Guest guest Posted August 21, 2004 Report Share Posted August 21, 2004 Hi all. I am new to this group, but not new to this disease. When I was first dx with myexdema 14 years ago my tsh was 132. I was put on .150 mcg of synthroid. It helped, as I could finally get off the couch, but I never felt healthy. My results came back within the " normal " ranges after 6 weeks , so I stayed on that dose for ther rest of the year, The next bloodwork I had showed my TSH still elevated just beyond normal and I convinced my Dr. to up my dosage to .175. I have been functioning on that dose since. In the mean time I had a hysterectomy, Gall bladder removal and colon cancer surgery. I just haven't felt good since my Colon Cancer,,,stg 1 cured:),,,, Tired , brain fog, weight gain , elevated Cholesteral (220,up from 200 in Nov.of last year) depressed from all the symptoms. I had my blood work done this week and my tsh was 4.2. My Dr. started to say that was borderline normal! I cut him off and asked for an increase in dosage, and a change of meds to Armourthyroid. He was agreeable and I started taking armour this morning,,,,,,3 grains. I hope it works, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Is there anyone out there that has switched to armour from synthroid? Is this to high of a dose to start with? I haven't had any weird side affects yet, but it is only the first day. I am wondering if I used Synthroid to long for Armour to be of any use. Thanks in advance for your advice. Akasha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 please post what your results and ranges are from the most recent tests. I am a big fat woman with multinodules and I still only need 2 grains Armour and 25 mg t4. It is how much production your thyroid is making mixed with body weight and conversion that decide what you should take. New to Armourthyroid and group Hi all. I am new to this group, but not new to this disease. When I was first dx with myexdema 14 years ago my tsh was 132. I was put on .150 mcg of synthroid. It helped, as I could finally get off the couch, but I never felt healthy. My results came back within the " normal " ranges after 6 weeks , so I stayed on that dose for ther rest of the year, The next bloodwork I had showed my TSH still elevated just beyond normal and I convinced my Dr. to up my dosage to .175. I have been functioning on that dose since. In the mean time I had a hysterectomy, Gall bladder removal and colon cancer surgery. I just haven't felt good since my Colon Cancer,,,stg 1 cured:),,,, Tired , brain fog, weight gain , elevated Cholesteral (220,up from 200 in Nov.of last year) depressed from all the symptoms. I had my blood work done this week and my tsh was 4.2. My Dr. started to say that was borderline normal! I cut him off and asked for an increase in dosage, and a change of meds to Armourthyroid. He was agreeable and I started taking armour this morning,,,,,,3 grains. I hope it works, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Is there anyone out there that has switched to armour from synthroid? Is this to high of a dose to start with? I haven't had any weird side affects yet, but it is only the first day. I am wondering if I used Synthroid to long for Armour to be of any use. Thanks in advance for your advice. Akasha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 please post what your results and ranges are from the most recent tests. I am a big fat woman with multinodules and I still only need 2 grains Armour and 25 mg t4. It is how much production your thyroid is making mixed with body weight and conversion that decide what you should take. New to Armourthyroid and group Hi all. I am new to this group, but not new to this disease. When I was first dx with myexdema 14 years ago my tsh was 132. I was put on .150 mcg of synthroid. It helped, as I could finally get off the couch, but I never felt healthy. My results came back within the " normal " ranges after 6 weeks , so I stayed on that dose for ther rest of the year, The next bloodwork I had showed my TSH still elevated just beyond normal and I convinced my Dr. to up my dosage to .175. I have been functioning on that dose since. In the mean time I had a hysterectomy, Gall bladder removal and colon cancer surgery. I just haven't felt good since my Colon Cancer,,,stg 1 cured:),,,, Tired , brain fog, weight gain , elevated Cholesteral (220,up from 200 in Nov.of last year) depressed from all the symptoms. I had my blood work done this week and my tsh was 4.2. My Dr. started to say that was borderline normal! I cut him off and asked for an increase in dosage, and a change of meds to Armourthyroid. He was agreeable and I started taking armour this morning,,,,,,3 grains. I hope it works, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Is there anyone out there that has switched to armour from synthroid? Is this to high of a dose to start with? I haven't had any weird side affects yet, but it is only the first day. I am wondering if I used Synthroid to long for Armour to be of any use. Thanks in advance for your