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HELP: constipation and Armour increase ?
Hello,
I am a mess, I have a constipation crisis right now, fairly bad, and I am wondering if this is because I increased my Armour from 1.0 to 1.25? I increased it on June 12th. I am surprised that the increase would do that (I was expecting a relief with this problem, not having it worse!), it could be unrelated as well because I have had constipation problems for 3 years now and have to take medication on a regular basis, except the medication is not helping right now.
My last results from May are: TSH: 3.361 (0.45-4.5), free T4: 0.95 (0.61-1.76), free T3: 3.6 (2.3-4.2). In my previous results of January my T3 was on the high end a little bit above the range, but I was not tested at the same hour and each time I had taken Armour prior to the test. I will see my GP on Thursday and will test again the thyroid, no Armour this time, will make tests consistent in the future.
I am a mess, I have a constipation crisis right now, fairly bad, and I am wondering if this is because I increased my Armour from 1.0 to 1.25? I increased it on June 12th. I am surprised that the increase would do that (I was expecting a relief with this problem, not having it worse!), it could be unrelated as well because I have had constipation problems for 3 years now and have to take medication on a regular basis, except the medication is not helping right now.
My last results from May are: TSH: 3.361 (0.45-4.5), free T4: 0.95 (0.61-1.76), free T3: 3.6 (2.3-4.2). In my previous results of January my T3 was on the high end a little bit above the range, but I was not tested at the same hour and each time I had taken Armour prior to the test. I will see my GP on Thursday and will test again the thyroid, no Armour this time, will make tests consistent in the future.
Hi Stella,
I had tried a magnesium blend in the past and it did not help. My doctor this morning also recommended magnesium citrate as well, so I'll definitively try it.
My thyroid hormones were measured this morning, we'll see what the results are this time. My doctor thinks that my hormone problems are more related to the adrenals, I'll have an other blood test for that next week as well.
In the meantime, I'll increase my Armour from 1.25 to 1.5.
I had tried a magnesium blend in the past and it did not help. My doctor this morning also recommended magnesium citrate as well, so I'll definitively try it.
My thyroid hormones were measured this morning, we'll see what the results are this time. My doctor thinks that my hormone problems are more related to the adrenals, I'll have an other blood test for that next week as well.
In the meantime, I'll increase my Armour from 1.25 to 1.5.
Well - that is magnesium and that could be your problem too.
Have your thought about going on a magnesium citrate daily ( 200mgs)
Hypos do experience magnesium issues and that could be your constipation issues.
Have your thought about going on a magnesium citrate daily ( 200mgs)
Hypos do experience magnesium issues and that could be your constipation issues.
Yes it is over the counter, though some pharmacies do not carry it or keep it hidden. I bought mine at Wal...Greens. Name is: single dose Phosphate oral saline laxative. One dose is all you should need, really the only thing over the counter that worked for me this time and it worked within 1/2 hour!
Got a stupid question the fleet thing that you used is it over-the-counter??? I might go and by it for emergency use.
Feeling much better today! This morning I took a dose of Phosphate solution from Fleet, that is generally used prior to colonoscopies, well that did the trick! This is only for emergencies as this type of product removes everything from your system but it was needed, tonight I'll be taking some electrolytes.
Gimel: yes I have plenty of symptoms, and I had a miscarriage 6 months ago that made some of them worse: the constipation, fatigue and migraines, I also started to develop new ones: tingling and numbness in feet and hands. Other symptoms are dry skin, always feel cold. My hormones are also completely messed up (DHEA and testosterone very low), so that could also explain some of my symptoms? I am seeing a doctor Thursday for the hormones.
Bhoysbabe: yeah constipation is really not fun! You seem to have it very bad! I have been mostly dependant on Colace until now, but this time it did not work - and the Colace sometimes gives me facial rashes! I used to take Cascara Sagrada in the past. I'll discuss this problem with my doctor to see what else I should take.
Stella: probiotics is a great idea, I started taking some today and will keep taking them. Any good brand to recommend?
I'll keep taking my Armour, let's stay hopeful!
Gimel: yes I have plenty of symptoms, and I had a miscarriage 6 months ago that made some of them worse: the constipation, fatigue and migraines, I also started to develop new ones: tingling and numbness in feet and hands. Other symptoms are dry skin, always feel cold. My hormones are also completely messed up (DHEA and testosterone very low), so that could also explain some of my symptoms? I am seeing a doctor Thursday for the hormones.
Bhoysbabe: yeah constipation is really not fun! You seem to have it very bad! I have been mostly dependant on Colace until now, but this time it did not work - and the Colace sometimes gives me facial rashes! I used to take Cascara Sagrada in the past. I'll discuss this problem with my doctor to see what else I should take.
