of his labs, to find out where the levels fall and what the docs have been testing.. they may be taking all kinds of tests, but are the taking the ones that will tell what is going on? may not be dealing with this odd conversion.. .it could be very likely that the labs are showing that his level are incorrect and the docs simply don't understand how to interpret them correctly... it could be that they are doing the wrong tests and haven't even seen the levels of the active thyroid hormones to be able to make a determination as to how his body is utilizing the Armour... it could even be that his body, like mine, is VERY sensitive to changes and that the 1/2 grain jumps are too much to be taken at one time.... or that the dosage increases have been made too quickly, not allowing his body to be able to adjust to the new dosages.... My particular quirk is that I have to multi-dose throughout the day... I break my dose up into six parts... taking them six times during the day.... Another thought to throw into the air, since we don't know the actual diagnosis, is that he may be dealing with thyroid antibodies that are cycling and causing things to be skewed and all flummoxed as his body goes through the cycles.... I'm referring to Hashi's (Hashimoto's Thyroiditis), the most common of the thyroid disorders. A lot of things to examine up close to see if we can pin point which one, or which combination, of these variables are causing your Husband to have such a difficult time.... Topper () On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 15:02:58 EST nanchogan@... writes: Topper............. Doesn't Armour (by Forrester) only come in 30mg increases? has taken 30, 60, 90, 120 at various times. said they measure several different things and on his most recent testing the doctor found him within range on all tests. He was 1.5 and the doctor would have preferred under 1.0, but thinks that he will become more agitated and angry if he takes more, (jumping to 90). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2005 Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 Nope... it comes as small as 1/4 grain.. here's the chart from Armour's website: Armour ® Thyroid 1 T3 (mcg) T4 (mcg) ¼ grain (15 mg) 2.25 9.50 1/2 grain (30 mg) 4.50 19.00 1 grain (60 mg) 9.00 38.00 1 ½ grains (90 mg) 13.50 57.00 2 grains (120 mg) 18.00 76.00 3 grains (180 mg) 27.00 114.00 4 grains (240 mg) 36.00 152.00 5 grains (300 mg) 45.00 190.00 The problem is that for a great many of us, having the levels simply 'in range' doesn't get them close enough.... It's where they fall in there ranges that can make a HUGE difference for some of us that are hyper sensitive to adjustments and levels. For example... A person can have a Free T4 level that is at the top end of it's range.... and a Free T3 level that is in the bottom end of it's range... to someone that doesn't understand what that means... they will say the numbers are in range and you are just fine.... In reality. docs in the know... and those of us that have REALLY REALLY dug into this stuff have found an amazing fact... that 'most folks' seem to feel their very best with the Free T4 at about the middle of it's range... or a bit over... and the Free T3 at the top end of it's range... or a bit over.... Some of why this is has to do with how the hormones work inside the body. T4 is the Thyroid storage hormone... it is distributed throughout the body and stored in body tissues.. where it waits until the body determines that it needs to be converted to the active hormone T3, which is used for most of the body processes... that conversion is a chemical process involving modification of the T4 molecule... we can get into that more later.... If the body doesn't have sufficient levels of T4 stored in the tissues... conversion won't be sufficient for proper T3 levels in the body... If that is combined with poor conversion, then there is even less T3 available for body processes. There is also another aspect of conversion that may come into play here.... a very small percentage of folks don't convert their T4 properly and instead of making T3, usable by the body, they produce reverse T3, which does some pretty nasty things to some folks. I think now might be the time to introduce you to someone that I know that will be able to shed a bit more light on that aspect of thyroid hormone conversion.... His name is Fred, he belongs to another support group here on Yahoo and in his particular case he has trouble with excess reverse T3 production which caused him to go into rages.... He's worked very hard on figuring out just what he has to do by way of meds and nutrition to be able to keep his hormones at the correct levels, without excess levels of reverse T3 to cause him problems.... It's interesting that he is also a man... and right now the only one that I have 'met' that has this particular problem.. You can find him at: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/hypothyroid You can tell him that Topper sent you... I am a member there.... It