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 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:43:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 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?

]]> By: Nell http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2009/07/03/i-am-done-with-armour-say-a-growing-body-of-individuals/comment-page-2/#comment-42255 Nell Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:05:32 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=2688#comment-42255 Hi all, As with the majority of comments here I am outraged at the contempt Forest has shown it's previously loyal customers. I was bumbling along reasonably efficiently on an armour/T3 mix when the sky fell in. It only took 2 days on the new armour for all my symptoms to return so I opened the cupboard and found a discarded pack of thyroid-s. It hadn't been as effective as armour so I'd bunged it away. It turned out to be a Godsend short term. I eventually decided I was still going downhill, albeit more slowly than with armour so I'm now on Westhroid. I have everything crossed that I will also find it to be even better than the old armour as lately I've spent quite a lot of my days sleeping and the rest of the time moaning and feeling mildly paranoid. Hi all,
As with the majority of comments here I am outraged at the contempt Forest has shown it’s previously loyal customers.
I was bumbling along reasonably efficiently on an armour/T3 mix when the sky fell in. It only took 2 days on the new armour for all my symptoms to return so I opened the cupboard and found a discarded pack of thyroid-s. It hadn’t been as effective as armour so I’d bunged it away. It turned out to be a Godsend short term. I eventually decided I was still going downhill, albeit more slowly than with armour so I’m now on Westhroid. I have everything crossed that I will also find it to be even better than the old armour as lately I’ve spent quite a lot of my days sleeping and the rest of the time moaning and feeling mildly paranoid.

]]> By: Jane http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2009/07/03/i-am-done-with-armour-say-a-growing-body-of-individuals/comment-page-2/#comment-42245 Jane Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:56:58 +0000 http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/?p=2688#comment-42245 (From Janie: the below is not a problem with Naturethroid. You have either low ferritin www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ferritin and/or low cortisol www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info) I want to put my two cents in regarding naturethroid. I first started on generic levothyroxine .05 mg or 50 mcg and within 3 days noticed I felt better and was not dragging and my brain fog went away. I stayed on this a month until my lab TSH showed 1.55 from previous of high of 3.8 when I felt bad. Since I prefer natural products over synthetic I switched to naturethroid 1/2 grain. Stayed on this for about 3 months and felt pretty good. I started sweating more than usual and had a few heart flutters/palpitations so decided I must be getting too high of a dosage. Started then on 1/4 grain. Still too much and was trying 1/4 every other day, still too much. Stopped completely because of the heart flutters because I didn't want to hurt my body. I really wish naturethroid worked long term for me. I do think it is a medication very beneficial to some people with hypothyroidism. A patient does not lie. My son is on naturethroid 1.5 grains for the past few months with no symptoms. I just think we are all so individual and we have to try what works best for us. Since stopping naturethroid, for about a month I felt pretty good until after the month, symptoms of exhaustion returned. I am now trying Levoxyl and slowly feeling good again but do not know all the long term effects of the fillers/binders. That is a problem with all meds. I am not especially thrilled yet about any thyroid med so far but I know I need it to function. I think that perhaps naturethroid was too potent for me even at the lowest dose, maybe the active T3 in it. That said, my son is doing fine on it. There were benefits to naturethroid if I could tolerate it and that is increased sex drive and just overall feeling normal again. If it wasn't for the heart flutters I would still take it, perhaps it made my body a bit hyperthyroid. For those of you who are confused, try different meds until something works for you. I was so confused about all the conflicting comments that I have come to believe that what works for one does not work for another. No one is lying, it is just their personal experience. Do what works for you! (From Janie: the below is not a problem with Naturethroid. You have either low ferritin http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ferritin and/or low cortisol http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info)

I want to put my two cents in regarding naturethroid. I first started on generic levothyroxine .05 mg or 50 mcg and within 3 days noticed I felt better and was not dragging and my brain fog went away. I stayed on this a month until my lab TSH showed 1.55 from previous of high of 3.8 when I felt bad. Since I prefer natural products over synthetic I switched to naturethroid 1/2 grain. Stayed on this for about 3 months and felt pretty good. I started sweating more than usual and had a few heart flutters/palpitations so decided I must be getting too high of a dosage. Started then on 1/4 grain. Still too much and was trying 1/4 every other day, still too much. Stopped completely because of the heart flutters because I didn’t want to hurt my body. I really wish naturethroid worked long term for me. I do think it is a medication very beneficial to some people with hypothyroidism. A patient does not lie. My son is on naturethroid 1.5 grains for the past few months with no symptoms. I just think we are all so individual and we have to try what works best for us. Since stopping naturethroid, for about a month I felt pretty good until after the month, symptoms of exhaustion returned. I am now trying Levoxyl and slowly feeling good again but do not know all the long term effects of the fillers/binders. That is a problem with all meds. I am not especially thrilled yet about any thyroid med so far but I know I need it to function. I think that perhaps naturethroid was too potent for me even at the lowest dose, maybe the active T3 in it. That said, my son is doing fine on it. There were benefits to naturethroid if I could tolerate it and that is increased sex drive and just overall feeling normal again. If it wasn’t for the heart flutters I would still take it, perhaps it made my body a bit hyperthyroid. For those of you who are confused, try different meds until something works for you. I was so confused about all the conflicting comments that I have come to believe that what works for one does not work for another. No one is lying, it is just their personal experience. Do what works for you!

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