Aa
A little more hopefull
Finally today I got a referal to an endo. Ive been waiting for 6months now. My incompendent doctor finally admited that he doesnt know whats going on with me. Right now im on 60 mcg of Armour. And a take some herbal fomualation for my aredrnals. I started my thyroid journey about 6 months ago. I did not tolerate levothroxine at all. My symtoms are burning eyes, pretty heavy anxiety, weird headaches, brain fog,cranial pressure, hot flashes at night in my legs.A lot to deal with. Anyone else have these symtoms? Does this sound like more than a thyroid issue? I feel like this whole thyroid thing is a like a bad curse to have. Or is it just me. Anyways im Kyle and im new here. I was just a broswer before, but this sounds like a good place to hang out at now.Nice to meet you all and any input would be great.
****My last labs at 45 mcg of armour*****
T3 uptake ,37 H , 22-235%
T4(Thyroxine) , 5.0
TSH 3.57
****My last labs at 45 mcg of armour*****
T3 uptake ,37 H , 22-235%
T4(Thyroxine) , 5.0
TSH 3.57
Hi Kyle....I will pick up where Stella left off.....there is a thread here called "those of us on armour #2" search it and enjoy the reading and join us there. Also at the top of this page you will find where it says discussions, health pages, trackers and members. Click on the health pages and then go to the armour information pages. Read through that and at the bottom is a link that will take you to the actual prescribing information page for armour. It explains proper dosaging and increasing and when to test. Increases on armour are done every 2-3 weeks and bloodwork needs to be done every 4 weeks. It is different than the synthetics. Print it out and take it to your doctor. Unfortunately most drs are unaware of the different protocol with armour.
Next.....How long ago were those labs done and how long have you been at 60mgs? You are still hypo so that is why you are still feeling bad. It does take a while for your body to start healing, but it cannot start the healing process until you are at an optimum level. Your TSH should be very low (usually looks hyper), your FREE T3 should be high normal, and your FREE T4 should be mid to low normal range. These are the tests that should be run every 4 weeks until you are optimal.
What herbal formula are you on for your adrenals? I am also on an adptogenic herbal blend which is good because it adapts your levels....doesn't stimulate.
Look forward to talking further!!
P.S. Make sure you are breaking up your 60 mg dosage into at least twice a day. I use a pill splitter and take in am and then again in afternoon. T3 is short lived and needs to be taken at least twice a day. :)
Next.....How long ago were those labs done and how long have you been at 60mgs? You are still hypo so that is why you are still feeling bad. It does take a while for your body to start healing, but it cannot start the healing process until you are at an optimum level. Your TSH should be very low (usually looks hyper), your FREE T3 should be high normal, and your FREE T4 should be mid to low normal range. These are the tests that should be run every 4 weeks until you are optimal.
What herbal formula are you on for your adrenals? I am also on an adptogenic herbal blend which is good because it adapts your levels....doesn't stimulate.
Look forward to talking further!!
P.S. Make sure you are breaking up your 60 mg dosage into at least twice a day. I use a pill splitter and take in am and then again in afternoon. T3 is short lived and needs to be taken at least twice a day. :)
Lots of thoughts for me to talk with you on this
We have to look first at those labs - that is on 60"mg" (not mcg) = 1 grain of Armour. You are still above on your TSH so you need to lower that.
I don't get your T3 ranges 22-235% what is that? Your 37 is some what in the higher range IF I an thinking appropriately on the reference ranges that I see. But not above - just in the higher level.
and the T3 and T4 testing you had done is not correct for dosing with Armour anyway.
You need FREE T3 and FREE T4 testing - see the word Free - there IS a difference. The Free levels is what's floating around in your body to help you get out of the hypohe// many fall into and it sounds you are in some of that right now with the description of your symptoms in your post.
The T3 and T4 basic testing you show in your post are "stored inbound hormones" just sitting around and not doing anything at all for you. and are not really worth evaluating with a lab.
Does you endo understand proper dosing with Armour? and correct testing?
Why are you taking adrenal supplements at this time? Who or How was this advised and what exactly are you taking?
