Change from T3 and armour to NP Thyroid

[Val319]

I know I'm impatient. I'm wanting an honest opinion. I've had adrenal issues and hoped changing from Armour (due to issues of it not working right) to NP Thyroid would help. I changed to NP Thyroid. My dose starting was 25 mg generic cytomel and 30 mg of armour. I know I'm just a week and a half into change but I'm sick. I don't get that feeling of wellness from the T3. Now I know it takes longer with natural thyroid but can anyone help me.

My TSH likes to disappear on T3. I feel armour is worthless with all the fillers they added. I'm not sure my body can handle the natural with the adrenal I can't get help with. My dr is scared when my TSH disappears but I don't get heart palpitations. I sleep better on T3 only. My problem is afternoon exhaustion so the option is to add a small afternoon dose of T3.

I've always hoped for the help of taking natual thyroid but I'm not sure it's working for me.

I don't get heart palpitations and no hyper symptoms on T3 only. My disposition is better but I'm having a hard time if I go T3 and my TSH bottoms out. I'm not really near good specialists so all recommendations are welcome.

[Barb135]

"I don't even see how the TSH even matters if I don't have a thyroid. Isn't it just trying to follow a broken loop?"  You're right; TSH "doesn't" matter, when the thyroid doesn't work or is absent.  

As I said, it's not unusual to have suppressed TSH when on thyroid  med, particularly, one with a T3 component.

If you think you can "educate" your current doctor, we can provide you with studies/information showing that TSH is irrelevant and does not correlate with symptoms.  Some doctors are willing to listen; others are arrogant enough to believe they know it all.

[Val319]

Hi Barb,

I'm in a location were I am looking at 3 hours at least to try and find a new dr. It would be fine if I could find someone who was vouched for but I'm on my own finding a new dr. The last new Dr I tried said, "Sounds like you need a specialist who can handle possible adrenal and pituitary issues, I don't know enough." Granted this was my first appointment with this ENDO and he basically told me he wasn't qualified...wow. Cytomel drops me to suppressed TSH. I don't even see how the TSH even matters if I don't have a thyroid. Isn't it just trying to follow a broken loop? LOL. I will post. I'm hoping to get soon.

[Barb135]

I see that you awaiting paperwork, so be sure to post actual results when you get them.  Be sure to include reference ranges, which vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.

It's not unusual for TSH to be suppressed when on a thyroid replacement medication, particularly, one with a T3 component.  Sounds like you need a different doctor, who will dose by symptoms and FT levels, not TSH.  

[Val319]

From what I can figure the fillers were stopping my body from absorbing it. My body went from using Armour to my FT4 kept dropping and then my FT3 dropped out of range as if it wasn't there.

I was on both Armour and T3 (generic cytomel) because my FT3 was almost nonexistent. Labs have not come in the mail. On T3 (generic cytomel) my TSH is so suppressed it's nonexistent. The Dr will not allow that so I'm using the newer brand NP Thyroid. Still waiting on paperwork but basically my labs on T3 plus Armour had me dropping low on FT4 (out of range), Low on FT3 (out of range, gas) and nonexistent TSH. Thanks for your help. I'm giving the new medication a chance to work.

[dgmootry]

I am on Armour, so far so good, I started really doing well when I divided my dose up, 7am and 3pm, I get enough energy thru out the day, right now I'm still low, I can tell. My TSH after my increase of 15mg last month made my TSH go lower, I will be seeing my doctor this week, and I have a feeling she will have something to say about that. But when I got the increase last month alot of my symptoms of hypo went away. I still have some symptoms so i feel I will need an increase. I'm not concerned about my TSH, and I hope my doctor won't be either, its my hypo syptoms and my Free T3 and Free T4 I will be concerned with, which right now, I believe they are a bit low. Maybe you should just try Armour alone, and see how you feel.

[Barb135]

Please post your actual thyroid hormone levels, and be sure to include reference ranges which vary lab to lab and have to be posted with results.

Why are you on both, cytomel and Armour?  Why not just get on a high enough dose of Armour to do the trick?

It's not unusual for TSH to be suppressed (disappear) when on thyroid replacement med, particularly those with a T3 component, such as cytomel or Armour.  I'm on generic liothyornine (generic cytomel) and my TSH lives a < 0.01.  

We might be able to provide you with studies you can print out to take to your doctor that confirm low/suppressed TSH is okay, if you think he might read them.