Comments on: I am done with Armour, say a growing body of individuals http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2009/07/03/i-am-done-with-armour-say-a-growing-body-of-individuals/ Thyroid Treatment Scandal and Hypothyroid Mistreatment Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:30:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cindy http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2009/07/03/i-am-done-with-armour-say-a-growing-body-of-individuals/comment-page-2/#comment-91652 Cindy Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:17:48 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=2688#comment-91652 I have been on Armour Thyroid for about 12 years. About four years ago I went thru chemo and radiation for Hodgkins Lymphoma. They were also giving fairly high doses of Prednisone. After going through chemo I was 30 pounds heavier and had early onset of menopause! I have been fighting for the last 2 years or so with both my oncologist and primary care doctor telling them that my thyroid medication was not working. It wasn't until I read your book and another call Hypothyroidism Type 2 that I realized that the suggested method by both doctors for dealing with (weight gain, fatigue, achiness, itchy eyes, dry skin, loss of interest in everything, etc.) my symptoms ("calories in calories out") was bogus. No matter how little I ate over the following year or how much I exercised I couldn't lose any weight in fact I gained weight! I am still I am fighting them. The oncologist is a lost cause the man could care less about anything but the Gold Standard. I have energy in the morning from about 8 am to around 1pm and then I completely fizzle. I have to constantly self talk though to get interested in anything. I almost always take an afternoon nap. I usually do not sleep through the night and often wake up at 3 am because of a gnawing hunger-like stomach pain. Test upon test was done only to discover there is nothing wrong with my stomach or bowels. My primary care physician is starting to listen. I went to the lab for a blood test this last Saturday morning. I did not take my Armour Thyroid (90 mg) med before going. The results were: TSH 1.764 lab uses a range of (.400 - 5.00) Free T3 2.5 (2.3 - 3.9) Free T4 0.6 (0.6 - 1.2) According to what I have found here on your site these results show TSH is towards the top of the scale recommended by the AACE which is 0.300 - 2.00, T3 is not towards the top of the range, and free T4 is at the bottom of the range. I have been telling her that I thought my thyroid med should be increased to 120 mg for about a year now. I was started at 90 mg Synthyroid when first diagnosed but had a terrible reaction to it. (hives, painful swellings in my mouth and throat). I was switched immediately to Armour at 90 mg and have been at 90 mg for 11 1/2 years. I was wondering if you can recommend to me how I convince the doctor to increase my Thyroid to 120 mg. and to change from Armour to the generic NP-Thyroid (which is available through the Fred Meyer pharmacy and at Walgreens in my area). My Thyroid condition is hereditary 3 of my mom's sister take thyroid medication and my sister takes Levothyroxine my sister consistently test at .75 TSH. I don't know if they test her free T3 or T4 or what those numbers are but the range her lab uses is in line with the AACE. I have been on Armour Thyroid for about 12 years. About four years ago I went thru chemo and radiation for Hodgkins Lymphoma. They were also giving fairly high doses of Prednisone. After going through chemo I was 30 pounds heavier and had early onset of menopause! I have been fighting for the last 2 years or so with both my oncologist and primary care doctor telling them that my thyroid medication was not working. It wasn’t until I read your book and another call Hypothyroidism Type 2 that I realized that the suggested method by both doctors for dealing with (weight gain, fatigue, achiness, itchy eyes, dry skin, loss of interest in everything, etc.) my symptoms (“calories in calories out”) was bogus. No matter how little I ate over the following year or how much I exercised I couldn’t lose any weight in fact I gained weight! I am still I am fighting them. The oncologist is a lost cause the man could care less about anything but the Gold Standard.

I have energy in the morning from about 8 am to around 1pm and then I completely fizzle. I have to constantly self talk though to get interested in anything. I almost always take an afternoon nap. I usually do not sleep through the night and often wake up at 3 am because of a gnawing hunger-like stomach pain. Test upon test was done only to discover there is nothing wrong with my stomach or bowels.

