Re: Caroline-meds

November 3, 2004

In a message dated 11/3/2004 7:25:48 PM Eastern Standard Time,

starz@... writes:

>

> I can't believe this dr only gave you a script for 15 mgs of Armour a day?

> That is ridiculous! pfffftt!

>

I think that docs are cautious in someone that is older. But I'm not sure

what older is. My first doc wanted me (at 48) to start on 15 mg...but the

pharmacy didn't have it, so he allowed 1/2 grain to begin with. I think he may

have been worried about heart disease too from the untreated hypo.

cindi

November 3, 2004

Oh I definitely plan to increase in two weeks. 15 mg is way too low, I know

that. Should probably be still taking the Synthroid along with it until the

dosage is high enough. What do you think?

Do you also think the dr. did that on purpose with the low dose to get me back

onto taking Synthroid again when the low Armour dose doesn't work? Would they do

that?

Caroline-meds

I just fear on 15 MG your thyroid will just totally shut down what

production it has. That is a tickle your thyroid dosage, and I am sure was

just to placate you. You WILL feel worse in a couple weeks when that dose is

all that is in your system. Please increase it soon, like in about 2 weeks

or you will likely feel really worse!

November 3, 2004

>>Should probably be still taking the Synthroid along with it until the

dosage is high enough. What do you think? <<

NO you will be getting T4 in the Armour

>>Do you also think the dr. did that on purpose with the low dose to get me

back onto taking Synthroid again when the low Armour dose doesn't work?

Would they do that? <<

Yes I think that is exactly her purpose. It's enough to infuriate you isn't

it? Many of us have had doctors that tried this. Endos that want to play

ALMIGHTY in your life are the worst ones, then when you feel terrible in 6-8

weeks when they have you come back on your miserable little dosage, they can

say " See I told you Armour was not a good drug " ....

*Artistic Grooming * Hurricane, WV

Fat cat? Diabetes? Listowner for overweight or hypothyroid cats

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hypokitties/

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November 3, 2004

My 8 year old son (60 pounds) started on ¼ grain, for heavens sake. He is

now on 1 ¼ grain, and will probably move up still.

I can't believe this dr only gave you a script for 15 mgs of Armour a day?

That is ridiculous! pfffftt!

November 3, 2004

I can't believe this dr only gave you a script for 15 mgs of Armour a day? That

is ridiculous! pfffftt!

Caroline, I started on 1 grain a day, and I've not been diagnosed for years with

hypo. One grain worked for me, like a charm. I had no problems with it. I

felt better than I had in a while, but it was nothing like what was to come. I

am always leary of telling somebody to start at a full grain, but those who've

been on it longer may not agree.

I can tell you this though. A lady that I met who changed to Armour (used to be

a $inthroid taker) who'd stopped taking her thyroid meds started off with 1 and

jumped to 2 grains rather quickly. I was shocked when she told me she needed 3,

but I'm just a little on the cautious side with telling somebody else what to

do.

I think is so dead on with this 1/4 grain being a teaser for your

system. That is just not anything to write home about, and I think it will

cause problems.

SandyE~Houston

Caroline-meds

I just fear on 15 MG your thyroid will just totally shut down what

production it has. That is a tickle your thyroid dosage, and I am sure was

just to placate you. You WILL feel worse in a couple weeks when that dose is

all that is in your system. Please increase it soon, like in about 2 weeks

or you will likely feel really worse!

November 3, 2004

>>My 8 year old son (60 pounds) started on ¼ grain, for heavens sake. He is

now on 1 ¼ grain, and will probably move up still. <<

UH UM... my 20 pound CAT is on 2.5 grains of Armour! LOL

*Artistic Grooming * Hurricane, WV

Fat cat? Diabetes? Listowner for overweight or hypothyroid cats

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hypokitties/

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November 3, 2004

Starting at 15 mg and increasing 15 mg each two weeks is what Forest

Pharmaceuticals recommends for everyone who takes Armour. It's just

standard operating procedure for *new* users. Makes no sense, however,

for someone who has already gotten up to a higher dose of Synthroid.

Cindi wrote:

> I think that docs are cautious in someone that is older. But I'm not

> sure

> what older is. My first doc wanted me (at 48) to start on 15 mg...but

> the

> pharmacy didn't have it, so he allowed 1/2 grain to begin with. I

> think he may

> have been worried about heart disease too from the untreated hypo.

November 3, 2004

Yes it's infuriating. Makes it hard to trust doctors about anything at all. I

guess what I can do is to take the Armour she prescribed at 15 mg & add the

Time-Caps I ordered to up my own dosage with everyone's help here then. I

suppose I'll have to fire that new doctor too then. Sighhhhhh.........

Caroline

Re: Caroline-meds

>>Should probably be still taking the Synthroid along with it until the

dosage is high enough. What do you think? <<

NO you will be getting T4 in the Armour

>>Do you also think the dr. did that on purpose with the low dose to get me

back onto taking Synthroid again when the low Armour dose doesn't work?