advice. Akasha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 please post what your results and ranges are from the most recent tests. I am a big fat woman with multinodules and I still only need 2 grains Armour and 25 mg t4. It is how much production your thyroid is making mixed with body weight and conversion that decide what you should take. New to Armourthyroid and group Hi all. I am new to this group, but not new to this disease. When I was first dx with myexdema 14 years ago my tsh was 132. I was put on .150 mcg of synthroid. It helped, as I could finally get off the couch, but I never felt healthy. My results came back within the " normal " ranges after 6 weeks , so I stayed on that dose for ther rest of the year, The next bloodwork I had showed my TSH still elevated just beyond normal and I convinced my Dr. to up my dosage to .175. I have been functioning on that dose since. In the mean time I had a hysterectomy, Gall bladder removal and colon cancer surgery. I just haven't felt good since my Colon Cancer,,,stg 1 cured:),,,, Tired , brain fog, weight gain , elevated Cholesteral (220,up from 200 in Nov.of last year) depressed from all the symptoms. I had my blood work done this week and my tsh was 4.2. My Dr. started to say that was borderline normal! I cut him off and asked for an increase in dosage, and a change of meds to Armourthyroid. He was agreeable and I started taking armour this morning,,,,,,3 grains. I hope it works, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Is there anyone out there that has switched to armour from synthroid? Is this to high of a dose to start with? I haven't had any weird side affects yet, but it is only the first day. I am wondering if I used Synthroid to long for Armour to be of any use. Thanks in advance for your advice. Akasha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 In the mean time I had a hysterectomy, Gall bladder removal and colon cancer surgery. _____________ These are classic results of undertreated thryoid disease. The uterus becomes hypersensitive to estrogen in hypothyroidism and developes fibroids, hyperplasia, and endometriosis, Estrogen goes quite high in hypothyroidism. High estrogen results in gallbaldder problems. Cancer is a known result of low thyroid. Low thyoid causes damage to cells DNA and lowers the immune function needed to kill tumors. 3 gains is not too high at all. The average Armour thyroid dose for over 73 years before the TSH test was 3 to 5 grains. The healthy thyroid makes 4-1/2 to 5 grains a day and so it is not possible to overdose untill you go over that. Some people with auto-immune thryoid disease may need even more than 5 grains as auto-antibodies are removeing the hormone from the blood before it can get into tissues. It is essential that you get your hypothryoidism fully treated to prevent a recurrence of cancer. Thyroid problems have been found to be associated with all kinds of cancers in many studies done over many years all the way back to the 1920s. In all the years before the TSH test, thyroid dose was adjusted by symptoms. You go up slowly untill you feel good again. It was found when Synthroid was first introduced, patients needed 300 to 400 mcg to feel good. This usually totally supressed TSH and resulted in high blood levels of T4 and average to low levels of T3. Synthroid does not produce a normal hormone profile and it takes a lot to feel good. Armour gets blood hormone profiles close to normal. There are 7 thyroid hormones the thryod makes. Synthoid is only one of them. All 7 the thryoid hormones play important roles in health. Synthroid does not contain calcitonin, which Armour does. Calcitonin protects bone. They found that these higher doses of synthroid resulted in bone loss. No study has found this for Armour. Bones will thin but become stronger on Armour. Hypothyroid people have thick but porous and weak bones. So, don't let this overblown osteoporosis fear frighten you from getting the proper treatement. Hysterectomy itself increases risk of osteoporsis significantly and increases cardiovascular disease multifold. It is due to the loss of prostaglandins prduced by the uterus. Sufficient thyroid protects from cardiovascular disease and normalizes hormone profiles. So, if after a few months you have a bone scan and your bones have thinned a little, don't let the doctors scare you from Armour. Tish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 In the mean time I had a hysterectomy, Gall bladder removal and colon cancer surgery. _____________ These are classic results of undertreated thryoid disease. The uterus becomes hypersensitive to estrogen in hypothyroidism and developes fibroids, hyperplasia, and endometriosis, Estrogen goes quite high in hypothyroidism. High estrogen results in gallbaldder problems. Cancer is a known result of low thyroid. Low thyoid causes damage to cells DNA and lowers the immune function needed to kill tumors. 