Problems increasing Armour ....almost there, BUT.

[Jollypolly]

Have been on Armour quite a long time now..over a year. .

I got to two grains...still needed more, for sure..

An extra quarter brings feelings of hyper ....but take it away and I'm back down again .

So l tried every other day...that wasn't enough. Now l shall try 2 and a quarter five days, with Just two Saturday and Wednesday.

Feeling quite grotty with all this....any thoughts anyone ? I think l have my supplements about right, and don't want to mess with them . I feel this is a problem with taking the Armour.

Grateful for any ideas.

[shaws Administrator]

Maybe this link will be helpful:-

web.archive.org/web/2010112...

Do you split your dose or take all at once.?

[Jollypolly in reply to shaws]

Thank you for this most interesting article/ book extract...from where is it taken ?

I'm not sure it helps me hugely, but it is indeed an excellent article and l enjoyed reading it.

I take all my Armour at about 6 am with lots of water...l don't THiNK l like to divide the dose...l tried it once to no avail.

I seem to be so sensitive to the slightest things, and therefore find optimisation very difficult !

I went onto Armour for the very reason that l could never get the thyroxine dose right..it was always either too much or too little.

Now l seem to have the same with Armour. 🤔

Thank you anyway...and any other ideas are most welcome .

[Jollypolly in reply to Jollypolly]

Should also add l just have blood test results back...

T4 -18

Tsh 0.05

[shaws Administrator in reply to Jollypolly]

It is helpful if ranges are stated as labs differ. The TSH is fine.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Jollypolly]

Ranges should always be stated as labs differ. You will see from the following Dr L only took a blood test at the initial appointment.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

[shaws Administrator in reply to Jollypolly]

Sometimes we can be sensitive to the fillers/binders in any thyroid hormone replacement. I tried levo (not for me) T3/T4 (improvement), 3 NDTs and T3 only. . I have found relief with T3 but that also doesn't agree with everyone.

A member suggested that our iron has to be optimum to help thyroid hormones.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/f...

If you've been on Armour for a short time, maybe give it a bit longer to see if you settle into it

[Jollypolly in reply to shaws]

Thank you for replying. I also have tried t3. With Levo...terrible !

Do you think my approach of Two and a quarter five days with two on two days is a reasonable one ?.

[Jollypolly in reply to Jollypolly]

Actually lve been on Armour for a year ish ...

Du think l should persist with the extra quarter ..at least on five days,..as lve tried on two grains and l feel terrible. .?

I always panic when l feel bad ...it all gets worryingly muddled again.and then don't know what to do...

but realistically, symptoms can die down, can't they ?

I will look at the iron issues...

I don't sleep well at all...that is some of the problem.

All will be well one day !

[shaws Administrator in reply to Jollypolly]

The 'old fashioned way' of taking thyroid hormones was to increase it until symptoms resolved. If you don't feel well when you add the extra 1/4 it's not doing you any favours and you've been on Armour long enough to have relief.

You are right in that some people panic when they're not improving despite changing hormones or doses and one does get desperate at times wondering when they'll feel better..

Insomnia is a clinical symptom. Bearing in mind that I'm not medically qualified in any way I would try adding 1/4 T3 in place of 1/4 Armour to see if that suits you.

[Jollypolly in reply to shaws]

Many thanks for your thoughts...but where do you suggest l get t3 ?

Maybe I'll continue trying first...may try this idea of taking the quarter at night...although l must say the idea seems anti instinctive !

[shaws Administrator in reply to Jollypolly]

I don't split any doses of thyroid hormones. I've always taken them once daily.

T3 is required to saturate our receptor cells and then it's work begins for between one to three days.

To get T3 put up a new post and ask for a private message to be sent to you as we cannot do so on the forum.

[Jollypolly in reply to shaws]

Ok thanks..I'll think about it.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Jollypolly]

I'm not saying to copy me but only what works for me

[Jollypolly in reply to shaws]

I appreciate that and understand...

My GP prescribes the Armour...yes, it's a miracle...

Do you think he'd be likely to countenance the idea of tiny dose of t3'..should l try asking him do you think..or netter to get it myself and try ?

[shaws Administrator in reply to Jollypolly]

I think maybe get it yourself. If he is prescribing Armour and your in the UK, it will be frowned upon I believe by the Authorities.

I am not medically qualified.

[Jollypolly in reply to shaws]

Ok...will continue to see what happens with my twice a week 2. Grains..hoping for success !

Otherwise a rethink.

Please tell me where the extract was from...it was so excellent.

Many thanks for dialoguing with me.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Jollypolly]

The above article was written by Dr Lowe who was a stalwart in stating that levothyroxine wasn't the best possible for patients.

He died through an accident and his website is archived but some articles now cannot be accessed, so we only have parts available. He was also an Adviser to TUK before his death.

I shall give you a link and there are useful topics at the top of the page but not all can be accessed.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

[Jollypolly]

Thank you...kind of you to reply !

[debjs]

I take a quarter of a grain of Armour about 5pm which definitely improves my sleep. Can't help with dosage though as I seem to be in the same position - increase quarter grain then feel worse after a few days. Hard to know what to do.

[Jollypolly]

THankyou - nice to know lm not alone !

It is a problem though - I just wonder if you have to push on through and eventually it would settle , - as the other doses did .

It's not as though heart is racing...it isn't ., pulse is normal, but don't sleep and feel pretty ghastly !

Aargh !

Maybe there are other factors involved ...

Thanks ... and all the best to all of us who struggle with this !