Would they do that? <<

Yes I think that is exactly her purpose. It's enough to infuriate you isn't

it? Many of us have had doctors that tried this. Endos that want to play

ALMIGHTY in your life are the worst ones, then when you feel terrible in 6-8

weeks when they have you come back on your miserable little dosage, they can

say " See I told you Armour was not a good drug " ....

November 3, 2004

Well gosh...then should I be worried if I take OVER the 15 mg Armour I may be

inviting heart disease from being hypo so long on the 125 mcg Synthroid? I have

been having chest pains & heart flutterings anyway & have been worried about it.

I wouldn't want to make it worse on too much natural thyroid. She examined my

heart & even took an EKG because of it. But the EKG was normal. But maybe I

should stick with the 15 mg Armour per day then & go very slowly upping my own

dosage? This sure gets confusing.

Caroline

Re: Caroline-meds

In a message dated 11/3/2004 7:25:48 PM Eastern Standard Time,

starz@... writes:>

> I can't believe this dr only gave you a script for 15 mgs of Armour a day?

> That is ridiculous! pfffftt!>

I think that docs are cautious in someone that is older. But I'm not sure

what older is. My first doc wanted me (at 48) to start on 15 mg...but the

pharmacy didn't have it, so he allowed 1/2 grain to begin with. I think he

may

have been worried about heart disease too from the untreated hypo.

cindi

November 3, 2004

How much is you son taking? I couldn't read that fraction you typed. Maybe it's

because I'm 67yo & have been having chest pains & heart flutterings so my dr had

to do an EKG on me which was normal. But she might be afraid to make hyperT &

have worse heart problems which she doesn't want to be responsible for. Maybe

she plans to up my dosage slowly because of my age & heart activity. So it IS

confusing.

Caroline

RE: Caroline-meds

My 8 year old son (60 pounds) started on ¼ grain, for heavens sake. He is

now on 1 ¼ grain, and will probably move up still.

November 3, 2004

I looked at the Synthroid to Armour conversion chart in the files. It says that

for 125 mcg Synthroid I should be taking at least l l/2 grains Armour. So that's

what I think I ought to do.

Take l l/2 grains of the Time-Caps thyroid daily & see how that goes. Then later

when I get the 15 mg Armour the dr. prescribed, work that into the Time-Caps

dosage so as not to exceed the l l/2 grains per day. Does that sound like a good

plan? Or would you recommend I stay at 1 grain per day only?

Caroline

Re: Caroline-meds

I can't believe this dr only gave you a script for 15 mgs of Armour a day?

That is ridiculous! pfffftt!

Caroline, I started on 1 grain a day, and I've not been diagnosed for years

with hypo. One grain worked for me, like a charm. I had no problems with it.

I felt better than I had in a while, but it was nothing like what was to come.

I am always leary of telling somebody to start at a full grain, but those who've

been on it longer may not agree.

I can tell you this though. A lady that I met who changed to Armour (used to

be a $inthroid taker) who'd stopped taking her thyroid meds started off with 1

and jumped to 2 grains rather quickly. I was shocked when she told me she

needed 3, but I'm just a little on the cautious side with telling somebody else

what to do.

I think is so dead on with this 1/4 grain being a teaser for your

system. That is just not anything to write home about, and I think it will

cause problems.

SandyE~Houston

November 4, 2004

Not to worry. No way I'm taking only 15mg Armour a day. I'm starting on l/2

grain twice a day. Prolly will fire that doctor too.

Caroline

Re: Caroline-meds

Starting at 15 mg and increasing 15 mg each two weeks is what Forest

Pharmaceuticals recommends for everyone who takes Armour. It's just

standard operating procedure for *new* users. Makes no sense, however,

for someone who has already gotten up to a higher dose of Synthroid.

November 6, 2004

You just hit the nail on the head, this is something I didn't say in my last

post, but intended to. The doc is trying to prove that you're not going to

do any good on the Armour. Why else would he/she have you stopping the T4

and starting at only 15 mgs. The test reults from this would be inevitable.

IMHO.

Re: Caroline-meds

>

> Oh I definitely plan to increase in two weeks. 15 mg is way too low, I

know that. Should probably be still taking the Synthroid along with it until

the dosage is high enough. What do you think?

>

> Do you also think the dr. did that on purpose with the low dose to get me

back onto taking Synthroid again when the low Armour dose doesn't work?

Would they do that?

November 6, 2004

No quarter grain believe here, either, but I think that Caroline is in her

60s, so more than a little caution. Read my first post to her on this

answer.

Re: Caroline-meds

>

> I can't believe this dr only gave you a script for 15 mgs of Armour a day?

That is ridiculous! pfffftt!

