Me again

[Guest guest]

I think I figured out tonight, or at least a tactic to try and see

if it helps. I figured out on 2/27 that I was overmedicated - endo

had agreed to let me try 25mcg extra levothyroxine to see if if

helped brain function, on top of 200mcg already taking, and 5mcg

total Cytomel. So, going bonkers, saying " this isn't me, this isn't

me, " I stopped the 25mcg increase and Cytomel on 2/27. It took a

week, and my brain got clearer. 3/31 I decided to try an itty bitty

bit of Cytomel, only one quarter of a 5mcg pill, so approximately

1.2mcg, and only once, in the morning. I've floundered the last

couple days, hit bottom, going downhill, this isn't me, and tonight,

not sleeping, it occured to me maybe the itty bit of Cytomel is

making too much med in me. So, I'm stopping it and see how I

rebound, and being Cytomel, I'd expect a faster change, if it's the

Cytomel. And if there is a change in me, if it is from the

Cytomel. Pms, the week before my period, was damn hard. But

usually I could handle it, I knew not to get caught up in the ultra

drama my feelings said were going on; I knew within a week I'd be

back to the me that was usually around. It's felt like I have pms

again in terms of floundering with my feelings/mood, only I'm

supposedly menopausal now. I mean, got the dryness down there, day

100 something of no period, doc did the FSH test and I'm in the

menopausal category. If I was having periods, I would swear this

was a pms week. Maybe I have a new kind of hormone fluctuation to

get familiar with as I dry up even more (hehehe). So, maybe

Cytomel, maybe a menopausal version of pms. Good to know something

to try. It sucks. I was told today, underlining what here

has said - sudden onset menopause or thyroid changes - either one by

themselves is a big adjustment, I've been given one big whammy.

Back to waiting. Plus, with the " c " word, there is a ptsd aspect to

it, brain numb/shock like when a loved one dies. I'm still coming

out of that fog. I feel like life sucks now, but am hopeful to see

if stopping the Cytomel does anything. A doc would tell me it's so

little a dose that I shouldn't feel anything. But, the thing with

stats, is there are those who don't fit the average of the stat.

And me and thyroid meds are getting to know each other. Last night

and tonight, trouble getting to sleep. I've had these cycles pre

TT, haven't had one since the TT. Doc was thinking my insomnia was

about my whacked thyroid. May be 2 weeks of Cytomel is doing

something to me.

US Jane

[Guest guest]

What does it say inside the cover for copyright??

Topper ()

On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 09:28:50 -0500 Lynn writes:

Jane (US variety ...hehe)I read something about this situation in Dr. Blanchard's book. If you can hang on, I'll privately email you a portion that I read. I don't think I can post it to the group or I'll get into copyright problems.Is it okay to email you when I find it?Thanks,-Lynn

[Guest guest]

>

> Jane (US variety ...hehe)

>

> I read something about this situation in Dr. Blanchard's book. If you

> can hang on, I'll privately email you a portion that I read. I don't

> think I can post it to the group or I'll get into copyright problems.

>

> Is it okay to email you when I find it?

>

> Thanks,

> -Lynn

Yes, please. It's r-jane@...

US Jane

[Guest guest]

rjane1955 wrote: I think I figured out tonight, or at least a tactic to try and see if it helps. I figured out on 2/27 that I was overmedicated - endo had agreed to let me try 25mcg extra levothyroxine to see if if helped brain function, on top of 200mcg already taking, and 5mcg total Cytomel. So, going bonkers, saying "this isn't me, this isn't me," I stopped the 25mcg increase and Cytomel on 2/27. It took a week, and my brain got clearer. ______________________________________________________ Jane: I guess the thing to do would be to see if there was a time you felt good after the TT. Then...you can tweak whatever that dosage was. Usually one lowers their t4 when

adding in a t3....so they don't go hyper and that is all you need to do. On the other hand maybe you need a protocol that is plain t4, but its in between the 200mcgs and 225mcgs. Have you tried that? I've seem some very tight changes make a difference. I'm take 60 mcgs of synthetic with my 80mgs of Armour. These sizes are not available....I cut them and add extra on Sundays..(to make it split out the week). Got to remember here you are looking at what a FACTORY finds profitable to make...not what you body necessarily needs. Sometimes you go to get creative. Good luck! ~E:) *other things to look into would be ferriten, B-12, and cortisol levels...(as you may already know). ~EG Connecticut Total-T 2 years ago / 60 mg Synthetic/135mg Armour

Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min.

