Dr. S. just prescribed this for me, apparently I have a "lazy" thyroid.
This sure is news to me since I actually have been losing weight. Doesn't really make sense...
I do hope it will help with the crushing fatigue that I have been experiencing of late.
And why does it smell so bad??? I just poked my nose in there and I'll tell you, it's some rank stuff!
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I started it a couple weeks ago, and I must say, I have more energy now, even while herxing, than I did before.
I also have been struggling to keep my weight up .... and I am eating more on the thyroid, but haven't lost or gained weight.
I haven't stuck my nose in the bottle, so I don't know how it smells, but you've got me curious ....
Posted by Ellie K (Member # 12056) on :
I am eating more too... maybe our metabolisms are up?
Posted by cantgiveupyet (Member # 8165) on :
That stuff smells nasty, one day my cat took a sniff....and even she could not tolerate it!
Im always starved, no matter how much I eat. No weight gain, but glad im no longer 89lbs.
Posted by daise (Member # 13622) on :
Hi to everyone browsing this thread,
Hypothyroidism is so common in the US it's pathetic. Over a century ago druggists compounded Armour for time release. Now it's known that the amount of T3 needed by supplement is different for many.
Armour is wonderful stuff for those who need it.
It's desiccated pig thyroid. (Similar to powdering.)
I use Armour Thyroid, compounded for time-release. That means I take the prescription to a compounding pharmacist who compounds it to last for 8 - 12 hours.
I got a huge bulls-eye rash, but no signs or symptoms of Lyme. Nine years later: BAM! At that time I was correctly diagnosed with severe hypothyroidism (TSH 75,) but not Lyme.
I've had signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism off and on for decades.
To my mind, being severely low in thyroid hormones was what brought on Lyme suddenly after nine years (along with sex hormones levels and adrenal levels that were "off." All of these levels are related.)
Thyroid hormone levels affect everybody from the tip of their head, clear down to their big, right toe. It is the fuel for metabolism in cells, sort of like little thyroid hormone logs for our fire.
I take Levoxyl (human made thyroid hormone T4, but bioidentical to what the body makes) along with Armour (9 mcg T4 and 2.2 mcg T3, per 1/4 grain.) Both T4 and T3 are made in the body: T4 is slow acting and it is stored; T3 is fast acting.
The issues are many with low thyroid. There is a wonderful book written by a patient, for patients, called, Living Well With Hypothyroidism, 2005 expanded edition, by Mary J. Shomon. It contains excellent, common sense help. Mary interviews hundreds of doctors.
Thyroid hormones have a lot to do with our brains, yet most of the conventional medical world denies it. Also, Lyme often attacks the thyroid. So I've made sure I treated my thyroid optimally, especially with neuro borreliosis.
Mary has a very good search site at www.thyroid-info.com (and it's linked to her about.com site.) At her site she lists doctors, by state, who are willing to consider the use of T3 (along with or instead of T4-Levoxyl, Synthroid, etc.) She'll send a free, weekly enewsletter, also.
Another good book dealing with thyroid, adrenals and sex hormone balancing is Feeling Fat, Fuzzy or Frazzled, by Richard Shames MD and Karilee Shames Phd, RN.
Maybe both are at your library.
The first time I took 1/4 grain of Armour thyroid, compounded for time-release (along with T4) 45 minutes later "the Sun rose in my head ... though it was a mighty foggy Sun" because I had undiagnosed Lyme!
Daise Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :
Yes, I'm on Armour Thyroid. I was put on it actually while I was extremely ill, but didn't know it could be caused from lyme.
Since then, my LLMD said that lyme attacks the thyroid along with everything else and that he definitely feels in my case, it got my thyroid, which is why he wants me staying on the med. Infact, my dose has been raised since thos beginning days.
As was mentioned, it does smell, but from all my reading, it has the least amount of side effects, compared to the others, so if it works for you, it will be great.
My daughter who also has lyme is as skinny as a rail but also was told her thyroid is under active, which as you say, is totally opposite, so I think that lyme just totally messes up everything and our best bet is to help our bodies along with these types of meds until we are able to fight on our own.
