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Avatar universal

Switching to Armour

Thyroid removed 6 years ago and have been on Synthroid. It was determined a few months ago that I'm allergic to Synthroid so I was switched to Tirosent. I currently take 100 of Tirosent and 7.5 of Cytomel each day. Tirosent is very expensive and my insurance doesn't want to pay so I asked my doc about Armour and he has FINALLY agreed to let me try it. He has prescribed 60 of Armour. I feel perfectly fine on the Tirosent/Cytomel. Last labs show everything normal except Free T3 which is always on the very low side of normal.

Question....Is switching to Armour going to send my body into a mess of a mess? I have spent 6 years trying to get my meds right and I'm finally to  a place where I feel well 98% of the time. I worry about the low free T3 as I'm a runner and I notice that sometimes I think my heart beats really slow. I'm just so scared to rock the boat but I'm a very holistic person and like the idea of using something natural vs. synthetic. Thoughts on what this is going to do to me?
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Avatar universal
Please help.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been on Armour since shortly after I was first diagnosed with being hypothyroid. I didnt feel right on the synthetic and read in a mayos new letter that many people felt better on the natural hormone. My dr agreed to switch me and I felt so much more like my old self. I have been on it for around eleven or twelve years and my levels have stayed consistant. Hope this helps, I wouldnt trade for anything.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well, my endo switched me to Armour 60 mg. 6 weeks ago and my tsh has gone from .57 to 40.8 and needless to say I feel like DEATH. He increased it to 90 mg. yesterday but I'm wondering why this is happening? I don't see him for 2 more weeks to discuss it but I'm thinking this may have been a huge mistake. I was feeling ok on Tirosent but my insurance won't cover it and I'm allergic to synthroid so we thought I could give Armour a try. I just don't understand why I'm so hypo now? Does this happen to everyone else? My face is swollen, my eyes hurt, my head hurts, my joints ache.....and this is sad because about 2 weeks ago I felt fantastic and thought THIS IS GREAT! Now it is so NOT great. What to do....
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ohhhhh, I have heard soo many good things about both...  Honestly, I totally understand the thing about being holistic, all too much, BUT-  from someone on a hormone therapy drug (i.e. Levoxyl) and not liking how I'm feeling, I think if you're feeling 98% right now, by all means, stick with that...  at least until you have a reason where you really, really need to change.   I know two docs I have seen are very apprehensive of Armour and I am intrigued, but I hear such great things are Tirosint and even I am curious about it and wonder if the same side effects pertain to it like Levoxyl.  
And also?  You have spent so much time feeling as good as you do now so that's just my opinion...  maybe your endo could offer other feedback from his/her patients to help you out?  
Helpful - 0

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