My primary care physician is starting to listen. I went to the lab for a blood test this last Saturday morning. I did not take my Armour Thyroid (90 mg) med before going. The results were:
TSH 1.764 lab uses a range of (.400 – 5.00)
Free T3 2.5 (2.3 – 3.9)
Free T4 0.6 (0.6 – 1.2)

According to what I have found here on your site these results show TSH is towards the top of the scale recommended by the AACE which is 0.300 – 2.00, T3 is not towards the top of the range, and free T4 is at the bottom of the range. I have been telling her that I thought my thyroid med should be increased to 120 mg for about a year now. I was started at 90 mg Synthyroid when first diagnosed but had a terrible reaction to it. (hives, painful swellings in my mouth and throat). I was switched immediately to Armour at 90 mg and have been at 90 mg for 11 1/2 years. I was wondering if you can recommend to me how I convince the doctor to increase my Thyroid to 120 mg. and to change from Armour to the generic NP-Thyroid (which is available through the Fred Meyer pharmacy and at Walgreens in my area). My Thyroid condition is hereditary 3 of my mom’s sister take thyroid medication and my sister takes Levothyroxine my sister consistently test at .75 TSH. I don’t know if they test her free T3 or T4 or what those numbers are but the range her lab uses is in line with the AACE.

]]> By: peggy rickard http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2009/07/03/i-am-done-with-armour-say-a-growing-body-of-individuals/comment-page-2/#comment-72746 peggy rickard Thu, 03 Mar 2011 02:32:53 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=2688#comment-72746 I would like to know if I can have a sample of nature throid. I am tired of being tired. I want to help myself. No doctors I have had will consider seeking other treatment. I need to feel good as I have a sick child to care for. I would like to know if I can have a sample of nature throid. I am tired of being tired. I want to help myself. No doctors I have had will consider seeking other treatment. I need to feel good as I have a sick child to care for.

]]> By: shel http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2009/07/03/i-am-done-with-armour-say-a-growing-body-of-individuals/comment-page-2/#comment-55001 shel Thu, 20 May 2010 15:08:02 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=2688#comment-55001 From Janie: the problem can easily be from being underdosed. One grain is a good starting dose but not to stay on without raising, causing a return of hypo, which for you can be that pain. Read this: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/mistakes-patients-make And you will need to chew the newly reformulated Armour to break down the cellulose. Use patient groups for further feedback: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/talk-to-others) I was recently diagnosed hypothyroid about 3 months ago and put on armour thyroid by my naturalpathetic doctor at 60mg/day. I was never on the old formula so do not have anything to compare the new formula to. After about 3 weeks of the armour, I started experiencing SEVERE neuropathy pain in both forearms and hands. I have NEVER had trouble with this before. I am a hand therapist so I know what irritated nerve sypmtoms are in the upper extremities. My pain has been excruciating for 8 weeks - to the point that I can barely care for myself and my children, my house, and work 3-4 days per week. I have had to completely stop working out, playing tennis and can barely handle going for a walk as it hurts to even gently extend and swing my arms- although I make myself go. I have to limit my driving and housework as it is most painful. I have been to the doctor several times and had bloodwork done to rule out arthritis/lupus/gout/lyme's disease, etc... The only thing getting me thru this painful time is prednisone, hydrocodone, and 800mg IB profin 3x/day when not on prednisone. I also am getting therapy and using heat to help and praying alot. My pain has been up to a 10/10. I am so sick of having to take all of these meds. The only thing I could think of that I changed was going off my estrodial patch after one year (per doctor request)and starting the armour at the same time. I asked my doctor and called several pharmacies who said it was not listed as a side effect of armour, so I kept taking it, but decided to go back on my estrodial patch for hormone replacement from my full hysterectomy (which may help reduce inflammation in the body). That did not reduce my pain (after 4weeks) so I decided to go back to the way things were before my severe arm pain started and that included stopping the armour. I have been off of it for 1 1/2 weeks and am still having alot of pain but slightly less. In my desperate state, I googled pain with armour thyroid use and came across many awesome articles and websites such as this and was ALARMED to read about all of the problems women are having since it was reformulated. As I read this, I realize that my extreme fatigue, fogginess (feeling like I could not remember anything and that I was losing it), dry skin and hair, moodiness, mild depression, and weight gain, etc... could be attributed to this drug. I chalked it all up to menopause, but now I realize that my symptoms did really worsen with this med. and I NEVER had neurpoathy pain before!!! I am SO FRUSTRATED that I have lost the ability to have a quality life when I am hurting 24/7 and trying to go day by day, get out of bed and function. I am praying that once the med. is out of my system (hopefully another few weeks), I will feel like new again. I pray that I do not have some permanent nerve damage. I actually have more energy since stopping armour than I did while on it. Has anyone else experienced neuropathy pain out of the blue with the reform. version and if so, has it gotten any better and how long did it take before you got better? I need some hope! I am going to try to stay off of any thyroid stuff for awhile and have my panel rechecked and discuss with my naturalpathetic doctor how to procede with some other natural choice. The info. on here has been very helpful as to some possible other choices. Sorry for the long comment, but this is my first post and it feels good to get this off my chest as not many people understand what it is like to go thru this like many on this site more than likely do -due to their struggle. I wish you all the best on your journey to feeling well! Shel From Janie: the problem can easily be from being underdosed. One grain is a good starting dose but not to stay on without raising, causing a return of hypo, which for you can be that pain. Read this: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/mistakes-patients-make And you will need to chew the newly reformulated Armour to break down the cellulose. Use patient groups for further feedback: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/talk-to-others)

