Comments on: Sue’s remarkable and shocking story about cellulose as a filler in our thyroid meds

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 12:37:15 +0000

After the Armour change in 2009, I went for compounded and they would only give it to me with Avicel (microcrystalline cellulose). It didn’t work for me. I felt worse and worse and finally one day when I was scared, I took an old 30mg tablet that was laying around and felt instantly better. I tried to convince the pharmacist but they couldn’t give me anything other than that as filler unless I wanted lactose which gave me a stomachache that lasted two days after one dose.

By: Lorie

Lorie — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:21:11 +0000

Tammy…

Call universal drugstore 1.866.456.2456. They might take a script for armour and fill it with Erfa, no need to get doc involved at all .

By: Lorie

Lorie — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:18:29 +0000

Frances, what is the name of this pharmacy? I’m sure others who use compounded thyroid would like to know!

By: Tammy

Tammy — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:15:15 +0000

Wow Sue glad you found somthing to help your son. I hate the reformulated Armour. I knew it was not working like the old version. I have been taking the reformulated armour around a year now. Just started smashing it to powder 5-6 wks ago. I use hubbies rubber mallet. LOL!!!Still must not be working. I just had labs I orderd online from Direct Labs. They are running a few thyroid specials this month so I had one ran. Did not want to pay for all the tests I need since I knew they were not going to come out with the results they should. I’m at a loss & so tired of trying to get my thyroid where it needs to be. My Free T3 is 2.4 with their range at 2.0-4.4, Free T4 0.55 their range 0.82-1.77, TSH 47.540 with their range 0.450-4.500, TPO was 295 their range 0-34 & TAA is ‹20 range 0-40. Have never had a TPO or TAA test but they were included in the package I ordered. No telling what my doctor will say when I see him later this month except why did I order my tests online & we need to put you back on levothyroxine or levoxyl. Not happening. I’m going to have to try & convince him for compounding or ordering Erfa.

By: frances

frances — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 22:55:41 +0000

Thank god for this website. I had been doing really good on the compounding at one place and had found out they used avicil the micro cellulose. then my dr switched pharmacys to a cheaper one for her patients as the first one was charging 50 per month supply and was very difficult with her. the new supply from the new pharmacy came with the cellulose filler and i went downhill fast. my hair that had started to come back lush. fell out everyday. I didnt know what was wrong. if my levels were off again or what. then i did some research and found this site and all the things about methyl cellulos I copied everything and emailed to my cell phone and took it to my dr’s office. she was great and listened read my phone notes too . she ordered the new pharmacy to make it with lactose and they did with no change of price. i got my first order today 3 months supply for 45 bucks wish me luck! (btw it emmeditaly smelled different smells more like the old armour and i hope this works. the one with cellulose smelled so strong like a chemical smell that made me gag.) thank you for this site so much

By: Janet

Janet — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:53:44 +0000

What a relief for Sue in Australia. Amazing story.
QUESTION for Janie: Do you or one of your subscribers have experience in a program of adrenal support ? I do take ISOCORT. (At this point prefer to stick with non-prescriptions.) Isocort doesn’t nurture the adrenals, it is an adrenal; I hold out the hope that mine can recover with nurturing. As you’ve suggested to only take thyroid meds (or even over-the-counter thyroid supplements) without addressing the other hormones isn’t a whole-health plan. There are countless adrenal support supplements one can buy but WHICH ones truly make a difference long term? What about life style changes one should make (diet, exercise, cutting back on activities, etc)? Within exercise category- are there yoga positions that stimulate the adrenals? Maybe we need a “Stop the ADRENAL Madness” website. Thanks Janie for all that you do!

(From Janie: Join NTH Adrenals. They also have a website for info on nurturing supplements and the use of cortisol to give your adrenals a rest–the latter is why cortisol can be important. http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/talk-to-others )

By: Johann Mitchell

Johann Mitchell — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:55:12 +0000

Thanks for all the wonderful tips about dealing with hypothyroidism!

I want to mention something that was very important to me.

I was having aching bones, and the doctor finally decided to have a test done for vitamin D. The results were delayed, and I decided to try taking a D supplement, with wonderful results at first.

Then I got the results back from the test, and before supplementation, my vitamin D level was considered “normal.”

I saw another healthcare professional not long after that, and she asked how much D I was taking (4000 IU). She said that many of her other patients do well with MUCH higher amounts of D, and she suggested I raise the dose. I’m now taking 10,000 IU per day, and the fleeting improvement I saw at first seems to be permanent at that dose.

Although it IS possible to overdose on vitamin D, it’s really hard to take too much. The nurse practitioner said that they normally recommend 50,000 IU for about three months to begin with for people who are low on D, and you probably couldn’t hurt yourself if you continued that dose.

The point is that if you take one or two little capsules, you’re probably not helping yourself enough to notice.

And don’t be afraid to go out in the sun for a bit without sunscreen! Make your own vitamin D! Recent studies are showing that the sun isn’t as bad for you as we’ve been told for the last twenty or thirty years. And many sunscreens have been discovered to have carcinogens in them, which is probably behind the rising rates of skin cancer. I’m not advocating enough exposure to burn, but a bit of sun is good for you!

By: Louise

Louise — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:10:45 +0000

Diana,

How did you function with such a high TSH? What were your FT3 and FT4 levels? My TSH just brushed over 3 (the others were below level) and I found it difficult to make it through some days! Good luck on your NDT journey.

By: Diana Marshall

Diana Marshall — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:59:37 +0000

I have been on Synthroid for 25 yrs. I was told about Armour and after a year of requesting, my dr allowed a trial period and I’ve been on it for almost 2 mths, with no affects. My last TSH was 40, so she had increased it to 3-60mg @ day. I read here about chewing the Armour and although I find chalky meds terrible, I did it. I thought it was my imagination, the first day, the second day…I’ve now realized that chewing it was the answer to the med being utilized in my body. I am still in the recovering mode, but so thankful that I am not lightheaded, hurting all over and my head has stopped pounding. I’m anxious to see what my next lab tests show.
Thank you for posting this little bit of information. I’ve called my pharmacy and have passed the info; which they gladly rec’d. I’ll print your post and take it to them, asap.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:19:44 +0000

I’ve just started Armour. Is it necessary to chew them up if I’m new to it? I read somewhere else that only patients that were on the old Armour do.

(From Janie: Chew it up.)