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Avatar universal

No difference on Armour?

Hi, I've been on 3 grains of Armour for 3 weeks(1/2 pill at 5 am, other half around 11 AM) (equiv to my old Synthroid and Cytomel mix)and don't seem to notice any great improvement in symptoms. Hair is still thin and limp (I have THICK hair)and am tired. I had an estradiol test run to see if that was interfering with uptake since I use a 0.5 patch. That didn't even register!I go for retest next week.My uptake was low without the cytomel but I didn't feel any better with that added either.Free T3 and $ were high, TSH low. Any thoughts?
Thanks.
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Anyone taking Estradiol and Armour Thyroid was started.
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Avatar universal
There is no set time.  Look at it this way, how long have you been sick, might take as long to heal. Some have said when levels have been in Lab range at the level you feel your best for a year. Your best could be any where in the Lab range, high, low or mid. Its up to you and your doctor to find your rage.

You just can't rush healing.
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Avatar universal
How long does it normally take for Hashi's symptoms to subside?  I know it is proably different for everyone but it would be nice to know that eventually some of these symptoms will be gone?
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97953 tn?1440865392
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Takes at least 2-4 months for hair to change in most cases.  The estradiol does not change T4/T3 ratios, but may increase binding of thyroid hormone, but if this is not new for you it should not make a difference.  What uptake are you talking about?  An I-123 uptake is useless in this setting in most cases and the uptake blood test has for the most part been replaced by T4 and T3 -- yours are high with a low TSH -- this is clear-cut: you are on too much medication.
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Avatar universal
I was trying to post this question but I think we hit the max for the day here!
Curious if I could get some opinions...
My latest blood work came back as follows:
         (last month)              (this month)
TSH      1.37                              1.65  
FT4      1.25                              1.46
FT3      2.60                              2.70

My doctor had originally said that I could go on Armour if I wanted to...now he's totally changed his tune and just wants to up my Levothyroxine from 137 to 150...sigh.  Is it unreasonable to add cytomel or go on armour with these numbers.  He said there's too many variable with those meds.  He led me to believe if I wasn't feeling ok I could go on either/or...I WAS feeling well and the last couple weeks have been back to having hypo symptoms (fatigue and joint pain mostly).  One other thing...I've been on 200 mcg selenium daily...I was wondering if upping the dose might help...I know Graveslady (I believe it's her) takes a higher dose than this...and my FT3 did rise a smidge...?  I'm just wondering if I'm being unreasonable in wanting to add cytomel or change to armour.  Looking for opinions...thanks.      
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Armour doesn't work for everyone.  On the other hand, maybe you are not on the right dose yet. Even if we are on the right dose, it takes time for our body to heal and symptoms to subside.  Hashi or Graves' some symptoms just don't subside, and that depends on each individual system.
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