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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.
You may want to try supplementing with selenium and a low dose of natural vitamin E and C. They work synergistically.
Selenium will suppress TPO antibodies but do nothing for Thryoglobulin antibodies.
Hey, one outta two aint bad.
Don't go over 400 mcgs. Most of our food crops are grown in selenium rich soils here in the states, Carolinas being the exception. So if you eat a lot of produce and are getting it in your multi, further supplementation will not be needed.
Aside from that Fish oil (for DHA and EPA) or flaxseed oils (ALA) will help with mood. These Omega 3s are essential to maintain well being. I like the refridgerated oils as they quickly go rancid at room temps.
Good luck.
Healing from Hashi's in a process, not a destination.
: )
Mzzchief
Selenium will suppress TPO antibodies but do nothing for Thryoglobulin antibodies.
Hey, one outta two aint bad.
Don't go over 400 mcgs. Most of our food crops are grown in selenium rich soils here in the states, Carolinas being the exception. So if you eat a lot of produce and are getting it in your multi, further supplementation will not be needed.
Aside from that Fish oil (for DHA and EPA) or flaxseed oils (ALA) will help with mood. These Omega 3s are essential to maintain well being. I like the refridgerated oils as they quickly go rancid at room temps.
Good luck.
Healing from Hashi's in a process, not a destination.
: )
Mzzchief
NO your TSH is not what should be the base line for your treatment you are doing.
your FREE T3 is the most important test to read right now. Normal MAY NOT be normal
If you take a look at all the reseach on taking Armour you will know the level of your FREE t3 usually is HIGHER - Your FREE T4 is moderately in between and the TSH is lower.
If your FREE T3 is "normal???????" then it's not normal for you and needs to be upped.
I also have Hashi's and symptom free and have been for 4 mths. My FT3 is over the top in ranges - I have a low TSH ( Which means nothing)
You being way undertreated and your doctor is not increasing you appropriately the way Armour needs to be. Basically your wasting your time and money. and may need to start all over.
This is how dosing works for Armour.
You start at - let's say your amount - 60 mg
TWO WEEKS later up are upped an extra 15mg
TWO WEEKS again upped 15mg
test. ALL YOUR FREE'S AND TSH.
Then stay on 90mg for two to three weeks
up again 15mg
two more weeks another up 15mg
You will stop increases when your symptoms leave and hypo Hashi is not a burden to you any longer.
I think your symptoms may start to disappear after the 120mg 2 week trial but I would bet you will continue increase possibly up to 3 or more grains.
Only way to know for sure is small med increases and symptom decreases.
your FREE T3 is the most important test to read right now. Normal MAY NOT be normal
If you take a look at all the reseach on taking Armour you will know the level of your FREE t3 usually is HIGHER - Your FREE T4 is moderately in between and the TSH is lower.
If your FREE T3 is "normal???????" then it's not normal for you and needs to be upped.
I also have Hashi's and symptom free and have been for 4 mths. My FT3 is over the top in ranges - I have a low TSH ( Which means nothing)
You being way undertreated and your doctor is not increasing you appropriately the way Armour needs to be. Basically your wasting your time and money. and may need to start all over.
This is how dosing works for Armour.
You start at - let's say your amount - 60 mg
TWO WEEKS later up are upped an extra 15mg
TWO WEEKS again upped 15mg
test. ALL YOUR FREE'S AND TSH.
Then stay on 90mg for two to three weeks
up again 15mg
two more weeks another up 15mg
You will stop increases when your symptoms leave and hypo Hashi is not a burden to you any longer.
I think your symptoms may start to disappear after the 120mg 2 week trial but I would bet you will continue increase possibly up to 3 or more grains.
Only way to know for sure is small med increases and symptom decreases.
Dear all,
My free T3 and free T4 were within nornal limits. My endo is always doing these labs once I am in office.. The only problem I had is TSH levels.
