Due to the Armour grain shortage information - I became concerned with understanding my dosages. Also knowing if there ever would be a possibility of not haveing Armour I wanted to check out my options for me.

I will be checking further into Nature-Throid and Westhroid. From what I know at this point both thyroid medications are still the natural desiccated thyroid but with different fillers and binders. I am not sure however - if the meds could be associated as a generic formula of the name brand Armour.

Armour is still being produced ---only in smaller tablet formula.

However- the concern now for me is to completely understand  the mathematical dosages of  grains - vs- mg's of Armour.

It is important for all thyroid patient to understand their meds whether on a Synthroid mcg tablet and the grain vs mg equality of Armour if certain dosages will be altered in monthy forms.  It is just as important to understand Synthroid vs Levo and know these may not be the same either.

Here are the values I follow to understand Armour dosages.

1/4 grain = 15mg
1/2 grain = 30mg
1 full grain = 60mg

So if for example ;

At this time I take approximately 120mg of Armour. Previously my meds came in 1 grain (tablets) for the month. I took two 60mg tablets a day to get the total 120mg.

Now I have been having trouble getting my 1 grain tablets lately so my pharmacy has changed up the meds to a 1/2 grain (30mg)

I no longer take two tablets
(i.e. 2@60mg 2x's a day)  

I now take 4 tablets
(i.e. 4@30mg 2x's a day)

Simply put - I take two tablets at my dosage times instead of one tablet to get the proper meds each day.

This has worked out well for me getting the smaller dosages in each tablet. It gives me the ability to split the meds more often if I have the need to do that.

Since the dosage change and the ability to upped Armour when needed - my symptoms have decreased dramitically. The swelling I posted most often is mild and I feel much better now.

My next step is to get a new ultra sound on nodule to see if changes happened and it see if I have stabilized in my TSH.

Thyroid Disorder Tracker

You might all think I fell off my rocker - but ------- many of us suffer from some sort of inflammation and/or bloating. Along with that aliment - burning pain or aches accompany these symptoms.

As you know I have posted many times complaining of neck swelling and burning pain for quite some time. I do not recommend trying this until you speak to your physician - but out of desperation I have been doing some magnetic therapy with great success.

I have been visiting a acupucturist for about 2 months. Every visit I felt a flow/magnet force. Every appointment I walked out relieved somewhat of the pain and anxiety I was in. My pain totally concentrates in the neck lymph node and face region.

Obviously - visiting this clinic is becoming quite expensive - so again--- I am back to the research of trying to find out how to feel better. AND why this flow made me feel like a million bucks!

Along with conversing with the therapist - I have starting magnetic therapy. I am learning the pressure point of  relieving the pain in the areas most troublesome. Actually I stumbled across this by accident.

Using the Neodymium Disc magnet (this is a unique disk magnet) and applying it to the pressure points on the neck region have relieved the inflammation and pain I have felt for a long time. Along with relieving this I have found that:

I sleep "HARD" and wake up very refreshed I feel great now after a week.
My GI issues are definately gone- and back to normal
NO HEADACHES --- GONE
Morning anxiety has diminished  Most of my anxiety was gone from the supplements I was using - but early morning was still a problem - This definately makes me happy

I feel "balanced" that is the only way I can discribe it. I am working 8 hrs a day and now able to come home and deal with the home stress too.

I don't think this will cure any thyroid issues - but it has relieved this nagging symptoms I had for years.  I am still in the learning stages - but I just had to share. I still believe all my supplements are still needed to keep the minerals and Vit's in my body functioning - but this has definately assisted them. Along with my med of Armour.

This therapy is NOT recommended for patients that have pace makers and any electro devices implanted.  Read up on this prior to giving it a try - if you are thinking about it and speak to professionals if possible about this therapy.

What a blessing to be pain free and smile again. Getting closer - ALMOST THERE - to the "me" I used to be. I WILL beat this!!!! I was tired of feeling like He// and I won't allow myself to continue dealing  with this disease! I have a life... and want to LIVE it!!

Lord - I don't know what it was - but it was like the inside of my chest and head ws a burning flame - I was reading posts here and all of a sudden a thump in my chest hit and the burning started -  I began to sweat. I was scared. Now as I sit here - my ear and neck are still hot. I can't stop sweating- but most of it is over.

wow - this was not fun.