Hypothyroid question

[joy]

Does anyone take Armour or T3 in addition to T4 for their hypothyroidism?

Real quick - synthroid/levothyroxine are T4 only.  That is the traditional therapy and what I'm on. 

I'm meeting with an endocrinologist next week and I have a feeling that Armour or adding in some T3 may be presented as an option.  I have some strong strong strong hesitations about Amour, but I'm still reading about it. 

Anyway, do you take these?  Why?  How were you feeling that made your doctor suggest these options?

Thanks!

[lemoncupcake]

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's in 2007, and have only taken (various doses of) Synthroid since then. I've never had another medication recommended to me by my endocrinologist, so I can't say that I've looked into it at all.

I hope that whatever the recommendation is, you're able to come up with a plan that you feel good about.

[joy]

I'm quite surprised that no one else is on Armour or T3 supplements! Interesting. The reading leads me to believe that it's not that common but hey! The silence is also telling.

Thanks!

[blanche]

Lurking from the November BMB...

Armour (or rather natural dessicated thyroid as I am on Naturethroid, which is the same thing with different fillers) saved my life. I do so SO much better taking it than I ever did with T4 alone. Most hypothyroid folks do, in fact. I have much more energy, was able to lose weight (finally), and my hair stopped falling out once I went on T3. Even better when I found a doc who listened to my symptoms instead of just looking at TSH, but getting on natural thyroid was the first step.

Why the hesitation? Armour has been around much longer than synthroid...

There's a good article about the benefits of T3, let me see if I can find it...

ETA: Link! thyroid.about.com/b/2010/05/17/t3-superior-t4-levothyroxine-hypothyroidism-thyroid.htm

[joy]

Apr 9, 2015 13:24:25 GMT -5 blanche said:

Lurking from the November BMB...

Armour (or rather natural dessicated thyroid as I am on Naturethroid, which is the same thing with different fillers) saved my life. I do so SO much better taking it than I ever did with T4 alone. Most hypothyroid folks do, in fact. I have much more energy, was able to lose weight (finally), and my hair stopped falling out once I went on T3. Even better when I found a doc who listened to my symptoms instead of just looking at TSH, but getting on natural thyroid was the first step.

Why the hesitation? Armour has been around much longer than synthroid...

There's a good article about the benefits of T3, let me see if I can find it...

ETA: Link! thyroid.about.com/b/2010/05/17/t3-superior-t4-levothyroxine-hypothyroidism-thyroid.htm

My hesitations:

1. I'm extremely sensitive to changes in T4.  I get massive migraines if it changes even a small amount.  It's my understanding that the exact amount of T3 and T4 are not determined in each dose, but rather it is by weight of dessicated thyroid.  Is this still correct?  Some of my information is old.

2. I had a very good friend who was on it and she suffered needlessly for years because of the constantly changing levels of T3/T4 per dose.  Her TSH value was wildly changing within a matter of hours and it was hard to catch because some blood draws would come back fine and others would come back low or high.  She said it was a total mess.

EDIT: I do think I may benefit from T3 supplementation, which is why I'm asking.  My endocrinologist may disagree so we'll see. 

[blanche]

Apr 9, 2015 13:35:48 GMT -5 joy said:

Apr 9, 2015 13:24:25 GMT -5 blanche said:

Lurking from the November BMB...

Armour (or rather natural dessicated thyroid as I am on Naturethroid, which is the same thing with different fillers) saved my life. I do so SO much better taking it than I ever did with T4 alone. Most hypothyroid folks do, in fact. I have much more energy, was able to lose weight (finally), and my hair stopped falling out once I went on T3. Even better when I found a doc who listened to my symptoms instead of just looking at TSH, but getting on natural thyroid was the first step.

Why the hesitation? Armour has been around much longer than synthroid...

There's a good article about the benefits of T3, let me see if I can find it...

ETA: Link! thyroid.about.com/b/2010/05/17/t3-superior-t4-levothyroxine-hypothyroidism-thyroid.htm

My hesitations:

1. I'm extremely sensitive to changes in T4.  I get massive migraines if it changes even a small amount.  It's my understanding that the exact amount of T3 and T4 are not determined in each dose, but rather it is by weight of dessicated thyroid.  Is this still correct?  Some of my information is old.

2. I had a very good friend who was on it and she suffered needlessly for years because of the constantly changing levels of T3/T4 per dose.  Her TSH value was wildly changing within a matter of hours and it was hard to catch because some blood draws would come back fine and others would come back low or high.  She said it was a total mess.

EDIT: I do think I may benefit from T3 supplementation, which is why I'm asking.  My endocrinologist may disagree so we'll see. 

So Armour/Naturethroid can vary slightly dose to dose, but never significantly. If it is a major issue for you, though, there is a synthetic version of T3 that you could ask for instead called Cytomel. That one will be exactly the same dose pill to pill, so that may work better for you with your current T4...

[joy]

Apr 9, 2015 13:42:18 GMT -5 blanche said:

Apr 9, 2015 13:35:48 GMT -5 joy said:

My hesitations:

1. I'm extremely sensitive to changes in T4.  I get massive migraines if it changes even a small amount.  It's my understanding that the exact amount of T3 and T4 are not determined in each dose, but rather it is by weight of dessicated thyroid.  Is this still correct?  Some of my information is old.

2. I had a very good friend who was on it and she suffered needlessly for years because of the constantly changing levels of T3/T4 per dose.  Her TSH value was wildly changing within a matter of hours and it was hard to catch because some blood draws would come back fine and others would come back low or high.  She said it was a total mess.

EDIT: I do think I may benefit from T3 supplementation, which is why I'm asking.  My endocrinologist may disagree so we'll see. 

So Armour/Naturethroid can vary slightly dose to dose, but never significantly. If it is a major issue for you, though, there is a synthetic version of T3 that you could ask for instead called Cytomel. That one will be exactly the same dose pill to pill, so that may work better for you with your current T4...

Yes.  I'm more interested in the synthetic T3.  I'm so glad that Armour worked for you.  I've read a lot of positive things about it and I know it must work for so many people.  I'm just really afraid of it.  Perhaps needlessly, perhaps not.  Your story makes me want to discuss it with the doctor more instead of dismissing it out of hand.  So, thank you for that!

My TSH and free T4 are quite reasonable.  But my T3 is still scrapping the bottom of the normal range.  I still feel like crap (hair falling out, fatigue, foggy brain, etc).  So far, I've been handled by my GP, but I'm going to an endocrinologist next week to discuss.

Thanks you again!

EDIT: It's also possible that my body is poor at converting T4 to T3.  That's fixable, too.  T3 and T4 should be in similar ranges on their respective scales.  My T4 is 40% into that range while my T3 is only 20% in.  I've been on synthroid for six months now.  I feel like I should be doing better than this.  But what the hell do I know?