is still really important, and I'm sure that Fred will ask you this too, that you get copies of his labs, to find out where the levels fall and what the docs have been testing.. they may be taking all kinds of tests, but are the taking the ones that will tell what is going on? may not be dealing with this odd conversion.. .it could be very likely that the labs are showing that his level are incorrect and the docs simply don't understand how to interpret them correctly... it could be that they are doing the wrong tests and haven't even seen the levels of the active thyroid hormones to be able to make a determination as to how his body is utilizing the Armour... it could even be that his body, like mine, is VERY sensitive to changes and that the 1/2 grain jumps are too much to be taken at one time.... or that the dosage increases have been made too quickly, not allowing his body to be able to adjust to the new dosages.... My particular quirk is that I have to multi-dose throughout the day... I break my dose up into six parts... taking them six times during the day.... Another thought to throw into the air, since we don't know the actual diagnosis, is that he may be dealing with thyroid antibodies that are cycling and causing things to be skewed and all flummoxed as his body goes through the cycles.... I'm referring to Hashi's (Hashimoto's Thyroiditis), the most common of the thyroid disorders. A lot of things to examine up close to see if we can pin point which one, or which combination, of these variables are causing your Husband to have such a difficult time.... Topper () On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 15:02:58 EST nanchogan@... writes: Topper............. Doesn't Armour (by Forrester) only come in 30mg increases? has taken 30, 60, 90, 120 at various times. said they measure several different things and on his most recent testing the doctor found him within range on all tests. He was 1.5 and the doctor would have preferred under 1.0, but thinks that he will become more agitated and angry if he takes more, (jumping to 90). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2005 Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 Hi , Thank you for sharing...as I was reading that your husband was having some trouble with what sounds like " panic attacks " and sudden depression when you first met, I am wondering if there is more than thyroid dysfunction involved... I've had trouble with depression all my life, so I have personal experience in dealing with mood-related problems before my thyroid disorder developed. Mood disorders run in my family, and some of what you're sharing about sounds like my Mom and my Uncle - they have Biploar disorder. With this disorder, the person fluctuates from " highs " with lots of energy (even to the point where it causes anxiety and distress) to lows in which the person " crashes " and is depressed. A person with Bipolar disorder often starts many projects but rarely finishes them due to the constant cycling of moods, they can go from staying up for days at a time (or sleeping very little) to spending most of their time in bed - does this sound like at all? The thing with this disorder too, is that if you treat it with an anti-anxiety med (like Buspar), the person will be mainly depressed. On the other hand, if you treat it with an antidepressant, the person is mainly anxious and irritable. There are meds specifically for Biploar disorder that " balance " the person.... So I'm wondering, even though his thyroid disorder is involved and part of the problem, if there is disorder that's gone unrecognized by the docs and therefore not treated properly?? Let me know your thoughts.... --- nanchogan@... wrote: > Dear and Group, > It is so much easier to hear someone you don't know > talk about feeling crazy > or paranoid. As for 's history......... We've > been married for 9 > years. When I met him he was really together and > full of energy, balanced and > stable ................every once in a while he'd > have a spell.... two > different things......... one was breaking into a > sweat, flushing, feeling dizzy, > feeling choked up, having a hot flash and then it > was gone, but he was knocked > out. The second thing that was happening was the > sudden onset of serious > depression, that would take him from happy and > social to literally crying on > the couch and not knowing why. These things > happened very infrequently, and I > thought it was blood sugar. I read the books and > we cut back on the use of > sugar. The spells were so infrequent they didn't > seem to tie together with > anything. Next ..... as a few years passed, I > began to see him as becoming > lazy........... and this was a problem for me. I > thought he should jump up > and take care of something and he just didn't see > the point, almost > like....... What's the use? (to me, a depressive > attitude).............. Also, when > he got sick, with a cold, with a stomach ache, with > anything, he became a > complete and total needy baby, sad