Aa
Just switched from Levothyroxine to Armour Thyroid
I was wondering if anyone else had problems with levo, and anxiety. It's very conntroversial when it comes to the mediacal ccommunity, but I have been diagnosed with panic disorder, and I have this feeling that it's somehow linked to my thyroid, and didn't rear its ugly head untill 4 days after taking levo. Sooooo, just wondering if anyone had a similar experience and if armour helped. Or if it has helped in other ways, side effects you have had from the Armour, things like that. It is day 5 of my switch.
I actually tuck it between my upper cheek and gum. The difference is the med is distributed entirely into the bloodstream and you are getting the actual dose.
If you swollow meds - the meds need to go through the stomach. The acid in the stomach will deplete the dosage and you do not get the actual Rx'd dosage through the bloodstream.
I always wondered if Synthroid could be done that way too?
If you swollow meds - the meds need to go through the stomach. The acid in the stomach will deplete the dosage and you do not get the actual Rx'd dosage through the bloodstream.
I always wondered if Synthroid could be done that way too?
One more thing. You mentioned how you take the Armour, Do you let it dissolve under your tongue? And what is the difference in that and swallowing. Thanks again.
Thanks ladies. I feel validated in the sense that I sometimes feel like I am too dependant on someone else i.e. my dr. to "fix" me and , as you have both said it is my body and I must take control of the things that are going on with my health care. I recently switched doctors and found one that seams to be very much an advocate as well as a Dr. so I am happy with that. And when I get my next labs done in about 3 weeks I will make sure that I request the tests you suggested and copies. I'll be back for more advice, lol! Take care!
Hello
I wanted to give you a bit of basic information on your labs. Please follow Peggy suggestions on researching a bit though on your own
Your TSH value is your thyroid stimulating hormone. Ironically, this value to from your pitutary gland signaling your thyroid to pump out thyoid hormone naturally though your system. When really taking Armour this value is needed to some degree.
FT3 or Free T3 is the most valuable test and level that should be looked at when on Armour. This hormones job is to run free through the system to balance out thyroid function and to rid a thyroid patient of hypothyroid symptoms.
FT4 or Free T4 is the homones that is needed to convert into the FT3.
Synthroid is a T4 med only which when taken must convert into the T3 to stablized the hypothroidism. Some patients - as I - have trouble converting T4 - so it did not work for me.
Armour is a natural dessicated pig gland that has all the T's in it. It is as close to what our bodies produced naturally and has been around for more than 60 yrs. Armour seems to work best when we MULTI-DOSE it– i.e. distribute it throughout the day rather than taking it in one big dose in the morning, the former which better replicates what our own thyroids would be doing—giving direct T3 throughout the day. We all experiment to find what works best for us, and generally, that means taking the highest amount in the morning, followed by a lower amount in the early afternoon, as an example. Additionally, many of us do our Armour sublingually/bucally (under the tongue or between the inner cheek and gums).
In addition - Armour should be tested and raised 1/4 grain every two to four weeks until optimal ranges are achieved and stabilized.
Considering the hypothroidism - whether on Synthroid or Armour - many suffer symptoms. and there is a big range of them. Weight gain - fatigue - hair loss - anxiety - just to mention a few. Remaining hypothyroid for long periods wrecks havoc on our whole autoimmune system.
No matter what meds you are on - the trick is to rid yourself of these symptoms and to stablized the thyroid. Not depend totally on a TSH lab range.
This is where you need to be your own advocant. No one can make you better b/c they are not inside you. A doctor can tell you - you fall within normal ranges - but if you don't feel well - you are not normal yet.
I wanted to give you a bit of basic information on your labs. Please follow Peggy suggestions on researching a bit though on your own
Your TSH value is your thyroid stimulating hormone. Ironically, this value to from your pitutary gland signaling your thyroid to pump out thyoid hormone naturally though your system. When really taking Armour this value is needed to some degree.
FT3 or Free T3 is the most valuable test and level that should be looked at when on Armour. This hormones job is to run free through the system to balance out thyroid function and to rid a thyroid patient of hypothyroid symptoms.
FT4 or Free T4 is the homones that is needed to convert into the FT3.
Synthroid is a T4 med only which when taken must convert into the T3 to stablized the hypothroidism. Some patients - as I - have trouble converting T4 - so it did not work for me.
Armour is a natural dessicated pig gland that has all the T's in it. It is as close to what our bodies produced naturally and has been around for more than 60 yrs. Armour seems to work best when we MULTI-DOSE it– i.e. distribute it throughout the day rather than taking it in one big dose in the morning, the former which better replicates what our own thyroids would be doing—giving direct T3 throughout the day. We all experiment to find what works best for us, and generally, that means taking the highest amount in the morning, followed by a lower amount in the early afternoon, as an example. Additionally, many of us do our Armour sublingually/bucally (under the tongue or between the inner cheek and gums).
