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Avatar universal

Armour Thyroid

I switched to Armour Thyroid about a month and a half ago.  Recently I have been having problems with edema - esp. in my face and feet and ankles.  I was wondering if this is normal and if it is, will it go away?  I am even having problems breathing because of the amount of excess fluids.
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Avatar universal
you may want to start a new forum and ask your question since this is a old thread...what dose are you on, what were your last labs and is this your first medication or a change from something else...include that. Don't suffer, may need to search for a new dr,,,, many don't listen or even really know how to address the problems unless they are hypothyroid themselves....bec it is a complex problem that really takes insight first hand
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was just recently started on thyroid armour because the t4 only med was not solving anything. I have had an enormous amount of water weight since last August (it is now March) it is my feet, ankles, legs knees and even up into myself abdominal area. I spent about 3 months with severe breathing problems. I am doing better with less fluid in my lungs.
Do you thinking I will have some luck getting rid of this fluid? I think the hypothyroidism itself is causing the terrible water weight.
I'm new at this and I guess I'm looking for someone to tell me that they too had water/fluid go away once they got adjusted on the armour.

Any info you can give would be appreciated.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm not sure that strawberryseed monitors this Forum any more.  Swelling could be related to still being hypothyroid.  Do you have other hypo symptoms?  If so, what are they?  

Your comment about trying to get the dosage figured out for a year, with blood work every three months made me wonder if you are only being tested for TSH.  If so, you will not likely ever get your dose leveled out.  TSH is a pituitary hormone that is supposed to accurately reflect the levels of the actual thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4, but in reality does not correlate well with either, much less with symptoms, which are even more important.

If you will tell us about all your symptoms and also post your thyroid related test results and their reference ranges, members con comment on the adequacy of your testing and treatment.
Helpful - 0
3177533 tn?1344374937
Are you still on Armour and experiencing swelling? I was on 2 grains for a while been trying to figure out the dose for a year getting blood work done every three months. My swelling is so bad couldn't fit into my shoes. After a night of sleeping there are better in the morning then through out the day my feet, ankles, legs just expand. Was this what you were experiencing? Finally got insurance so have an appointment this week so I am so excited to get a second opinion. Has been so frustrating!!!
Helpful - 0
1569091 tn?1295808551
I was on Armour for five months, before this swelling of the ankle and feet began. I thought that my body would be use to it by now. I am beginning to think that it is the ingredients in Armour. I am speaking of the ones that are added to form the pill. I am seriously thinking of going to ERFA or Westhroid. I do not understand why they have to put so many different binders in our meds. This stuff only poisons our systems. I have heard that it did not use to be this way, by seasoned thyroid sufferers. Armour used to be the top of the line, until the pharmaceutical companies got into it. Bah.
Helpful - 0
1569091 tn?1295808551
I have been on Armour for at least six months now. Had TT Sept of 2010. Never had swelling before, but I am experiencing it, and it wont go away. Shame to show my ankles. I am wondering if it truly the Armour, as Armour does have a lot of strange ingredients in it. Also, I was not a pork eater, so I thought that I might be allergic to it. One of the ingredients that has me concerned is sodium. I am backing off of salt now, thinking it might go away. NOT. I went to the ER a few days ago, because of hard palps. I just wanted to check it out, even though, I know that this sometimes happen. Had an x-ray, EKG, blood tests up the ying yang, and everything looked good. Even though I was experiencing palps, my heart rate showe normal on the monitor. One of the drs., thought it to be adrenal anxiety. I am treating my adrenals, but just started. This disease is truly disheartening. I know that there are worst out there, that I would not want. But, in all honestly, I wish that i had kept my thyroid. It has changed my life considerably. Not for the palps and foot, and ankle edema, I think that I could live life close to normal. I really do not want to go back on Levothyroxine. Felt like I was dying everyday. Ugg. Please give me your opinion. Open to all. Thanks.
Helpful - 0
535882 tn?1396576685
try splitting the dose in half , half morning half in the afternoon, i used to get that racing , throw up in the morning also,   i believe was from too much t3 all at once  better now taking in twice a day, easier to handle.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was on levothyroxin and did not do well. I had read so much about getting on armour thyroid that I was glad when the new doc ordered armour. Now I have been reading about the new formulation and am wondering if I would do better with getting my levels up if I switched to the ERFA? Will my levels ever get where they need to be if I stay on the Armour? there is so much to consider here. It sounds like you can easily have your RX changed to a different pharmacy that would provide the ERFA. Has anyone done this?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I forgot to mention that I took 50 mcg Synthroid and am now on 30 mg Armour and I take it at 4:00 am every morning so that I can safely eat my breakfast and drink coffee within 1-2 hrs.  Should I try splitting the dose or taking it with food?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi there,
  I am new to the medication.  I have been started on Synthroid about 4-5 weeks ago due to my extreme swelling and some weight gain after my partial thyroidectomy at beginning of July 2010 and partial parathyroidectomy at beginning of August 2010.  I felt good for about a week on Synthroid, then started having migraine like headaches, digestion problems, distended stomatch.  So I talked to my doctor and he got me on Armour (at this point, my TSH was a 2.3, my T3 and T4 were on the low side of range, and my T3 uptake was high).  I've been taking it for about a week and I still get swollen quite often, but no major headaches to report.  Should I give it some time to start working?  Also, besides magnesium and zinc, is there anything else that helps or could hurt my swelling?  I would appreciate any help.  I am getting desparate!  
Helpful - 0
595417 tn?1222819446
Sept 2nd  Total Thyroidless

