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Armour thyroid 90 mg -HELP, VERY TIRED!
Dear Doctor/Forum,
I was dx'd with Hashimoto's on my 40s B-day, and placed on Synthroid. Did not do well on it, and decided to switch to armour. I am currently on 90 mg on Armour a day, and my TSH is going up and down all the time. I cruising around TSH 4.0 all the time, and cannot go beoyng 2.0.. My doctor has increased the dose only once, went from 60 mg to 90 mg. My hands are cold and needles in fingertips all the time, I cannot use my fingertips for fine movements.. Terrible.
I am TIRED all the time, if I could , I would sleep ALL DAY LONG...
Any thoughts? Do I need other supplements or do I need to up my Armour level?
Please, help me - I am desperate.
Thank you.
I was dx'd with Hashimoto's on my 40s B-day, and placed on Synthroid. Did not do well on it, and decided to switch to armour. I am currently on 90 mg on Armour a day, and my TSH is going up and down all the time. I cruising around TSH 4.0 all the time, and cannot go beoyng 2.0.. My doctor has increased the dose only once, went from 60 mg to 90 mg. My hands are cold and needles in fingertips all the time, I cannot use my fingertips for fine movements.. Terrible.
I am TIRED all the time, if I could , I would sleep ALL DAY LONG...
Any thoughts? Do I need other supplements or do I need to up my Armour level?
Please, help me - I am desperate.
Thank you.
Pooling is where the T3 hormone becomes stored. Sometimes the T4 will convert into T3 and just sit there instead of the body using it up for it's purpose.
Armour has direct T3. it does not require a full conversion as a T4 med only does. The pooling can happen with both medications. Either by T4 meds converting into T3 and sits - or with direct T3.
It is a fact and my doctor discusses this with me regularly that Armour requires small increase dosages due to this direct T3 to reach optimal levels and to eliminate symptoms. And because of that direct T3 - the patient must be given small amounts for them to adjust with follow up testing and "discussions" on how they have been feeling during the increases.
If you are following the process of small increased dosages and still experiencing symptoms then additional testing should be done.
Obviously you were not in this type of treatment because you were on 60mg of Armour for a long time without any increases. If you remain hypo ( as your TSH says in numbers were ) for long periods of time - other glands (adrenals) are demanded to work harder and then they can fall short of working properly too.
A 24 hr saliva test is usually the best test if you are still symptomatic to check for cortisol levels- checking to see if there may be an adrenal problem. It also is very helpful finding out if there are other issues going on too.
If a problem is found with the adrenals - a back off of Armour is needed and a therapy plan should be put in place to repair the adrenals first before continuing the Armour increases. Once the adrenals are in balance the increase of Armour begins again to see if you levels become optimal for you.
I feel appetite suppressants are not a the way to go right now - If your Hashi is still out of whack and you are still in a hypo state with symptoms - adding this could interfer with understanding the real issues. I think you would need further testing maybe a Vit B panel or other tests first. And most definately you must get back in check with the levels of hormones that is right for you before you see any changes in weight naturally.
If your exhausted by a daily routine - taking app supps will only exhaust you more and push the glands to worker harder ---- then to rest and repair the condition. They will not concentrate on the weight issues per say - they will cover up the problems the other glands are having and will not increase metobolism
I was mentally absorbed with my weight gain and no matter what I did while I was still not in a Free T3 range for my body - I continued to pack on weight - I followed a doctor's 800 calorie diet and still weighed in 10 pounds more after 6 weeks of trying and I was exhausted.
Again I will state here - I am at a TSH level that my body works best for me. I am now finally losing weight and I do not have the symptoms of Hashi - hypo and have not for over 6 mths. I still swing a bit during my cycle times - but I find that being normal for a 40ish yr old women entering menopause.
My TSH and Free T3 level now would be challenged here as being in a hyper state - but I experience no symptoms - I am losing weight and I followed the proper increase levels - after repairing my adrenals to achieve that.
Kitty's reference range is exactly where you should look to start. She stated the range of where most patients feel at their best. But sometimes being in those ranges - some patients still feel the need to WANT to feel even better. Sometimes finding your EXACT TSH and Free T3 number - ( with little wiggle room) is best.
Armour - working with your doctor can give you that benefit. If you begin to see that you feel best on (example) 90mg most of the time - but sometimes 75 is better at a given time of the month or even 120 mg- then you and your doctor can discuss this and be able to be flexible with your meds to adjust when you know you need to do that. The direct T3 flexibility is key to rid symptoms. The is the way Armour has worked for decades.
Try to stay on track on not only getting a TSH ran but also at every testing time - get the Free T3 and a Free T4 test. This shows exactly the whole story on what is going on with your medication and your ability to track you symptoms. Keep a log handy and write down you labs and symptoms at the time of the lab and get to know what levels start to help rid your symptoms Since you are Hashi's - keeping track of your TPO is important too.
I hope you feel better. It takes time but many here can offer support to you. See if you doctor will read up on the Armour and use it in it's most efficient way to finally get you better and feeling healthy- there are many sites available for you to take to your doctor and talk over with them.
.
Armour has direct T3. it does not require a full conversion as a T4 med only does. The pooling can happen with both medications. Either by T4 meds converting into T3 and sits - or with direct T3.
It is a fact and my doctor discusses this with me regularly that Armour requires small increase dosages due to this direct T3 to reach optimal levels and to eliminate symptoms. And because of that direct T3 - the patient must be given small amounts for them to adjust with follow up testing and "discussions" on how they have been feeling during the increases.
