New Dosage

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

I just talked to my doctors' nurse and she said I could increase my

Armour from 1/2grain to 1grain. I'm spreading this throughout the

day, 1/4 grain every 4 hours.

Is it true that most hypo patients need 3-5 grains of Armour in

order to feel better? Right now my T4/T3 ratio seems good, it's

91.332%/8.668% at the 1 grain, that's because I'm still on 62.5mg of

Levoxyl. Is the ratio of a normal thyroid 93%/7%?? I read that

somewhere.

My current doctor wants me to stay at this combo until I go in for

labs BUT I'm not going back to her I'm seeing a new doc at the end of

June.

It was suggested to me to increase my dose of Armour by 1/2 grain

every 2 weeks. Once I hit 2 grains, drop the Levoxyl and then

continue the, every 2 week 1/2 grain raises, to 3 grains and stay

there for 6weeks. Does this sound logical? Should I do this without

the docs ok, and before I see the new doctor? I'm conflicted. It

feels sneaky and I don't want to screw up my body any worse then it

already is. Any opinions/advice?

Lori

[Guest guest]

Lori:

YES...don't blame you for being a bit confused. ITS

confusing!

There are several different approaches to this and its

hard to know which way is right. I was a given a lot

of bad advice on this score and am still digging my

way out of it two years later. I had been given

advice to do so many things that I kind of got

helter-skelter about it and its hard to figure what to

do. So I was exactly where you are back then.

I would think that this doc would share your labs. I'd

be careful about those calculations you are using, as

I have found them to be helpful, but also have

limitations.

I'll give you MY little opinion, (which is based on

experience and more than I can type) but that doesn't

mean it will be the best way for you to go.

See?

~E:)

--- freckly3321 Freckly2@...> wrote:

> Hello everyone,

> I just talked to my doctors' nurse and she said I

> could increase my

> Armour from 1/2grain to 1grain. I'm spreading this

> throughout the

> day, 1/4 grain every 4 hours.

>

> Is it true that most hypo patients need 3-5 grains

> of Armour in

> order to feel better? Right now my T4/T3 ratio

> seems good, it's

> 91.332%/8.668% at the 1 grain, that's because I'm

> still on 62.5mg of

> Levoxyl. Is the ratio of a normal thyroid 93%/7%??

> I read that

> somewhere.

>

> My current doctor wants me to stay at this combo

> until I go in for

> labs BUT I'm not going back to her I'm seeing a new

> doc at the end of

> June.

>

> It was suggested to me to increase my dose of

> Armour by 1/2 grain

> every 2 weeks. Once I hit 2 grains, drop the

> Levoxyl and then

> continue the, every 2 week 1/2 grain raises, to 3

> grains and stay

> there for 6weeks. Does this sound logical? Should

> I do this without

> the docs ok, and before I see the new doctor? I'm

> conflicted. It

> feels sneaky and I don't want to screw up my body

> any worse then it

> already is. Any opinions/advice?

> Lori

>

>

Day after day, day after day,

We stuck, nor breath nor motion;

As idle as a painted ship

Upon a painted ocean.

Water, water, everywhere,

And all the boards did shrink;

Water, water, everywhere,

Nor any drop to drink.

~The Ancient Mariner

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels

in 45,000 destinations on Yahoo! Travel to find your fit.

http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097

[Guest guest]

~E,

Hello,

I wonder if you got your advice from the same place I did? I didn't get that particular advice from here. I don't feel comfortable outing any particular group so if you'd like to share I can give you my personal email address.

I have all my labs from all my doctors back to the year 2003. Including the labs I had done on my own recently. Why do you say be careful of my calculations?? Is that inaccurate info.?

I guess the reason I coming to you guys is because there is just something in my gut saying.....hmmmmm....not so sure about that. I'd love to hear your opinion. You say it's too long to type but maybe you could summarize for me?

My email address is freckly2@... if you'd rather email it to me personally.

