tinnitus from hashimotos treatment continues

[Brucergoldberg]

Hey guys,  I still have the bad ear ringing after 4 months of .015 levo.  I am about to switch from levo to armour.  Has anyone ever switched?  What differences could you tell, if any?  Did your ear ringing stop or get worse?

Thank You

[ShelleyN720]

Oh my no! I am not offended in any way or feel disrespected! I am looking for answers just like you! It psses me off that there seems to be NO depth of understanding of Hashimotos by endocrinologists. I heard of a local woman going to Belgium to see a doctor there - she DOES have family there but she has found NO endo here to help her! If seems science itself has little understanding as to why the body turns against itself (autoimmune diseases). In my case I think there may be inherited factors (family history) that I am simply unaware of. I also know I have had several periods of incredible stress in my life. I remember periods of being "hyper" within the last couple of years when my heart would start racing, I would begin physically trembling and sweating. Doctor's just want to give you drugs. I'd been on anti-depressants off & on for years. This time I said no. Seems to me all we can do is juggle the meds like typical hypothyroid patients - but as long as the thyroid still functions, even to a mild degree, I fear we will be enduring the roller coaster of symptoms. It *****. I have not had a good weekend this weekend. The glands in my neck above the thyroid are a bit swollen. In other words, despite the Armour, I am having symptoms : (

[Brucergoldberg]

I have read the thyroid handbook, dr. k's book, and thyroid for dummies.  I just really find it hard to believe that wheat would have anything to do with the tsh levels, and thyroid production.  It also is weird that the book is written by a chiropractor with very little insight to medical deductions.

I have seen 5 endos.  On one hand I will say that I think none of them have diagnosed me properly at this point, however none of them have suggested any of the items listed in Dr. K book as a possible solution to helping the hypo problems.

I know we are all entitled to our own opinion, so please dot take this out of disrespect.

[ShelleyN720]

I agree that what he puts out there in the book basically suggests a person rethink their eating habits. After reading through the suggestions I knew I would probably never be able to follow his protocol. I do believe the thryoid meds are necessary for me, even
though he believes that Hashi/Graves can be treated through dietary measures w/o hormones.
I have read many places that a gluten-free diet helps people with "auto-immune" thyroiditis. The reason is because [he states] that the gluten molecule is very similar to the thyroid gland molecule. You can have gluten issues w/o being a celiac.
I have reduced my intake of gluten and other highly processed foods as a precaution. Auto-immune issues can multiply and pass to other internal organs. I've read that in several places including Mayo Clinic.
Do you have any good books to recommend? I have a few on thryoid and recently
started to gather a few om "auto-immune" disease.

[Brucergoldberg]

I read the book. Sorry but I don't agree with her beliefs.

[ShelleyN720]

Bruce, if you go to the Armour website there is an explanation of what happened last year (the reformulation). Where did you read or hear there was a shortage of the main ingredient? If you can get a prescription for it, you can order it online. Search online for  Stop the Thyroid Madness and the site provides a list of places you can order it.
I am reading another good book about autoimmune disorders(specifically Hashimotos) called "Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? When My Lab Tests Are Normal" by Datis Kharrazian. What I am reading makes lots of sense to me. For some reason, our body's immune system is attacking our thyroid. The disease is different than underactive thyroid although it is treated the same. There are other issues we need to consider with Hashis. When you wrote that you were about to switch, was it because your physician is willing to switch you?

[Brucergoldberg]

I cant find armour except at a compound pharmacy.  It scares me that there is a shortage on the main ingrediant in armour and not one pharmacy has the armour but the compound pharmacy can make it!!   I think im afraid to take it..


Its not really ringing, but more like water running really loud..

[ShelleyN720]

Bruce, I was on .75mcg of Levoxyl during my first month of treatment. Within a few days I developed some awful side effects - parathesia & neuropathy (pins and needles like bees stinging randomly all over my body. My blood pressure elevated and I had pressure behind my ear drums, not really "ringing" but pressure, like my eardrums would burst! I told my EX endo about it and she said it had NOTHING to do with the drug. That I needed to see neurologist! I was not experiencing these things BEFORE the Levoxyl! She liked my blood test numbers went from TSH 7.65 down to .4.  She said to stay ON the drug! That she would do more labs in 4-6 weeks and then she'd see me in 6 months!!! Goodbye Endo! I asked my PCP to prescribe Armour for me (she did)and within 5 days, ALL of the symtons were gone! I started with 60mg (1 grain) a day (2 weeks ago) and expect that to be upped a bit after next blood test since I started on lower dose to see my response to the T3. For me, even this reformulated Armour was better than the synthetic T4 only. I hope your doctor willallow you to give Armour a try.