Those of us on Armour and working on dosages and increases

[laura1967]

I thought it would be nice to have a thread of all of us on Armour that have recently started or have been on for a while. We can talk about our increases and symptoms.....how we are doing. Easy way to keep in contact with each other and support each other as we sssslllllooooowwwwwlllly and patiently find our optimum dosage! I think from what I have read and what Stella has said, that patience is the key with Armour. It is not an overnight fix at finding proper dosages. Many of these conversion charts are incorrect and our doctors are not educated at how to prescribe and treat with it. So, we have to educated ourselves and gently educated our doctors on how to medicate us. LOL Sometimes easier said than done when they are use to the synthroid dosages and treatment.
And once again......SSSTTTTEEEELLLLAAAA.......we need you and thank you for you advice and help!!!!   :)

[laura1967]

Yeah Bretbunch!! You found the thread!!   Yes it is very hard to find docs that know how to dosage and increase. I know mine doesn't....I had called her and asked for an increase. Now she wants me to wait 6wks for bloodwork. I was only on 75mcgs synthroid and went into the 3.5 tsh range so i did go hypo again. So, now i am on 75 mg of armour....quite a high dosage for conversion. I haven't had any palps or hyper feelings whatsoever. Hmmm.
I had increased from 60 to 75 a week ago saturday. I do feel a little more energy. I am still experiencing a lot of visual disturbance with some dizziness and a lot of neck pain in the back of neck.

[iunderstand69]

Hey Laura I got your message about this thread.  I don't know if I would be good to be on this right now.  I am currently on 4 grains of armour which equates to 240 mg,  I am also pregnant so this is going to change drastically over the next 7 months.  Although, if there is anything I can help anyone with or if they have any questions, I will be more than happy to help.

Thanks,
Sally

[laura1967]

Sally-You are now finally at good levels so you will be a positive influence for us. :)  Congrats on your pregnancy....I felt great when i was pregnant. I hope you do too! I know some of us that are just starting out on armour are wondering how long it took.....any symptoms still, a lot of affirmation to us beginners....lol
Thank you for joining us!
Laura

[iunderstand69]

Laura,
Were you having thyroid issues when you were pregnant?  Just curious.  One symptom I had when I increased on armour is I had really bad headaches.  Bad, throbbing headaches.  I had to take a migrane pill once a day for about a month.  Then after the month the headaches went away.  I will also tell you that the first day I changed over to armour I felt better!!  I had energy, my hair stopped falling out, started to lose weight, wasn't depressed and my swelling started going down also.  Ask me anything you want and I will try to help.

[jab73]

Hi all,
I have been on Armour for over 2 years, I think coming up on 3.  I am taking 3g (180mg).  From all that I have read it is kinda high.  My numbers, recently, all came back fine, but I feel that I am on a downward spiral of all the "yucky" symptoms again.  I told the Dr. that and he said "well your numbers are just fine".  Anybody have funky periods, like days between cycles increasing due to the hypothyroid stuff?  Mine recently started increasing (days between) and I don't know where to start.  Great idea for a link for Armour.  Anyone else having a lovely time getting their meds?????

[stella5349]

It is very common and normal for Armour patients to increase slowly to sometimes 3-4-5 grains until becoming optimal.

I so far have only been able to go as high as 2 1/2 grains - but recently had to decrease.

I am having some adrenal issues and my thyroid meds have not been responding well. I am supplementing and supporting my adrenals right now - and feeling better too. I am still at the 90 to 120 level of meds still.

Around my period time I dip to 60mgs.

My TSH at my last visit was 0.04 with no hyper symptoms either.

It is very common with Armour increases that the person will get a headache. It depends on the person how bad they are. They last anywhere from 3 days to almost the two weeks until another increase is needed.

Here is how the increase works - IF you have no adrenal issues.

Start a dosage
Remain on that two weeks
Increase 1/4 grain
Remain on that two more weeks
Increase again 1/4 grain
Remain on that two more weeks
Retest.

Log all symptoms - both ways ( the ones going away ) and the headaches if you get them.

The most biologically effective and direct way to take natural desiccated thyroid is sublingually or orally. i.e. you place the tablet under your tongue, or between your gums and inner cheek.

This allows Armour to be absorbed in full dosages and the stomach is no longer needed to process the meds. THis way is also superior in vanishing and acid issues and GI distress from the thyroid patient.

Jab73= those mgs of Armour is not high at all - that should be pretty close to a stable level. You have to remember T3 meds work continously at the same dose - so if you are symptomatic again and small increase may be needed. Are you taking all at once? If so - many Armour patients take it throughout the day - the higher in the morning and the last doasge around 2pm. This keeps everything balanced.

AND our other homones effect Armour meds. If it is time for your period - naturally it throws off some levels - Armour is designed to give you exact T3 all day - every day. SO:

some days you may not needs as much and some you may need more. I have that flexability with my doctor to self dose - IF needed.

It is crutial to learn about supplements while on Armour to support optimal levels. Basically - calcium - magnesium- zinc - and the B's are widely used. If you have adrenal issues as I - Vit C is so important too.

I am totally available to try and help anyone with questions - I haven't been on much - very very busy - ( Which I am glad to say I can keep up since I switched to Armour)  

PM me anytime.