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!!

[Trica]

I noticed the last time I posted a comment was in Sept.  I have now been on Armour for about 8 months.  I am at 120mg.  I take half in the morning and half in the afternoon.  I feel ok most of the time.  Still have down time around 2 or 3 in the afternoon.  Still have the aches and pains in the hands and wrists and sometimes feet.  

I went to the Endo. on March 13, to find out that my "NUMBERS" are finally normal, with exception of my T3 being slightly elevated(above the normal range).  I don't have the heart flutters or heyper feelings tho.  Do you think it's possible for it to have a reverse reaction when your T3 is too high?  

Also, I wanted to add some vitamins and I am not sure when to take them.  Since you shouldn't have any 4 hours of you thyroid replacement, should I take them at bedtime???

One more thing!   I'm a little nervous because my doctor as ordered a full body scan.  It has been a little over a year (Feb.26) since my TT and a year (Apr 4) since my RAI.  Is this routine?

[Kimemitch]

I wish I had found this forum sooner! I can't believe I didn't for all the years I have searched for help. I have been on Synthroid for years and absolutely miserable. I had total thyroid removed in 1994 due to papillary cancer. I have read a lot of the postings so I have gotten some good information, but could use a little more help. I have been begging doctors/ Endos for help for years to no avail. They just wanted to put me in the mental health category.  I basically became a vegetable as the years went by. Found out in 07 after changing Endos that my parathyroids were knocked out during surgery! I cried for days as I was mad that it took 13 years for that to be discovered even though low calcium all those years!! With initial addition of Calcitriol, my energy surged, but I quickly fell again, Up to that point I was on 150mg alternated with 175mg of synthroid. Slowly started bring synthroid down, felt miserable, begged them to stop lowering me, suicidally depressed with every adjustment, but no one believed me that it was related to thyroid. They said depression, bi-polar, etc and wanted me to take more meds which I refused.
  Anyway, enough history, I found a doctor that was willing to let me first try cytomel, I felt amazing for short time, but then started having heart jumping not palpitations, really scared me. It happened even on the weakest dosage possible 1/4th of 5mcg..  So I sunk back into sluggish depressive state. I have asked and he is letting me try Armour. I was on 125 mg synthroid at time of change. He started me on 120 mg of Armour 2 weeks ago today. Luckily the pharmacy only had 60's, so after a few days of feeling poorly, I sought out and found this forum and stop the madness web site with great information about dosaging. After the first few days I did split dosage to twice daily instead of 120 at once. It did help a little with energy in afternoon, I still don't feel good after 2 weeks, I have pretty bad headaches and pretty constant, but it was good to read that it is a side effect that can be expected and should subside. Also really tired and anxious to get my brain and energy back. My questions is should I still have started at a lower dosage and worked up. Was starting at this dosage bad? I feel so tired and am trying to be patient. I am not suppose to go back to doctor for 2 months or so, and I am thinking I need to be checked in 4 weeks. I had labs done day before so I have something to compare to. Any advice would be great, this has been a long ugly road and I want off of it!!!

[laura1967]

bumped for glorbry....let us know if you have any questions on this thread that you asked to see. :) :)
welcome!!

[DEMP]

I think its too soon to judge but so far today I've had no side effects at all its great haha and I didn't need my 3 pm nap!  Thanks :) they are all cut in half and put in my little daily pouches that I carry around with me :) I just need to make sure to get consistent on the afternoon one.  Today I didn't take it until 6 :D Anyway so far I'm happy about this

[RavingMad]

Upped my dose today - 120mgs of NTE (I'm an Aussie). Feeling slightly better (compared to being on thyroxine), though my new GP yesterday queried & suspects longstanding zinc/copper imbalances, estrogen dominance & gluten/dairy intolerances - stating these can impair any thyroid medication (synthetic or natural).

I'm having a HEAP of fasting bloodtests done tomorrow (DHEAs, RT3, insulin, iron studies, Vit B12, Vit D, plasma zinc, serum ceruloplasmin, serum copper, transglutamase IgA, IgA, anti gliaden IgG and A, homocysteine, TFT, 24hr urinary cortisol), will be eagerly awaiting the results & let you guys know asap!

[stella5349]

OK - you made the switch - Great!!

You should consider getting that pill cutting out and cut those 60mgs in half. Take a 30mg in the early morning and the other around 11am.

The direct t3 going in is very troublesome to most people until the body accepts the switch. This will "even keel" you out until things start healing.

Remember all thyroid meds take time to adjust - you will ned to be patient on this as you were with Synthroid.

If you feel jittery - cut the tablets in 1/4 instead of 1/2 and take it 4 times a day.

If you get a mild headache - that's normal - last about 2 to 3 weeks.

If you need any information - I can give you what I know and Laura1967 can assist you too.  There are a few Armour people here - so if you post a question - many will respond that have additional information too.

Good Luck