I was recently diagnosed hypothyroid about 3 months ago and put on armour thyroid by my naturalpathetic doctor at 60mg/day. I was never on the old formula so do not have anything to compare the new formula to. After about 3 weeks of the armour, I started experiencing SEVERE neuropathy pain in both forearms and hands. I have NEVER had trouble with this before. I am a hand therapist so I know what irritated nerve sypmtoms are in the upper extremities. My pain has been excruciating for 8 weeks – to the point that I can barely care for myself and my children, my house, and work 3-4 days per week. I have had to completely stop working out, playing tennis and can barely handle going for a walk as it hurts to even gently extend and swing my arms- although I make myself go. I have to limit my driving and housework as it is most painful. I have been to the doctor several times and had bloodwork done to rule out arthritis/lupus/gout/lyme’s disease, etc… The only thing getting me thru this painful time is prednisone, hydrocodone, and 800mg IB profin 3x/day when not on prednisone. I also am getting therapy and using heat to help and praying alot. My pain has been up to a 10/10. I am so sick of having to take all of these meds.
The only thing I could think of that I changed was going off my estrodial patch after one year (per doctor request)and starting the armour at the same time. I asked my doctor and called several pharmacies who said it was not listed as a side effect of armour, so I kept taking it, but decided to go back on my estrodial patch for hormone replacement from my full hysterectomy (which may help reduce inflammation in the body). That did not reduce my pain (after 4weeks) so I decided to go back to the way things were before my severe arm pain started and that included stopping the armour. I have been off of it for 1 1/2 weeks and am still having alot of pain but slightly less. In my desperate state, I googled pain with armour thyroid use and came across many awesome articles and websites such as this and was ALARMED to read about all of the problems women are having since it was reformulated. As I read this, I realize that my extreme fatigue, fogginess (feeling like I could not remember anything and that I was losing it), dry skin and hair, moodiness, mild depression, and weight gain, etc… could be attributed to this drug. I chalked it all up to menopause, but now I realize that my symptoms did really worsen with this med. and I NEVER had neurpoathy pain before!!! I am SO FRUSTRATED that I have lost the ability to have a quality life when I am hurting 24/7 and trying to go day by day, get out of bed and function. I am praying that once the med. is out of my system (hopefully another few weeks), I will feel like new again. I pray that I do not have some permanent nerve damage. I actually have more energy since stopping armour than I did while on it.
Has anyone else experienced neuropathy pain out of the blue with the reform. version and if so, has it gotten any better and how long did it take before you got better? I need some hope!
I am going to try to stay off of any thyroid stuff for awhile and have my panel rechecked and discuss with my naturalpathetic doctor how to procede with some other natural choice. The info. on here has been very helpful as to some possible other choices.
Sorry for the long comment, but this is my first post and it feels good to get this off my chest as not many people understand what it is like to go thru this like many on this site more than likely do -due to their struggle. I wish you all the best on your journey to feeling well!
Shel

