Allergic Reaction to Armour

[barb3405]

I was on Armour Thyroid for years.  In 2008 had heavy bleeding which led to a hysterectomy in April 09 was put on HRT.  Then all these weird symptoms started showing up; sinus infections, head pressure, body aches, memory issues, etc.  I stopped all HRT June 2010 but still had those symptoms plus Anxiety, Insomnia, sinus infections, headaches overall restlessness.  In December GP prescribed Anxiety meds because I wasn't sleeping she felt that was why I had anxiety.  In April 2011 I had tubes put in my ears which I thought would take care of the head pressure, I can't hear well at all now plus I have terrible rining in my ears 24/7.  Plus I was having such horrible heart palpitations I thought I was having a heart attack, along with terrible anxiety, agitation, mental confusion, memory loss, fatigue, restlessness. I stopped Armour Thyroid April 29th and made an appt with Endo.  Couldn't get in to see her till July.  Since then she started me out on 25mcg Levoxyl upped to 50mcg in Aug now 75mcg in October.  I'm depressed, still have headaches, eye problems, ears are still ringing, no motivation, memory problems, don't want to leave my house, no self esteem have another sinus infection.  Does anyone know what could be wrong.  Was I allergic to the fillers in Armour if so what should I do.  Being depressed is so much worse than being amped up but neither one is where I want to be.  I want the old me back.  I am seeing a new doctor on Monday who deals with natural thyroid so I'm hoping he too can shed some light on whats happening.  Anyone else have this reaction to Armour reformulation and if so what di you do.

[barb3405]

Was on Nature Throid for 1 week when I started having chest pain, heart palpatations, pain when breathing so I stopped taking it immediately I believe I have an allergy to the fillers (which I believe are the same that were in reformulated Armour Thyroid) - stayed off for 2 days and went back on Levoxyl.  Do you think that if I have the Levoxyl upped to 100 mcg and ask for a T3 only prescription that this might make a difference for me?  

[gimel]

Based on the experience of Forum members, I have to admit that I have little faith in Endos.  Most of them have the "Immaculate TSH Belief" by which they think TSH is all they need to know to diagnose and medicate a thyroid patient.  That is very wrong.  Others that test beyond TSH, then want to use "Reference Range Endocrinology", by which they will tell you that a thyroid test that falls anywhere within the so-called "normal" range is adequate for you.  That is also wrong.  The ranges are far too broad.  These two practices are the basic reason so many hypothyroid patients are improperly diagnosed and under medicated.   Remember that many members report that symptom relief for them required that Free T3 was adjusted into the upper part of its range and Free t4 adjsuted to around the midpoint of its range.

I am telling you this just so that you are adequately prepared for your appointment Friday.  I hope that your Endo is a good thyroid doctor, but the odds are against it.  In that case you need to know what to ask about and how to guide your treatment in the direction needed.  Remember that the best way to treat a hypo patient is clinically, as detailed in the link I gave you above.  

I would also suggest that you make a copy of this link and mark the symptoms that you have and give a copy to the doctor.  You might also give a copy of the letter about clinical treatment and relate that you would like to be treated clinically, and that your Free T3 is not nearly high enough to relieve hypo symptoms.  Be aware also that scientific studies have shown that Free T3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while Free T4 and TSH did not correlate.

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/basics_starthere/a/hypochecklist.htm

[barb3405]

Thank you for your comments.  I look forward to receiving the PM with the link regarding iron levels.  I had blood drawn today for a check on FT3 FT4 TSH Iron and Cholesterol.  I have an appointment with my Endocrinologist on Friday and will ask her about the iron level and FT3.  
Thank you again.

[gimel]

In view of your reaction to the med, you obviously need to make a change.  If it is the fillers, then changing back to 75 mcg of the Levoxyl might be best for now.  Your labs show that you were not converting the T4 to T3 very well.  Just raising your Levoxyl dose is not going to increase your fT3 adequately.  So, in order to raise your Free T3 adequately to relieve symptoms you are going to have to add T3 to your meds.  

My only question about this is something I read about not even starting on thyroid replacement therapy until iron levels below range are corrected.  Since you have been on meds for a while, that is obviously no longer pertinent, but it does make me think that maybe you should correct your iron levels before adding the T3 med.  

I can't post the link here, but I'll send you a PM with the link and see what you think after reading it.

[gimel]

I'm sure that other members will also comment on their conclusions about your test results.  The main things that I see, consistent with your symptoms,  are the low level of Free T3 and what appears to be iron anemia.  

Free T3 is the most important of the thyroid hormones because itlargely regulates metabolism and many other body functions.  Scientific studies have shown that Free T3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, of which you have many, while Free T4 and TSH did not correlate.  Many of our members report that symptom relief for them required that Free t3 was adjusted into the upper third of its range and Free T4 adjusted to around the midpoint of its range.

So it is good that your doctor has put you on Nature-Throid.  It is most likely that the one grain dose will not be enough to raise your FT3 adequately, but it is a start in the right direction.  In 4-6 weeks you should plan to go back for re-testing and look to get your dosage increased at that time.  

A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results.  This is a good link about clinical treatment.

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

[barb3405]

Labs from 7/20/11
T4  8.0 mcg      5.0 - 13.5 mcg/dl
Free T4 1.2 ng/dl          0.6-1.5 ng/dl
TSH          6.70 mcIU/ml                    0.50-5.00 mcIU/ml

I've been on Levoxyl since those labs.  First 25mcg in July, 50mcg in Aug and 75mcg in Sept.  

Just had labs done on 11/7/11 (Fasting)
Cortisol 6.8mcg/dL         4.3 - 22.4mcg/dL
DHEA-S   84ug/dL     26-200ug/dL
Estradiol   <20pg/mL     Post Menopausal <32
FSH   92.9 mIU/mL     Post Menopausal 23.0 - 116.3mIU/mL
Progesterone <0.5ng/mL      Post Menopausal <0.8ng/mL
C-Reactive Protein, HS     0.33mg/L
T3, Free  2.8pg/mL        2.5-3.9 pg/mL
Free T4   1.2ng/dL         0.6-1.5 ng/dL
TSH    3.52mcIU/mL      0.50-5.00
% Iron Saturation     19            20-55
Reverse T3 results not yet in
Vit D 250H     40ng/mL      30-100ng/mL
New doctor has put me on Nature Throid 1grain.  Recommends iron supplementation.  Compounding of estrogen/testerone and progesterone low dose (don't have prescription yet) so I don't know exact amounts.

[gimel]

Please post your thyroid test results and their reference ranges shown on the lab report.