3 gains is not too high at all. The average Armour thyroid dose for over 73 years before the TSH test was 3 to 5 grains. The healthy thyroid makes 4-1/2 to 5 grains a day and so it is not possible to overdose untill you go over that. Some people with auto-immune thryoid disease may need even more than 5 grains as auto-antibodies are removeing the hormone from the blood before it can get into tissues. It is essential that you get your hypothryoidism fully treated to prevent a recurrence of cancer. Thyroid problems have been found to be associated with all kinds of cancers in many studies done over many years all the way back to the 1920s. In all the years before the TSH test, thyroid dose was adjusted by symptoms. You go up slowly untill you feel good again. It was found when Synthroid was first introduced, patients needed 300 to 400 mcg to feel good. This usually totally supressed TSH and resulted in high blood levels of T4 and average to low levels of T3. Synthroid does not produce a normal hormone profile and it takes a lot to feel good. Armour gets blood hormone profiles close to normal. There are 7 thyroid hormones the thryod makes. Synthoid is only one of them. All 7 the thryoid hormones play important roles in health. Synthroid does not contain calcitonin, which Armour does. Calcitonin protects bone. They found that these higher doses of synthroid resulted in bone loss. No study has found this for Armour. Bones will thin but become stronger on Armour. Hypothyroid people have thick but porous and weak bones. So, don't let this overblown osteoporosis fear frighten you from getting the proper treatement. Hysterectomy itself increases risk of osteoporsis significantly and increases cardiovascular disease multifold. It is due to the loss of prostaglandins prduced by the uterus. Sufficient thyroid protects from cardiovascular disease and normalizes hormone profiles. So, if after a few months you have a bone scan and your bones have thinned a little, don't let the doctors scare you from Armour. Tish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Hi there Akasha and welcome. You've gotten a great answer, and yes, MANY of us switched from Synthroid to Armour. I was on Synthroid (and later Levoxyl, for 17 lousy years. The switch for me was HUGELY dramatic. I am a new person today thanks to Armour. And Yes, I think switching to 3 grains was too much to start with. You have to allow your body time to adjust to the direct T3. If you have any problems (heart palps, fast heartrate, anything), just cut down to one grain, and go back up to that 3 grains more slowly. And also note that when you are treated with Armour, you have to ignore the TSH. Treat first according to symptoms and only use labs as additional info. Most of us have our free T3 at the top of the range, if not higher, on our optimal doses. Get ready for a wonderful new life. Armour works. Janie > Hi all. I am new to this group, but not new to this disease. Tired , brain fog, weight gain , elevated Cholesteral > (220,up from 200 in Nov.of last year) depressed from all the > symptoms. I had my blood work done this week and my tsh was 4.2. My > Dr. started to say that was borderline normal! I cut him off and > asked for an increase in dosage, and a change of meds to > Armourthyroid. He was agreeable and I started > taking armour this morning,,,,,,3 grains. I hope it works, I > am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Is there anyone out > there that has switched to armour from synthroid? Is this to high of > a dose to start with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 H I, Akasha, Glad to meet you! Sorry you've been dealing with this too! But yes, I switched to Armour from Synthroid too. I was on Synthroid for 25 years. And I've seen enough improvements from Armour that I'd never go back to Synthroid! You might be interested in reading info at www.hacres.com. This diet was developed due to colon cancer but it helped alot of ailments. Also I'd suggest getting a saliva test from ZRT labs or lab of your choice to assess your hormones including estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEAS & cortisol. I have some e-mails I can send you on estrogen dominance and natural progesterone if you're interested. I was testing and using Bi-est (estriol, estradiol), testosterone, and progesterone creams and it's helping me greatly. God bless you and I hope you are feeling much better soon! in Va. Hi all. I am new to this group, but not new to this disease. When I was first dx with myexdema 14 years ago my tsh was 132. I was put on .150 mcg of synthroid. It helped, as I could finally get off the couch, but I never felt healthy. My results came back within the " normal " ranges after 6 weeks , so I stayed on that dose for ther rest of the year, The next bloodwork I had showed my TSH still elevated just beyond normal and I convinced my Dr. to up my dosage to .175. I have been functioning on that dose since. In the mean time I had a hysterectomy, Gall bladder removal and colon cancer surgery. I just haven't felt good since my Colon Cancer,,,stg 1 cured:),,,, Tired , brain fog, weight gain , elevated Cholesteral (220,up from 200 in Nov.of last