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TSH values, synthroid vs. armour......

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Thyroid Disorders
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Posted 8/8/2012 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
So, what number do you feel best at? Two months ago, my TSH was 3.5 and I was feeling a little sluggish so my doc upped my dose. Now it's 0.16. Aside from a little insomnia and hot flashes, I feel just fine and may finally be losing some weight!!! I don't know what to do. I take synthroid. How many of you prefer armour? I've heard people often do better on that and lose weight. I have other auto immune issues so it's hard for me to tell with the fatigue factor...... But I've gained tons of weight (60 lbs) since being diagnosed 14 years ago and nothing I do can get it off. I am frustrated and my RA is starting to flare so I am not happy!
Posted 8/10/2012 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
My last lab test showed a TSH of .188 which is low but I feel good, no hyperthyroid symptoms
at all. That was in December and the doctor started freaking out and cut back on my Armour
and put me on Synthroid. I started feeling crappy so I quit the Synthroid and went back on
just ARmour and feel much better. I haven't gone in for labs because I don't want to make any
changes. I am looking for a doctor who treats the symptoms and not according to the labs.

I have lost some weight on the ARmour. But the change I made that made the most difference
was to cut out the gluten. I can't seem to quit completely, but cutting it out and also watching
the carbs (I try to keep it to 100 grams of carbs a day) has made a huge difference with my
weight and I think it's also part of the reason that I feel better and have more energy. I also
take selenium for my thyroid. And I'm making kefir and other fermented foods (I started that
to help my daughter who has Crohn's) and I think that that has also helped.

If you get a chance, read Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis. And for recipes and information
about fermenting foods my absolute favorite book is Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.
I love that book. You could try cutting down on carbohydrates, especially sugar and wheat
products, and see if that helps with the weight.
Posted 8/10/2012 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
Maggiemae, how much armour thyroid do you take and how much synthroid did they try to put you on? I talked to my PCP today and we are going to rotate the days I take my high dose of 150 and low dose of 125. I've had some hot flashes and insomnia which can be hyper symptoms. I might like to try armour thyroid next time that it's time to get a refill. I had a very stabile weight until my thyroid went low. I don't eat a lot of carbs either, maybe 100 grms most days. I have pre diabetes....so I have to watch it.
Posted 8/11/2012 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
Is there a class on how to read your lab results because those numbers mean nothing to me shakehead
Also when cutting carbs be careful not to overdo it, especially if you have one of the fatigue isuues too Fibro/EBV/CFS etc. because your body needs carbs for energy. I totally agree with the frustration over weight gain I'm at 160 and I'm 5' tall. I haven't weighed this much since my son was born 17yrs. ago. The carb thing I got from a doctor when I was able to work out and was crashing afterwords so I kept them for right before. Of course that was pre-CFS I haven't done much of anything for the last 4 months +20 more lbs. I've been mostly gluten free for years, me niece has a hole in her brain, my 21yr old id BP and my 17 is ADHD supposedly and gluten makes their symptoms worse too, its just some Nasty stuff. I just started on a Magnesium Malate supplement, I found it on the Fibro thread and it seems to be helping with energy but its been 4days so we'll see. Thanks for listening confused
Posted 8/11/2012 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
I think there is a website LabTests.com that explains lab results in detail. Good luck recoveryme2day. It sounds like you've really been through a lot. I hope the magnesium supplements help a lot.
Posted 8/11/2012 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
http://labtestsonline.org/

There's the line to the lab tests online. Hope it helps.
Posted 8/11/2012 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
I just got off the site you suggested and it was wonderfully easy to read and very helpful, thank you! :-)
Posted 8/11/2012 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
Excellent! Glad it could help you!!!
Posted 8/14/2012 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Jeanneac,

I just take 1 armour tablet (60 mg) a day. I was on a 50 mcg Levoxyl tablet with 1/4 Armour
tablet. I felt so much better when I went back to the Armour. I have also made a number
of dietary changes and that could also be part of the reason that I'm feeling better. It has
taken quite a few months but I feel good about the progress I've made.

Post Edited (maggiemay) : 8/14/2012 10:29:27 AM (GMT-6)

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