Thanks so much! Lori

Re: New Dosage

Lori:YES...don't blame you for being a bit confused. ITSconfusing!:)There are several different approaches to this and itshard to know which way is right. I was a given a lotof bad advice on this score and am still digging myway out of it two years later. I had been givenadvice to do so many things that I kind of gothelter-skelter about it and its hard to figure what todo. So I was exactly where you are back then. I would think that this doc would share your labs. I'dbe careful about those calculations you are using, asI have found them to be helpful, but also havelimitations.I'll give you MY little opinion, (which is based onexperience and more than I can type) but that doesn'tmean it will be the best way for you to go. See?~E:)--- freckly3321 <Freckly2 (AT) > wrote:> Hello everyone,> I just talked to my doctors' nurse and she said I> could increase my > Armour from 1/2grain to 1grain. I'm spreading this> throughout the > day, 1/4 grain every 4 hours. > > Is it true that most hypo patients need 3-5 grains> of Armour in > order to feel better? Right now my T4/T3 ratio> seems good, it's > 91.332%/8.668% at the 1 grain, that's because I'm> still on 62.5mg of > Levoxyl. Is the ratio of a normal thyroid 93%/7%??> I read that > somewhere. > > My current doctor wants me to stay at this combo> until I go in for > labs BUT I'm not going back to her I'm seeing a new> doc at the end of > June. > > It was suggested to me to increase my dose of> Armour by 1/2 grain > every 2 weeks. Once I hit 2 grains, drop the> Levoxyl and then > continue the, every 2 week 1/2 grain raises, to 3> grains and stay > there for 6weeks. Does this sound logical? Should> I do this without > the docs ok, and before I see the new doctor? I'm> conflicted. It > feels sneaky and I don't want to screw up my body> any worse then it > already is. Any opinions/advice?> Lori > > Day after day, day after day,We stuck, nor breath nor motion;As idle as a painted shipUpon a painted ocean.Water, water, everywhere,And all the boards did shrink;Water, water, everywhere,Nor any drop to drink.~The Ancient Mariner__________________________________________________________Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotelsin 45,000 destinations on Yahoo! Travel to find your fit.http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097

[Guest guest]

I suspect many of us know who you are talking of.. we won't name names here, though, okay? It's not nice... though would be 'accurate'?

Topper ()

*clamping hands over mouth*

On Wed, 23 May 2007 15:17:10 -0500 "Lori" writes:

~E,

Hello,

I wonder if you got your advice from the same place I did? I didn't get that particular advice from here. I don't feel comfortable outing any particular group so if you'd like to share I can give you my personal email address.

I have all my labs from all my doctors back to the year 2003. Including the labs I had done on my own recently. Why do you say be careful of my calculations?? Is that inaccurate info.?

I guess the reason I coming to you guys is because there is just something in my gut saying.....hmmmmm....not so sure about that. I'd love to hear your opinion. You say it's too long to type but maybe you could summarize for me?

My email address is freckly2@... if you'd rather email it to me personally.

Thanks so much! Lori

[Guest guest]

Lori....

There is some controversy with the percentages of hormone involved. The gland itself puts out a particular ratio of hormone.. so much T4 and so much T3. Yes.

The body then stores the T4, not all of it, how much it does store is pretty complicated.. but part of it is stored... It uses the T3, The T4 that is stored is later converted to T3. Up to 80 percent of the T4 that is stored in the tissues is converted to T3 and then that T4 is replaced with the T4 that is free and available in the blood stream, either from what our gland produces or what we are taking as a supplement.

When taking replacement hormone, like Armour, the ratio of T3 to T4 is higher yes, Higher than what our healthy gland would normally produce.

Why can this be a good thing? Well, for those that are having problems with conversion and aren't able to produce sufficient levels of T3 for their body to feel well, taking the extra T3 is a life saver. Some folks need a lot of direct T3, some only a smaller amount. Some need it all in one dose, jump starting, in a way, their own conversion process for the day, others, like me, need smaller amounts during the day, the theory being that the major processes in our bodies benefit from having a direct shot of T3 to fill the receptors and then our conversion is able to put out enough T3 (and the other active hormones) to fill the receptor sites of the minor processes and function.

Other folks, whose bodies are able to convert sufficient hormone are not in need of the higher percentage of direct T3.. it's among this group of folks that you will find those that do well on T4 only meds (Synthroid and it's clones) they simply have no problem with conversion.

As for how often to increase a dose. 2 week is too fast. One of the pages that I just added to the ThyroPhoenix site goes into just exactly why you need to be careful with not only how much you increase your dose each time but why you should give your body sufficient time to adjust to the changes in dosage.

www.thyrophoenix.com/adjusting_doses.htm

It's still your decision, you have to do what you feel is best for you... I only wish to share what I have learned, through my own research and body response, and why it seems to be logical.

Topper ()

On Wed, 23 May 2007 18:04:52 -0000 "freckly3321" writes:> Hello everyone,> I just talked to my doctors' nurse and she said I could increase my > > Armour from 1/2grain to 1grain. I'm spreading this throughout the > day, 1/4 grain every 4 hours. > > Is it true that most hypo patients need 3-5 grains of Armour in > order to feel better? Right now my T4/T3 ratio seems good, it's > 91.332%/8.668% at the 1 grain, that's because I'm still on 62.5mg of > > Levoxyl. Is the ratio of a normal thyroid 93%/7%?? I read that > somewhere. > > My current doctor wants me to stay at this combo until I go in for > labs BUT I'm not going back to her I'm seeing a new doc at the end > of June. > > It was suggested to me to increase my dose of Armour by 1/2 grain > every 2 weeks. Once I hit 2 grains, drop the Levoxyl and then > continue the, every 2 week 1/2 grain raises, to 3 grains and stay > there for 6weeks. Does this sound logical? Should I do this > without > the docs ok, and before I see the new doctor? I'm conflicted. It > feels sneaky and I don't want to screw up my body any worse then it > already is. Any opinions/advice?> Lori

[Guest guest]

I absolutely agree.....wouldn't be a nice thing to do. Lori

Re: New Dosage

I suspect many of us know who you are talking of.. we won't name names here, though, okay? It's not nice... though would be 'accurate'?