]]> By: Kim http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2009/07/03/i-am-done-with-armour-say-a-growing-body-of-individuals/comment-page-2/#comment-51886 Kim Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:21:41 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=2688#comment-51886 I need help. I recently went on thyroid med. for the first time. My dr. prescribed 30 mg. Nature-throid. I feel like a zombie. I'm tired and having difficulty concentrating and driving, etc. I have a burning scalp and facial skin, irritated & dry eyes. Skin very dry. I don't know if I should continue this dose and hope the zombie side effect subsides, decrease the dose, or try something else. Anyone had this experience with Nature-throid? (From Janie: You are on this page: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/mistakes-patients-make You will need to educate your doc that you need to be raising and raising again.) I need help. I recently went on thyroid med. for the first time. My dr. prescribed 30 mg. Nature-throid. I feel like a zombie. I’m tired and having difficulty concentrating and driving, etc. I have a burning scalp and facial skin, irritated & dry eyes. Skin very dry. I don’t know if I should continue this dose and hope the zombie side effect subsides, decrease the dose, or try something else. Anyone had this experience with Nature-throid?

(From Janie: You are on this page: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/mistakes-patients-make You will need to educate your doc that you need to be raising and raising again.)

]]> By: willie b http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2009/07/03/i-am-done-with-armour-say-a-growing-body-of-individuals/comment-page-2/#comment-51600 willie b Sat, 17 Apr 2010 02:16:42 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=2688#comment-51600 I was sick for years until given armour in 08 was finaly healthy until about 6 months ago. I started having all my old symptoms again and life sucks. In the past 4 months i have had terrible pain under left ribs and bloated w loose stools had colonoscopy and stool samlpe both normal i feel as if i am poisened. I also have had chills every day for 4 months i dont know what else it could be. I was sick for years until given armour in 08 was finaly healthy until about 6 months ago. I started having all my old symptoms again and life sucks. In the past 4 months i have had terrible pain under left ribs and bloated w loose stools had colonoscopy and stool samlpe both normal i feel as if i am poisened. I also have had chills every day for 4 months i dont know what else it could be.

]]> By: Kay http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2009/07/03/i-am-done-with-armour-say-a-growing-body-of-individuals/comment-page-2/#comment-50773 Kay Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:58:06 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=2688#comment-50773 My friend's doctor just told her that Armour has reversed its reformulation and is going back to the way it used to be. The doctor is ready to write her a prescription for the new (old formulation) Armour. (She has been using Erfa Thyroid from Canada.) Is this true? I can't find a word about this development anywhere on the internet yet. The Forrest Pharmaceuticals website just addresses the shortage/dosages issue. My friend’s doctor just told her that Armour has reversed its reformulation and is going back to the way it used to be. The doctor is ready to write her a prescription for the new (old formulation) Armour. (She has been using Erfa Thyroid from Canada.)

Is this true? I can’t find a word about this development anywhere on the internet yet. The Forrest Pharmaceuticals website just addresses the shortage/dosages issue.

