Absorbsion Tip for Armour & Nature Throid users ?

[LazyMoose]

As you might know Microcrystalline cellulose(mcc) added to these brands seems to be the culprit in the absorbtion problem with some people.

FACT: As many know -reports are free T3 might even test high while feeling hypo on these new med formulas. And higher T3 levels than on the original formulas are reported.

Therory: Is the T3 just floating around in your blood, and possibly building up? The level measured in free T3 testing, is just that, amount that is available for your cells. It does NOT mean your cells are absorbing the T3, nor does it mean they can or will. And in some cases TSH will climb (hypo), with a high FT3 level present on these new formulations with MCC.  Like your pituitary knows your cells are not absorbing and is calling out for more hormone regardless of the high T3 levels in your blood.

Another thyroid site mentioned some peoples success with grinding up new Armour or NT with common table sugar to improve absorption, thus relieving hypo symptoms associated with the added MCC. Since the originals had more dextrose, this might make sense, how it counter acts the binding characteristics of MCC, I dont know. I though I would throw this out here since no one has mentioned it here. If your having issues one of these reformulated meds, well, could it hurt to try this ? I moved on to ERFA, otherwise maybe I would try this out.

[magpieannie]

Evenings are fine too, just call when it's a good time for you. Thanks so much, and I'm looking forward to talking to you soon. If I don't answer, just leave a voice message and I'll call you back.I'll try to keep my phone close by so I don't miss ya though. Talk to you later.--Anne

[magpieannie]

Tried to send you a mesage however it says you are a blocked user. I've checked that to see and your name does not even appear nor are you blocked. This also happened with Stella and I and we couldn't figure it out, so we just email,  facebook, or call when we need to.

[LazyMoose]

It will be later. I still cant PM you!?

See if you can PM me, ok?

[LazyMoose]

Late afternoon, early evening, I think were the same time zone. You should always have a plan B.

[magpieannie]

Thanks for your thoughts. That is a good point about having a med to bail to, just incase the new med does not work well for her and we need time to figure out a plan B. Would you mind calling me somwetime during the day tomorrow so I can give you my email so that I can get the info. needed for the Erfa script from you? My cell # is 940-453-9701. I'm a stay at home mom so I can talk better during the day. Thanks for everything Moose!

[LazyMoose]

I dont think Canadian meds will be shut down anytime soon. Changing over while thyroid levels are where they belong is a lot less challenging than starting from zero or a med that left you messed up (worse than zero?).  You need to make the difficult decision, but remember summer offer's a lot of time, winter with school does not. Not many will adjust in two weeks. You need 'cushion' space that is stress free - school is not a stress free environment.

And you dont want to use up all the med that you know works - you need some left just in case. My left over Time Caps dessicated saved me when I gave up NT and then got the docs approval to go with ERFA.

I really dont know how the sugar helps, or if it really does.  All I can guess is it is adding more 'filler', thus diluting the MCC. Maybe the sugar binds to the mcc. Maybe hormone binds to sugar and cells like it?

[magpieannie]

Thanks for posting this. Your theory of the freet3 not getting uptaken into the cells as well, is exactly what it seemed like when we got a hold of the new reformulated Armour. I'm still contimplating on what we should do this summer? We can either stick with the original Nature-Throid until we runout sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, or we can switch over now to Erfa if you think it will be hard to adjust to the change in meds. How are you adjusting/feeling ? However, you were on the new reformulated formula of Nature-Throid and not doing well, so this will probably put you back some in adjustment time to the Erfa. My daughter,on the other hand is doing great on the old Nature-Throid, so switching her over to another desiccated med that also works well, will probably be a smoother transition since she is very "euthyroid" right now. What do you think I should do? Her doctor is fine with whatever I decide. I think Stella had a fairly smooth/easy transition to the Erfa, so maybe I really don't need to cross this bridge until I have to (when we actually run out of the original Nature-Throid- I mean the longer she can do great the better, right?). I also worry that if I switch her over sooner then actually needed and then the Erfa rug is pulled out from under us and our legal ability to get meds from Canada is removed, then what do I do? This is all so troubling and disterbing! Her doctor didn't seem too excited about the posibility of compounding, as she said that many of her patients aren't doing too well on it either. How would crushing the new Nature-Throid in sugar change anything, as the MCC would still be in the mix? So I guess my question is when to go with the Erfa, either this summer if you think it will take time to adjust, or this winter, if you think that that one week off school at Thanksgiving or two weeks off for Christmas break will give her enough time for a successful transition to a new but similar desiccated med? I value your opinion very much.

[Smilerdeb]

Its amazing what you find when you research Moose.

I found that my first T4 med had sterate talc in it!
I have been on another T4 med (Eutroxzig) and feel great and this one has sodium as a filler.

I think companys should be accountable for fillers.

I am very frug sensative so the stearte talc in the first T4 med....gave me horrible levels and didnt absorb.
Whereas Eutroxzig has salt and as we all know.,....Graves patients bodies hunger for salt so it is absorbed very well.