[Guest guest]

Hi E. I've had a time of feeling good, as in emotionally, since the

TT. In terms of brain clarity and energy since TT, no, I haven't

had a time of feeling good, yet.

Endo this week did say my vitamin D was low, there's a lab order

waiting for me to give blood, for that and other things. I thought

of anemia yesterday, and will talk to family doc about that. It may

be one of the tests endo has ordered, cuz he asked me if I'd been

anemic before, and I was 2 yrs ago. Took me about a year to get the

level back up. I don't eat much meat, and that I do eat isn't red

most of the time. Not any beliefs or anything, just about fast and

convenient - easier to eat a protein bar or cheese and an apple.

Not good practices, and at some point I'll have to decide just to

eat better.

Haven't tried T4 med between 200 and 225. At this point I am so

scared of being overmedicated again, I was literally going crazy

back in Feb when overmedicated. There's people on the thyca list

that say they can tell a difference between 2 one hundredths in a

tsh dose. This sure is complicated stuff.

Armour is always in the back of my head. The next thing for me to

do is go off some meds that effect brain clarity and energy. After

that, if still not doing well, I'm talking to endo of trying

Armour. I went endo shopping, and one thing was a willingness to

try Armour. The one I have says he will try it, but as a last

thing. He may let me do a 6 to 8 week try on it, see if there's

improvement. Having thyroid cancer, it's important to keep the tsh

below .10 and it may be I'll have to choose between optimal quality

of life, or cancer suppression.

I appreciate ideas put my way.

US Jane

I think I figured out tonight, or

at least a tactic to try and see

> if it helps. I figured out on 2/27 that I was overmedicated -

endo

> had agreed to let me try 25mcg extra levothyroxine to see if if

> helped brain function, on top of 200mcg already taking, and 5mcg

> total Cytomel. So, going bonkers, saying " this isn't me, this

isn't

> me, " I stopped the 25mcg increase and Cytomel on 2/27. It took a

> week, and my brain got clearer.

> ______________________________________________________

> Jane:

>

> I guess the thing to do would be to see if there was a time you

felt good after the TT. Then...you can tweak whatever that dosage

was. Usually one lowers their t4 when adding in a t3....so they

don't go hyper and that is all you need to do.

>

> On the other hand maybe you need a protocol that is plain t4,

but its in between the 200mcgs and 225mcgs.

> Have you tried that?

>

> I've seem some very tight changes make a difference. I'm take

60 mcgs of synthetic with my 80mgs of Armour. These sizes are not

available....I cut them and add extra on Sundays..(to make it split

out the week).

>

> Got to remember here you are looking at what a FACTORY finds

profitable to make...not what you body necessarily needs.

>

> Sometimes you go to get creative.

>

> Good luck!

>

> ~E:)

>

> *other things to look into would be ferriten, B-12, and cortisol

levels...(as you may already know).

>

>

> ~EG Connecticut Total-T 2 years ago / 60 mg Synthetic/135mg

Armour

[Guest guest]

Dear Jane,

I didn't feel well on 200mcg of T4. I'd felt good

briefly as dose was raised to 125mcg and very briefly

again as it was raised to 150mcg but that sense of

well being did not come anymore as the dose went up.

My doc took temp etc at 200mcg (still only at 35) and

said that I was feeling poorly because I was not

converting T4 to T3 and the excess T4 can actually be

toxic. He lowered my dose of T4 and added in T3.