year) depressed from all the symptoms. I had my blood work done this week and my tsh was 4.2. My Dr. started to say that was borderline normal! I cut him off and asked for an increase in dosage, and a change of meds to Armourthyroid. He was agreeable and I started taking armour this morning,,,,,,3 grains. I hope it works, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Is there anyone out there that has switched to armour from synthroid? Is this to high of a dose to start with? I haven't had any weird side affects yet, but it is only the first day. I am wondering if I used Synthroid to long for Armour to be of any use. Thanks in advance for your advice. Akasha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 I just had a chance to pick up my labs from 8/18/04. CBC and CMP are all normal. T-3 Uptake is 24 T-4 was 5.0 Free T4 Index was 1.2 and TSH was 4.31. No free t-3 was done My Cholesterol was High....Triglycerides 237 HDL 44 LDL 133 ...total Cholesterol was 224. Now I must remind you all when I was diagnosed in 1990 with myxdema my TSH was at 132. > > please post what your results and ranges are from the most recent tests. I am a big fat woman with multinodules and I still only need 2 grains Armour and 25 mg t4. It is how much production your thyroid is making mixed with body weight and conversion that decide what you should take. > New to Armourthyroid and group > > > Hi all. I am new to this group, but not new to this disease. When I > was first dx with myexdema 14 years ago my tsh was 132. I was put > on .150 mcg of synthroid. It helped, as I could finally get off the > couch, but I never felt healthy. My results came back within > the " normal " ranges after 6 weeks , so I stayed on that dose for > ther rest of the year, The next bloodwork I had showed my TSH still > elevated just beyond normal and I convinced my Dr. to up my dosage > to .175. I have been functioning on that dose since. In the mean > time I had a hysterectomy, Gall bladder removal and colon cancer > surgery. I just haven't felt good since my Colon Cancer,,,stg 1 > cured:),,,, Tired , brain fog, weight gain , elevated Cholesteral > (220,up from 200 in Nov.of last year) depressed from all the > symptoms. I had my blood work done this week and my tsh was 4.2. My > Dr. started to say that was borderline normal! I cut him off and > asked for an increase in dosage, and a change of meds to > Armourthyroid. He was agreeable and I started > taking armour this morning,,,,,,3 grains. I hope it works, I > am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Is there anyone out > there that has switched to armour from synthroid? Is this to high of > a dose to start with? I haven't had any weird side affects yet, but > it is only the first day. I am wondering if I used Synthroid to long > for Armour to be of any use. Thanks in advance for your advice. > Akasha > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 I just had a chance to pick up my labs from 8/18/04. CBC and CMP are all normal. T-3 Uptake is 24 T-4 was 5.0 Free T4 Index was 1.2 and TSH was 4.31. No free t-3 was done My Cholesterol was High....Triglycerides 237 HDL 44 LDL 133 ...total Cholesterol was 224. Now I must remind you all when I was diagnosed in 1990 with myxdema my TSH was at 132. > > please post what your results and ranges are from the most recent tests. I am a big fat woman with multinodules and I still only need 2 grains Armour and 25 mg t4. It is how much production your thyroid is making mixed with body weight and conversion that decide what you should take. > New to Armourthyroid and group > > > Hi all. I am new to this group, but not new to this disease. When I > was first dx with myexdema 14 years ago my tsh was 132. I was put > on .150 mcg of synthroid. It helped, as I could finally get off the > couch, but I never felt healthy. My results came back within > the " normal " ranges after 6 weeks , so I stayed on that dose for > ther rest of the year, The next bloodwork I had showed my TSH still > elevated just beyond normal and I convinced my Dr. to up my dosage > to .175. I have been functioning on that dose since. In the mean > time I had a hysterectomy, Gall bladder removal and colon cancer > surgery. I just haven't felt good since my Colon Cancer,,,stg 1 > cured:),,,, Tired , brain fog, weight gain , elevated Cholesteral > (220,up from 200 in Nov.of last year) depressed from all the > symptoms. I had my blood work done this week and my tsh was 4.2. My > Dr. started to say that was borderline normal! I cut him off and > asked for an increase in dosage, and a change of meds to > Armourthyroid. He was agreeable and I started > taking armour this morning,,,,,,3 grains. I hope it works, I > am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Is there anyone out > there that has switched to armour from synthroid? Is this to high of > a dose to start with? I haven't had any weird side affects yet, but > it is only the first day. I am wondering if I used Synthroid to long > for Armour to be of any use. Thanks in advance for your advice. > Akasha > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 I just had a chance to pick up my labs from 8/18/04. CBC and CMP are all normal. T-3 Uptake is 24 T-4 was 5.0 Free T4 Index was 1.2 and TSH was 4.31. No free t-3 was done My Cholesterol was High....Triglycerides 237 HDL 44 LDL 133 ...total Cholesterol was 224. Now I must remind you all when I was diagnosed in 1990 with myxdema my TSH was at 132. > > please post what your results and ranges are from the most recent tests. I am a big fat woman with multinodules and I still only need 2 grains Armour and 25 mg t4. It is how much production your thyroid is making mixed with body weight and conversion that decide what you should take. > New to Armourthyroid and group > > > Hi all. I am new to this group, but not new to this disease. When I > was first dx with myexdema 14 years ago my tsh was 132. I was put > on .150 mcg of synthroid. It helped, as I could finally get off the > couch, but I never felt healthy. My results came back within > the " normal " ranges after 6 weeks , so I stayed on that dose for > ther rest of the year, The next bloodwork I had showed my TSH still > elevated just beyond normal and I convinced my Dr. to up my dosage > to .175. I have been functioning on that dose since. In the mean > time I had a hysterectomy, Gall bladder removal and colon cancer > surgery. I just haven't felt good since my Colon Cancer,,,stg 1 > cured:),,,, Tired , brain fog, weight gain , elevated Cholesteral > (220,up from 200 in Nov.of last year) depressed from all the > symptoms. I had my blood work done this week and my tsh was 4.2. My > Dr. started to say that was borderline normal! I cut him off and > asked for an increase in dosage, and a change of meds to > Armourthyroid. He was agreeable and I started > taking armour this morning,,,,,,3 grains. I hope it works, I > am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Is there anyone out > there that has switched to armour from synthroid? Is this to high of > a dose to start with? I haven't had any weird side affects yet, but > it is only the first day. I am wondering if I used Synthroid to long > for Armour to be of any use. Thanks in advance for your advice. > Akasha > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 Thanks Sandy, for the input. It is all so confusing. For Years I just took my synthroid and accepted the fact that I was going to hang onto these 50 extra lbs forever and never have as much energy again. Now I have to think, should I take all 3 grains my Dr prescribed me, should I add some more T4 or some t3? Should I take the dose half in the morning or half at night? I am experimenting, Taking 1 and a half grains right now, and hope I find the right balance. I don't have any real side affects except tiredness and if I take the whole 1 and a half grains of armour thyroid in the morning I get dizzy (not vertigo). Kind of like before when they put me through test after test and found nothing. I just assumed that I would take armour like I did synthroid. > > > > please post what your results and ranges are from the most recent > tests. I am a big fat woman with multinodules and I still only need > 2 grains Armour and 25 mg t4. It is how much production your thyroid > is making mixed with body weight and conversion that decide what you > should take. > > New to Armourthyroid and group > > >.com > > c.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 Thanks Sandy, for the input. It is all so confusing. For Years I just took my synthroid and accepted the fact that I was going to hang onto these 50 extra lbs forever and never have as much energy again. Now I have to think, should I take all 3 grains my Dr prescribed me, should I add some more T4 or some t3? Should I take the dose half in the morning or half at night? I am experimenting, Taking 1 and a half grains right now, and hope I find the right balance. I don't have any real side affects except tiredness and if I take the whole 1 and a half grains of armour thyroid in the morning I get dizzy (not vertigo). Kind of like before when they put me through test after test and found nothing. I just assumed that I would take armour like I did synthroid. > > > > please post what your results and ranges are from the most recent > tests. I am a big fat woman with multinodules and I still only need > 2 grains Armour and 25 mg t4. It is how much production your thyroid > is making mixed with body weight and conversion that decide what you > should take. > > New to Armourthyroid and group > > >.com > > c.