I read on a website where someone started taking Armour Thyroid medication. And within 6 months, she was able to go on all day ski trips! I can't imagine having that much energy again.
But I'm soooo excited.
I don't expect to feel like I did at 16...but am hoping to at least only feel like I'm 30...instead of 50.
How different will my life be? I can only imagine with a huge smile.
PIB - I didn't know (or maybe I forgot )you had thyroid problems too! Is this new? Didn't you know I'm the thyroid queen - I've been hyper, hypo, and I'm a physician to boot, so you can ask me anything!
Are you going on Armour thyroid? Is this a change from Synthroid? There is an excellent book by Ridha Arem called the Thyroid Solution which you should read. He addresses the issue of people who seem to need T3 as well as T4 in their supplements.
OB/GYNs have known for years that their infertile hypothyroid patients have the best chance of successful pregnancy if they keep their TSH between 1 and 2 - I figure, if it's a good range for fertility, it's probably a good range for everything else too!
I had my Thyroid gland removed several years ago. While I'm not experiencing any dramatic changes I am very interested in keeping up with latest information and properly managing my medication.
Are there web sites that have been particularly helpful? What is the name of the new medicine you were given? Any info you have would be great!
Water - old standards used to be that a TSH anywhere between about o.6 and 5 (depending on the lab) was normal. New standards recognize that if your TSH is above 3 or 3.5, AND you have symptoms of hypothyroidism, you may need treatment. As I posted, infertility patients who are hypothyroid do best if their TSH is kept between 1 and 2, so that's the range I shoot for myself (god forbid I should get pregnant though!! ). A few months ago my TSH slipped to 4.5 and I felt HORRIBLE.
It is a good idea to take your thyroid supplement on an empty stomach in the morning, an hour before meals. This ensures consistent absorption, since food can interfere with absorption (but if you currently are taking yours with food, and you switch to an empty stomach, your levels can go up, so be careful).
I had forgotten, Ellie about you struggling with this!
Well, I've been hypothyroid since right before husband and I got married. I am 99.99% positive that my depression/energy were all thyroid related. Turns out that a whiplash can contribute to the problems. My mom was hypothyroid...so I know it runs in my family. But for years my Husband had been saying that he thought he caused my depression. Well, I told him about the whiplash theory...and yes, my problems did start after a car accident I was in with my college roomate. I did have whiplash. So, I told husband...all this time, you thought you were the cause...but it was really all MA's fault! He was amused...and I think relieved.
I tried taking kelp supplments for years...that didn't help.
I got the blood tests done and the docs kept saying I was in the normal range. Most of the time my tsh was above a 3.
Had all the symptoms and they just wouldn't listen to me.
Grrr.
Moved to my town and my doc did listen. He started slowly upping my t4 but I had to take a blood test first.
Since I tend to get faint, about 6 months ago..I said "that's enough!" Took a 6 month break. But my hair started falling out recently...and Husband and I have been talking seriously about babies! So, I got bloodwork done on the 19th of July in preparation for going to my Doc and asking him to up it again!
Well, I decided to go online and my search led me to a post on another bb:
It doesn't really matter what medication you are taking, so long as it includes T3 itself, or you are on a T3 supplement.
Synthroid and Levoxyl do not have T3.
The reason you need T3 is because this is the hormone that your thyroid gland produces that regulates energy levels and metabolism.
Because your body produces more T4 than T3, and your body naturally converts T4 to T3, many doctors do not provide T3 directly. This is a mistake because although T4 naturally converts to T3, replacement T4 does not convert to T3.
For example, my mother was undiagnosed for 12 years, and then finally put onto Synthroid. Although this was a life saver, after 20 years of Synthroid she was really noticing that she wasn't as active or healthy as she would like. I convinced her to see my doctor in L.A., and he put her on a T4/T3 replacement. Since May 0f 2002, my mother has lost 32 extra pounds simply by her medication changing. It's wonderful to have a metabolism that works, and T3 is the only way to achieve that if you are hypothyroid.
If you have any questions about this, you can e-mail me at thyroid~justice.com [thyroid AT justice.com], or you can check out my web site [that is still in the developmental stages] at http://diagnosis.4t.com
So, yes, I've switched from 100 mcg of Levoxyl to 1 grain of Armour Thyroid.
I want to be in the best shape possible for having a baby.
Oh, and according to Dr. Lowe's site, just going on the meds. won't make a diff. You MUST eat right/exercise/take your vits.
No problem!
Husband and I are going to switch our exercise to the morning. If I have energy from this t3 medication...I can exercise in the morning and still get through the rest of the day! How amazing that would be!
After over 2 years of struggling with my weight (Ie dieting via Weight Watchers or Atkins), I'm hoping this will make a difference! That I'll actually see results from my efforts!
Sorry...this post is so long! As you can see, I got quite obsessed with getting switched to Armour Thyroid!!
). A few months ago my TSH slipped to 4.5 and I felt HORRIBLE.
Well, I told him about the whiplash theory...and yes, my problems did start after a car accident I was in with my college roomate. I did have whiplash. So, I told husband...all this time, you thought you were the cause...but it was really all MA's fault! 