Topper ()

*clamping hands over mouth*

On Wed, 23 May 2007 15:17:10 -0500 "Lori" <Freckly2 (AT) > writes:

~E,

Hello,

I wonder if you got your advice from the same place I did? I didn't get that particular advice from here. I don't feel comfortable outing any particular group so if you'd like to share I can give you my personal email address.

I have all my labs from all my doctors back to the year 2003. Including the labs I had done on my own recently. Why do you say be careful of my calculations?? Is that inaccurate info.?

I guess the reason I coming to you guys is because there is just something in my gut saying.....hmmmmm....not so sure about that. I'd love to hear your opinion. You say it's too long to type but maybe you could summarize for me?

My email address is freckly2 (AT) if you'd rather email it to me personally.

Thanks so much! Lori

[Guest guest]

,

Thank you for that very detailed response. I'm filing all this good info in a folder to refer to when I need it! I'm going to hold at this dose of Armour (1grain) and Levoxyl (62.5mg) until I can get labs done again. I agree that increasing too fast is not good. I was starting to have some pretty strong hypo symptoms again, more so than before, and that's why I called the doc. I'm thinking I cut the Levoxyl too much too fast (in half), which was per docs instructions. I also decided to give the extra supplements up for today to see if that's what's causing the weird spacey feeling I was having. I'm hoping the new doc will have some great input when I go. I'm going to Florida on vacation with the kids to see my Mom in 2 weeks. Hopefully I won't have any issues while I'm there.

One other question....is there a preference of Cytomel over Armour? I know that doctors can have the Cytomel made into a slow release capsule at a compounding pharmacy. I guess that's another option too.

Again, thanks, I always feel more in control/comfortable after chatting with you.

Lori

Re: New Dosage

Lori....

There is some controversy with the percentages of hormone involved. The gland itself puts out a particular ratio of hormone.. so much T4 and so much T3. Yes.

The body then stores the T4, not all of it, how much it does store is pretty complicated.. but part of it is stored... It uses the T3, The T4 that is stored is later converted to T3. Up to 80 percent of the T4 that is stored in the tissues is converted to T3 and then that T4 is replaced with the T4 that is free and available in the blood stream, either from what our gland produces or what we are taking as a supplement.

When taking replacement hormone, like Armour, the ratio of T3 to T4 is higher yes, Higher than what our healthy gland would normally produce.

Why can this be a good thing? Well, for those that are having problems with conversion and aren't able to produce sufficient levels of T3 for their body to feel well, taking the extra T3 is a life saver. Some folks need a lot of direct T3, some only a smaller amount. Some need it all in one dose, jump starting, in a way, their own conversion process for the day, others, like me, need smaller amounts during the day, the theory being that the major processes in our bodies benefit from having a direct shot of T3 to fill the receptors and then our conversion is able to put out enough T3 (and the other active hormones) to fill the receptor sites of the minor processes and function.

Other folks, whose bodies are able to convert sufficient hormone are not in need of the higher percentage of direct T3.. it's among this group of folks that you will find those that do well on T4 only meds (Synthroid and it's clones) they simply have no problem with conversion.

As for how often to increase a dose. 2 week is too fast. One of the pages that I just added to the ThyroPhoenix site goes into just exactly why you need to be careful with not only how much you increase your dose each time but why you should give your body sufficient time to adjust to the changes in dosage.

www.thyrophoenix.com/adjusting_doses.htm

It's still your decision, you have to do what you feel is best for you... I only wish to share what I have learned, through my own research and body response, and why it seems to be logical.

Topper ()

On Wed, 23 May 2007 18:04:52 -0000 "freckly3321" <Freckly2 (AT) > writes:> Hello everyone,> I just talked to my doctors' nurse and she said I could increase my > > Armour from 1/2grain to 1grain. I'm spreading this throughout the > day, 1/4 grain every 4 hours. > > Is it true that most hypo patients need 3-5 grains of Armour in > order to feel better? Right now my T4/T3 ratio seems good, it's > 91.332%/8.668% at the 1 grain, that's because I'm still on 62.5mg of > > Levoxyl. Is the ratio of a normal thyroid 93%/7%?? I read that > somewhere. > > My current doctor wants me to stay at this combo until I go in for > labs BUT I'm not going back to her I'm seeing a new doc at the end > of June. > > It was suggested to me to increase my dose of Armour by 1/2 grain > every 2 weeks. Once I hit 2 grains, drop the Levoxyl and then > continue the, every 2 week 1/2 grain raises, to 3 grains and stay > there for 6weeks. Does this sound logical? Should I do this > without > the docs ok, and before I see the new doctor? I'm conflicted. It > feels sneaky and I don't want to screw up my body any worse then it > already is. Any opinions/advice?> Lori