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 Thanks Sandy, for the input. It is all so confusing. For Years I just took my synthroid and accepted the fact that I was going to hang onto these 50 extra lbs forever and never have as much energy again. Now I have to think, should I take all 3 grains my Dr prescribed me, should I add some more T4 or some t3? Should I take the dose half in the morning or half at night? I am experimenting, Taking 1 and a half grains right now, and hope I find the right balance. I don't have any real side affects except tiredness and if I take the whole 1 and a half grains of armour thyroid in the morning I get dizzy (not vertigo). Kind of like before when they put me through test after test and found nothing. I just assumed that I would take armour like I did synthroid. > > > > please post what your results and ranges are from the most recent > tests. I am a big fat woman with multinodules and I still only need > 2 grains Armour and 25 mg t4. It is how much production your thyroid > is making mixed with body weight and conversion that decide what you > should take. > > New to Armourthyroid and group > > >.com > > c.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 you are still hypo in my books. The Uptakes are useless and outdated tests from what I read. Your dr would do better by testing the FT3 and FT4 and if he's a TSH worshipper, he could toss that in also. I haven't found a dr yet who's not hung up on TSH, but without testing the Free's, no way to prove you are what he should consider hypoT. Since i was made to stay hypoT ( on anti thyroid drugs) for about a year or there abouts......I've found that my TSH at less than 1. is much better for me. I also have to have FT3 and FT4 in the upper ranges. T4 tells your dr nothing. T3 along with that T4 tests allows him to guesstimate how you might be feeling. T4 and T3 are just obsolete now that FT tests are here. :-) SandyE~Houston New to Armourthyroid and group > > > Hi all. I am new to this group, but not new to this disease. When I > was first dx with myexdema 14 years ago my tsh was 132. I was put > on .150 mcg of synthroid. It helped, as I could finally get off the > couch, but I never felt healthy. My results came back within > the " normal " ranges after 6 weeks , so I stayed on that dose for > ther rest of the year, The next bloodwork I had showed my TSH still > elevated just beyond normal and I convinced my Dr. to up my dosage > to .175. I have been functioning on that dose since. In the mean > time I had a hysterectomy, Gall bladder removal and colon cancer > surgery. I just haven't felt good since my Colon Cancer,,,stg 1 > cured:),,,, Tired , brain fog, weight gain , elevated Cholesteral > (220,up from 200 in Nov.of last year) depressed from all the > symptoms. I had my blood work done this week and my tsh was 4.2. My > Dr. started to say that was borderline normal! I cut him off and > asked for an increase in dosage, and a change of meds to > Armourthyroid. He was agreeable and I started > taking armour this morning,,,,,,3 grains. I hope it works, I > am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Is there anyone out > there that has switched to armour from synthroid? Is this to high of > a dose to start with? I haven't had any weird side affects yet, but > it is only the first day. I am wondering if I used Synthroid to long > for Armour to be of any use. Thanks in advance for your advice. > Akasha > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 you are still hypo in my books. The Uptakes are useless and outdated tests from what I read. Your dr would do better by testing the FT3 and FT4 and if he's a TSH worshipper, he could toss that in also. I haven't found a dr yet who's not hung up on TSH, but without testing the Free's, no way to prove you are what he should consider hypoT. Since i was made to stay hypoT ( on anti thyroid drugs) for about a year or there abouts......I've found that my TSH at less than 1. is much better for me. I also have to have FT3 and FT4 in the upper ranges. T4 tells your dr nothing. T3 along with that T4 tests allows him to guesstimate how you might be feeling. T4 and T3 are just obsolete now that FT tests are here. :-) SandyE~Houston New to Armourthyroid and group > > > Hi all. I am new to this group, but not new to this disease. When I > was first dx with myexdema 14 years ago my tsh was 132. I was put > on .150 mcg of synthroid. It helped, as I could finally get off the > couch, but I never felt healthy. My results came back within > the " normal " ranges after 6 weeks , so I stayed on that dose for > ther rest of the year, The next bloodwork I had showed my TSH still > elevated just beyond normal and I convinced my Dr. to up my dosage > to .175. I have been functioning on that dose since. In the mean > time I had a hysterectomy, Gall bladder removal and colon cancer > surgery. I just haven't felt good since my Colon Cancer,,,stg 1 > cured:),,,, Tired , brain fog, weight gain , elevated Cholesteral > (220,up from 200 in Nov.of last year) depressed from all the > symptoms. I had my blood work done this week and my tsh was 4.2. My > Dr. started to say that was borderline normal! I cut him off and > asked for an increase in dosage, and a change of meds to > Armourthyroid. He was agreeable and I started > taking armour this morning,,,,,,3 grains. I hope it works, I > am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Is there anyone out > there that has switched to armour from synthroid? Is this to high of > a dose to start with? I haven't had any weird side affects yet, but > it is only the first day. I am wondering if I used Synthroid to long > for Armour to be of any use. Thanks in advance for your advice. > Akasha > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 <T-3 Uptake is 24 T-4 was 5.0 Free T4 Index was 1.2 and TSH was >4.31. No free t-3 was done Oops. The above is what is called the " thyroid panel " --the most useless lab test used by lazy docs. And as far as your high cholesterol---you will find that lower the longer you are on Armour! Janie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 <T-3 Uptake is 24 T-4 was 5.0 Free T4 Index was 1.2 and TSH was >4.31. No free t-3 was done Oops. The above is what is called the " thyroid panel " --the most useless lab test used by lazy docs. And as far as your high cholesterol---you will find that lower the longer you are on Armour! Janie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 <T-3 Uptake is 24 T-4 was 5.0 Free T4 Index was 1.2 and TSH was >4.31. No free t-3 was done Oops. The above is what is called the " thyroid panel " --the most useless lab test used by lazy docs. And as far as your high cholesterol---you will find that lower the longer you are on Armour! Janie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 >Now I have to think, should I take all 3 grains my Dr > prescribed me, should I add some more T4 or some t3? Should I take > the dose half in the morning or half at night? I am experimenting, For now, if it was me, I'd forget about adding the extra T3 or extra T4. Just make your way up to the 3 grains. And when you have been on the 3 grains for at least 5-6 weeks, evaluate by your symptoms if you need to go up even higher. And yes, if get dizzy by taking all of it at once, divide it up. It's wise anyway for most of us to spread it out more during the day, as your own thyroid would be doing. I take 2 grains in the morning (to jump-start me), one grain in the early afternoon, and another 1/4 grain at bedtime (simply because it's easy to have those little pills next to my bed. LOL). I am also experimenting with adding another 1/4 grain at night. Janie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 Akasha, you were dianosed in 1990 and you still have a TSH of 4.31? You my dear sound like you have a TSH worshipper for a dr. I hope not! I know what you mean about the thinking you'd just have to accept that this extra 50 lbs and not feeling good was your lot in life. I think the Armour will turn that all around for you. I don't remember feeling anything really funny when I started to take Armour. I just felt better. I was at one point hyperT Graves, so I remember well how that felt. Taking Armour, whether it was in divided doses, in the mornings and afternoons, made me not be able to sleep. I only take mine in the morning now. It works for me so far. If I really feel tired in the afternoon around lunchtime, after lunch I'll take a half pill, so I'm not in a coma by the end of the work day. Some people will take it all in one dose. If you've never taken it, I don't know that I'd try it that way. It's got a little 'kick' to it if my memory serves me well. heheh. :-) On the other hand, if you've been living with hypoT for all these years, on $inthroid, it's possible that you will adapt okay to 3 grains in one day. You'll have to experiment with it to see how it works best for you. I'm due to up my dosage and I have no problems with taking 1 1/2 pills a day right now. I never noticed any side effects from the meds, although I got a little concerned that my hyperT might have been trying to kick back in. Fortunately it wasn't the hyperT, and all my hypo symptoms returned in a week, so I just started over again on the 1 1/2 grains. If the 1 1/2 grains is working good, then maybe you can try that twice a day and see how it works for you and if you're able to sleep at night. Have you had adrenals tested? Some find that they have to address adrenal issues when they start Armour, and it's recommended in the dosaging instructions. SandyE~Houston New to Armourthyroid and group > > >.com > > c.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 Akasha, you were dianosed in 1990 and you still have a TSH of 4.31? You my dear sound like you have a TSH worshipper for a dr. I hope not! I know what you mean about the thinking you'd just have to accept that this extra 50 lbs and not feeling good was your lot in life. I think the Armour will turn that all around for you. I don't remember feeling anything really funny when I started to take Armour. I just felt better. I was at one point hyperT Graves, so I remember well how that felt. Taking Armour, whether it was in divided doses, in the mornings and afternoons, made me not be able to sleep. I only take mine in the morning now. It works for me so far. If I really feel tired in the afternoon around lunchtime, after lunch I'll take a half pill, so I'm not in a coma by the end of the work day. Some people will take it all in one dose. If you've never taken it, I don't know that I'd try it that way. It's got a little 'kick' to it if my memory serves