Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Hi! Hope you can help me. I've been on different doses of Armour and always have hypo symptoms even when labs show hyper. Tried adding cytomel to Armour and had hyper symptoms. My latest labs on 2 grains of Armour are: TSH 0.01 ft3 428 (230-420) ft4 1.5 (0.8-1.8) ferritin 37 (10-232) I feel awful. Felt awful on 90 mg. Felt awful on 180 mg. I have read that some people feel better adding t4 along with their Armour. I thought maybe I could reduce my 90 mg of Armour and add in 25 of a synthetic t4. How do you think that would work for me? Could you also tell me what t4 med would be better for me since I have lactose, wheat, and gluten intolerance. I heard synthroid has lactose in it so that would be out for me. I guess I should mention I have been the cytomel only route too with no luck. Doc just put me on protocol and that's not working either. HELP!!! and THANKS!!! Dee PS. Changing docs again. My current one won't take any labs which scares me with osteoporosis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2003 Report Share Posted December 18, 2003 You could be very low in iron here which would explain a lot of your problem, your ferritin level is very low. Also with your talk of allergies be adrenal fatigue as well and no large dose of thyroid meds will correct that one. So you really should look into that big time. From what I have read you are safe using armour in regard to osteoporosis so I would not change that. You don't need more cytomel your t3 is too high here at 428. So you need to look at other conditions, low iron and or adrenal insufficiency. -- In hypothyroidism , dm12420@a... wrote: > Hi! Hope you can help me. I've been on different doses of Armour and always > have hypo symptoms even when labs show hyper. Tried adding cytomel to Armour > and had hyper symptoms. My latest labs on 2 grains of Armour are: > TSH 0.01 > ft3 428 (230-420) > ft4 1.5 (0.8-1.8) > ferritin 37 (10-232) > I feel awful. Felt awful on 90 mg. Felt awful on 180 mg. I have read that > some people feel better adding t4 along with their Armour. I thought maybe I > could reduce my 90 mg of Armour and add in 25 of a synthetic t4. How do you think > that would work for me? Could you also tell me what t4 med would be better for > me since I have lactose, wheat, and gluten intolerance. I heard synthroid has > lactose in it so that would be out for me. > I guess I should mention I have been the cytomel only route too with no luck. > Doc just put me on protocol and that's not working either. > HELP!!! and THANKS!!! > Dee > PS. Changing docs again. My current one won't take any labs which scares me > with osteoporosis. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2003 Report Share Posted December 21, 2003 Hi! I have to tell you that I haven't taken Armour in three days and am feeling better. My old doctor muscle tested me and told me I was allergic too it. I didn't believe his voodoo ways then but I do now. I never thought I'd be saying that about Armour but I know it did not like me. I'm not nearly as tired and actually had a normal bowel movement (sorry). I still know I'm hypo (even colder now) and know I need another thyroid medication. I'm kind of scared to try another natural one and am considering a t4 and t3 separately. I am lactose intolerant and have celiac disease so was thinking of Levoxyl which is free of lactose and gluten. I started the iron despite that my two docs are telling me I don't need it though. Any more help or input you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Dee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2003 Report Share Posted December 21, 2003 Gracia, I've had ALL the tests for the adrenals and they came out fine. I did try hydrocortisone for a few days. Even 5 mgs gave me every side effect possible. You could be right but I'm going to t4/t3 first. Thanks for your input. Dee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2003 Report Share Posted December 21, 2003 Tina, Thanks for your help. Dee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2003 Report Share Posted December 21, 2003 I agree. Iron/adrenal. I think you will have better success with adrenal hormones than adding T4. Gracia > You could be very low in iron here which would explain a lot of your > problem, your ferritin level is very low. Also with your talk of > allergies be adrenal fatigue as well and no large dose of thyroid > meds will correct that one. So you really should look into that big > time. From what I have read you are safe using armour in regard to > osteoporosis so I would not change that. You don't need more cytomel > your t3 is too high here at 428. So you need to look at other > conditions, low iron and or adrenal insufficiency. > > > -- In hypothyroidism , dm12420@a... wrote: > > Hi! Hope you can help me. I've been on different doses of Armour > and always > > have hypo symptoms even when labs show hyper. Tried adding cytomel > to Armour > > and had hyper symptoms. My latest labs on 2 grains of Armour are: > > TSH 0.01 > > ft3 428 (230-420) > > ft4 1.5 (0.8-1.8) > > ferritin 37 (10-232) > > I feel awful. Felt awful on 90 mg. Felt awful on 180 mg. I have > read that > > some people feel better adding t4 along with their Armour. I > thought maybe I > > could reduce my 90 mg of Armour and add in 25 of a synthetic t4. > How do you think > > that would work for me? Could you also tell me what t4 med would be > better for > > me since I have lactose, wheat, and gluten intolerance. I heard > synthroid has > > lactose in it so that would be out for me. > > I guess I should mention I have been the cytomel only route too > with no luck. > > Doc just put me on protocol and that's not working either. > > HELP!!! and THANKS!!! > > Dee > > PS. Changing docs again. My current one won't take any labs which > scares me > > with osteoporosis. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2003 Report Share Posted December 21, 2003 Dee, if you feel worse on Armour, that is a sign that your adrenals are affected. You need adrenal hormones. Often people decide to go back to T4 rather than treat the adrenals but you will end up with more problems that way. Gracia > Hi! I have to tell you that I haven't taken Armour in three days and am > feeling better. My old doctor muscle tested me and told me I was allergic too it. I > didn't believe his voodoo ways then but I do now. I never thought I'd be > saying that about Armour but I know it did not like me. I'm not nearly as tired > and actually had a normal bowel movement (sorry). I still know I'm hypo (even > colder now) and know I need another thyroid medication. I'm kind of scared to > try another natural one and am considering a t4 and t3 separately. I am lactose > intolerant and have celiac disease so was thinking of Levoxyl which is free of > lactose and gluten. I started the iron despite that my two docs are telling > me I don't need it though. Any more help or input you can give me would be > greatly appreciated. > Thanks, > Dee > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2003 Report Share Posted December 21, 2003 There have been a few posters who cannot take armour because it causes their antibodies to react to armour, especially for some with Auto-immune diseases. If your body is eating away at your own thyroid gland giving it more natural hormone may cause it to increase your antibody level and therefore start to attack it more. This has happened but it's rare. I have a girlfriend who is hyper and can't any meds for it. She is a very rare case. It's best to know exactly what kind of thyroid problem you have to know what meds will work best and many people over the years develop more problems as well and then they have to reformulate their medications many times over. One of the most telling signs is when their meds no longer work--most likely the cause is adrenal fatigue or even insufficiency. It's very rare to have complete failure, but it does happen. Usually before the adrenals fail they go though a hyper-phase where they are actually putting out more hormone and that in turn causes your thyroid meds not to work. The key to this is actually adding in more adrenal hormone to calm them down and stop the hyper-phase. In a hyper-phase your face is very moon shaped among other symptoms. Having a lot of allergies is very adrenal, low blood pressure too. Even though your tests turned out negative you must watch out and support your adrenals if you need too. The cause of most of the thyroid meds not working is first look to the adrenals and all your other tests that you can get from your doctor (like you did with iron). Next make sure you are not in a hyper-phase because those test results can show up normal to above normal levels. You will know when you are in one because once you are taking new thyroid meds and if they don't work--- you could crash--my daughter did. This was because she really did need adrenals. But again the only way to know for sure is to rule out everything else. Please keep us all updated!!!! PS> Make sure you take in enough vitamin C without it you will not absorb the iron you need---and take it with food!!!! tina > Gracia, > I've had ALL the tests for the adrenals and they came out fine. I did try > hydrocortisone for a few days. Even 5 mgs gave me every side effect possible. > You could be right but I'm going to t4/t3 first. Thanks for your input. > Dee > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2003 Report Share Posted December 22, 2003 Gracia, I had my DHEA levels tested and they are good. I had 24 hour urine cortisol and that was good too. You could still be right and I will keep that in mind if the next meds do not help. Thanks so much for your input. I appreciate it. Dee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2003 Report Share Posted December 22, 2003 Dee, You wrote: >... I started the iron despite that my two docs are telling >me I don't need it though. Any more help or input you can give me would be >greatly appreciated. > Excess iron increases the risk of a heart attack. You might want to be cautious if they are telling you that you are not anemic. Chuck Blatchley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2003 Report Share Posted December 22, 2003 Here's the rub. Adrenal tests are wildly inaccurate. Peatfield recommends going by DHEA levels (low) and symptoms. We have been taught to believe the tests but some just aren't worth much and as a result 1/3 of hypothyroid sufferers aren't treated. Adrenal insufficiency is completely ignored. If you took only 5mg of cortef you would definately have symptoms, if you actually needed more. Cortef only lasts about 3 hours, so you would feel good and then crash. DHEA is probably important for you too, but you will figure it out. Gracia > Gracia, > I've had ALL the tests for the adrenals and they came out fine. I did try > hydrocortisone for a few days. Even 5 mgs gave me every side effect possible. > You could be right but I'm going to t4/t3 first. Thanks for your input. > Dee > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2003 Report Share Posted December 22, 2003 Dee, I also had a problem with Armour.I will tell you though,...I also went off of it and felt better BUT be aware that you WILL CRASH!!!...I did...BAD..I switched to Thyrolar which is t3/t4 combo synthetic and I feel great so you might get your Dr. to go ahead and prescribe a synthetic combo before you crash!!! Deneen:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2003 Report Share Posted December 22, 2003 very interesting, keep us informed! Gracia > Gracia, > I had my DHEA levels tested and they are good. I had 24 hour urine > cortisol and that was good too. You could still be right and I will keep that in > mind if the next meds do not help. Thanks so much for your input. I appreciate it. > Dee > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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