At 125mcg of T4 and 20mcg of T3 I feel so much better,

more energy than for years and my head is clear and my

thinking sharp. This winter I've noticed that I'm

wearing no more clothes than anybody else!

Maybe a combination hormone replacement would suit

you?

--- rjane1955 wrote:

> Hi E. I've had a time of feeling good, as in

> emotionally, since the

> TT. In terms of brain clarity and energy since TT,

> no, I haven't

> had a time of feeling good, yet.

>

> Endo this week did say my vitamin D was low, there's

> a lab order

> waiting for me to give blood, for that and other

> things. I thought

> of anemia yesterday, and will talk to family doc

> about that. It may

> be one of the tests endo has ordered, cuz he asked

> me if I'd been

> anemic before, and I was 2 yrs ago. Took me about a

> year to get the

> level back up. I don't eat much meat, and that I do

> eat isn't red

> most of the time. Not any beliefs or anything, just

> about fast and

> convenient - easier to eat a protein bar or cheese

> and an apple.

> Not good practices, and at some point I'll have to

> decide just to

> eat better.

>

> Haven't tried T4 med between 200 and 225. At this

> point I am so

> scared of being overmedicated again, I was literally

> going crazy

> back in Feb when overmedicated. There's people on

> the thyca list

> that say they can tell a difference between 2 one

> hundredths in a

> tsh dose. This sure is complicated stuff.

>

> Armour is always in the back of my head. The next

> thing for me to

> do is go off some meds that effect brain clarity and

> energy. After

> that, if still not doing well, I'm talking to endo

> of trying

> Armour. I went endo shopping, and one thing was a

> willingness to

> try Armour. The one I have says he will try it, but

> as a last

> thing. He may let me do a 6 to 8 week try on it,

> see if there's

> improvement. Having thyroid cancer, it's important

> to keep the tsh

> below .10 and it may be I'll have to choose between

> optimal quality

> of life, or cancer suppression.

>

> I appreciate ideas put my way.

>

> US Jane

>

>

> I think I figured

> out tonight, or

> at least a tactic to try and see

> > if it helps. I figured out on 2/27 that I was

> overmedicated -

> endo

> > had agreed to let me try 25mcg extra levothyroxine

> to see if if

> > helped brain function, on top of 200mcg already

> taking, and 5mcg

> > total Cytomel. So, going bonkers, saying " this

> isn't me, this

> isn't

> > me, " I stopped the 25mcg increase and Cytomel on

> 2/27. It took a

> > week, and my brain got clearer.

> >

>

______________________________________________________

> > Jane:

> >

> > I guess the thing to do would be to see if there

> was a time you

> felt good after the TT. Then...you can tweak

> whatever that dosage

> was. Usually one lowers their t4 when adding in a

> t3....so they

> don't go hyper and that is all you need to do.

> >

> > On the other hand maybe you need a protocol that

> is plain t4,

> but its in between the 200mcgs and 225mcgs.

> > Have you tried that?

> >

> > I've seem some very tight changes make a

> difference. I'm take

> 60 mcgs of synthetic with my 80mgs of Armour. These

> sizes are not

> available....I cut them and add extra on

> Sundays..(to make it split

> out the week).

> >

> > Got to remember here you are looking at what a

> FACTORY finds

> profitable to make...not what you body necessarily

> needs.

> >

> > Sometimes you go to get creative.

> >

> > Good luck!

> >

> > ~E:)

> >

> > *other things to look into would be ferriten,

> B-12, and cortisol

> levels...(as you may already know).

> >

> >

> > ~EG Connecticut Total-T 2 years ago / 60 mg

> Synthetic/135mg

> Armour

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I am glad for any extra information to file away in my brain, that

is, the part that is working lol !