If you are following the process of small increased dosages and still experiencing symptoms then additional testing should be done.
Obviously you were not in this type of treatment because you were on 60mg of Armour for a long time without any increases. If you remain hypo ( as your TSH says in numbers were ) for long periods of time - other glands (adrenals) are demanded to work harder and then they can fall short of working properly too.
A 24 hr saliva test is usually the best test if you are still symptomatic to check for cortisol levels- checking to see if there may be an adrenal problem. It also is very helpful finding out if there are other issues going on too.
If a problem is found with the adrenals - a back off of Armour is needed and a therapy plan should be put in place to repair the adrenals first before continuing the Armour increases. Once the adrenals are in balance the increase of Armour begins again to see if you levels become optimal for you.
I feel appetite suppressants are not a the way to go right now - If your Hashi is still out of whack and you are still in a hypo state with symptoms - adding this could interfer with understanding the real issues. I think you would need further testing maybe a Vit B panel or other tests first. And most definately you must get back in check with the levels of hormones that is right for you before you see any changes in weight naturally.
If your exhausted by a daily routine - taking app supps will only exhaust you more and push the glands to worker harder ---- then to rest and repair the condition. They will not concentrate on the weight issues per say - they will cover up the problems the other glands are having and will not increase metobolism
I was mentally absorbed with my weight gain and no matter what I did while I was still not in a Free T3 range for my body - I continued to pack on weight - I followed a doctor's 800 calorie diet and still weighed in 10 pounds more after 6 weeks of trying and I was exhausted.
Again I will state here - I am at a TSH level that my body works best for me. I am now finally losing weight and I do not have the symptoms of Hashi - hypo and have not for over 6 mths. I still swing a bit during my cycle times - but I find that being normal for a 40ish yr old women entering menopause.
My TSH and Free T3 level now would be challenged here as being in a hyper state - but I experience no symptoms - I am losing weight and I followed the proper increase levels - after repairing my adrenals to achieve that.
Kitty's reference range is exactly where you should look to start. She stated the range of where most patients feel at their best. But sometimes being in those ranges - some patients still feel the need to WANT to feel even better. Sometimes finding your EXACT TSH and Free T3 number - ( with little wiggle room) is best.
Armour - working with your doctor can give you that benefit. If you begin to see that you feel best on (example) 90mg most of the time - but sometimes 75 is better at a given time of the month or even 120 mg- then you and your doctor can discuss this and be able to be flexible with your meds to adjust when you know you need to do that. The direct T3 flexibility is key to rid symptoms. The is the way Armour has worked for decades.
Try to stay on track on not only getting a TSH ran but also at every testing time - get the Free T3 and a Free T4 test. This shows exactly the whole story on what is going on with your medication and your ability to track you symptoms. Keep a log handy and write down you labs and symptoms at the time of the lab and get to know what levels start to help rid your symptoms Since you are Hashi's - keeping track of your TPO is important too.
I hope you feel better. It takes time but many here can offer support to you. See if you doctor will read up on the Armour and use it in it's most efficient way to finally get you better and feeling healthy- there are many sites available for you to take to your doctor and talk over with them.
.
Thank you, AR,
I will check out the topic tomorrow.
Yes, I hope I can get as close to be "normal" as it is possible while having Hashi.
None of my family members that I am aware of having this problem. No one has hypothyroidism. It is very frustrative, I am glad to have more people with the same problem. My weight is also a biggest problem - I have gained about 25-30 pounds since became diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease.
Hope, we all get to feel better soon :) Thanks for support.
I will check out the topic tomorrow.
Yes, I hope I can get as close to be "normal" as it is possible while having Hashi.
None of my family members that I am aware of having this problem. No one has hypothyroidism. It is very frustrative, I am glad to have more people with the same problem. My weight is also a biggest problem - I have gained about 25-30 pounds since became diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease.
Hope, we all get to feel better soon :) Thanks for support.
There is a topic about pooling going on now.
A little long, but good.
Armour is a good name brand drug.
I don't know what to tell you about the other drugs you mentioned. I'm not sure if they would conflict with your thyroid condition and medication or not.
I hope you get your levels to a good place soon.
I hope I do, too. :o)
A little long, but good.
Armour is a good name brand drug.
I don't know what to tell you about the other drugs you mentioned. I'm not sure if they would conflict with your thyroid condition and medication or not.
I hope you get your levels to a good place soon.
I hope I do, too. :o)
I am on Armour Thyroid, I guess the brand name by Forest Pharm.
I believe this is a brand name Armour. Correct me if I am wrong.
I believe this is a brand name Armour. Correct me if I am wrong.
are you in generic armour or the actual armour brand, i was on generic armour and my tsh went up and down, but once my dr. checked brand medically necessary it has stayed at 3.1 for a while
There are two questions I wanted to ask, one of them is posted.
- What is pooling
- I have up-coming appt with weight management center. Obviously, they going to suggest and prescribe me some appetite suppresants. How do , guys, feel about it? As long as I am within my " medicaly suggested" lab levels, can I take phentermine or meridia? The last one ( Meridia) was offered to me by my primary care provier sometimes ago, but I have refused due to the VERY FIRST TSH levels of > 8.0
Thank you.
- What is pooling
- I have up-coming appt with weight management center. Obviously, they going to suggest and prescribe me some appetite suppresants. How do , guys, feel about it? As long as I am within my " medicaly suggested" lab levels, can I take phentermine or meridia? The last one ( Meridia) was offered to me by my primary care provier sometimes ago, but I have refused due to the VERY FIRST TSH levels of > 8.0
Thank you.
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