megsmom

I hate to tell you this but, the issues you've read about Tirosint are also the issues that can be associated with any new thyroid med *or* a dose increase.

Please try to understand that it's NOT the thyroid hormone (no matter what type - Armour, Tirosint, Cytomel, Synthroid/levothyroxine), it's the fact that a new med or a new dose gets thyroid hormone levels moving......and that causes symptoms *in addition to* the symptoms the patient was already having before.

There's no escaping this.

At this point, since you've mentioned that your lab work over the past year came back worse each time, how about sharing the exact results? You are legally entitled to them.

This way we can help you see just what was going on with the Armour.

It's entirely possible that you *just* needed a higher Armour dose. If you read around on the Armour website I linked for you awhile back, you will see that some patients take doses as high as 180-300mg.

So I should just request that she send me the results for the past year to see what is going on? I will call her and ask her for that today.

As I've mentioned previously, it's best to know where we've been to get a better idea of what should be happening moving forward.....

(I hope you know what dose you were taking at the time of each lab....)

Just so you know where I'm coming from.....

Since many endos don't know how to interpret thyroid blood test results and are often (erroneously) focused on TSH, I'm not inclined to rely on her statement that your levels have gotten worse.

Yes, your recent FT4/FT3 levels were woefully inadequate and your TSH higher than some people when they are diagnosed.

However, if your history showed an improvement in your FT4/FT3 levels after starting Armour, that's a sign Armour is working.

Your TSH being so high is "just" an indication that your dose isn't adequate.....and might not have been adequate for a l-o-n-g time.

I don't think I'd try a new med when you're going away,although you might not feel the change for a couple of weeks. If your FT3 is low and you don't convert well,stopping the Armour might make you feel worse at first too. It's not that Tirosint is bad like CD said, it's the way your labs start moving (up or down) once you make the switch and this can be unsettling. If you feel fairly good on the Armour, maybe just a dose increase would help. If you're not feeling anxious or jittery or jumpy or you're not having rapid heart rate it means the Armour is fine and you could go up some instead of switching.

I called my family doctor (who I am trusting more and more than I do the endo.) today, and he wrote me a prescription for an increase in Armour. He was the one a few months ago who suggested an increase when the endo thought I should stay on 90 mg for "a while longer". So I am going to stay with the Armour through the end of August and then switch to Tirosint if my numbers are still bad.

Power to you, megsmom!!! Best of luck to you!!

Many of us have found that endos are useless when it comes to treating thyroid disease. It seems they are too busy taking care of the ever-increasing population of diabetics and have not retained any knowledge gleaned in thyroid class.

I am being treated by an internist. Glad your family doctor is willing to help. Just as I do with mine, you might be able to "lead" your treatment.

Only you are living in your body so only you can identify your symptoms. Keeping records of them as you have been can only help. You now know the types of levels you'll need to have to be free from thyroid symptoms and can use that knowledge to rally for the proper care. You're on your way!!!!

My doctor (endo) did send me my lab results today, and sure enough, there was only ONE lab done (this past one) that tested anything other than TSH......so I am going on these numbers alone and moving forward to figure it out. In the meantime, I started yesterday on 120 mg of Armour.

This is good news, glad you were able to add more Armour instead of switching right now.

Eh, I personally hate changing onto a new drug when I am changing scenery like a vacation.

Right. The dosage change had to be done though....I am (and was) miserable. So far all I feel is more anxiety......but I hope that calms down and starts improving my symptoms.