I started on a dose of 200mcg levothyroxine, had my lab work at 9

weeks on it, I think, and at that time it showed I was converting T4

to T3 well. I have that lab report here, not feeling compelled to

get it. With thyroid cancer, my tsh has to be below .10. But,

wait, that may be one more thing to tinker around with, with my

endo. There's been so many factors figuring in to all this - just

healing from the TT and RAI, coming out of hypo and healing from

what hypo did to my body, having been put into sudden menopause, the

effect of other meds I'm on with brain clarity and energy, and what

the heck synthetic thyroid meds are doing to me. At some point it

may make sense to get my tsh higher. Some on the thyca list say

they can tell the difference between 2 one hundredths of a point.

If it means quality of life, my tsh may be able to go a bit

above .10. I might tell endo I want to tinker with that and see how

it effects brain and energy. But, I am converting T3 from T4,

well. Interesting that the extra T4 if not convering well, can be

toxic.

I think, actually, after this email, I'm going to make calls to get

into a Naturopath, get another input on what all is happening. If

nothing else, perhaps get some more physical support to help my body

deal with all this. Our first dr after marrying, was a preventive

med doc. We liked him cuz first thing he did was sit down and talk,

blocked out 45 minutes for each patient. Also, he was into

alternative treatment first, and he educated us for self

treatments. One big thing that we didn't like - he arrived at work

up to an hour late, and so all appts ran late. You could be the

first patient, and have to wait an hour for him to arrive at work,

and not because he was doing hospital rounds or anything. I have

thought of going to him how ever many times it would take, to get

his input in all this, or a referral to a naturopath.

US Jane

>

> Dear Jane,

> I didn't feel well on 200mcg of T4. I'd felt good

> briefly as dose was raised to 125mcg and very briefly

> again as it was raised to 150mcg but that sense of

> well being did not come anymore as the dose went up.

> My doc took temp etc at 200mcg (still only at 35) and

> said that I was feeling poorly because I was not

> converting T4 to T3 and the excess T4 can actually be

> toxic. He lowered my dose of T4 and added in T3.

> At 125mcg of T4 and 20mcg of T3 I feel so much better,

> more energy than for years and my head is clear and my

> thinking sharp. This winter I've noticed that I'm

> wearing no more clothes than anybody else!

> Maybe a combination hormone replacement would suit

> you?

>

>

[Guest guest]

rjane1955 wrote: Having thyroid cancer, it's important to keep the tsh below .10 and it may be I'll have to choose between optimal quality of life, or cancer suppression. US Jane_______________________________________________-- You are welcome Jane. If you had noticed at the end of my e-mails always tags my TT. I am familiar with suppression. My tsh is .01. I can tell you right now, that I took a lot of t4 med and it went over the range and never suppressed my TSH. It didn't work for me and that is why I take

the combo I do. T3 can help to suppress the TSH much quicker and more fully, and USUALLY make a person more comfortable. In the end you may find a lower dose of t4 along with just 5-10 mcgs of cytomel thrown in will do the trick. Now my t4 just hits the top of the range and my t3 goes quite a bit over. I feel much better this way. I also found that (maybe not in your case) that I had to find a hormone specialist who lets me figure my dosing on my own. The Endo is really just my go-to guy for recurrence. He's not about to take my Armour away...but many before now have, and put in a bad way by keeping me on plain t4. I think he would have been reluctant to give it to me...had I already not been on it too. If I were you...I'd work on figuring a way to get some t3 into the mix. The

other good thing about it is, you can feel it build up with in two days or so...and you can pull back on it if you get that "overcooked" feeling. I know that t4 is not that way...and if you are waiting for some doc to call the shots, it can be a lot of torture. I know...I have the scars. I've broken my Armour 15's into quarters and can tell the difference in taking just 3.75 milligrams. I love the control I have over the dosing because of my little mad scientist routine. Now..its not for everyone, but it can get VERY frustrating and lonely bouncing from one protocol to the next, just to keep the docs happy. Take Care Jane! You are gonna get there! ~E:) ~EG Connecticut Total-T 2 years ago / 60 mg Synthetic/135mg Armour

How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger’s low PC-to-Phone call rates.

