Switching from thyroxine to thyroid extract advice please.

[Xenelk]

Ok, think I have given thyroxine a pretty good chance of working. Have had good bloods for last 3 months . Latest result TSH 1.2 (.5-4.5) T4 19(10-20) and T3 4.7 (3.5-6)

Still very brain fogged, cold , pins and needles, and the list goes on.current dose is 100 thyroxine. Have tried increasing dose to 110 but that put T4 out and I felt really unwell.

So I have some thyroid extract( Aussie version of armour) . Doc who prescribed it works on the principal that t3 is four times as potent as t4. My tabs( 30mg) have 19 mcg t4 and 4.5mcg t3. So that would equate to 37mcg in t4?

So if I reduce my thyroxine to alternate days of 50mcg and 75mcg that evens out to 62.5mcg per day of thyroxine , then add my 37 thyroid extract to get to 99.5!!!!

Does this sound logical as a starting point?

Any experience with switching will be most welcome.

Thankyou

Lynda from Oz xxx

[Hidden]

Hi Lynda

I don't know enough about T3 or thyroid extract to give an opinion on this - sorry! I do wonder though how many who still suffer symptoms may have other issues. I often see it recommended that other checks should be made; vitamin D, B12, iron, ferritin seem to be the main ones, as problems with these can give similar symptoms. Just a thought. Good luck!

[Xenelk in reply to Hidden]

That's the problem too Liza- everything else is checking out ok. Have a fist full of test papers for almost anything you can think of!! Taking vitamins, have gone gluten free but still plagued by symptoms that didn't turn up until I went hypo after thyroid surgery. Gotta keep trying I guess

[Hidden in reply to Xenelk]

Yes - keep trying! I really hope thyroid extract is the solution for you I know some people find it makes all the difference - this actress for example; officialgenaleenolin.com/#!... who changed to natural and has never looked back! She also has a facebook page with lots of info.

[Xenelk in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much Liza. Really appreciate your support xxx

[PinkNinja]

Hi. It's a good starting point but it doesn't necessarily follow that this is the right dose for you ultimately. It really is trial and error until you feel well, making sure everything else is good too. For example, if your ferritin is below 70, you may want to consider an iron supplement. Iron is essential for conversion of T4 to T3 and seems to be needed to use thyroid hormones in your cells.

I had been on 125mcg thyroxine but was not at all well (was very well on T3 only before it was stopped). I needed to replace the 125mcg levo with 4.5 grains (270mg). I think this is because I don't use the T4 at all well. This is something to consider when you are getting to the correct dose. You don't want to use the conversion charts other than as a starting point. Some people find the conversion chart is accurate but if you have a significant problem with T4 (which you probably do if you felt worse increasing your thyroxine) you might find you need more.

Sorry I can't be more help. It is very individual. Just don't be surprised if you end up needing more than you think

I hope it works for you.

Carolyn x

[Xenelk in reply to PinkNinja]

Thanks so much Carolyn. You are very helpful!! Interesting that you were not well on t4 also. I thought get on thyroxine and all would be sweet, but not so for some of us. Would be nice to fit in the box though wouldn't it!!

[Xenelk in reply to PinkNinja]

How often did you increase your dose when starting out Carolyn? Seems to be lots of different opinions on that.

[PinkNinja in reply to Xenelk]

Personally I stopped the T4 completely one day and started with 1 grain (60mg) the next day. I then increased by half a grain each week until I got to 2.5 grains (150mcg) and then increase by half a grain every 4-6 weeks.

I think a more realistic approach than the conversion charts, for those of us who can't use the T4 very well, is to increase until feeling well. That seems to result in a dose of Armour that has the same amount (or similar) of T4 and the T3 is an added bonus. It's because of the reliance on blood test that this seems to occur. It's almost as if some of us need that level of T4 that gives a good result but we also need ADDED T3 rather than T3 to replace the T4. This won't be the same for everyone but it certainly seemed to be in my case.

[shaws Administrator]

This is an approximate conversion chart and Carolyn has given good advice.

thyroid.about.com/library/d...

[Xenelk in reply to shaws]

Thankyou xxx