]]> By: Brenda F. Fleming http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2009/07/03/i-am-done-with-armour-say-a-growing-body-of-individuals/comment-page-2/#comment-45486 Brenda F. Fleming Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:30:11 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=2688#comment-45486 After Armour was reformulated I starting gaining weight and my symptoms came back. I had to stop working out because my joints started hurting. I contacted the FDA and they responded that Synthetic T4 was identical to Armour (they listed several brands of Synthetic T4). They stated that they are protecting consumers and that the Doctor needs to test TSH and T4 to properly dose the patient to the defined ranges. Well I've been dealing with Endos for 10 years now and have 1/2 a thyroid a know a thing or two. It is unbelieveable how uneducated the FDA is. They are clearly big PHARMA. It's obvious that they do not communicate to the patient population nor do they care to. After Armour was reformulated I starting gaining weight and my symptoms came back. I had to stop working out because my joints started hurting. I contacted the FDA and they responded that Synthetic T4 was identical to Armour (they listed several brands of Synthetic T4). They stated that they are protecting consumers and that the Doctor needs to test TSH and T4 to properly dose the patient to the defined ranges. Well I’ve been dealing with Endos for 10 years now and have 1/2 a thyroid a know a thing or two. It is unbelieveable how uneducated the FDA is. They are clearly big PHARMA. It’s obvious that they do not communicate to the patient population nor do they care to.

]]> By: Karen http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2009/07/03/i-am-done-with-armour-say-a-growing-body-of-individuals/comment-page-2/#comment-45208 Karen Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:00:23 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=2688#comment-45208 I want the original Armour back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Naturethroid is not working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is all a big scam and funny that it should reformulate when we have a change in government that is TRYING to look out for us nobody's!!! I want the original Armour back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Naturethroid is not working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is all a big scam and funny that it should reformulate when we have a change in government that is TRYING to look out for us nobody’s!!!

]]> By: Diana http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2009/07/03/i-am-done-with-armour-say-a-growing-body-of-individuals/comment-page-2/#comment-44594 Diana Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:21:11 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=2688#comment-44594 I had problems with the new Armour as well. I now take a generic version of Armour called Thiroyd. I have to say its fantastic. For the first time, I am no longer irritable. Believe me, with small children, its very helpful not being irritable. I purchased it online (you can google it)- its so much cheaper than Armour as well. I had problems with the new Armour as well. I now take a generic version of Armour called Thiroyd. I have to say its fantastic. For the first time, I am no longer irritable. Believe me, with small children, its very helpful not being irritable. I purchased it online (you can google it)- its so much cheaper than Armour as well.

]]> By: Barb http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2009/07/03/i-am-done-with-armour-say-a-growing-body-of-individuals/comment-page-2/#comment-44057 Barb Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:11:22 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=2688#comment-44057 I noticed that there were hairs on my bathroom floor one day, which seemed very strange, as I have always had a good head of hair. Coincidentally, I was having trouble getting my Armour thyroid prescription filled. When I went online to find out what was causing the problem, I saw an article with a list of symptoms being caused by the reformulation of Armour and suddenly realized how many of them I had, including heart palpitations, weight gain and extreme tiredness, and hair loss. I also read about Nature-throid. I called my pharmacy to ask if they had Nature-throid and they said no. I called the local compounding pharmacy and they did have it, so I asked my doctor to change my prescription and was able to make the switch. I immediately regained energy. And the heart palpitations went away. My hair is still recovering. I'm just glad there has been so much communication between hypothyroid sufferers, or else I wouldn't have known what was happening. Did Armour even test their reformulation first? I noticed that there were hairs on my bathroom floor one day, which seemed very strange, as I have always had a good head of hair. Coincidentally, I was having trouble getting my Armour thyroid prescription filled. When I went online to find out what was causing the problem, I saw an article with a list of symptoms being caused by the reformulation of Armour and suddenly realized how many of them I had, including heart palpitations, weight gain and extreme tiredness, and hair loss. I also read about Nature-throid. I called my pharmacy to ask if they had Nature-throid and they said no. I called the local compounding pharmacy and they did have it, so I asked my doctor to change my prescription and was able to make the switch. I immediately regained energy. And the heart palpitations went away. My hair is still recovering.

I’m just glad there has been so much communication between hypothyroid sufferers, or else I wouldn’t have known what was happening.

Did Armour even test their reformulation first?

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