[Guest guest]

rjane1955 wrote: But, I am converting T3 from T4, well. _________________________________________________________ Keep in mind that "well" might not be cracked up to what we might think. When some of my t4 even became a little t3 to be in range the docs were raving about how great that was, and how I couldn't be hypo anymore. Now that my t3 is OVER the range (t4 is at the top of the range)...I feel much better. That couldn't have happened if I was taking a plain t4 med. I know the THYCA board would totally disagree with this, that is why I don't darken their pages anymore. I was half dead...and

they kept saying, "Whatever you do -- don't take t3. It will cause cancer" I had already been taking Armour and had gone into a tailspin...after abandoning as they suggested. I cried and cried to them...for four months, feeling suicidal. I finally...found my little bottle of armour buried in a box...and started putting slivers of it on my tounge. I SWEAR...I could feel it helping me stand up that very day. I feel much better now...and bet that I am on my way to having a full ACTIVE happy life. Sometimes...people can get a bit worked up, and misinformed. You are doing a good job doing your research and figuring what your next move will be. Its not easy to do sometimes. Good luck to

you Jane! ~E:) ~EG Connecticut Total-T 2 years ago / 60 mg Synthetic/135mg Armour

Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min.

[Guest guest]

Thank you E. I am quite prepared to be a " bad " girl and try dosings

on my own. In a way I already do, doing different things with T3.

So far my endo hasn't batted an eye when after the fact I tell him

what I've done. I'm thinking it might be time to tell him I want to

try Armour, see how I do on it. And I will keep in mind your info

about combining them. I have a sense now that I go downhill more

when too hyperthyroid. I'd rather have hypohell over hyperhell, any

day.

I thought I was patient before, this is really going to have me

learn more patience, having to wait for one thing after another to

have enough time to figure out what it does, and on top of that,

going off some of the meds I'm on. Doc wants me off :

Nortriptyline, Celexa, Trileptal, Xanax and Ambien. The last 3 are

so I have slept, now thinking insomnia came from my whacked

thyroid. Trileptal especially, packs a sedative punch. I have to

go off each of those meds slowly, then tolerate how I feel, and try

adding a med/meds if needed.

Next month I think I'll tell endo I want to try Armour to see how I

am effected with it. Now, a hormone specialist. I may have to go

to our only big town in our State, which isn't that big of a big

town, and see if such a thing exists. Hit up endo or family doc for

a recommendation.

Oh yeh, I know far too well about swimming against the tide on

thyca, when I said once that I'd dose myself if I thought it would

be the only way to have a way to feel good. Ya thought I woulda

said the world was flat or the pope wasn't catholic !

rJane

But, I am converting T3 from T4,

> well.

> _________________________________________________________

>

> Keep in mind that " well " might not be cracked up to what we

might think. When some of my t4 even became a little t3 to be in

range the docs were raving about how great that was, and how I

couldn't be hypo anymore.

>

> Now that my t3 is OVER the range (t4 is at the top of the

range)...I feel much better. That couldn't have happened if I was

taking a plain t4 med.

>

> I know the THYCA board would totally disagree with this, that is

why I don't darken their pages anymore. I was half dead...and they

kept saying, " Whatever you do -- don't take t3. It will cause

cancer " I had already been taking Armour and had gone into a

tailspin...after abandoning as they suggested. I cried and cried to

them...for four months, feeling suicidal.

>

> I finally...found my little bottle of armour buried in a

box...and started putting slivers of it on my tounge. I SWEAR...I

could feel it helping me stand up that very day.

>

> I feel much better now...and bet that I am on my way to having a

full ACTIVE happy life.

>

> Sometimes...people can get a bit worked up, and misinformed.

>

> You are doing a good job doing your research and figuring what

your next move will be. Its not easy to do sometimes.

>

> Good luck to you Jane!

>

> ~E:)

>

>

> ~EG Connecticut Total-T 2 years ago / 60 mg Synthetic/135mg

Armour

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls.

Great rates starting at 1 & cent;/min.