and depressed > like it was the end of the > world, to be sick for several days. We hadn't > had insurance for a while, so > when we got it with his new job I made an > appointment for a complete physical. > The doctor tested everything and said that his > thyroid was off. They did > a retest and put him on synthetic thyroid, which he > hated and which made him > feel nervous. They changed the medicine and levels > several times over the > course of a year and a half, testing him regularly. > Finally after doing his > own research, he asked to be put on Armour, and > was. He took 30, moved to > 60, moved to 90, moved to 120 and then backed off > to 90. At 90 his thyroid > was at 1.5, good according to his doctor, but he'd > like to make it even > better. Then when on cholesterol > medicine... he had insomnia and turned > into a monster. He was insulting, rude, short > tempered, angry, condescending > and I thought I'd lose my mind. He finally spoke > to a family friend who said > she couldn't take the med he was on, because she > couldn't sleep and became a > complete bitch, so he believed me (before the > conversation with the friend, > he was trying to say that I had changed, I was the > problem, he couldn't > remember what I had said or done that set him off, > but he was sure that the whole > problem was mine). Then he went without the > cholesterol med for a while, > and was much better but still somewhat > argumentative ...... after dumping on > his friends a few times he began to think that > maybe he did have a > problem.......... and said that he can feel himself > " ramping up " ........ that a > conversation about anything with anyone will excite > him, and he will become elevated > in his feelings and he can't control it and becomes > upset, aggressive, > angry, etc...... So he reduced his thyroid to > 60........... and the doctor put > him on Vytorin for cholesterol. > > His thyroid is .5 .... his cholesterol is 175.... > all good. But he is an > emotional wreck, angry and judgmental and sad and > emotional and afraid and > paranoid and in tears, and most of all, > self-pitying. It's not just that he > has these feelings.......... I just don't know if I > can take it any more, and > he knows that, and that just makes it way worse for > him.......... the > doctor added Bupar, an anti-anxiety drug .......... > 3 times a day.......... just > to get him down from the peak he's backed himself > into. > > Apparently, people who quit smoking have a high > degree of thyroid problems > (he quit smoking 5 years ago after > 30)................ I think he was hyper > thyroid when he was young, because he says that he > worked nights at GM, and > always had a second job or business from age 20-30, > and rarely slept more then > 5 hours a night. He says he lived on mostly > Snickers Bars, Cigarettes and > Coffee for 15 years........ > > The main thing........... everything is exaggerated > and dramatic.......... > drama, drama, drama .... and I can't deal with it > anymore. His internist > suggested a referral to an endocrinologist, but > doesn't want to change > doctors because a Yahoo Group that he belonged to > has convinced him that the > doctors who will allow you to take Armour are few > and far between, and that > without Armour he will never be in harmony with his > body. So there we > sit.............. his doctor is very willing to try > anything would like him to > investigate.... he has admitted that he is > learning more about this each day > and as it goes, so ANYONE WANT TO SHARE WITH ME? > > > > > > > __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2005 Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 --- nanchogan@... wrote: > Topper............. Doesn't Armour (by Forrester) > only come in 30mg > increases? has taken 30, 60, 90, 120 at > various times. > > said they measure several different things and > on his most recent > testing the doctor found him within range on all > tests. He was 1.5 and the > doctor would have preferred under 1.0, but > thinks that he will become more > agitated and angry if he takes more, (jumping to > 90). > We still need to know what tests the doctor ordered and what the results and lab ranges are. Just saying he's 1.5 isn't enough. We can only assume you are referring to his TSH level. We need to know the Free T3 and Free T4 as well as any antibodies testing that should have been done. Armour isn't the be all and end all of thyroid medication. It's just an under-utilized (or totally ignored) medication that works better for some, but because of all the Big Pharma hype about the synthetics, somc docs don't believe Armour is as effective or even made anymore. Some people do just fine on the synthetics though. Another consideration is if he is taking the name brand or a generic. He could be allergic to the fillers used because they vary from maker to maker. Kathy >^,,^< KitzCat146@... http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104 http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcat kitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messenger kitzcat on MSN Messenger In a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats. - English Proverb __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2005 Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 --- nanchogan@... wrote: > Topper............. Doesn't Armour (by Forrester) > only come in 30mg > increases? has taken 30, 60, 90, 120 at > various times. > > said they measure several different things and > on his most recent > testing the doctor found him within range on all > tests. He was 1.5 and the > doctor would have preferred under 1.0, but > thinks that he will become more > agitated and angry if he takes more, (jumping to > 90). > We still need to know what tests the doctor ordered and what the results and lab ranges are. Just saying he's 1.5 isn't enough. We can only assume you are referring to his TSH level. We need to know the Free T3 and Free T4 as well as any antibodies testing that should have been done. Armour isn't the be all and end all of thyroid medication. It's just an under-utilized (or totally ignored) medication that works better for some, but because of all the Big Pharma hype about the synthetics, somc docs don't believe Armour is as effective or even made anymore. Some people do just fine on the synthetics though. Another consideration is if he is taking the name brand or a generic. He could be allergic to the fillers used because they vary from maker to maker. Kathy >^,,^< KitzCat146@... http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104 http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcat kitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messenger kitzcat on MSN Messenger In a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats. - English Proverb __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2005 Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 --- nanchogan@... wrote: > Topper............. Doesn't Armour (by Forrester) > only come in 30mg > increases? has taken 30, 60, 90, 120 at > various times. > > said they measure several different things and > on his most recent > testing the doctor found him within range on all > tests. He was 1.5 and the > doctor would have preferred under 1.0, but > thinks that he will become more > agitated and angry if he takes more, (jumping to > 90). > We still need to know what tests the doctor ordered and what the results and lab ranges are. Just saying he's 1.5 isn't enough. We can only assume you are referring to his TSH level. We need to know the Free T3 and Free T4 as well as any antibodies testing that should have been done. Armour isn't the be all and end all of thyroid medication. It's just an under-utilized (or totally ignored) medication that works better for some, but because of all the Big Pharma hype about the synthetics, somc docs don't believe Armour is as effective or even made anymore. Some people do just fine on the synthetics though. Another consideration is if he is taking the name brand or a generic. He could be allergic to the fillers used because they vary from maker to maker. Kathy >^,,^< KitzCat146@... http://www.chaytongroup.com/modernbill/order/index.php?aid=ka081104 http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members/?kitzcat kitzcat2001 on Yahoo Messenger kitzcat on MSN Messenger In a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats. - English Proverb __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2005 Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 The levels of Armour his was on were at 1/2 grain increments... that's > actually a pretty large jump, 1/2 grain, 30 mg, if his optimal dose is > some where in between those 1/2 grain increments..... and, it's also > important to know if his body is properly converting hormone... > > It's very important to find out why his thyroid is off.... what his body > is doing with the Armour that he is taking..... > > Topper () Actually I am kind of wondering if he is taking all his Armour in one dose in the morning meaning his body is doing a huge swing hyper and then a huge swing hypo on the same day.. that can play havoc on anyone. Kats3boys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2005 Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 The levels of Armour his was on were at 1/2 grain increments... that's > actually a pretty large jump, 1/2 grain, 30 mg, if his optimal dose is > some where in between those 1/2 grain increments..... and, it's also > important to know if his body is properly converting hormone... > > It's very important to find out why his thyroid is off.... what his body > is doing with the Armour that he is taking..... > > Topper () Actually I am kind of wondering if he is taking all his Armour in one dose in the morning meaning his body is doing a huge swing hyper and then a huge swing hypo on the same day.. that can play havoc on anyone. Kats3boys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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