Armour better than synthroid??

[designinme]

I know many here take synthroid, but I found this article very interesting. I have been on armour thryoid for 5 months, and feel incredible.

I know 3 people who have switched, and have shown great improvement in how they feel. A must read.

http://www.mercola.com/1999/archive/armour_thyroid.htm

[LooseShoes]

Re: Armour better than synthroid??

I've been on Armour since I was 5 years old. Docs have tried to switch me, but I got major intestinal problems with the synthetic. Even after I figured out that the synthetic was causing it, it took almost a year before I was back to normal. I just tell them I'm allergic to the synthetic and they have kept prescribing my armour--even though they seem to take it terribly personal. They tell me Armour's going to quit making it, that the synthetic is better, etc. I have the feeling the synthetic drug companies are really paying off the doctors, but perhaps that's just my cynical attitude towards the medical field.

Armour provides T3 and T4--both are necessary for the thyroid to function correctly. Most people function fine with the synthetics, but not me.

[purplecat]

Re: Armour better than synthroid??

I asked my doc to switch me to Armour and he would not. I'm so tired all the time, cold, and my hair falls out in clumps - not to mention the choking sensation I get with certain sweaters. He kept asking me if I was getting enough sleep, etc.. Why does he not realize it's my stupid thyroid? I think I'm going to have to find a new doctor. It's becoming a pain having to switch doctors. I had to switch to him to get the initial treatment after 3 years with my old TP and an Endocrinologist who said my symptoms were not caused by my thyroid. I had a goiter the size of a golf ball sticking out the side of my neck and cysts on my thyroid (but my symptoms were not caused by my thyroid?).

[GCC]

Re: Armour better than synthroid??

Cytomel is a T3 med that is often taken with Synthroid. Cytomel is a T3 med & Sythroid is a T4 med. See if your doctor will prescribe Cytomel (if they will not use Armour).

Get copies of your thyroid blood test. See if they ever test your Free T3 & FREE T4 levels.

If they are not testing those levels (and make sure they say FREE) insist that they do so.

Also, see what your TSH is. Optimal TSH is low, around 1.0 (although many doctors are happy with a much higher TSH, you will be happy with a lower TSH). The higher your TSH, the lower your thyroid hormones are.

Optimal for the Free T's is in the middle to upper part of the "normal range" NOT in the lower part of the range!

[purplecat]

Re: Armour better than synthroid??

Cytomel is a T3 med that is often taken with Synthroid. Cytomel is a T3 med & Sythroid is a T4 med. See if your doctor will prescribe Cytomel (if they will not use Armour).

Get copies of your thyroid blood test. See if they ever test your Free T3 & FREE T4 levels.

If they are not testing those levels (and make sure they say FREE) insist that they do so.

Also, see what your TSH is. Optimal TSH is low, around 1.0 (although many doctors are happy with a much higher TSH, you will be happy with a lower TSH). The higher your TSH, the lower your thyroid hormones are.

Optimal for the Free T's is in the middle to upper part of the "normal range" NOT in the lower part of the range!

Thank you. My frustration level is so low when it comes to doctors. I wonder why I even pay for insurance.

[GCC]

Re: Armour better than synthroid??

You're welcome purple cat. I get very frustrated with doctros also!!

Did you know that by law now they have to give you copies of medical records that you ask for. That is really huge...

See if they ever test your FREE T3 & FREE T4. The Free T3 is the one that they usually don't ever test and the one that often gets too low on Synthroid alone!

Good to talk to you and good luck. Let us know what happens.

[imashrinkydink]

Re: Armour better than synthroid??

I also made my doctor change me from sythroid to Armour and I have been taking Armour now for about 3 years and I feel much better. I had a total thyroidectemy due to thyroid cancer, this has been the solution for me.

[Jaded]

Re: Armour better than synthroid??

Hey guys, this is kind've unrelated as I don't personally have a thyroid problem, but my cousins son has been on synthroid since he was born. He's 4 now and the doctor asked my cousin if she'd like to take him off of it to see if he really still needs the medication, but wouldnt really give any information as to what could happen now if he does need it, or if he continues to take it and he actually doesnt need it (initially the doc told her if they take him off it too early and he does need it, he could have brain damage). I was just wondering if any of you would have any insights?