>

[Guest guest]

I have considered trying to medicate

myself – maybe on a low dose of synthroid. I could probably some online

or take the dog’s or something like that. But I suspect that I would

prefer to have a doctor who knows what is going on. So I am going to see a

dermatologist and then will go from there. Also going to have my doctor run

some more blood.

I am on tons of pills now as it is too. I

might have to get on another one or at least increase the dose of my lyrica as

it isn’t cutting it for sleep issues. And my doctor wants to increase my

cymbalta. And there are all the rest of them…

But now it is time for bed.

-Ata

From: The_Thyroid_Support_Group [mailto:The_Thyroid_Support_Group ] On Behalf Of rjane1955

Sent: Monday, April 17, 2006 11:01

PM

To: The_Thyroid_Support_Group

Subject:

Re: Me again

Thank you E. I am quite prepared to be a " bad " girl and

try dosings

on my own. In a way I already do, doing

different things with T3.

So far my endo hasn't batted an eye when after the

fact I tell him

what I've done. I'm thinking it might be

time to tell him I want to

try Armour, see how I do on it. And I will

keep in mind your info

about combining them. I have a sense now

that I go downhill more

when too hyperthyroid. I'd rather have

hypohell over hyperhell, any

day.

I thought I was patient before, this is really

going to have me

learn more patience, having to wait for one thing

after another to

have enough time to figure out what it does, and

on top of that,

going off some of the meds I'm on. Doc wants

me off :

Nortriptyline, Celexa, Trileptal, Xanax and

Ambien. The last 3 are

so I have slept, now thinking insomnia came from

my whacked

thyroid. Trileptal especially, packs a

sedative punch. I have to

go off each of those meds slowly, then tolerate how

I feel, and try

adding a med/meds if needed.

Next month I think I'll tell endo I want to try

Armour to see how I

am effected with it. Now, a hormone

specialist. I may have to go

to our only big town in our State, which isn't

that big of a big

town, and see if such a thing exists. Hit up

endo or family doc for

a recommendation.

Oh yeh, I know far too well about swimming against

the tide on

thyca, when I said once that I'd dose myself if I

thought it would

be the only way to have a way to feel good.

Ya thought I woulda

said the world was flat or the pope wasn't

catholic !

rJane

But, I am converting T3 from T4,

> well.

>

_________________________________________________________

>

> Keep in mind that

" well " might not be cracked up to what we

might think. When some of my t4 even became

a little t3 to be in

range the docs were raving about how great that

was, and how I

couldn't be hypo anymore.

>

> Now that my t3 is OVER the range

(t4 is at the top of the

range)...I feel much better. That couldn't

have happened if I was

taking a plain t4 med.

>

> I know the THYCA board would

totally disagree with this, that is

why I don't darken their pages anymore. I

was half dead...and they

kept saying, " Whatever you do -- don't take

t3. It will cause

cancer " I had already been taking Armour and

had gone into a

tailspin...after abandoning as they suggested. I

cried and cried to

them...for four months, feeling suicidal.

>

> I finally...found my little

bottle of armour buried in a

box...and started putting slivers of it on my

tounge. I SWEAR...I

could feel it helping me stand up that very day.

>

> I feel much better now...and bet

that I am on my way to having a

full ACTIVE happy life.

>

> Sometimes...people can get a bit

worked up, and misinformed.

>

> You are doing a good job doing your

research and figuring what

your next move will be. Its not easy to do

sometimes.

>

> Good luck to you Jane!

>

> ~E:)

>

>

> ~EG

Connecticut Total-T 2 years ago / 60 mg Synthetic/135mg

Armour

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make

PC-to-Phone calls.

Great rates starting at 1 & cent;/min.

>

[Guest guest]

Ya thought I woulda

> said the world was flat or the pope wasn't catholic !

>

> rJane

And all this time I believed it.

