Those of us on Armour- #2

[laura1967]

Here is #2 thread that goes along with our first one which was taking too long to load due to it being so long!!
For anyone new, there is a lot of posts to read in the first thread and then please post on this one. Lets keep it going full of great information and support!!

[SushiBabe67]

I have been on armour for 2 months; 30mg.
no side effects, my mood is improved; finally
starting to lose weight; with great effort, however,
make sure all of you avoid soy products...it
is in everything; you have to watch it;
  happy w/ the armour; I am not feeling
like a teenager; however, My mood, and
I need less sleep which is great;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

[bretbunch]

Good morning!

I found this 2nd thread.  Just had my blood tests taken on Friday and I am anxiously awaiting the results this week.  The aches and pains have come back with a vengence over the past two weeks and I'm sure I need to have a medication increase.  I will post my test results when I get them in order to get feedback.   I've been on Armour for 10 weeks now and started with a TSH of 28.  We'll see how it looks now.

In the process of packing up the house over the next few weeks for a move.  Not as easy to do with thyroid issues--but I'll get through it!

Laura--I hope you feel better soon!!

[laura1967]

Hi gals!  I had a good 4 days running...yeah! Still heavy fog though....hmmmm

Sushi- yes you are right about the soy...i react easily to it and feel my thyroid burning right away. So glad you feel good. What are you levels at??? I just got my results back and the dr only increased me on the weekends, which doesn't make sense for armour.
She wants me on my 75mgs during the week and 90mgs on weekends.

Bretbunch- cant wait to hear what your levels are too, as you are 1 week behind me. Yes my aches and pains came back to....especially my wrists and low back and hip area. Please pace yourself and take your vitamins!!

My blood tests from last week:  TSH  0.24  (.30-3.0), Free T4 1.3 (.8-1.8),
Free T3  381 (230-420) ,  reverse T3  26  (11-32)

I still have the brain fog though...sniffle.....sniffle!

[stella5349]

Hi all

This thread is much easier for me to load.  :)

180 posts on the other was impossible to get up and running for me :(

I am still euthyroid at 0.04 TSH - Had a bad day here and there but doesn't everyone?

Bret - Let us know the results. I bet either you are in need of an increase and/or magnesium may help you out on that one.

[laura1967]

Nice to see you Stella!! Sounds like last weekend and cleaning through the week is still catching up to you. Also it is our pms week as we talked about. Take it easy tomorrow! :) :)

[peggy64]

Hi,

I read somewhere that if people are having trouble getting their Armour from the pharmacy, get the pharmacy to call Forest Labs and they will drop ship a package.

I am still feeling crappy, but I think mine is due to very sick adrenal glands. Still trying to baby those things so I can get some sleep.

[helen1207]

i switched from Synthroid to Armour 5 days ago. i started on one grain, and definitely felt the difference, more energy, not depressed anymore. but i do have light headache(all day long), everyday, for an hour or so, i felt shaky, then it would resolve itself. my heat beat is around 90/min.  i read it somewhere that you guys think the headache is normal, when will it disappear? or perhaps one grain might be too much for me? i was on 100mcg Synthroid before i switched.

[laura1967]

Hi Helen....1 grain armour is 60mgs...which is a usual starting dose. It equals to between 75mcgs to 100mcgs. of synthroid. You will probably end up on a higher dosage. Sometimes people do end up starting out on a lower dosage if it is too much.
Usually the headaches will last about a week along with the racey feeling. If it doesn't go away and gets worse, then you may have to cut back.
I was on 75mcg synthroid when switched to 60mgs armour (1grain)...I am now on 75mgs weekly and 90mgs weekends. Each person is absolutely diff....keep us informed as the days go by so we can help you. I am sure Stella will check in soon to.

[anca77]

I started two weeks ago, originally with 60 mgs and I had to cut back to 45 mgs and then increase to 60 mgs after a week (taking twice a day, 30 mgs in the morning and 30 mgs before 2 PM). I did this because of the effects you are talking about.

Yes, the headache and palpitations will go away.

[peggy64]

It will also help cut down on the symptoms if you can split the dosages throughout the day.

    I just wonder if these symptoms ever go away, or is this something armour pts have to deal with all the time.

    Anyone been on it a while and can give us some hope that this will eventually and completely subside, OR do we need to just expect it from now on out?

Thanks......Peggy

[laura1967]

My headaches went away after a few days......I never had any racey feelings at all.
I swallow mine though. When I tried to do it sublingually my body went into complete hyper mode and I felt aweful. Felt like I was speeding as well.
Helen- Yes you need to split dosages. I take mine twice a day. I bought a pill splitter and no problem.

[peggy64]

I just wonder if the different side effects ever go away, or is this something armour pts have to deal with all the time.

    Anyone been on it a while and can give us some hope that this will eventually and completely subside, OR do we need to just expect it from now on out?

[helen1207]

Hi Laura, and Peggy, thanks for your suggestions. I will split the pill today and see how that goes. will keep you guys posted. one question, for the second half, do i need to take it before meal as well?

