The walking SILENT SUCKERS of Synthroid, Levoxyl & Levothyroxine treatment
It would make an incredible horror movie. The plot: stunningly convince at least hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide that what has always been obvious, isn’t. That leaves only look green because of alien filters in your eyes. That ripe apples fall because water pulls them down. That fire doesn’t really burn your skin; it’s just your imagination.
And about hundred more schizophrenic ying yangs. Because if those in authority say so, it must be so.
But the horror movie is a reality, and I see it EVERY TIME I come into contact with people and the subject of my thyroid advocacy comes up.
Like today. A couple saw my book and struck up a conversation. She was on Synthroid; he was on Levoxyl. They had each been on their T4-only treatment for 12 and 14 years respectively, felt their hypo was perfectly treated, believed their doctors…and were now dealing with other problems: his rising cholesterol, her depression, his fatigue, and her weight gain. BUT OF COURSE, THOSE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR T4-ONLY TREATED HYPOTHYROID AND SOME OF IT IS THEIR OWN FAULT…leaves aren’t really green, water makes ripe apples fall, and fire doesn’t really burn.
It just struck me. And it’s struck me before. There’s just a LOT of SILENT SUCKERS walking around. I was one; my mother was one; and there are obviously millions out there, still walking around trying to live with the side effects of a treatment that their doctors say are NOT caused by their thyroid.
Sad.
(Has your cholesterol and other lipids improved since you switched to Armour and raised without using the TSH? Your story of success is welcome on the blog post below!)
July 7th, 2008 at 5:52 am
I have to totally agree with you about Synthroid. I had a thyroidectomy in Dec. of 07 and have dizziness, major body aches and pains, rapid heartbeat, stomach pain. I have told my doctors all along that it’s this medication but they will not listen. So I am trying a little experiment on myself. I take my Synthroid every other day this past week. On the days I don’t take it I feel great! On the days that I do I get all the symptoms back again. I did convince my doctor several months back to put me on Armour but I must be allergic to it as my tongue swelled twice it’s normal size.. So now I wonder what I should do?? I have bookmarked your site as we have a bulletin board full of people suffering with the same symptoms.. Thanks! Even if I cannot take Armour, I hope I can help others who can.
July 7th, 2008 at 10:38 am
I’ve been over being a sucker for a long time now, but I’ll be damned if I can find an MD who’ll prescribe Armour or even Cytomel for me. The majority of the time when I visit a new doctor, I have to wait for two or three drug co. reps to see the doc before I can. I still go in to see him/her, but I already know what the response will be. I am beyond frustrated, I am really pissed off!
July 8th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
My cholesterol went up to 245 and stayed there the entire 20 awful years I took Synthroid. After 6 months of Armour my cholesterol was 194. The doc said my good cholesterol was exceptional.
July 12th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
I have been on levothyroxine for 3 years. Every year I would tell docs I wanted off and was gaining weight. They told me I had to be on it for life and it does not cause weight gain. This last time I took in some printed material I found on the web. They looked back in my records and found out I was never supposed to be put on the stuff to start with. Now what……I quit taking it yesterday and will go see a specialist I guess
July 13th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
After nearly 2 years now of being on Armour, my cholesterol is 134 (from being 150-192 range) my triglycerides are 63 (from 169)and my TSH is quite supressed at 0.01.
July 14th, 2008 at 7:40 am
I am so glad that I found this website! I have been on levothyroxine for 13years. I went to my Dr. about 5 months ago. Again asking to be put on Amour. He stated no and if my lab came back normal he would increase my anti-depressant! Well, my lab was sent to me. The Dr. wote on it “All within NORMAL Limits”. I never heard from the Drs office. I have to say that at that point I change Drs. Now on Amour, I have lots of energy, cholesterol not 273 but 184 now!Lost 14 pounds in one month. I found a Dr. that listens to me and not my lab. For everyone out there. KEEP SEARCHING FOR THE DR. THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU! I only went thru about 14 of them in the 13 year of hyporthyroid before I found the right one.
GO ARMOUR!
July 21st, 2008 at 5:55 am
I personally know some people on synthetic thyroid meds. They are post menopausal—and have trouble with obesity, hair loss, energy levels, etc. One is a relative, and swears by her doctor—after all—in her mind, doctors are several notches above the pope on the infallibility scale!
It’s too bad. I want to say to the one lady where I used to work—you’re bald and fat and your thyroid meds make you “feel great”–huh?!?
It’s sad.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:15 pm
My elevated cholesterol had not responded to extreme changes in diet. Last May, after 5 years on a vegan oil-free diet, my cholesterol was 205. This May, after a year on Armour, it was 137. Thank you, Janie!
