Wellness

[emmysmom]

On 6/21/2014 violann said: My first endo was the one whom I affectionally refer to as "a horrid little troll". He laughed at me, ignored my input, and cared nothing about how I felt as long as the number on the paper was normal. He was also " the best in town" (snort). Then for a while my GP took care of my thyroid management, and I believe it was he who switched me from synthetic to Armour, at my request. About 5 years ago he asked me to see a WOMAN endo, and it was a match made in Heaven, because SHE LISTENS TO WHAT I SAY!!!!!!!! She was satisfied with my choice of Armour, and my thyroid nodes have remained stable or decreased a little in size, so everybody's happy!

Finding a doctor that listens is the best!! Glad you're getting along great!

[emmysmom]

On 6/21/2014 Nightowlz said:

Maybe the side effects would be from switching from Armour to Synthroid but if there is any I would think they would subside with use. I used to take levothyroxine years ago than levoxyl than Armour. I was on Armour until 2009 they reformulated their formula & my labs were all out of whack. I think maybe during that time it must have not had the active ingredient in it since my labs pretty much showed I was not taking my medication. That's the only time I had any problems with my labs. They say with Armour the dosage can vary from one batch to the other which may be true but my labs were pretty much where they needed to be except when they reformulated the product. When Armour reformulated I switched to ERFA Thyroid from Canada that I order online. I have been taking it since. ERFA Thyroid is pretty close to Armour. IMO I think it's better. The doctor I had before my last doctor & my present doctor kept my TSH levels at 3 or 4 & I was always really tired etc. Now my TSH is kept around 1 & I feel a lot better. Every time I have been tested that is where my TSH has been so so much for the dosage varying. I know there are other tests that need to be checked but that's a little difficult with most doctors since they only want to check your TSH. My sister has been taking Synthroid for well over 40 yrs. with no problems. I like taking the ERFA because I can let it dissolve under my tongue & don't have to deal with it going through my liver & what to take or not take or when I take it with my thyroid medication. Like not taking calcium when you take your thyroid medication.

Glad to know there's another option, and its working for you!

[Nightowlz]

Just read on STTM & About.com site that Erfa has now reformulated their Thyroid earlier this year. I have not bought a refill since last year so I have not had the new formula. Hope they have all this straightened out before I need another refill in 8-9 months. Glad I did not order another 500 tablets after I got my new script from my doctor in Apr. Don't know why these companies make changes when they are not needed. I'm surprised I had not heard anything about this yet. People are having problems like they did when Armour had their reformulation.

[solitaregal]

I was on synthroid for several years and still felt exhausted all the time. I saw a holistic nurse practitioner who ordered extensive thyroid tests. Although my tsh was normal, several other studies were off the charts. She gave me the option of taking cytomel along with synthroid or take armour.

I responded really well to armour. I think it all depends on how your thyroid disease affects you. I have inflammatory thyroid disease. Others may have another type of thyroid dysfunction and need single dose treatment. The important message in this thread is to find a practitioner who listens to you.

[Nightowlz]

Who takes Armour Thyroid now? Did you take it before it was reformulated? Is the formula back now like it was before the reformulation? Can you take it sublingually? If Erfa does not get their Thyroid straightened out I may have to switch back to Armour.

[solitaregal]

On 6/21/2014 Nightowlz said:

Who takes Armour Thyroid now? Did you take it before it was reformulated? Is the formula back now like it was before the reformulation? Can you take it sublingually? If Erfa does not get their Thyroid straightened out I may have to switch back to Armour.

I take it. Started right after it was reformulated. It's like synthroid - swallow tablet on empty stomach, don't eat for 30 minutes to hour. It's a bit more expensive than synthroid but not horrible. Think I pay 40$ for 90 day supply.

[Lucky Charm]

I'm so confused by all this! I've been on Levothyroxine for over 4 years. (Dr. will only test for T4.) I guess Levothyroxine is the generic for Synthroid. I asked to be started on Synthroid and he said no. After taking it a while, I asked again and he said that it would 'upset things, once you start one, not good to switch to the other'.

When I questioned my pharmacist about *hearing* generic dosages tend to be inconsistent from script to script, she looked at me googley eyed and said 'nonsense'.

That said, I don't know if I would want to take natural desiccated thyroid because it comes from pigs and I am a vegetarian.

I know Mary Shoman is a great authority on thyroid. Am wondering if anyone has read any of Suzanne Somers' books on what she recommends. Please no googley eyes.