me well. heheh. :-) On the other hand, if you've been living with hypoT for all these years, on $inthroid, it's possible that you will adapt okay to 3 grains in one day. You'll have to experiment with it to see how it works best for you. I'm due to up my dosage and I have no problems with taking 1 1/2 pills a day right now. I never noticed any side effects from the meds, although I got a little concerned that my hyperT might have been trying to kick back in. Fortunately it wasn't the hyperT, and all my hypo symptoms returned in a week, so I just started over again on the 1 1/2 grains. If the 1 1/2 grains is working good, then maybe you can try that twice a day and see how it works for you and if you're able to sleep at night. Have you had adrenals tested? Some find that they have to address adrenal issues when they start Armour, and it's recommended in the dosaging instructions. SandyE~Houston New to Armourthyroid and group > > >.com > > c.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 Akasha, you were dianosed in 1990 and you still have a TSH of 4.31? You my dear sound like you have a TSH worshipper for a dr. I hope not! I know what you mean about the thinking you'd just have to accept that this extra 50 lbs and not feeling good was your lot in life. I think the Armour will turn that all around for you. I don't remember feeling anything really funny when I started to take Armour. I just felt better. I was at one point hyperT Graves, so I remember well how that felt. Taking Armour, whether it was in divided doses, in the mornings and afternoons, made me not be able to sleep. I only take mine in the morning now. It works for me so far. If I really feel tired in the afternoon around lunchtime, after lunch I'll take a half pill, so I'm not in a coma by the end of the work day. Some people will take it all in one dose. If you've never taken it, I don't know that I'd try it that way. It's got a little 'kick' to it if my memory serves me well. heheh. :-) On the other hand, if you've been living with hypoT for all these years, on $inthroid, it's possible that you will adapt okay to 3 grains in one day. You'll have to experiment with it to see how it works best for you. I'm due to up my dosage and I have no problems with taking 1 1/2 pills a day right now. I never noticed any side effects from the meds, although I got a little concerned that my hyperT might have been trying to kick back in. Fortunately it wasn't the hyperT, and all my hypo symptoms returned in a week, so I just started over again on the 1 1/2 grains. If the 1 1/2 grains is working good, then maybe you can try that twice a day and see how it works for you and if you're able to sleep at night. Have you had adrenals tested? Some find that they have to address adrenal issues when they start Armour, and it's recommended in the dosaging instructions. SandyE~Houston New to Armourthyroid and group > > >.com > > c.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 Why not divide your Armour dose up into 3 doses 8 hours apart. This nicely works out to first thing when you get up, then somewhere around midday and finally at bettime. Once a day gives you a huge T3 hit for a few hours and then you are low the rest of the day after the T3 gets used up or removed. If you get too much T3 at one time the liver converts it to something less active or removes some to get blood levels where they should be. This sort of wastes T3. If you spread it out in the day, it is more efficiently used and blood levels of T3 stay more constant. Also, if you break up doses you are not stressing the adrenals so much and you will problably have better luck with thryoid increases. Synthroid can be taken once a day because is is so benighn. It has to be converted to T3 to really do anything to you. Why not just use plain old Armour alone. People have been using it for 73 years before Synthorid without any problems and having long healthy lives. Tish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 Why not divide your Armour dose up into 3 doses 8 hours apart. This nicely works out to first thing when you get up, then somewhere around midday and finally at bettime. Once a day gives you a huge T3 hit for a few hours and then you are low the rest of the day after the T3 gets used up or removed. If you get too much T3 at one time the liver converts it to something less active or removes some to get blood levels where they should be. This sort of wastes T3. If you spread it out in the day, it is more efficiently used and blood levels of T3 stay more constant. Also, if you break up doses you are not stressing the adrenals so much and you will problably have better luck with thryoid increases. Synthroid can be taken once a day because is is so benighn. It has to be converted to T3 to really do anything to you. Why not just use plain old Armour alone. People have been using it for 73 years before Synthorid without any problems and having long healthy lives. Tish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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