willow

Hi everyone,
I'm very happy because my doctor has agreed to let me try Armour. I am
currently on 125 mcg. Synthroid and 15 mcg. Cytomel. I have been on
these meds/dose for about a year. I feel ok but am hoping that
switching to Armour will help me feel really good since that's what
alot of people report plus it may help my hair grow back and with
weight loss. (Ok, I can dream can't I)Plus I don't have insurance and
Armour is much cheaper.
My question is: the doctor has told me to begin with 1 and a half
grains of Armour (90mcg.)for a month, he says it's slow-acting. Does
that sound like the right amount or too little compared to what I was
taking of the Synthroid/Cytomel combo? I have tried every other
thyroid med and combo thereof but I know nothing about Armour.
Thanks!
Willow

thyroide

The equivalent in Armour to what you are taking now would be 2 1/2
grains . So what your doc proposes would be quite undermedicated . I'm
surprised about that , because you allready take T3 right now , so
...... you should normally not have difficulties to adjust to T3 meds ,
which could explain that he wants to "start slowly" ...... Strange .

Susanne in France

http://www.geocities.com/thyroide

sjg

It seems to make sense to start with a lower dose of Armour than its
synthetic equivalent. Essentially even though you're already taking T3 with
T4, the ratio of T3 to T4 in Armour is greater than what you have been
taking, so your body may need time for the slower/longer lasting T4 levels
to drop before coming up on its equivalent T3. Otherwise you may find the
switch giving you symptoms of hyperthyroid.

The doctor's statement doesn't sound correct, but it's not a bad idea as
long as he agrees to keep increasing your Armour levels until you feel well.
Hopefully he won't be looking strictly at the blood tests when determining
when to stop increasing the meds. My TSH is practically at 0 when I'm
feeling alright (I think it was like 0.01 or something).

-Steve

willow

Yes, I figured about 2.5 because you can't control the amount of T3
and T4 like with the synthetics and I'm taking 15 mcg. of Cytomel
right now. The doctor told me that it would be difficult to match the
doses so it would be equal but I don't want to go through the whole
weight gain fatigue etc. that kept me off work for a year....

willow

My doctor (endo) doesn't use TSH, he uses FreeT3 I think? I can't
remember. My concern is that he won't agree to increase the Armour. My
TSH when tested by the GP is always really low like yours also and
even then I have some fatigue (then they try and tell me its too
low-what a mess this whole thing is) I asked the pharmacist today and
he said that while the 90mcg. of Armour that I'm supposed to start
taking is not a low dose per se, it's still not near the equivalent to
what I'm taking of Syn/Cytomel. I just feel so tired when I think of
what I went through getting to this point...

amethystivy

Wish my doctor thought that was OK. Looks like I doctor shop all over again.
Got a talk about there being too much T3 in Armour and that it increases my
chances of osteoporosis. Also was told my TSH was too low at 0.2, but she
would allow it until I get retested in 6-8 weeks only because FT4 was low. If
TSH is still 0.2, I'll get my dose decreased. I feel good again finally. I
just canTime to find a new doctor I think. : (

sjg

I feel awful when I hear these stories. I waited close to two years before
abandoning an endo that I wanted to give a chance to get me out of the
woods. Same old song and dance that if my blood tests were in range, then it
"couldn't" be my thyroid causing my problems. I went on antidepressants
simply to rule out the repeated notion that I must be depressed.

I finally abandoned ship, and went doctor shopping. I first saw a complete
nimrod that was listed on Armour's web-site. First words out of his mouth
was, "It's not your thyroid". I spent an hour arguing with the guy (at least
he had to waste an hour too). Came across Robert Lang in Thyroid top-docs
site, and although he's not accepting new patients I decided that I'd give a
doctor in his office a go. Switched to Armour, and I feel the best I've felt
since becoming hypothyroid. It's a pain in the arse though, since the office
is almost 100 miles from my house.

Good news though - I talked to my GP (five minutes away), and mentioned that
I changed health insurance and that the 100 mile away endo wasn't in my plan
anymore. I asked if she was willing to continue my treatment with Armour and
continue suppressing TSH. She was basically like sure! I have no idea if she
would've ever started this treatment on my own insistence, but I suppose if
I had to do it all over again I could always have made up the story about
being treated that way already.

So, I'm tremendously relieved that I feel I finally adequate treatment for
my hypothyroid, but now it's like I'm starting all over from scratch with my
low testosterone levels... Here we go again.... :-D

nora grøndal

Why not 1 1/2 + 50µg t4?
That would be 13,5µgT3 + 114µg T4.
nora


news:<bf76667b.0311190745.1d18ec2e@posting.google. com>...

amethystivy

Glad to hear that. My doctor was willing to keep me on the Armour, but is
just a little too concerned about TSH for me to stay with her. She would be
fine for those who are on Armour and feel good with a TSH of 1.0 to 1.5, but
for those who feel best supressed..no way. I figure this way, she served a
purpose....I got to find out that I feel best with Armour and TSH suppressed.
Now I just have to find a doctor that will go along with this. It shouldn't be
so hard for us to feel good.