posted
My thyroid is within normal range, but on the low side of it. The doctor wants me to treat it with Armour. Could this be dangerous?
I'm overwhelmed with trying to read up on the links between thyroid and adrenals and what it all means!
thank you
Posts: 227 | From Northern CA (bitten in Illinois) | Registered: Jan 2008
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
I don't believe so at low doses. I'm in your boat too. TSH between 2-3. I'd like it lower. However, I seem too sensitive to Armour and don't like the way I feel on even a 30 gr dosage.
I get jittery and can feel my heart beating harder. I don't know if it's a temporary adjustment by my body or a refusal to accept the medication.
Note, my T3 is very high normal. T4 is low normal. Maybe the T3 in Armour is putting me over the edge which is NOT good.
My holistic doc is an expert in thyroid supplementation and has written books on the subject. He strongly recommends Armour for clinical Dx of hypo and a big proponent of Iodoral supplementation as well.
So the bottom line is Armour doesn't seem like a magic bullet for me. Maybe it will be for you. I have not given Iodoral a fair chance as the dosage scares the H### out of me.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
never had armour; been on synthroid for 20 years, and will be the rest of my life...
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
I was prescribed a thyroid medication from a compounding pharmacy. It may be less harsh than some of the drugs out there.
I think they can alternate the dosages via the prescription. I not taking it any more. I think my thyroid results improved from it.
Kelp is a supplement that is supposed to be helpful for the thyroid. I take a small amount as a supplement just to be sure I'm getting enough iodine.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
From what I have read, if you have adrenal gland problems, it is not good to treat your thyroid without first treating the adrenals or treating both at the same time.
In other words, it is dangerous to treat the thyroid without first or simultaneously treating the adrenals.
Hopefully your doctor knows about hormones and adrenal insufficiency and how to treat both the thyroid and the adrenals.
For us who have Lyme, we can only be treated for adrenal insufficiency with natural supplementation, and not steroids.
There are transdermal hormone creams and sublingual liquids that can be used for the adrenals.
If you need more information about why, please ask.
-------------------- I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease in August 2007, but I now feel it was a misdiagnosis. I was finally properly diagnosed with Chemical Sensitivity in February 2011. My life has changed drastically since then. Posts: 128 | From Dallas, Texas | Registered: Jul 2008
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Lymeorsomething
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16359
posted
I've been on synthroid for 15+ years. Also added in some Cytomel in the past few years. This stuff is very safe unless you're trying huge doses.
I didn't like Armour either...made me very hungry for some reason. As your doc said, just be aware of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism in case you're getting too much.
And, yes, thyroid replacement may exacerbate adrenal issues if there are any present...
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
My TSH is in the 5's and I am still not sure that it is going to be treated, or that I want it to be. I am very reluctant, because it is a lifelong decision.
My current MD says that fatigue in the am is thyroid, and fatigue in the pm is adrenal, generalizing. I don't know about anyone else, but I can't even tell if I am fatigued in the morning, because the pain then masks the fatigue!
My doctor is having me do the saliva test for adrenal function before deciding what to do.
A TSH in the 2's or 3's, like the poster's, would not be bad enough for me to take thryoid replacement, but I am scared. A doctor gave me meds 3 years ago and I did not take them.
My current MD seemed to think that my TSH's rapid change over time is more significant than the lab value itself, and I also have a high ANA, which would show some autoimmune attack. But he is being very careful because he is sure my adrenal function is low too.
On the other hand, my daughter's endocrinologist would not treat her TSH values that were in the high 3's, as I recall, and said it was "sick euthyroid syndrome," and that the Lyme was causing the lab value and dip in thryoid function, rather than a primary problem with her thyroid.So he said not to treat it.
This turned out to be hogwash. When her new MD finally put her on T4 and T3, her health improved a lot.
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quote:Originally posted by seekhelp: I don't believe so at low doses. I'm in your boat too. TSH between 2-3. I'd like it lower. However, I seem too sensitive to Armour and don't like the way I feel on even a 30 gr dosage.
I get jittery and can feel my heart beating harder. I don't know if it's a temporary adjustment by my body or a refusal to accept the medication.
I've experienced similar with Armour. I think Armour can be good for people who need the T3 and the other hormones found in it. For those who have enough T3, IMO there are better choices than Armour. In that situation, I'd certainly try supplementing T4 only, such as levoxyl.
Posts: 727 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2006
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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The typical thyroid tests can miss some things, according to some doctors. There are several good books about thyroid treatment on the market.
Both of the books below discuss, in detail, the entire endocrine system and how it is affected by lyme disease. Treatment methods are suggested as well.
This book is specific to lyme and other chronic stealth infections (such as Cpn). The author discusses the endocrine connection and effects of cortisol from the stress of this illness. The Singleton book (linked above) also discussed the importance of the endocrine connection.
You can read customer reviews and look inside the book at this link to its page at Amazon.
disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
I don't see why thyroid treatment would be dangerous. It can be dangerous if you don't treat hypothyroid/hyperthyroid when it needs treated.
I am hypothyroid, but only borderline. I've been in treatment for two or so years now. Started on Synthroid and have been on Synthroid since. My last LLMD added in Armour to take WITH Synthroid as well, which I found odd, but have heard more doctors are doing it now.
The only dangerous thing about treating thyroid is getting too much thyroid hormone and then having what is called a thyroid storm, but I wouldn't worry about that too much. I don't think it happens very often. You just have to watch your thyroid levels and have them checked often.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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