Armour

[JJ_K]

I'm a 42 year old guy and I had Radioactive iodine treatment for Graves 15 years ago and have been on generic Synthroid since then. My current dose in 200mg and I feel OK. I have energy but in all honesty I never got back to the way I was before. I'm a little foggy and have issues with concentration and memory,  but my weight is steady and my eyes are good. I would really like to try Armour supplements to my meds or replace them completely but becuase I have kaiser I need to make sure I spoon feed them the tests I'll need. Can anyone assist me in making sure I get the correct tests. I'm pretty sure I get FT3 and TSH but I guessing I should get a FT4 as well.

Additionally, is it wise to combine the two and how would I figure out the dosage.?

[JJ_K]

Thanks for your response, your opinion is most welcome - I want to make sure I don't have Wilson's Syndrome so I'm going to insist on a total T3 and free T3 as TSH is often normal indicating euthyroid despite adequate T3 levels which could be indicative of Wilson’s Syndrome. This may be a justification to adding a half grain of Armour to get the T3 boost. My diet is very balanced and I'm absolutely religious about keeping any processed foods and high glycemic foods out of my body as my dad is a diabetic. I also have an maturation arrest in my sperm which has caused permanent sterility which may be related to my thyroid condition.

I read this nugget that reinforced my opinion.

"In an article published in the journal "Endocrine", researchers looked at the treatment of thyroiditis. Patients were women who had Grave’s Disease, but who now had hypothyroidism due to thyroidectomy. The authors compared thyroxine (T4) to thyroxine plus triiodothryonine (T3) treatment. The author’s substituted 10 mcg of T3 for 50 mcg of T4. There was a significant decrease in free T4, but there was no significant change in T3 or TSH concentration. The authors’ concluded that treatment with T4 plus T3 increased mental functioning, but not on cognitive functioning. Also symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism decreased on the symptom scale after combination therapy was used.9 In another journal article in the "New England Journal of Medicine" in which the researchers compared thyroxine with thyroxine plus triiodothyronine in patients with hypothyroidism, the researchers concluded that partial substitution of the T3 for the T4 may improve mood and neuropsychologic function."

Full article at http://www.project-aware.org/Resource/articlearchives/thyroid.shtml

[AR-10]

A comparison of your Free T4 and Free T3 should show any problem you may have converting T4 to T3.

If you are having conversion problems, Armour may improve how you feel. I have read one or two cases of people taking both types of hormones, but it is not the usual practice.

Have you had a full hemotology panel run lately?
What about tests to rule out vitamin or mineral deficiencies?

Mild hypothyroidism can cause absorbtion problems of all sorts. You may be deficient in some nutrient that is giving you these symptoms.

It's possible your generic is giving you minor fluxuations in your hormones from month to month. Perhaps a switch to Synthroid would clear it up.

Your TSH may be a little high, which would also give you symptoms. Good luck figuring it out.