topic Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting in Wellness

my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

cherry — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 20:59:15 GMT

I just got a call from my Drs office telling me to cut back my armour, by 1/2 pill pr week. It doesn't seem like much ,but ,I know these pills are powerful

I will be tested again in 2 months. I have never had this happen before ,and I am a bit concerned about developing a thyroid storm..Is this a common occurrence when taking this hormone?

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

BarbiHollywood — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 21:17:33 GMT

@cherry wrote:
I just got a call from my Drs office telling me to cut back my armour, by 1/2 pill pr week. It doesn't seem like much ,but ,I know these pills are powerful

I will be tested again in 2 months. I have never had this happen before ,and I am a bit concerned about developing a thyroid storm..Is this a common occurrence when taking this hormone?

Hi @cherry While I'm NOT an expert by any means on this subject, I have limited info to just mention to you. Don't worry! It can take quite some time to find just the right amount of meds. Rarely is the initially-prescribed dosage "perfect." Usually takes some tweaking, and it's always very small tweaks. I have to mention, though, just to make sure that the Armour med is THE BEST med for you. I know for the majority of thyroid med users, Synthroid is typically the most-prescribed and best option, but everyone is different. Again, I'm not an expert, just someone who had hyperthyroidism 10 years ago and went through this similar situation. I was lucky to only need a very, very, very low dosage, was on it a short time, and have been in "remission" for 8 years. Obviously, your doctor knows what's best for you, but YOU need to be your own advocate so don't hesitate to speak up and and ask questions. Best of luck!

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

cherry — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 21:19:58 GMT

@BarbiHollywood I can only take Armour ,all the other stuff makes me deathy ill. I have been taking it for 6 years ,and have never had any problems..I could tell something wasn't right ,but, wasn't quite sure what it was

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

BarbiHollywood — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 21:22:54 GMT

@cherry HI! Ohhh, so you've been on this stuff and dealing with this for a while. I guess I should have asked, but it kinda sounded to me as if this was all new to you and you were wondering. Sorry. Wow, I had no idea the other stuff was making you so sick, that's terrible. Well, just be sure to be in contact with your doc and follow orders, get your labs done, etc. Just try not to worry.

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

cherry — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 21:24:03 GMT

Thanks. I have read about thyroid storms ,and I hope I never have one of those

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

BeccaLou — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 21:43:32 GMT

What are thyroid storms ?

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

cherry — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 21:52:43 GMT

I think it is just the inability for your thyroid to remain stable, and it swings from hyper, to hypo @BeccaLou

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

cherry — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 21:55:18 GMT

A thyroid storm -- or thyroid crisis -- can be a life-threatening condition. It often includes a rapid heartbeat, fever, and even fainting.

Your thyroid is a master at managing your body. The hormones produced by this gland located at the base of your neck help control your metabolism. That’s how quickly your body processes food, converts it to energy, and runs your organs.

Thyroid storm can be brought on by a number of ailments. One of them, Graves’ disease, causes the thyroid to overproduce hormones (hyperthyroidism). When it happens suddenly, you can have a thyroid storm. It can come on within hours and may require immediate hospitalization.

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

January121 — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 22:20:37 GMT

@cherry wrote:
@BarbiHollywood I can only take Armour ,all the other stuff makes me deathy ill. I have been taking it for 6 years ,and have never had any problems..I could tell something wasn't right ,but, wasn't quite sure what it was

@cherry .... Hi Cherry .... I have been taking Armour since 1992 .... I cannot take anything else as it all bothers me & doesn't work .... I have blood work done every 3 months & if I need to have an adjustment in the dosage my doctor lets ne know ..... there was a time about 5 years ago that Armour was taken off the market because the Pharmaceutical company (Forrest) could not get the dosages right on a few of the strengths..... Armour is a natural thyroid hormone which they get from a pig or cow or some other animal & as a result they sometimes have problems ..... when Armour was taken off the market I went to a Compounding Facility & had them compound the medicine for me & it worked fine ...I wish you good luck

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

BirkiLady — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:59:46 GMT

@January121 @cherry My mom's PCP had to have her do the same thing. She had her thyroid removed in the mid-1950's and couldn't take the synthentic med.

Yes, Cherry, tweeking the thyroid medications is done to keep your body in balance. A small change in dosage can make a huge difference in how you feel. Your PCP knows exactly what he/she is doing. Best wishes. BTW: I've never heard of a "thyroid storm". Mom lived until age 94; she passed away in 2017. Don't fret over things that seldom happen.

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

halfpint1 — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 03:42:27 GMT

I take generic for Syntroid--L-thyroxide. It was raised this year. I am on Medicare.

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

BeccaLou — Sat, 20 Oct 2018 03:26:39 GMT

I have told my Dr. and she doesn't seem to help me.

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

cherry — Sat, 20 Oct 2018 10:47:57 GMT

Gosh @BeccaLou that is a shame. I go to an endocrinologist and she is really on the ball. As soon as my labs got back to her , her office called, and told me to cut one of my pills in half, once a week. I take 35 pills a week ,and it might not seem like a big deal but a little of this hormone ,goes a long way

I also have diabetes,thyroid problems and diabetes are interrelated.. I would find an endocrinologist and see how you fare.

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

BeccaLou — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 19:28:52 GMT

What Are 35 pills for? All of these are for your thyroid ?

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

cherry — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 20:13:33 GMT

Yes they are. I take five pills a day of Armour thyroid. They are each 15 mcg

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

depglass — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 21:10:11 GMT

I have been on synthetic levothyroxine or something for 39 years. I honestly can't tell how this is affecting me one way or the other. I fluctuate from 125 mcg to 175 mcg over time. Don't know why the float, but I don't worry about it. I guess I'm lucky, reading some of these stories.

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

tsavorite — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 21:21:49 GMT

I take 240mgs of Nature Thyroid presently....trying to combat fatigue energy issues and brain fog caused by hashimotos hypo thyroditis. This is the highest amount I have ever taken...was on 180mgs previously for a good while. I take 180mgs in morning...then another 60mgs early afternoon...combined equals 240mgs.

I feel much better....symptoms improved a lot.

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

NickNack — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 22:01:36 GMT

I've been taking levothyroxine since 2001. Once I got my dosage adjusted properly (didn't take long) I've never needed a change. I take 100 mcg. every morning.

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

cherry — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 10:10:49 GMT

I don't know if all thyroid meds are the same strength ,even if the dose is the same/ I read they are not, but have never askd my Dr

Re: my thyroid hormone needs adjusting

violann — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 10:37:02 GMT

@cherry-“Thyroid storms” (don’t know if that term is commonly used any more) occur from higher thyroid hormone presence in the body, so if your doasage is being lowered, you should have less likelihood of having one, not more likelihood.

Hope you feel better soon!