By the way Jane - I think everything E has been telling you follows suit

with what I've read from Dr. Blanchard. He too said stuff about backing

off on the T4 to add in a little T3 for some patients. He said something

about how the T3 helps the body actually metabolize more T4 - so you may

have been over providing for yourself when you simply added T3 to your

existing T4 dose. He also said that even when a person is a good

converter, he finds that the brain prefers to absorb straight T3 as if

it was produced by the Thyroid (or provided in your dosage at T3), - not

the stuff that would be converted in our tissues. The direct

(non-converted) T3 helps quickly with brain fog he said. He's not a

stickler for one method being the only method - he does admit he has

some patients on different ratios and programs - we're all so unique and

I like that he admits that. He did say if a person can tolerate the

thyroid extract (like Armour or Nature-throid or West-Throid etc) that

he gives that and adds a little synthetic T4 to get the ratios of T3 to

T4 balanced for the patient. Not everyone tolerates every drug (or the

fillers in it) the same way.

He did also say that after a person has been optimized and lost weight -

they may need a dosage adjustment. Something about the storage of T4 in

the fat cells - I can't remember - but it makes sense.

Sorry I am not more help - and that I quote his book so much - but he's

got some good ideas I think.

-Lynn

[Guest guest]

Lynn wrote: Ya thought I woulda> said the world was flat or the pope wasn't catholic !>> rJaneAnd all this time I believed it. :PBy the way Jane - I think everything E has been telling you follows suit with what I've read from Dr. Blanchard. ________________________________________________________ Yes Lynn: When one enters the land of hypo-hell its hard to figure who is telling the truth too. So the POPE is Catholic???!!! WOW..when did that happen? The thyroid puzzle is not so easy. It took me a VERY long time to sift through all the misiformation and pushy folks. In the end...you know your

own body, and its REAL important to figure for yourself what works. Nearly two years ago, I bought Dr. Blachard's book and so much of it...looked to me like he had stolen my ideas! Well..the point about the directed t3 really hit home with me...since I was thinking the same thing!!! Some cells, perhaps 25 percent only WANT the direct t3. I was taking straight t4 at the time, as per the THYCA board and my Endo...and I wrote Dr. B a letter. He called me a couple weeks later and I chatted with him on the phone for an hour. He sounded VERY enthused about his research and admitted he was still revising his methods and tweaking his thoughts. He too thought I might get well on the t4. Two months later, I started adding in the Armour myself and now for a year and a half I have been a comboer. I tried a compounded time release t3,

but it didn't hold a candle to the power of Armour. (And it was Rockafeller expensive, with my insurance ducking the bill.) So at anyrate, within a few months I got to the gym running on the treadmill and lifting weights. I really messed myself up when I met a new doc who wanted me now to drop the synthetic, right after another had me lower my to lower my Armour. WELL...that was all a big mistake, last Spring. I am just crawling out of the fallout now. I have rebuilt my synthetic. Up from 37.5 mcgs to 60 mcgs. AAAAAHHHH. Much better:) It took six long months....but it had to be done. My fingers work and my moods and cognition are WAY improved now. And...right now I'm taking 80 mgs or Armour. (so its a 60mcgs/80mgs split) I'm not sure if this is the final tweak,(my temps and BP are looking much healthier, but I

feel that I'm the right path now...and there won't be any stopping me now!) I had tests come in yesterday. I'll be drawing blood again this week just to confirm that my TSH is still ACTUALLY suppressed. YES...the lab ladies have become my second family. GO QUEST! My bloods looked like this: T4Free .8-1.8 (1.5) - its just .8 w/out synthetic T3Free 230-420 (437) TSH .01 If you look up Dr. Dommisse's website info you'll see he beleives there is good science behind why this combo thing can be just what some folks need. Pigs to people ratio is off. I personally see a lot of folks who can't do straight Armour (their t3 goes WAY too high, and its not enough t4 -- they talk about being wired and tired) or straight synthetic (they

don't get the conversion or the direct t3 they need --they have wieght issues and mood problems). Comboing solves both those issues and suppressed the TSH. ~E:) ~EG Connecticut Total-T 2 years ago / 60 mg Synthetic/135mg Armour

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