ARMOUR

[Soundwell1]

Hi I'm giving up Armour and going back to levothyroxine t4.

The Armour gives me terrible non stopheadaches and feelings of an electric shock when I touch any area in my lower left face and neck.

My t3 was 3.8 three years ago. It's now 4.8.

The t4 seems to give me more energy at 100mcg.

I have an endo who is trialing me on t3 but I've had enough. My chest feels tight and recently I've had a breathing test at the hospital, north west, the results are that I have gas trapping.

My type 1 insulin doesnt work any more at least for two or more hours then it decides to take my bs low but only have to eat a small amount and it's right up to 17 again.

If anyone knows the magic answer to all this feel free to please share your thought.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For any replacement thyroid hormones (Levo, T3 or NDT) to work we need OPTIMAL vitamin levels....

When were vitamin levels last tested

Vitamin D at least over 80nmol and around 100nmol may bd better

Folate at least over ten

Serum B12 at least over 500

Active B12 over 70

Ferritin at least half way through range

Presumably you have Hashimoto’s, autoimmune, as is Type one diabetes

Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

If not, it’s definitely worth trying ....you don’t need any obvious gut symptoms...though frequently it dramatically improves IBS and bloating

Hashimoto's frequently affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten intolerance. Second most common is lactose intolerance

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find strictly gluten free diet reduces symptoms, sometimes significantly. Either due to gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet

(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)

Trying strictly gluten free diet for 3-6 months

If no noticeable improvement, reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

[Nanaedake]

I think I read that 'electric shock' feeling can be a result of low B12. Have you had it tested and do you have a result?

[Soundwell1 in reply to Nanaedake]

Hi yes I have a result 145 b12.

I've been tested for pernicious aenemia negative

I know it's lowish should I ask gp to inject me as my digestion is not good??

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Soundwell1]

I suggest you go back to the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum - I see you have already posted there.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

Testing for PA is next to impossible. There are several things that can be tested, but if you had Intrinsic Factor antibodies tested, that is well-known to have a very high false negative rate.

[Angelic69]

What are you eating.