Disappointed yet determined

[nouvelleespoir]

I had been successfully using Armour Thyroid for Hashimotos the States for 8 years. Before moving to France my docs said not to worry, since Europe is more open to natural treatments than the US. I wish I were finding that to be true! I can't get anything here that has both t4 AND t3. I'm using l- thyroxine henning until I can get what actually works for me. As a result, I'm having an uptick in symptoms I haven't had for years. How does one procure the medicine they need over here? I really want my Armour back, but would accept anything that's natural and t3/t4 together. What are my current options?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Elisabeth1974,

You might find this link illuminating:

How NDT became illegal in France - by request

greygoose 2 years ago 38 Replies

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Which represents quite a barrier to obtaining desiccated thyroid in France.

You are suffering from what we have seen so many times, doctors telling patients anything they think the patient wants to hear but actually out of their deep and profound ignorance. And most certainly without doing even a fairly cursory web search.

I do not know the best approach for you - but we do have several members in France, or with close connections, who are likely better placed to help.

[nouvelleespoir in reply to helvella]

I would love to exchange PM's with anyone in France who has connections or information so I can get this straightened out. Thank you so much!

[greygoose]

It's very rare to even find a doctor that know what Armour et al is, in France. And most doctors are very unsure of the use of T3.

Since I wrote the post that helvella links to above, there has been a new developement in France. For some reason - I know not why - the French sneakily passed a new law last year, I think. This new law says that you cannot buy any prescription-only medication on-line, and have it sent to France. Now, whilst the French, in their typical law-abiding way, will just ignore that, on-line pharmacies won't. They will very often refuse to ship to France, because they know that if the package is opened by customs, it will just be destroyed or returned to them. They won't take the risk.

So, what are your options? Well, there is a T4/T3 combo on the market - Euthyral - but it is not what you call 'natural'. It is synthetic hormone. But, I would think it was at least worth a try! Armour is not as 'natural' as you might think. It contains just as many fillers as levo or liothyronine tablets, because you can't make tablets without fillers. And, it's usually the fillers that people react badly to, not the hormone itself. But, if you do decide to try the synthetic route, you would be better off taking your T4 and T3 separately, because it gives you more flexibility. So, in France, those are your options, I'm afraid.