Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism

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Adjusting Thyroid &/or Adrenal meds

debbylee22
debbylee22 Posts: 456 Member
in Social Groups
I've been dealing with a few new symptoms, trying to figure out which med needs adjusting...thyroid or adrenals... So, according to stop the thyroid madness (my new reference book), I needed to take a temperature test. Which I've been doing (takes 3 days); with one more day to go. As it is averaging exactly the same, and low, I'll be upping my thyroid med.

Do any of you take Armour? I'm just wondering how long it takes to make a difference, since it wasn't that long ago that I raised the dose I was taking...

Replies

  • ginnylee74
    ginnylee74 Posts: 398 Member
    Hi Debby,

    I am taking Armour and still in the adjusting stage. :yawn: My Endo checks my labs every two months whenever he makes a change. So far I'm still having symptoms but we're working on them.

    So give your body some time to adjust. :love:

    Ginny:flowerforyou:
  • debbylee22
    debbylee22 Posts: 456 Member
    You are?!
    Thanks Ginny,
    The "hormonal-depression" that hit me yesterday has me worried. I don't want to have anything to do with that! So... thus my wanting to "fix" it.
    It appears that it takes longer for the Armour to take effect than the synthroid. I think with synthroid you can almost instantly feel a difference.
  • tecallahan
    tecallahan Posts: 732 Member
    I think some doctors adjust too slowly -- in the book it talks about that -- by raising too slowly, you have the same effect as synthroid.
    I took Synthroid for 15 years and had symptoms the entire time -- all symptoms.

    I've been on Armour now since January and have no symptoms... but I think I could have felt better sooner - my doctor raised me too slowly and we didn't know about my adrenal stress until 3 months ago. If your adrenals are fatigued, your cells are not getting the T3 they need even though you are taking medicine... so in actuality, the meds can't work because there's not enough cortisol.

    I started out in January on 1/2 grain - cutting it in half and taking 1/4 grain each day. Now I am taking 2 grains a day... but I think I will need 2.5 by the time we are finished.

    Having Hashimotos also has an effect, because the thyroid levels can swing wildly when antibodies are high. Armour has reduced my antibodies from 285 to 111 -- although 111 is still too high, we can see them coming down.
  • debbylee22
    debbylee22 Posts: 456 Member
    Thanks Terry!
    I am upping both, hoping to get out of the stress that has set me back (hubby's work/bad customer). Both Dr & naturopath have told me I can go by how I feel & raise accordingly, especially since they started me at an extremely low dose.
    My hair is falling out suddenly... ugh! Gotta stop this in its tracks. :noway:
    I do know what "too much" thryroid meds feels like, so will just keep at it.
    Wow, even you don't have it regulated yet... maybe soon we'll have it right. :wink:
    I do feel better, just suddenly having weird symptoms arise to tell me all is not well. :ohwell:
    Thanks again!:drinker:
  • litajoc
    litajoc Posts: 15 Member
    Looking for some advice as well...I was diagnosed with Hashis 11 years ago at 28yo...took my synthroid like a good patient and really questioned nothing. I am now looking more into the disease and its symptoms etc. My synthroid is as 175mg but my symptoms (fatigue (extreme), irritability, sensitivity to heat and cold, dry skin, did I mention fatigue?) are still here and even a few more (nightly leg cramps and night sweats) have shown up. I do tend to at times have both Hypo and Hyper symptoms which confuses me but my Endo thinks nothing of it. I am also anemic and take Iron & B12 supplements which I know cannot be at the same time as my synthroid.

    Any of my symptoms that I bring up are usually attributed to my Hashis or anemia or depression yet my symptoms still continue.

    I am wondering if discussing adding the T3/Cytomel to the synthroid might help? Anyone have any experience with this? I've also read about the Armour but have seen a lot that says they changed their formulation recently and those who had been doing well on it are now having all sorts of issues.

    Truly appreciate insight!!
  • debbylee22
    debbylee22 Posts: 456 Member
    Hi Lit,
    You sound just like I did on synthroid. It was terrible! I switched to Nature Thyroid (Canada's Armour), and am doing much better. However, I am being treated for adrenal fatigue (which is sounds like you have too). Apparently if your adrenals are whacked, your meds won't help you, but will give a high reading in your blood tests. What I'm doing now, is adjusting my thyroid meds & getting adrenal support with Isocort (did saliva test & found cortisol level low-naturopath dr). The symptoms you described have all disappeared. Have you read stopthethyroidmadness.com ? Its VERY informative.
    http://www.drrind.com/therapies/metabolic-temperature-graph - is where you can find the test for temperature that will tell you if your problem is thyroid, adrenals, or both.
    Terry is very good with all of this & also has Hashis. I hope she sees your post!
    Blessings,
    Debby
  • debbylee22
    debbylee22 Posts: 456 Member
    Bump... helping friend find group. :flowerforyou:
  • JudyMcM1
    JudyMcM1 Posts: 1
    Debby - thank you for directing me here! :smile:
  • debbylee22
    debbylee22 Posts: 456 Member
    Your welcome~
    Welcome to our group too! :flowerforyou:
    If you have time to read through the threads that interest you, you'll find lots of info. Also, my blog... some's boring, but I've posted info that I've discovered about thyroid & adrenals there... & links.
    Its ok to post links on this site too, by the way. :laugh:
  • ginnylee74
    ginnylee74 Posts: 398 Member
    I am wondering if discussing adding the T3/Cytomel to the synthroid might help? Anyone have any experience with this? I've also read about the Armour but have seen a lot that says they changed their formulation recently and those who had been doing well on it are now having all sorts of issues.

    Truly appreciate insight!!

    Hi,

    When I told my Endo I was still having some symptoms he added T3/Cytomel as he felt he didn't want to add more T4 as he was happy with my numbers. I have to admit I do feel better. I have blood work on Thursday and an appt. next week and I'll see how it goes.

    Ginny:flowerforyou:
  • litajoc
    litajoc Posts: 15 Member
    Ginny,

    Would def be interested in knowing how your numbers turn out! Keep us posted--thanks!
  • litajoc
    litajoc Posts: 15 Member
    Thank you Debby-I am going to contact my doctor tomorrow--err today.

    Lonni
  • litajoc
    litajoc Posts: 15 Member
    Holy Frustration! I've been surfing the net looking for diet information good for me since I have Hashimoto's Disease. There is so much out there that is contradictory! Mushrooms/fungi (which I don't like anyway) are on the Do NOT eat list but found a Mushroom Leek soup in a a Hashimotos Diet...so which is it, eat it or don't?? Ugggg

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