[peggy64]

It depends on how it affects you. It doesn't seem to bother me either way.

How is it going with the armour? I am having a bit of anxiety myself...I hate that....

[laura1967]

I just take mine between 30-60 mins before i eat. Just to make sure.

[helen1207]

overall, it's much better than Synthroid, i took an half this morning, my headache seems to be better, i still have a little shakiness. i guess i just need to pay attention and adjust. how long have you been on armour? do you have hashi?

[laura1967]

Hi....just checking with you to see if you got your test results? Let me know how they turned out! :)  :)

[VinaSine]

Hi everyone,  I am fumbling while learning to use this forum.  I meant to post this in this thread but made a unique question so here is my comment.    :o)

I'm new here.  
I had a Total Thyroidectomy this year and had rebound hypothyroidism.  I've been on Sythroid (generic then brand) for about 6 years then they yanked my thyroid because of suspicious cytology.  I just haven't felt well for years and worse for months after surgery.
  I've run the usual gambit of high cholesterol, bone loss, wt gain, fatigue, hair loss, skin sensitivity's, SSRI, etc, etc and seeing Drs. who follow the main stream TSH only treatment.  Finally found Armour advocates to talk to who convinced me to go with Armour.
I'll be starting it in a couple days and am wondering if anyone has any tips to offer that will help smooth my transition.  Currently I take 150mcg levothyroxin.  I know the equiv dose of Armour is 90mg.  
I'm really happy to have found this forum and look forward to making new friends with my same issues that we can talk about.
Vina

[laura1967]

Hi...welcome!!  Okay here is some good reading for the day....at the top rt hand area of the page you will see where it says discussions, health pages, trackers and members. Click on health pages and click on armour information page. It is filled with info and at the bottom will give you the link to get the actual prescribing information sheet. It explains dosaging and testing times which is diff than synthetics. Increases are every 2-3 weeks and testing is every 4 weeks. 90mgs will probably just be a starting dosage for you. Usually they start on 60mgs and work up from there. If you get jittery or hyper then ask to cut back to 60 and start from there. The conversion charts are a little off but a great place to start. You will probably need more than 90 but time will tell.
Next, we have a thread for "those of us on armour" named that. the original one is filled with info and people. It got so long we started another with #2 after those of us on armour. There you will find all of us who can help you through this!
Hope this is good starting info for you!

I must have been answering your other thread while you found this one!! lol   I just pasted from the other one to here for you!!  :0 :)  :)

[VinaSine]

Thanks for the cordial greeting Laura!  Nice to meet you... Appreciate the locations to find info.  Going surfing now...{giggle}

[bretbunch]

Hi there!

I am waiting for my test results to be received in the mail.  I called the doctor's office yesterday and they told me that my TSH is sitting at .03, but I don't know what my Free T3 is yet.  That info is being mailed to me.  But--we are reducing my Armour by 15mg from 105mg back down to 90mg.  I started the slight reduction yesterday and I think that is probably a good call from the doctor's office.  I was a bit nervous (prior to learning what my TSH was) to increase the dose anyways.  

I am still trying to find my optimum dose, and I don't yet know what that is, BUT--apparently, Armour is working for me, its just a matter of tweaking it a bit.  I'll post my full test results and ranges when I get them in the mail.  I'm anxious to see what they are as well.  :)

The past 3 weeks now, I have been having more aches & pains and a slight breathing problem had surfaced.  My system is a bit weird as I can definitely have breathing problems when I'm too low, but I can also get them when I am too high.  I guess its my body's way of telling me that things need to be adjusted.  Looking forward to a few weeks down the road to see how my body is adjusting and feeling.  Let's hope this change is the change that I am looking for.  I think I am getting closer--but not there yet!  

How are you feeling??  

Note to Peggy:  I do not have heart palps or raciness and I have been on Armour for 11 weeks now.  I am a believer that those symptoms do go away when your body gets more used to the drug.    I know I have limited experience with it, but it seems to be working for me--with only a little bit of tweaking for now.  To be contined though......

[laura1967]

Hi...great can't wait for you to get them either so we can compare...lol....almost like the buddy system...lol! (11 weeks and 3 days for me)
You know, I get breathing problems too....usually when i am hypo. When i went real hypo one time it woke me out of a sleep and i was gasping for air. Horrible feeling. Or I seem like i a labored with my breathing. It has been better lately except for my pms week i get breathing issues for a couple of days,like shortness of breath.
Have a nice weekend and let me know when you get results!  :)  :)  :)

[helen1207]

i am splitting the pill for 2 days now. actually i take half in the morning. 1/4 in the early afternoon. the headache does seem to get better. i start to have anxiety though. maybe my body is still adjusting to it?

[laura1967]

I think you are still adjusting to meds. It can take a couple of weeks. If the anxiety gets to bad maybe you will need to cut back just a little. I would give it a little more time though. Hang in there... :) :)