Stella: probiotics is a great idea, I started taking some today and will keep taking them. Any good brand to recommend?
I'll keep taking my Armour, let's stay hopeful!
Talk about 'through the eye of a needle ' lol.....
Too much vitamin C HAS to come out lol.
Thanks for clearing that up :)
Too much vitamin C HAS to come out lol.
Thanks for clearing that up :)
Oops sorry, I just realized that I posted 500-1000 grams of vitamin C, rather than milligrams. One to two pounds daily might have been just a tad too much. LOL
You're labs are not what I call, optimal yet. Your body probably is still slow and your digestive track is one of the first signs.
I think taking a probiotic regularly with help you get passed this until your Free tests get better. That, along with some yogurt will get things moving again.
The other suggestions are great too. Fiber was pretty hard on my gut, so I stopped trying it.
You should always "dry test" ( no meds ). Do not take your thyroid medication prior to going for labs and try to stay at the same time each test.
Morning is best.
I think taking a probiotic regularly with help you get passed this until your Free tests get better. That, along with some yogurt will get things moving again.
The other suggestions are great too. Fiber was pretty hard on my gut, so I stopped trying it.
You should always "dry test" ( no meds ). Do not take your thyroid medication prior to going for labs and try to stay at the same time each test.
Morning is best.
I would recommend a fibre drink like Fibregel......and taken regulary to allow it to get into the system.
Other than that ...the good old fashioned wives remedy....Prunes.
Other than that ...the good old fashioned wives remedy....Prunes.
Hı I have a terrıble tıme wıth constıpatıon so I know where you are comıng
from,been hospıtalısed twıce thıs yr wıth ıt last tıme I had 5 phospate enemas
eek! Stıll never worked lol! At the moment my doc has me on Fybogel x2 mornıng and nıght Lactulose ın afternoon and Movıcol 6 sachets throughout the day and I`m still not going properly although I get impacted due to diverticular disease and will be getting colon resection later this year.
I`m opposite I`m hyper with Graves seemingly should have diahorrea....just my luck lol.
It might be worth asking doc to change your constipation meds as mine told me my
body got used to just one, thats why I`m taking the cocktail of laxatives just now.
Take care hope it gets better soon
from,been hospıtalısed twıce thıs yr wıth ıt last tıme I had 5 phospate enemas
eek! Stıll never worked lol! At the moment my doc has me on Fybogel x2 mornıng and nıght Lactulose ın afternoon and Movıcol 6 sachets throughout the day and I`m still not going properly although I get impacted due to diverticular disease and will be getting colon resection later this year.
I`m opposite I`m hyper with Graves seemingly should have diahorrea....just my luck lol.
It might be worth asking doc to change your constipation meds as mine told me my
body got used to just one, thats why I`m taking the cocktail of laxatives just now.
Take care hope it gets better soon
When you retest without taking your meds beforehand, I would not be surprised that the free T3 and free T4 levels will indicate that tweaking your meds upward would be helpful. I know this happened with me.
Since constipation can be associated with a number of things, I was wondering whether you had other hypo symptoms as well?
It's hard to eat enough fruit every day to be effective, so another thing you might consider is that I have found that 500-1000 grams of vitamin C daily works wonders, when you need it.
Since constipation can be associated with a number of things, I was wondering whether you had other hypo symptoms as well?
It's hard to eat enough fruit every day to be effective, so another thing you might consider is that I have found that 500-1000 grams of vitamin C daily works wonders, when you need it.
Thanks Tracey! Yes it helps, I am thinking I should switch from Armour to natur-thyroid as well. I have been on Armour for 1.5 years, and have seen no results out of it. My TSH went from down by 2.0 digits, but other than that I still have lots of symptoms.
As for the constipation problem, it started 3 years ago after a surgery on an ovarian cyst, and at the same time I started to gain a lot of weight as well. I got my thyroid tested and it was discovered that the TSH was too high.
I am starting a new diet today to try to prevent constipation problems: I will eat fruits first thing in the morning when I get up, and eat more fruits as well during the day. We'll see!
As for the constipation problem, it started 3 years ago after a surgery on an ovarian cyst, and at the same time I started to gain a lot of weight as well. I got my thyroid tested and it was discovered that the TSH was too high.
I am starting a new diet today to try to prevent constipation problems: I will eat fruits first thing in the morning when I get up, and eat more fruits as well during the day. We'll see!
I was on Armour for 8 months. Your last TSH was still on the high side. I think once you get you TSH more normal you will start going better. I have always had constipation issues also. They are getting better since I switched to natur-throid which is like Armour just a different company that makes it. I am going everyday now still a little hard but it is getting a lot better since my TSH is lower now. Hope this helps.
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