The difference between taking Synthroid & Cytomel vs. Armour Thyroid or Nature Thyroid

[blsdnsvd]

I am very curious to know what the difference is between taking a T3 and T4 Med vs a Dominately T3 med that has T4, for a person who does not convert well??? Some of you may know my history and bottom line i am struggling with being healthy again. I have many health issues steming from removing of my Thyroid. My endo isn't helping me as I pour out my heart to him, explaining my symptoms (all hypo and then some), while on Synthroid (alone). I have received many comments and advice from people on this site and I have done research (via books and online) as well in order to educate myself on my condition. I understand that Armour Thyroid is basically obselete but there are lots of people who do well on it verses just a T4 med (Synthroid). My levels (FT3) are always low in range, indicating a conversion issue, no matter what strength of Synthroid I am on. I am currently on 88mcg and my hypo symptoms are crazy although my TSH (The Swearby Hormone...lol) is in range but depending on my dosage, it ranges. My FT3 is always low in range whereas my FT4 is upper range.

Would love comments in regard to the difference and always side effects of Armour Thyroid...Thanks in advance.

[kl42]

it takes a while to heal after you get good numbers. especially if you were hypo for a long time it's not  instantaneous, it takes months of slow progress  and healing ,  in my opinion you need to stabilize and stay at the same dose for  at least 6 months to give yourself time to heal. bouncing around constantly changing doses won't let you do that. hang in there. Kevin

[LazyMoose]

"on your lab tests, are your t4 free low range and t3 free high range"

- yes. . And that is normal for many people on pig thyroid, but they still feel good. But for me the "T's" are less spread apart on the Erfa brand. I feel only good effects from Erfa. Like a very small cup of coffee 20 minutes later, no jitters, only good, I like it. The longer someones body is messed up, I think it takes longer to feel good on thyroid med. Took me 1 1/2 years on Erfa to feel great, but 6 months was pretty good too, just not like now.

I never tried compounding, no reason for me. Its a person mixing it. People make mistakes. But some need it - after they tried everything else.

Don't want to get to far off topic for this thread. To refrain from making it an Erfa advertisement, and repeating myself, my Erfa comments have officially ended here.  : - )

[Brucergoldberg]

what about a compound?

[Brucergoldberg]

i have read about thyroid -s .  I have seen it as good too, but I have also seen warnings that it is unregulated so that is scary.

I have really only tried nature throid.  I am tempted to try something else.  This just isn't working for me.  Yes my labs are all in range etc.  but seriously i just feel horrible.  5 months now.  

Lazy,  on your lab tests, are your t4 free low range and t3 free high range?

Do you feel any physical effects after taking your thyroid?  Each dose i take about paralyzes me.  Its like groundhog day. Take meds, feel crappy.  As the day goes on, feel better.  Nausea wears off as day goes on.  I never just take the meds and think "hey i just took my meds".  I sort of take them in fear.

[LazyMoose]

I[ "I'm on NTH and i still feel horrible!" ]

But your not on Erfa.  Its different, like mentioned above - dextrose is the filler not micro-crystalline cellulose.



When you mention NTH (natural thyroid hormone), it sounds like you might be grouping all natural thyroid together.... in thought, like they're the same.....? Can't, as there are technical differences between the manufactures actual "recipes" of the stuff.

All the brands of natural thyroid can all feel different to one individual.

Having tried  Two formulations of Armour, and Two formulations of Nature Throid,  Two manufactures of generic natural thyroid (now obsolete), and now Erfa for almost a couple years - I've used seven (wow) different natural thyroid hormone "recipes".  They all felt a little different, and for me, Efra was the biggest difference and thus, wins the shootout. I saved the best for last. But other people might like another brand. It was one long dragged out, unintentional, scientific medical experiment on myself, and was not very enjoyable either. It all started when Armour stopped shipping the original formula a few years back.

Never tried "Thyroid S" from Thailand, I hear its actually good (not kidding).

I have also been on Cytomel in the past for a short time, that was before my first try with natural which was the Original Armour..

The specific brand and or type of T3 or combo T3/T4 can make a difference in some people.

[LazyMoose]

The dizzy Dr was some type of neurologist. And of course there was another neurologist for the carpel tunnel feeling (numb hands), which I forgot to put on the list above.  

None on them thought of thyroid as far as I know.

So all my money and insurance money was wasted when all these Docs scratch their heads - another repeated story that many can relate too, I would guess.

The art of diagnosing has been lost with technology, just like the new generation of car mechanics, I tell them what to do too, then pay them anyway. Hm.

  ;-0