Here is the answers to the above questions,
1. I was placed on Armour in February 2008 - 60 mg /daily. The initial TSH prior to Armour was 4.37. ( I was a year on Synthroid 0.75 with some complications...)
2. Two TSH readings after initiation of Armour were 4.1 and 2.9. I stay on Armour Feb. to June, on the same dose of 60 mg /daily. On my 3d reading, TSH CAME UP to 4.1!!!
I see, she kept me 5 months on 60 mg daily, that was , may be , too long - and she did not increase the dose as she should ...
3. I was increased to 90 mg /daily in August, and in a little over month, my TSH came DOWN to 1.6 as of 09/13!!!
4. My Free T3 and free T4 are ok and I never had any problems with their levels...
Always ok.
5. My late afternoon serum cortisol level is fine. I did not have the saliva test for cortisol or Adrenal check..
6. My antibodies levels on the initial "thyroid" work up were over 600....
7. My BIGGEST 2 problems with Hashi are:
**** brain fogg and forgerfulness, I am mentally slaggush and slow.
*** my fingertips are PAINFUL and numb ALL the time. I cannot perform a simple function of writing or holding the pen... I am SO disable...
My phisical revealed NO other abnormal lab values. Just reccurent allergies , seasonal.
Any more thoughts...
Thanks, everyone for your input.
PS. My brain and hands need big help :)
My free T3 and free T4 were within nornal limits. My endo is always doing these labs once I am in office.. The only problem I had is TSH levels.
Here is the answers to the above questions,
1. I was placed on Armour in February 2008 - 60 mg /daily. The initial TSH prior to Armour was 4.37. ( I was a year on Synthroid 0.75 with some complications...)
2. Two TSH readings after initiation of Armour were 4.1 and 2.9. I stay on Armour Feb. to June, on the same dose of 60 mg /daily. On my 3d reading, TSH CAME UP to 4.1!!!
I see, she kept me 5 months on 60 mg daily, that was , may be , too long - and she did not increase the dose as she should ...
3. I was increased to 90 mg /daily in August, and in a little over month, my TSH came DOWN to 1.6 as of 09/13!!!
4. My Free T3 and free T4 are ok and I never had any problems with their levels...
Always ok.
5. My late afternoon serum cortisol level is fine. I did not have the saliva test for cortisol or Adrenal check..
6. My antibodies levels on the initial "thyroid" work up were over 600....
7. My BIGGEST 2 problems with Hashi are:
**** brain fogg and forgerfulness, I am mentally slaggush and slow.
*** my fingertips are PAINFUL and numb ALL the time. I cannot perform a simple function of writing or holding the pen... I am SO disable...
My phisical revealed NO other abnormal lab values. Just reccurent allergies , seasonal.
Any more thoughts...
Thanks, everyone for your input.
PS. My brain and hands need big help :)
How long have you been taking the Armour ?
If you remained a long time in a hypo state your adrenals could be giving you some trouble and then Armour will not work the way it should.
Exactly what kind of blood work have you had done?
This would be proper testing for both thyroid and adrenal fatigue
Go have a TSH - free t3 and free t4 test - if you had that please post the labs
I would suggest a 24 hr saliva test but many office will not do them. You may have to just get the blood draw for cortisol and ACTH test.
A vit B test would be helpful too.
If you remained a long time in a hypo state your adrenals could be giving you some trouble and then Armour will not work the way it should.
Exactly what kind of blood work have you had done?
This would be proper testing for both thyroid and adrenal fatigue
Go have a TSH - free t3 and free t4 test - if you had that please post the labs
I would suggest a 24 hr saliva test but many office will not do them. You may have to just get the blood draw for cortisol and ACTH test.
A vit B test would be helpful too.
If you have hashi's, your tsh should be suppressed to a .50-1.0. You are going to continue to have symptoms until you get it down and stay optimum for a while. what was your free t4 and free t3 results?
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