FT3 252  FT4 1.3  TSH 1.67

Before on synthyroid - 137 daily

On Armour

30 first day second third 60 fourth five Sat Sun Mon Tues 90 Wens 90 Thurs 90 Fir 90 Sat 120 Sun so far 90.

I haven't thrown up for two days very hot I think I throw up because I had a hugh craving for tuna melts and sardines once I had sardines that was it sick for two days.
Helpful - 0
393685 tn?1425812522
let's go back to the beginning.

Where are you on the TSH and free testing?

How much Armour do you take - when was the last increase? Are you taking it in split dosages?

remind me.................
Helpful - 0
519035 tn?1348275773
might want to ask stella on that one. have you had adrenals checked out yet? maybe part of your problem. I am nautious, but never any throwing up
Helpful - 0
595417 tn?1222819446
I started Armour going on a almost two-weeks I have thrown up in the morning is this because of the level off T3 in my system???? I almost want to return to synthyroid but want the benifits of Armour??
Helpful - 0
519035 tn?1348275773
Thanks stella answered a lot of my questions;)
Helpful - 0
393685 tn?1425812522
Remember on Armour - it is a direct T3 med - so your body needs to be at certain levels of it all day -

If it is an up and down pattern of taking it - then the symptoms of swelling - headache - nausea etc to name a few - will constantly be present until you start to level off on the T3.
Helpful - 0
487969 tn?1249313291
Meant to say get tingles in my fingers (ring and pinky), my arms to shoulder and lip......
Helpful - 0
487969 tn?1249313291
I get tingles in my arms and in my lip (the bottom one - only the right side, which is my bad thyroid side) and a little in my chin at times.  Not so much the feet anymore.  Not long ago (few weeks) one leg swelled so bad (calf and ankle) that when I pressed it, it did not move (no giggle of relaxed muscle at all).  Put my foot up and it went away within 20-30 minutes.  That was freaky!
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Avatar universal
Do you also feel some tingling? I feel like my ankles will go num.

Helpful - 0
487969 tn?1249313291
Just a thought, HYPO causes edema.......  I take Armour 1 grain - 30 a.m. and 30 at noon.  I had major swelling when I started this stupid thyroid road - not so much now.  Never had abnormal labs - not even once - just read that hypo and edema go hand in hand.  Also, my doc checks my ankles almost every time I see him.  All of the 5 I have had did that.
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Avatar universal
I do split the dose. I take 60 gm Armour, 30 mg in the morning, 15 mg by 11 AM and 15 mg by 3 PM.
Helpful - 0
519035 tn?1348275773
me too, no more levo! Palps are related to armour or is it the anxiety from grtting on the right medicine??? Just make your doctor aware! Are you spreading your doses up? It is recommended. I take half of a pill in morning and half mid afternoon. Seems to help me.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
How much armour are you on? How much Lego were you on?
Avatar universal
Hi,

Seems I start having similar problem with swollen ankles. I start taking Armour less than a mouth ago, everything was fine until now.  A few days back I start having some fast hart beats, I even reduced my dose from 75 mg to 60 mg. Today my ankles got swollen.
It could be related to me taking Progesterone? I am on Estrogen and Progesterone bio-identical hormones and I just started my 14 days of Progesterone. Or it could be a reaction to the fillers, how some people are suggesting? I do not want to go back to Levo, at least with Armour I have the energy. My next blood test is scheduled in more than a week (six weeks after starting on Armour).

Any suggestions?
Helpful - 0
519035 tn?1348275773
Yup thanks! So when she finds this inflammation, how does she rule out what it is??/
Helpful - 0
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