switching

[peggy64]

After all my problems and continued problems, I have decided to switch to synthroid to see if that will help. I am thinking that maybe I don't need the T3 in Armour.

Has anyone else done this, and if so, how long before I can expect to see any results? I am thinking maybe 3-4 weeks.

Thanks........Peggy

[peggy64]

My dr(actually a CRPN) just called, wants me to try seroquel for sleep. States to give that a try, see if the other symptoms are due to sleep deprivation,before changing to synthroid. which makes sense to me, as too many changes, you won't know which one works.

has me an appt with an endo, who is supposed to be good, right here in town in AUGUST.

so now I am only going to get about 5 of the seroquel, because I have a cabinet full of sleeping meds that don't make me sleep, and I don't want to waste anymore money.

I am so glad to have someone to share this with. Thanks everybody for being here...

[laura1967]

My endo said the conversion chart is incorrect, have you found this to be true? I am feeling very hypo...but my bloodwork is tomorrow and will have to wait a week for results. Should I try to increase by 1/4 tablet? I was on .75 synthroid and went to a TSH-3.058? Anyway my armour dosage is 60mgs, and my new endo is worried i will still be hypo at this dosage.  I have just completed 15 days on armour and really don't feel any diff. Joint pain is a little better but that is about it.

[stella5349]

Peg it may be good to try - go ahead - you can't continue this pattern of no slpeep.

Bretbunch - you have to understand Armour - you did well on 1 grain and that is normal. if your doctor is going to use the med correctly you need to be increased every two week 1/4 grain and reset every 4 weeks to see where you are at optimal level.

It is a constant adjustment until you reseach  a balance.

[peggy64]

thanks everybody...It helps to have some input, and others experiences and support and encouragement.

my dr just called. She told me she thought about me while she was gone on her vacation. She is empathizing about the sleep. She is calling an endo to get some input, and said she might also call a sleep disorder dr.

[laura1967]

Don't feel bad about going back on synthroid...some people just can't tolerate armour. You can always add a small amount of cytomel to your synthroid in the future if you want to try T3 in future. In your case Peggy I agree with you....give it a shot you have nothing to lose but your insomnia...:)

[peggy64]

if you get a chance too, read some of my posts and my journal. I don't want to keep repeating myself and boring those that have heard it so many time, they probably want to throw up. I am just so sleep deprived that functioning is not happening with me at this point.

[bretbunch]

I was doing really well on the Synthroid dose of 100mcg, but then my endo changed me to Levoxyl and upped the dose to 125 mcg at the end of January.  That dose increase and change to Levoxyl caused me to go really hyper--TSH .37, and a visit to the ER.  I then reduced the dose to 50 mcg and ended up with a TSH of 28--hypo--a couple of weeks ago.  I decided to try Armour, and felt good the first week, but now I feel like I am leaning towards the hypo side again.  Since I know that Synthroid 100 mcg worked for me in the past, I would just rather change back to that and then go from there.

When I was on Synthroid, I did not feel any palps until I was over-medicated and had too much in my system (Levoxyl).  Like anything else, you will probably have to go slow and patience is really hard for me!!

I have a call into my endo to approve the change for tomorrow's meds.  I already have a supply of Synthroid at home.  I am not due to  bloodwork until the end of July, so if I do change back to Synthroid, the blood tests should reflect it then.    My Endo doesn't know that much about Armour either, and she said it is harder to get the right dosages.  I'm ready to feel better again and not play around with Armour anymore.  I know that some people swear by it, but I don't think it will work for me.

I have an appointment with a new Endo on August 11--he is supposed to be one of the best in Colorado.  Keep your fingers crossed.

[peggy64]

oh, and on top of all that, my dr is not knowledgeable of thryoid disorders, but she works with me, so if I call her and ask her about that, she is open to working in that as she knows how miserable I am being so sleep deprived.

I don't know if you have thet same problem, but finding a knowledgeable dr in the thyroid, well, I haven't yet....

How are you doing on synthroid and why did you change to armour?

[peggy64]

Hi Lori,

I have only recently been diagnosed with hypoT in march. Started out on armour, had problems, as I was dosed up way to soon.

If you have read any of my posts you will see my chief problem is insomnia. I am now back down to 15 mg. I believe the T3 is causing me too much "hyperness" as I can feel it when it is released almost immediately. I get all these feelings like tingling, jittery, feel my heart beat when I lay down, then my heartbeat is so strong it wakes me up.  

I know it sounds weird, but at the same time, I am exhausted, brain fog, mental sluggishness, all those other hypo symptoms, and can't tolerate any more of the t3. Tried to raise up to 30 mg, but could not tolerate all those other symptoms.

I am really grasping at straws here. I have tried various ways of taking the armour, sublingual and bucal, could not tolerate the T3. It is like speed to me.  Tried ingesting with a meal, I really don't know what else to do, except try the synthroid.

I have tried all kinds of sleep meds, OTC and rx, and until my thyroid hormone levels get stabilized, I don't think I will be able to sleep.

[bretbunch]

HI Peggy.

I have been on Armour for a couple of weeks, 60mg which is equivalent to 100mcg of Synthroid.  I felt good in the beginning, but now I feel like I am still too hypo and I was sitting here this morning, considering whether or not to call my doc and switch back to 100mcg of Synthroid.  It worked for me until she upped me to 125 mcg of Levoxyl in late January.

Why are you considering switching to Synthroid??  

Thanks.....Lori