>

> Caroline, I started on 1 grain a day, and I've not been diagnosed for

years with hypo. One grain worked for me, like a charm. I had no problems

with it. I felt better than I had in a while, but it was nothing like what

was to come. I am always leary of telling somebody to start at a full

grain, but those who've been on it longer may not agree.

>

> I can tell you this though. A lady that I met who changed to Armour (used

to be a $inthroid taker) who'd stopped taking her thyroid meds started off

with 1 and jumped to 2 grains rather quickly. I was shocked when she told

me she needed 3, but I'm just a little on the cautious side with telling

somebody else what to do.

>

> I think is so dead on with this 1/4 grain being a teaser for your

system. That is just not anything to write home about, and I think it will

cause problems.

>

> SandyE~Houston

November 6, 2004

Right. She only order tests for T4 & TSH. Guess what that means? She doesn't

give a fig if I need the T1, T2, T3 or calcitonin.

that seems to be the general opinion here. that the doc has ulterior motives for

prescribing only 15 mg Armour.

Hard to believe doctors will fool around with patients' health that way.

I could get seriously ill on that small amount of thyroid, even in a month at my

age (67) with all my other serious infirmities after being on Synthroid for over

5 years on contuing higher doses. Even the thought that a doctor would do that

to me makes me so furious at her I never want to see her again.

Caroline

Re: Caroline-meds

You just hit the nail on the head, this is something I didn't say in my last

post, but intended to. The doc is trying to prove that you're not going to

do any good on the Armour. Why else would he/she have you stopping the T4

and starting at only 15 mgs. The test reults from this would be inevitable.

IMHO.

November 6, 2004

15 mg a day isn't do a darn thing for me. But it's time to do as suggested,

continue taking l/2 pill of the Synthroid daily & l/2 grain of the generic

Armour. I still haven't got the doctor's Armour Rx so will take that at 15 mg a

day & adjust the generic I'm taking accordingly.

Personally, tho were it all up to me, I'd be on at least l grain Armour a day

then up it to l l/2 grains in about week or two if I wasn't feeling any

different. As I'm doing it tho, my doctor isn't going to be pleased, I'm sure,

that I'm starting on twice the dose she prescribed. So I may lose her if I go

against her wishes on that score. Which means I'll still either need a good

thyroid doctor or else self-medicate. I've already been told that I'm not to

argue with the doctor or go against her wishes or tell her what I need. She's to

be the doctor & decide all that. Either I go along with it, or she won't keep me

as her patient.

I'll have to just experiment with 2 l/2 doses per day or one whole dose in the

morning. Right now it's 2x/day. I never have a problem sleeping all night for at

least 6 hours except very rarely. So not worried about that since a 2nd dose

will be taken when I get up from afternoon nap before dinner.

c

Re: Caroline-meds

Carolline, most dr's who don't run a FT3 figure that you are converting T4

into T3 without problems. There are even dr's who don't believe in conversion

problems, and aren't going to investigate any further. Now, in defense of your

dr, to a degree, 15 mgs of Armour for somebody who was on your dose of Synthroid

in my opinion was lame, but she doesn't know how you'll react to it. She is

proceeding with caution, which is commendable. Reason being, 15 mgs even twice

a day isn't going to do anything for you. I think since you've never taken

Armour Thyroid, that starting off at 15 mgs was wise, to see how you react to

the straight T3.

I also have to say that in my case, I'd have upped it within 3 days of not

feeling any effects, but that is me, and what I do is different than some

people. It depends on which group you are on as opposed to who states how

they'd take it, in split doses, etc. I see people who take it once a day, then

that's it, and it works fine for them in that capacity. We're not all identical

so what works for one won't necessarily work for another. I tried to split my

dose where I had some later in the evening and found out that I can't do that.

It keeps me awake. There are people who can take it at night, before bed and

have no problems with it? Who knows why?

We just have to experiment with it, but in the beginning, I didn't split doses

at all. I merely took the 1 grain to see how I felt, and how it affected me.

It worked great, and now the only time I seem to be extremely tired is if I

didn't sleep the night before, which is normal.

SandyE~Houston

November 6, 2004

I'm 67yo, yes. But I also think 15 mg Armour is just too low. It certainly can't

replace the amount of T4 I was getting in 125 mcg Synthroid. I'm still taking

l/2 grain 2x/day here & not feeling better after 3 days on it. In some ways

worse in fact...way more fatigued.Tomorrow I'll follow 's advice & take the

smaller amount of generic Armour & l/2 pill of Synthroid for a while & see how

that goes.

Caroline

Re: Caroline-meds

No quarter grain believe here, either, but I think that Caroline is in her

60s, so more than a little caution. Read my first post to her on this

answer.

November 6, 2004

Carolline, most dr's who don't run a FT3 figure that you are converting T4 into

T3 without problems. There are even dr's who don't believe in conversion