July 26th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Michelle,
It may be the fillers in the Armour that you are allergic to. I used to take armour but I switched to Naturthroid. It is the same drug with different fillers. I switched from armour because of the fillers, i.e. msg hidden in it. I wish you the best.
August 4th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I had my thyroid removed due to graves disease in May ‘08. My doctor told me everything was normal at my first post surgery visit and my extra weight and depression would just fall away.
Needless to say, within 2 months I was practically suicidal and starving myself in order to die fat and tired. Also, no one mentioned this would kill my sex life.
I’m really lost right now.
August 11th, 2008 at 6:50 am
After 18 months on Eltroxin - T4 only treatment my improved health started to nosedive. i began to feel cold again, feel tired, get heavy colds that went on for weeks and gain weight. I then also began to have pain in my arms and legs which has been diagniosed as Fibromyalgia.I have been asking for natural thyroid or at least a T4/3 combination for at least 3 years but keep being told that isn’t available in Thailand where I live. This last week I received your book “Stop the Thyroid Madness”. You can imagine my surprise when I found the name of the manufacturers of Natural Thyroid here!! So I contacted them and have been able to purchase a supply- my doctor finally agreed.Now I am going to write to a number of drs here till I find one who is more interested in learning with me about how to treatr my condition best. At the moment my cholesterol is high - about 240 so we shall see how that changes!
August 12th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Hi this a first time for me. After being diagnosed with hpothyroidism I then changed to hperthyroidism and was told this was impossible however after a few yrs being treated for the over- active thyroid. I had radioactive iodine treatment twice. This then made my thyroid underactive again. I have had this condition now for almost 20 yrs I am currently 42. I have just recently found out that the shoulder problem I have is due to the thyroid problem. It was only as my husband was talking to a colleague in work that I became aware of the natural forms of medication and have to say I was a bit skeptical about this. However having spent almost 4 hrs this evening looking at different sites I have decided to see my doctor. I am fed up of the weight as I feel this is killing me. I have tried all ways to loose weight being told by past doctors I need to eat less and exercise more. I have not got a big appetite and never have. Although I went from 7 and half stone to ten stone at the beginning of the condition in the last 6 yrs my weight has increased to over 13 stone. I am only 5 feet tall and find it really depressing. After seeing this site and the comments I know feel hopeful that my problem can be sorted. Providing my doctor is sympathetic to my cause and is open minded about alternative treatment. Fingers cross.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:02 am
I had been doing so well on the Armour. then in April the pharmicist started giving me Thyroid USP.
He said he cannot get Armour. I have gone to 4 different pharmacies trying to find our what is happening and no one knows anything. I have even written to the company and not a word. anyone out there hear anything?
August 13th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Does anyone know what these natural drugs are called here in Germany? Thanks!
August 15th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I am 51 years old. Up until a hysterectomy 5 years ago, I was active, peanut size, and in good health. Now, I have 3 nodules, with neck ache, shoulder ache, mild depression, no energy, hair falling out, gained 20 pounds so far. 4 months ago, my gyno put me on levothyroxine, said i would loose weight, feel like a new woman - B.S. Not happenin. In fact, I feel worse, have gained more weight. Am struggling to get through the day, and feel as though I have the flu. I go back to my gyno next week, for which I will start the long and exhausting process of trying to get a doctor on my insurance to prescribe a natural thyroid med. This is insane. Am not going to end up a soldier for the drug industry. Got to get some help or old age is not lookin’ too hot!
August 16th, 2008 at 2:07 am
Janie
I am developing a movement on another forum informing people of Armour. Unfortunately for me I had found out about Armour on my own and suffered nearly 5 yrs on T4 meds. I researched the heck out of hypothyroidism and one day banged into Armour not knowing another med even exsisted.
That stated my personal battle trying to get a doctor to Rx it to me.
Almost a year after finally getting on Armour I feel great. Bloating issues stopped - minimal anxiety - energy returning etc. Working on the nasty 20lbs I gained when told by the doc I was lazy! Then I found your site. Nice to have the reassurance that I made the right decision to switch meds.
I am however finding that the dosages are getting more difficut to get from the pharmacy. I think there needs to be a movement on thyroid forums to get this resolved with Forest Pharmacuticals and stop Abbott labs from their destruction of getting Forest to supply the meds. I need your help and advice on how we can team up together and stop this war on Armour. It saves lives - it’s the right med and hypothyroid patients deserve to lead normal lives too! We have enough to battle when we are hit with thyroid disease - we shouldn’t have to fight for our medication too!
Slowly I am moving this other forum into the understanding that they do not have to live sick just because their thyroids don’t work. It’s been great for me when people contact me and say I’ve saved there lives. Somehow we Leaders - need to team together to keep this med an option to treat!