Armour thyroid Meds

islandmonkey

Just note your medical condition should also decide if you are on T4, T3 or T4/T3 combos as well as blood work. I am currently on both Synthroid and Thyroid ( Armour).
Most of my weight gain is actually from being hyper. ( yes it happens mainly in those who get Grave's younger). I do not have Hashimotos ( did biopsy to confirm) but I am currently hypo because I was over treated for hyper plus I have both blocking and stimulating antibodies.
Currently I have thyroiditis to the point where I can not exercise and I am living off of tylenol. It is a very fine line between getting the TSH low enough to rest the thyroid and keeping the T4 and T3 within range to prevent hyper. I do blood work every 2 weeks.

What you do want is a doctor that will work with you, regardless of medication choices, and a copy of all your blood work. Everyone has their own set point so when you get your blood work write on it how you are feeling. You will find your set point and then it is easy to tell what medication is doing what.

Ugh, sorry to hear of your troubles - I was hyper (graves) on/off for 20 years before my thyroidectomy this past fall. I also gained weight while hyper! I was very extreme at that point and basically eating sugar ALL day just to get enough calories and energy into me. I know the key for me, and many people with autoimmune disease, is all about stress management. Yoga and acupuncture (and some massages) really made a difference for me.

If they ever start talking to you about permanent solutions, please consider more than just RAI as an option! I am SO happy with my choice of thyroidectomy over RAI. I was positive for stimulating TSH receptor antibodies, and 3 months later they're almost gone! I also had mild graves ophthalmology so definitely couldn't do RAI. I'm thinking your thyroid might be in the process of burn out though, with both the TSH receptor antibodies doing damage?

kats3boys

They are debating surgery but trying to avoid it, so prednisone, med changes and blood work every 2 weeks for TSH,F4,F3 and CPK. Definitely no RAI, very mild eye involvement , mainly light sensitivity and some lid swelling but nothing that needs medicated or treated.

heymom93

Good to find this thread! I have just upped my armour thyroid dose - I am hypo but not Hashimotos - and missed my period. Has anyone else had this problem (btw - I am NOT pregnant
Also does anyone else use bio-identicals with Thyroid. I am trying to navigate this new stage in my life and would really like to find some women who have been there and done that. Thanks!

islandmonkey

Good to find this thread! I have just upped my armour thyroid dose - I am hypo but not Hashimotos - and missed my period. Has anyone else had this problem (btw - I am NOT pregnant
Also does anyone else use bio-identicals with Thyroid. I am trying to navigate this new stage in my life and would really like to find some women who have been there and done that. Thanks!

Missed periods are generally found more with hyperthyroid, but every person is different in how they respond.

What were your last free T3 and free T4 results?

If you want to hear from ladies with experience, please join this group. Don't worry, it's also for post-baby or even no-baby people, just happens to be hosted on babycenter. Very active group of knowledgeable thyroid women:
http://community.babycenter.com/groups/a3695/thyroid_issues_concerns

