Dosage of NDT armour

[Maggie69]

Is there anyone who could please help me. I have been on armour for 8months was on levo 75mcgs b4 that but hopeless. Just I don't no if I should up My armour to 3x60 mgs as I feel really tired depressed and constipated (sorry) really hope someone can advice x x

[RedApple Administrator]

Maggie, those symptoms can be caused by both too little and too much thyroid hormone. What dose are you on at the moment? Have you any very recent blood test results to share so that we can see a bigger picture?

[Maggie69 in reply to RedApple]

Hi red apple no I don't have any blood test results at all ( sorry) just that I have to self medicate as my GP never heard of armour and we don't have any endos here in Northern Ireland :((( I'm on 150mgs of armour at the min x plus my finger nails seem to b detaching from my nail beds x

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Maggie69]

Maggie, I might be wrong, but nails detaching from their beds is typical of too much thyroid hormone. I'm really wondering if you are in fact over-medicated. Going from 75mcg levo to 150mg desiccated is quite a big jump, and maybe you actually need less rather than more.

[Maggie69 in reply to RedApple]

Thank u I'm goin to decrease as from today x x

[Hidden]

Hi Maggie

I am on a T4/T3 combo so can't help you on Armour, sorry. However, no thyroid meds will work properly if your adrenals, vits/minerals are not up to scratch. Have you checked these out or had tests done.

[Maggie69 in reply to Hidden]

Hi no I haven't as I don't no where I could go over here to get them tested sorry I meant to say extremely tired not hope I used to b able to cope on 5 hours sleep but now I need ten. Hope someone can help I at my wits end thank u red apple x ps I'm not very good on Internet either x

[roslin in reply to Maggie69]

Hi maggie, agree with red apple that you may be over medicating. I was on 225mcg levo and I now take 3grains. ( I expect I will have to increase later on). Please have a blood test and check. If your Gp wont do it maybe you can have it done privately?

Roslinxx

[Maggie69 in reply to roslin]

Hi roslin I was just sort of guessing how much I should take I just kept upping it. ( not good I no)

[shaws Administrator]

This link may help re dessicated thyroid.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/m...

Can you not ask your doctor to do a thyroid gland blood test, i.e. TSH, T4 and T3. These are labs that do private testing and I know Blue Horizon provide home test kits.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

You can post the results with ranges in a new question f you have any done.

[Maggie69 in reply to shaws]

Hi thank u so much could u please tell me exactly wot blood tests I would have to get x x ure advice is greatly appreciated x

[Hidden]

I learned that meds regulate blood levels of thyroid markers, but nutrition and lifestyle manages the symptoms. So you may want to investigate that or you can contact me and we could have a chat

[PinkNinja in reply to Hidden]

But if you aren't getting enough thyroid hormones no amount of dietary or lifestyle changes will get rid of symptoms completely. Getting enough of the right thyroid hormones is necessary. Of course, you won't be entirely well if diet and lifestyle are not good. I really believe it is a combination of both.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to PinkNinja]

Totally agreed. Inappropriate amounts of thyroid hormone cannot be counteracted by dietary and lifestyle changes. The 'diet and exercise' route is all too frequently thrown at patients by medics who have no clue about thyroid issues at all.

[Hidden in reply to RedApple]

I have to agree that all counts. But - medication alone can't make you feel better. I went this route and with my own experience, I can guarantee you that food and lifestyle plays a very big role and a lot of underestimate the importance of food

[Maggie69]

Hi everyone thanks for your replies. My diet is really healthy (don't want to sound big headed) but I eat a lot of fruit and veg and drink at least 3 litres of water a day ( but don't exercise :((. ) I'm 54 y old but have been thought a lot of stress lately as my wee mummy died on the 12th April then my partners mum died 5 weeks later plus a lot if hassle from my family so I'm stil off work. But really feel I need to get back to work for my own sanity x just wish I go have "some get up and go" x x

[Hidden in reply to Maggie69]

So sorry about you Mum. Letting go can sometimes help to heal you faster.

[Hidden]

Hi Maggie, bereavement is hard to cope with when you have a thyroid problem, I lost my mother on the 12th April last year.

You mentioned that you were constipated, before I was diagnosed I was very constipated, but this corrected itself when I started taking levo, so I wonder if this is an indication that you need a higher dose. I know there are other things that cause constipation, are you on any vitamins?

[Maggie69 in reply to Hidden]

H jan yea I take selenium plus zinc. I used to b on levo for 12 years and kept puttin on weight so that was why I changed to armour x