what do you think of armour?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2004
what do you think of armour?
5
Fri, 04-21-2006 - 5:59pm
what do u think of armour vs. synthroid or levoxl? do you really feel better on it?
Braden 5 yrs old, cesarean Kyle 4 yrs old, HBAC Aleah
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
Sat, 04-22-2006 - 9:43pm

Hi:
This is a very individual thing because most people do just fine on a synthetic T-4 replacement (about 70% or more) because the body naturally converts the T-4 to T-3 and so a T-3 replacement is not needed.
However, for some of us that conversion process doesn't take place or for some unknown reason we don't metabolize the synthetic T-4 as we should... others are resistant to absorbing synthetic T-4, and still others are allergic to the binders used to make the synthetic medication and suffer hives & other allergic responses. For those of us in those situations, Armour is a much better option than Synthroid or Levothroid.
I took Levothroid for a year and while my TSH went down a bit, and the T-4 levels came up, my T-3 levels never changed (stayed low). We realized that I wasn't converting T-4 to T-3 which is why I still had symptoms (hair falling out, fatigue & etc.)
Armour has been the only thing that works for me.

I hope this helps; if you would like to discuss your situation in more detail, maybe we can add more specific info (?)

Take care,
Dee.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-2004
Sun, 04-23-2006 - 10:20am

Hi palmdessa,


The best way to forget all your troubles is to wear tight shoes...
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2004
Mon, 04-24-2006 - 11:49am

Hey thanks for your replies. VERY helpful. My sister had RAI treatment 7 years ago and can never get's her dosage right. She is always feeling crappy. Yesterday she called and said her heart was RACING and that she couldn't get out of bed and felt really sick. She has also been throwing up lately. She also has terrible allergies. Her nose runs constantly and she is constantly sneezing. Though it's allergy season, most people get them for a couple hours and then it goes away. Her's are non stop. I read both of your replies to her over the phone and she now has hope again that she CAN feel better. She is going to get to a doctor and request to switch to Armour.
And any additional information that you would like to share is great!

Again, thanks so much.

Braden 5 yrs old, cesarean Kyle 4 yrs old, HBAC Aleah
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-26-2006
Fri, 05-26-2006 - 2:38pm

Armour thyroid has been a life savor for me. I was diagnosed with Papilary and Follicular cancers in 2002 and had to have a total thyroidectomy. The first year had been a complete nightmare because my Dr only prescribed me Levoxyl 100mcg 16 months to be exact with no blood work taken until I complained of weight gain 60lbs to be truthful, puffiness all over, more apparent in my face, muscle cramps, and an absent mentrual cycle. I ended up buying a book called The Thyroid Sourcebook and began learning more about t3, t4, thyroidglobulen etc. I soon understood the importance of having our t3 slightly elevated to prevent cancer reacurrence. I was devasted to learn that my Dr kept me hypothyroid way too long. I pushed to have my lab taken only to find that my lab results were:

T4 Thyroxide Result 11.0
T3 UPTAKE 30.0
Free T4 1.15
TSH Serum CBC W/diff WBC 8.5

Which I learned were inconclusive because these lab test were not efficient or even accurate other than the fact that I was extremely under medicated.

I ended up switching Drs and I was immediately put on Armour 120mg, in which I soon learned that this was way too much for my system to take in so quickly. I ended up in the hospital emergency room 6 days later. I suffered with cramping, my lymph glands were swollen under my arms, groin area, I experienced all over tingling etc. My new Dr wanted to begin 1/2 grain first for a week and gradually move up with lab work in between, I didn't trust him anymore and left his facility as well. I resumed back to 100mcg of Levoxyl. I had lab repeated and no lab was done on free t4 or free t3 when I had been on Armour. I had a difficult time finding a Dr willing to give me what I had wanted which was Armour Thyroid. Mainly because I had heard so many wonderful things about it from patients around the Globe, unfortunately no Dr was willing to prescribe it to me that truly new the correct procedure. I remained on Levoxyl at 100mcg and increased it to 150 approx. 3 months later and remained at this dosage for 4 months my period came back and dissapeared again 2 months later. I never lost weight, I never felt normal and grew very depressed. By this time it was 2004 and I switched Drs again because I was living my life without joy and severe depression. By this time I was on Effexor 75mg and Cholesterol medication, two medications I never thought I would ever need. I waited so long and truly believed my life and health would never change. I switched in 2005 to Synthroid 150mcg hoping this pill would help me shed some excess weight and waited until November and nothing happened still and as a suggestion from another member on another board had mentioned add 30mg of ARMOUR and finally within the first 3 weeks 10lbs were off and by the first 8 weeks 40 lbs were gone. At last someone finally heard me. My new Dr finally listened to me whole heartedly. In January I switched to Organic foods, and gradually worked my way to Armour 120mg again and 50mcg Synthroid combination. So far so good and the weight I know will soon resolve itself.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-26-2006
Fri, 05-26-2006 - 2:44pm
Being on ARMOUR regulated my entire edocrine system. My menstrual cycle has returned, I don't take anything for depression nor high cholesterol everything just fixed itself.