Ideally, I would rather not have to take anything or something more natural than a pigs thyroid. Too bad they couldn't remove just the gland and let the pig live or let it live longer and then be used for meat consumption. I am not against meat consumption! Just don't use horrific industry practices.

I don't go for my physical until August to have everything checked. I was in his office last week for something else and asked him to check my throid (a physical exam) and for the first time he did.

My gyn checks it yearly, but she's not the one doling out the prescriptions. She, by the way, is on compounded hormones.

Yes.....edited by me twice.

[Nightowlz]

On 6/21/2014 solitaregal said:

On 6/21/2014 Nightowlz said:

Who takes Armour Thyroid now? Did you take it before it was reformulated? Is the formula back now like it was before the reformulation? Can you take it sublingually? If Erfa does not get their Thyroid straightened out I may have to switch back to Armour.

I take it. Started right after it was reformulated. It's like synthroid - swallow tablet on empty stomach, don't eat for 30 minutes to hour. It's a bit more expensive than synthroid but not horrible. Think I pay 40$ for 90 day supply.

Wow I guess they raised the price. I'm using the Erfa Thyroid which is like the old Armour. I paid less than $80 for 500 125 mg tablets. Do you know if it can be taken sublingually like it used to be? TIA

Erfa has now gone up from $80 for 500 tablets to $175 for 500 tablets. Quite an increase if you ask me. Armour has also gone up.

[birddrops]

On 6/21/2014 Lucky Charm said:

I'm so confused by all this! I've been on Levothyroxine for over 4 years. (Dr. will only test for T4.) I guess Levothyroxine is the generic for Synthroid. I asked to be started on Synthroid and he said no. After taking it a while, I asked again and he said that it would 'upset things, once you start one, not good to switch to the other'.

When I questioned my pharmacist about *hearing* generic dosages tend to be inconsistent from script to script, she looked at me googley eyed and said 'nonsense'.

That said, I don't know if I would want to take natural desiccated thyroid because it comes from pigs and I am a vegetarian.

I know Mary Shoman is a great authority on thyroid. Am wondering if anyone has read any of Suzanne Somers' books on what she recommends. Please no googley eyes.

Ideally, I would rather not have to take anything or something more natural than a pigs thyroid. Too bad they couldn't remove just the gland and let the pig live or let it live longer and then be used for meat consumption. I am not against meat consumption! Just don't use horrific industry practices.

I don't go for my physical until August to have everything checked. I was in his office last week for something else and asked him to check my throid (a physical exam) and for the first time he did.

My gyn checks it yearly, but she's not the one doling out the prescriptions. She, by the way, is on compounded hormones.

Yes.....edited by me twice.

I am on Synthroid. My Endocrinologist said to never take the generic because of what you have posted here.

[Nightowlz]

On 6/21/2014 Lucky Charm said:

I'm so confused by all this! I've been on Levothyroxine for over 4 years. (Dr. will only test for T4.) I guess Levothyroxine is the generic for Synthroid. I asked to be started on Synthroid and he said no. After taking it a while, I asked again and he said that it would 'upset things, once you start one, not good to switch to the other'.

When I questioned my pharmacist about *hearing* generic dosages tend to be inconsistent from script to script, she looked at me googley eyed and said 'nonsense'.

That said, I don't know if I would want to take natural desiccated thyroid because it comes from pigs and I am a vegetarian.

I know Mary Shoman is a great authority on thyroid. Am wondering if anyone has read any of Suzanne Somers' books on what she recommends. Please no googley eyes.

Ideally, I would rather not have to take anything or something more natural than a pigs thyroid. Too bad they couldn't remove just the gland and let the pig live or let it live longer and then be used for meat consumption. I am not against meat consumption! Just don't use horrific industry practices.

I don't go for my physical until August to have everything checked. I was in his office last week for something else and asked him to check my throid (a physical exam) and for the first time he did.

My gyn checks it yearly, but she's not the one doling out the prescriptions. She, by the way, is on compounded hormones.

Yes.....edited by me twice.

If you want to take Synthroid & your doctor won't switch you to it find another doctor. My past doctor did not like me taking Armour & wanted to put me back on levoxyl & I refused. He sent me a letter stating he could no longer see me. Guess he could not tell me to my face while I was in his office. My last doctor had no problems giving me a script for the Erfa Thyroid but he only sees Urgent Care patients now & my present doctor. does not have a problem with me taking Erfa either.

Most Ins. does not want to pay for the Synthroid over the generic because it costs more & you would have to pay more for it than the generic.