[purplecat]

Re: Armour better than synthroid??

Hey guys, this is kind've unrelated as I don't personally have a thyroid problem, but my cousins son has been on synthroid since he was born. He's 4 now and the doctor asked my cousin if she'd like to take him off of it to see if he really still needs the medication, but wouldnt really give any information as to what could happen now if he does need it, or if he continues to take it and he actually doesnt need it (initially the doc told her if they take him off it too early and he does need it, he could have brain damage). I was just wondering if any of you would have any insights?

What's his diagnosis? I can ask the doctors I work with.

[ssMarilyn]

Re: Armour better than synthroid??

purplecat, many doctors are 'dumb' when it comes to the thyroid and treating it properly. For one thing, most are behind and using OLD lab values for the TSH test. Some people can take Armour with no problem and some get sick on it. I have been on Synthroid for years and do well on it. Your TSH needs to be around 1.0 and no higher than 3.0 Do you get a hard copy of your lab tests? If your hair is falling out, your TSH is too high. That's my biggest symptom...and dry skin..then I now I need a higher dosage of Synthroid.

[xmmwx]

Re: Armour better than synthroid??

Not sure if anyone is watching this thread anymore, but would like to know if they still are making Armour. I am concerned because I was just diagnosed and have been taking a low dose of Synthroid and my symptoms have been getting worse..Also, here I am doing the Atkins diet and losing quite well and all the sudden I have started losing and gaining the same 2 lbs for the last few weeks..where as, I was at least losing before the Synthroid really kicked in.

[ssMarilyn]

Re: Armour better than synthroid??

Yes, Armour is still made, but not available at all pharmacies, plus alot of doctors won't prescribe it. It has a lower shelf life than that artificial junk most of us are on, so is often ordered into the drugstore as they get prescriptions for it.

[ssMarilyn]

Re: Armour better than synthroid??

P.S. Could very well be too, that your Synthroid dose needs to be increased. They start you low and slowly work you up to the proper amount over weeks and months. They can't do it quickly because too much thyroid med stimulates the heart and can cause heart attacks, etc...

[xmmwx]

Re: Armour better than synthroid??

Funny..I worked for a doctor for 10 years and never bothered to learn much about synthroid..I don't know why. I was the office manager and always dealing with billing and accounts and crazy patients.. but, wasn't always involved in the medical aspect. Thanks for the information. I just think I'm going to go crazy. I thought this medicine was supposed to make me feel better not worse. Does anyone have any idea why someone would feel worse? I heard it is because your body stops making its own hormones and taking synthroid could affect the production of other ones like T3 (that's why people do better on Armour). Does that sound right?

[ssMarilyn]

Re: Armour better than synthroid??

I guess I've never heard of someone saying they felt worse after starting their Synthroid. I also have never heard of Synthroid interfering with the production of T3, which is just T4 (stored hormone) converted to useable hormone, aka T3. If you have a doctor that won't prescribe Armour, you might just need some Cytomel aka T3. Some people get really sick on Armour. It is pig thyroid y'know... Kinda gross when you think about it. When did you start your treatment? It's a slow recovery and it could be that your thyroid was still bottoming out when you started your medication and it's just going to take a little bit to get it back up and running. Even then it takes months to get back to normal. You want to be sure your TSH is around 1.0 and absolutely never over 3.0 I do best at 1.0 Would be nice too, if docs would request a FT4 and FT3 done, but they normally don't. You almost need to see a naturopath (sp) MD in order to get the correct testing done. Even most endocs bypass the FT3. I don't get it....

P. S. Fluoride inhibits the thyroid, so you want to be sure you don't drink tap water or use fluoridated toothpaste. Many docs say no, that there isn't enough fluoride in water and toothpaste to affect our thyroid, but they aren't aware that fluoride builds up in our body tissues, to toxic levels that WILL affect your thyroid. Many years ago, fluoride was used to treat HYPERthyroidism. What's that tell ya... (doctors...ARGH!!)