This can mess the whole Armour dosage thing up too - if not done correctly and keep you feeling bad with hypo symptoms. Introducing too many things while on Armour will not help you find what works best and can keep you trapped for a long time in a hypo state. Many have thyroid dumps when on Armour and are taking too much or too many things to allow that med to work right and they suffer needlessly. Baby steps is key to balance out.
One thing I read - labs were done on the 45MG then you were upped to 60mgs. ( I assume when you were on the 45mgs - those were 15mgs small tablets and you were taking 3 pills) right?
Now you are on an increase of 60mg tablet 1x a day ( again is this correct to assume?)
Dosing Armour that works best for most is taking the total value of the tablet and dividing it into taking it 3x's a day - morning - around noon and again at 2. This is direct T3 coming in and dosing all at once causes for most Armour patient a "high" in the AM - if taken then -
and then a crash in the late afternoon when all the direct T3 is gone. Distribution is key to balance out and start the healing of using the hormones to get you at an optimized level.
The weird headaches / crainal pressure is common and in most cases they subside usually after two weeks when the body excepts the increase of the direct T3 and is working with it now to help your hypo symptoms.
alot more to share with you - but I have to get moving now. See the Health Pages here on our Community and read through the HUGE Armour post available too.
I will look back on your post here later today to see if you respond back
We have to look first at those labs - that is on 60"mg" (not mcg) = 1 grain of Armour. You are still above on your TSH so you need to lower that.
I don't get your T3 ranges 22-235% what is that? Your 37 is some what in the higher range IF I an thinking appropriately on the reference ranges that I see. But not above - just in the higher level.
and the T3 and T4 testing you had done is not correct for dosing with Armour anyway.
You need FREE T3 and FREE T4 testing - see the word Free - there IS a difference. The Free levels is what's floating around in your body to help you get out of the hypohe// many fall into and it sounds you are in some of that right now with the description of your symptoms in your post.
The T3 and T4 basic testing you show in your post are "stored inbound hormones" just sitting around and not doing anything at all for you. and are not really worth evaluating with a lab.
Does you endo understand proper dosing with Armour? and correct testing?
Why are you taking adrenal supplements at this time? Who or How was this advised and what exactly are you taking?
This can mess the whole Armour dosage thing up too - if not done correctly and keep you feeling bad with hypo symptoms. Introducing too many things while on Armour will not help you find what works best and can keep you trapped for a long time in a hypo state. Many have thyroid dumps when on Armour and are taking too much or too many things to allow that med to work right and they suffer needlessly. Baby steps is key to balance out.
One thing I read - labs were done on the 45MG then you were upped to 60mgs. ( I assume when you were on the 45mgs - those were 15mgs small tablets and you were taking 3 pills) right?
Now you are on an increase of 60mg tablet 1x a day ( again is this correct to assume?)
Dosing Armour that works best for most is taking the total value of the tablet and dividing it into taking it 3x's a day - morning - around noon and again at 2. This is direct T3 coming in and dosing all at once causes for most Armour patient a "high" in the AM - if taken then -
and then a crash in the late afternoon when all the direct T3 is gone. Distribution is key to balance out and start the healing of using the hormones to get you at an optimized level.
The weird headaches / crainal pressure is common and in most cases they subside usually after two weeks when the body excepts the increase of the direct T3 and is working with it now to help your hypo symptoms.
alot more to share with you - but I have to get moving now. See the Health Pages here on our Community and read through the HUGE Armour post available too.
I will look back on your post here later today to see if you respond back
No I think you've joined the right community! Welcome Kyle. I really think you might be on the right track with Thryoid. I'm still fairly new to this all too, but I have a quick question. I know that herbals tend to interact with certain meds...did you make sure the herbals you are taking for your adrenals are not affecting your Armour doses? Just a good thing to rule out if you haven't already. I'm glad you got a referral to an Endo. If you don't have luck with an Endo I'd try for an Internal Meds doc. They deal with similar issues too and sometimes have a more open mind to the Thyroid.
Good luck with your appointment and let us know how everything goes. Keep posting! :)
Good luck with your appointment and let us know how everything goes. Keep posting! :)
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