Pcarsey

My story- Had a ovarian cyst rupture May 22, 2012. Had a (first time ever) SEVERE Panic Attack! Went to the ER. That day changed my life! I have not been able to get my panic attacks, which is now severe anxiety to go away. I did not know where to turn or what to do, so I went to see my Gyno/OB doc about a week after. She gave me the regular "blah blah blah story"... every woman has cyst ruptures, every woman has hormone fluctuations. I could run hormone tests on you but it won't do any good and you will be wasting your money. (we didn't have insurance but yet had the cash to pay for whatever was needed to be done.. my husband and I just wanted my/our Life to be normal. My husband tried to tell her that it wasn't a mental health issue, that it had to be hormonal. If it was a mental health issue, there would have been signs leading up to it.. this exploded out of nowhere. Before this, I was very independent, took care of our children while he was away every week for work. Loved spending time alone... (who doesn't when they have kids...lol) But on this day he could not leave my side. May 22, 2012 at 11:00AM, after I got out of the shower and felt like I was going to die! Literally... like I was going to die, not from pain alone, but this sensation of pure doom! She looked at me and said "YOU need to go to The Mental Health Center, as in leave my office and drive straight there. You are going crazy and need professional help!! I was completely devastated. I thought as a woman and as a gyno, she would be more sympathetic to what I was going through. It took me about 2 months to find a doctor who would actually listen to me and run a complete hormone panel on me. (My TSH was 1.33 Free T4 1.05 and Free T3 2.6) Was diagnosed Hypo July 2012 and have been on Armour 60 mg 1/daily Along with Magnesium, Vit C, iodine, Selenium and Zinc. I have been eating the Perfect Health Diet for over a year. Walk 15,000 steps or 2 hours morning and late afternoon.. (whichever comes first-sometimes it doesn't take 2 hours) on the treadmill a day. SO.... here is my issues.. I still feel like someone shoved me in a crap shoot and has left me there to mold! I take my Armour Thyroid around 5 am because I am usually up at that time.. I "try" to go to bed at 9-9:30 pm. If I go to sleep I wake up at 1 AM and am awake the rest of the night. If I can't go to sleep I am usually up until 5 or so.. Problem is, my 4 year old gets up between 7:30 and 8! I AM EXHAUSTED! I do not know when to take it, how to take it, what to take in conjunction with (any of the other things I am taking), what to avoid that would interfere?... how much time to wait to take what..when to take what and well, everything!! I think all this figuring out is causing me more anxiety! I have read so many things.. Stop the thyroid madness, living successfully with hypothyroidism, online stuff.. etc. everything is SO CONFUSING! I have gained weight since then. I feel like I am in adrenal failure or something. Is my cortisol too high or too low?.. Do I chew the armour thyroid or not? Do I chop it into and take some in the morning and some in the afternoon? Do I need a higher dose? ARGHHHHH!!! Any and all advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks so much, Patty

mackemom

Yes, I am on Armour thyroid. I really like it. Finally able to lose weight. Thank God

Pcarsey

oops, sorry if I posted in the wrong forum..

islandmonkey

I take my Armour Thyroid around 5 am because I am usually up at that time.. I "try" to go to bed at 9-9:30 pm. If I go to sleep I wake up at 1 AM and am awake the rest of the night. If I can't go to sleep I am usually up until 5 or so.. Problem is, my 4 year old gets up between 7:30 and 8! I AM EXHAUSTED! I do not know when to take it, how to take it, what to take in conjunction with (any of the other things I am taking), what to avoid that would interfere?... how much time to wait to take what..when to take what and well, everything!! I think all this figuring out is causing me more anxiety! I have read so many things.. Stop the thyroid madness, living successfully with hypothyroidism, online stuff.. etc. everything is SO CONFUSING! I have gained weight since then. I feel like I am in adrenal failure or something. Is my cortisol too high or too low?.. Do I chew the armour thyroid or not? Do I chop it into and take some in the morning and some in the afternoon? Do I need a higher dose? ARGHHHHH!!! Any and all advice would be much appreciated!

Taking it in the morning is good - and you want to wait 30-60 minutes before eating anything. You also want to make sure that if you take any supplements (multi, etc) that you take those 4+ hours after taking your Armour.

Some people chew; I wouldn't. Swallowing allows the active T3 hormone to enter your system slowly throughout the day. Some people split the dose, but keep in mind that you have to take the afternoon med 3 hours after eating, and 1 hour before your next meal.

When were your levels last tested? Does your doctor test free T3 and free T4? If you're still exhausted you're likely on too low of a dose. I would ask to get your free T3 tested - make sure to take your meds AFTER your morning labs.

Pcarsey

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When were your levels last tested? Does your doctor test free T3 and free T4? If you're still exhausted you're likely on too low of a dose. I would ask to get your free T3 tested - make sure to take your meds AFTER your morning labs.
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I had a complete blood panel done - Free T3 7/9/12 it was 2.6 and on 9/27/12 it was 3.5
Free T4 7/9/12 it was 1.1 and on 9/27/12 it was 1.3
TSH 7/9/12 1.33 - 9/27/12 0.31
I had a whole lot of other tests done too such as ... (the ones that "stood out on levels"-)- progesterone, testosterone, estradiol, FSH, RDW, DHEA Sulfate and Absolute Eosinophils

I have tried reading up on what each means and what could be the cause and I am thinking I have some huge worm in me taking over my life...LOL (trying to find humor in my misery )