In addition - Armour should be tested and raised 1/4 grain every two to four weeks until optimal ranges are achieved and stabilized.
Considering the hypothroidism - whether on Synthroid or Armour - many suffer symptoms. and there is a big range of them. Weight gain - fatigue - hair loss - anxiety - just to mention a few. Remaining hypothyroid for long periods wrecks havoc on our whole autoimmune system.
No matter what meds you are on - the trick is to rid yourself of these symptoms and to stablized the thyroid. Not depend totally on a TSH lab range.
This is where you need to be your own advocant. No one can make you better b/c they are not inside you. A doctor can tell you - you fall within normal ranges - but if you don't feel well - you are not normal yet.
Hey, good to see you back at the forum. One of the best things you can do, is to get a copy of your lab results everytime you have them run. By law, you are entitled to a copy of them. Get you a folder to keep them in, to keep up with how you are doing.
You are right about being proactive. You will have to research and educate yourself on this disease and on the armour, in order to really know what is going on. Drs do not allow enough time to really discuss things at length with pts and most, just tell the pt what dr wants him to know, and what will not arouse a lot of questions.
The copy of the results will have the tests run, the lab range, and your actual reading.
Also, ask your dr to run a TSH, a FT3 and a Ft4.
do you know what your labs were, when he changed you from synthroid to armour?
You might want to make sure your labs are run again at about 4 weeks, and med adjusted accordingly.
Hopefully, you will have a great experience with Armour, and you will adjust and get your symptoms under control.
Maybe AR will jump in and answer. He always does a great job at it.
I am so sleepy, so I have reread this several times. Hope it makes since. If not, just right it off due to exhaustion (:c) ha ha.
still waiting on that elusive good night sleep. Hopefully, this will be the night.
You hang in there now, it will get better. It might be a bit, but it will.
proverbs 3:5-7
Take care........Peggy
You are right about being proactive. You will have to research and educate yourself on this disease and on the armour, in order to really know what is going on. Drs do not allow enough time to really discuss things at length with pts and most, just tell the pt what dr wants him to know, and what will not arouse a lot of questions.
The copy of the results will have the tests run, the lab range, and your actual reading.
Also, ask your dr to run a TSH, a FT3 and a Ft4.
do you know what your labs were, when he changed you from synthroid to armour?
You might want to make sure your labs are run again at about 4 weeks, and med adjusted accordingly.
Hopefully, you will have a great experience with Armour, and you will adjust and get your symptoms under control.
Maybe AR will jump in and answer. He always does a great job at it.
I am so sleepy, so I have reread this several times. Hope it makes since. If not, just right it off due to exhaustion (:c) ha ha.
still waiting on that elusive good night sleep. Hopefully, this will be the night.
You hang in there now, it will get better. It might be a bit, but it will.
proverbs 3:5-7
Take care........Peggy
Hey Peggy I feel so out of the loop when it comes to this. I don't even know what tsh3 or whatever is. I never know my exact lab results. I just go ok, and accept what the DR. says to do., I have begun to be much more proactive in this so if you could briefly tell me what I should be researching as far as levels, I would REALLY appreciate it. Thanks alot. My brother is hypo, he takes his pill every morning and that's it, no problems. Wish I was more like that. Good luck to you on that sleep issue.
hi,
I have just switched from armour to synthroid. Armour was dumping the T3 way too fast into my body, and I couldn't tolerate that. That was making me have some anxiety.
I think each med is going to have its own ugly head to rear, in some aspects for some, if not all of us, as the thyroid is such a flucutating gland in the way it releases the hormone anyway.
I have been on synthroid about a week and it is making me have muscle twitches and arm tingling, only when I lie down. Go figure.
The armour made me have a lot of anxiety/panic when my blood levels would rise, and I would commence to hyper-ness. I also had some internal shakiness.
I was so hoping to be able to stay on the armour, but I believe we have to go with the med that works best for our body. Who knows, the side effects from synthroid might be worse than armour, and I might be jumping ship, back to armour.
Time and side effects and symptoms will tell. Please keep us posted how it works for you.
I have just switched from armour to synthroid. Armour was dumping the T3 way too fast into my body, and I couldn't tolerate that. That was making me have some anxiety.
I think each med is going to have its own ugly head to rear, in some aspects for some, if not all of us, as the thyroid is such a flucutating gland in the way it releases the hormone anyway.
I have been on synthroid about a week and it is making me have muscle twitches and arm tingling, only when I lie down. Go figure.
The armour made me have a lot of anxiety/panic when my blood levels would rise, and I would commence to hyper-ness. I also had some internal shakiness.
I was so hoping to be able to stay on the armour, but I believe we have to go with the med that works best for our body. Who knows, the side effects from synthroid might be worse than armour, and I might be jumping ship, back to armour.
Time and side effects and symptoms will tell. Please keep us posted how it works for you.
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