My LLMD is under the hope that I may not be on this for life and after we get the lyme under control, I won't need the thyroid boost, but only time will tell on that one.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Cathy
Posted by tailz (Member # 10014) on :
I just restarted my kelp. I had trouble with this one a year ago, but I think my thyroid was overactive back then, and by taking kelp, I just made a bad problem worse.
It comes in a bag in powder form, and I've been taking about a half teaspoon a day for about a week. I notice that I don't feel so bloated anymore.
I read it contains arsenic, and that to remove arsenic from your body, you need to take some. I'm not sure if this is true or not, but I did have occupational levels of arsenic in my bloodstream about a year and a half ago, and I was a skeletal 88 lbs at the time.
Posted by B R H (Member # 12159) on :
My thyroid function was normal before my Lyme diagnosis. Shortly after, I was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's Thyroiditis). After ~10 months on the Marshall Protocol, my thyroid function has returned to normal. Consider getting a thyroid antibody test & then consider which is more likely - your body attacking itself "just because", or your body attacking a chronic infection that you have already been diagnosed with.
Posted by lorenzfam (Member # 14938) on :
I, too, have been diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, but I have had one dr. and one engocrinologist tell me that they can't give me anything for it, because my Free T4 level is normal.
I was diagnosed a few years back with Hypothyroidism, and the dr. then put me on Armour Thyroid. I didn't notice any difference, although it was just a low dose.
I am really worried, because I feel like I can barely function anymore and I feel it is most likely due to my thyoid being underactive. I feel like I need to be on medication until my body can take care of itself.
Should I try a different Dr.?
Posted by hiker53 (Member # 6046) on :
Even though my thyroid tests were always in the normal range even with the stricter guidelines, my LLMD thought it would help my fatigue.
Armour thyroid did nothing for me and I could not gain my much needed weight. I went off of it and gained 10 pounds pretty quickly which I really needed to do and my energy levels never changed.
However, everyone if different, so it might help you. Hiker53
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
I've been taking Armour thyroid for over a year now.
My hair doesn't fall out as copiously as it did.
I too, had weight loss despite hypothyroid issues.
It was babesia causing the weight loss issues for me.
My dog accidently ate 11 of my armour thyroid pills one day.
To me it smells fishy. To her it smelled tasty.
She is a counter cruiser who taught me a valuable lesson and 35.00 to call Pet Poison Contol.
She was fine. I had to pay out of pocket for those pills due to insurance only covering so many.
Give it a couple of weeks.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by cantgiveupyet (Member # 8165) on :
ohhhh No geneal! That something one of our dogs would do, as soon as he hears anything hit the floor he comes running.
I dropped my whole pill box for the day all over the kitchen floor, this dog was just coming inside, he would have eaten all the pills.
Glad your doggie was ok.
Im on Armour too, and have weight loss, at one time I thought it helped me gain weight, but now Im back to loosing again.
Posted by tickssuck (Member # 15388) on :
Yes, I'm another Lymie on Armour Thyroid...I was told my thyroid was low...never had this until my Lyme diagnosis. I've been on Armour a couple of months, basically the same time I started my Lyme treatment.
I am still so sick from the Lyme and all my co-infections it's very hard for me to know if the Armour Thyroid is doing anything; but, I continue to take it, 60 mg daily.
Posted by tickssuck (Member # 15388) on :
Yes, I'm another Lymie on Armour Thyroid...I was told my thyroid was low...never had this until my Lyme diagnosis. I've been on Armour a couple of months, basically the same time I started my Lyme treatment.
I am still so sick from the Lyme and all my co-infections it's very hard for me to know if the Armour Thyroid is doing anything; but, I continue to take it, 60 mg daily, under the advice of my LLMD.
Posted by sweet pea (Member # 6495) on :
Having Lyme screwed up my thyroid levels; I had been on synthroid for many years before that without any problems. My LLMD switched me to armour thyroid a couple of years ago and it's kept my thyroid levels stable.
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