This article is part of a special report on Thyroid Disorders. To see the other articles in this series, click here.
In the last post I explained that, for the vast majority of patients, hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease. This isn’t just an academic distinction. It’s the reason both conventional and alternative treatments are so often ineffective.
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In this post I’m going to show you why taking replacement thyroid hormones without addressing the underlying immune imbalance is doomed to fail.
On the surface it seems like a reasonable approach. Patient doesn’t have enough hormones? Give more hormones. Simple, right?
Not so much.
Once again the conventional approach falls short because it ignores the underlying cause of the problem. It’s like taking Advil when you’ve got a pebble stuck in your shoe. It might work for a little while, and might even be necessary to dull the pain. But you’d be a lot better off if you took the pebble out of your shoe. Right?
Let’s take a closer look at why thyroid hormones often don’t work, or stop working over time. The following diagram illustrates how autoimmunity affects thyroid metabolism (please note, “HPT” stands for “hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis”):
Immune dysregulation is another term for autoimmune disease. We still don’t know exactly what causes it, but most researchers agree it’s a mixture of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors such as iodine (excess), infection, pregnancy, diet and intestinal permeability.
In autoimmune disease the body attacks itself. It does this the same way it attacks foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses: with T-cells, B-cells, natural killer cells, and cytotoxic T cells. The immune response also involves proteins called cytokines, chemical messengers that pass messages between cells.
This self-attack by the immune system increases inflammation. And inflammation has a profound effect on all aspects of thyroid metabolism and physiology.
First, inflammation suppresses the HPT axis. (1) One study showed a single injection of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha reduced blood levels of TSH, T3, free T4, free T3 and TRH for 5 days. (2) This shows inflammation disrupts the production and regulatory mechanisms of thyroid hormones. Thyroid medication will increase the levels of T4 (and possibly T3), but it doesn’t address the other effects of HPT axis suppression.
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Second, inflammation decreases both the number and sensitivity of thyroid hormone receptors. (3) If there aren’t enough receptors, or they aren’t sensitive enough, it doesn’t matter how much thyroid medication we take. The cells won’t be able to use it. It’s like when my grandpa used to turn down his hearing aids while he was watching the football game. It didn’t matter how much my grandma yelled at him – he couldn’t hear a word she said.
Third, inflammation decreases the conversion of T4 to T3. (4) T4 is the inactive form of thyroid hormone. The body has to convert it to the active T3 form before it can be used. Most synthetic hormone medications on the market are T4. If you give a T4 medication (like Synthroid, Levoxyl, Unithroid, etc.) to someone with inflammation, it’s not going to work because they can’t convert the T4 to T3.
Patients who don’t convert T4 to T3 well do better on bio-identical hormones like Armour, because it contains both T4 and T3 (in a 4.22:1 ratio).
Inflammation disrupts thyroid metabolism in several other ways, but I think these three examples make the point.
Now let’s review.
The only way to do that is to address the problem at its root by regulating the immune system and decreasing inflammation. (For more on how to address underlying inflammation, check out this episode of Revolution Health Radio with Izabella Wentz.) Unfortunately, this is rarely done in either conventional or alternative treatment of thyroid disorders.
Before I sign off, I just want to make one thing clear. I’m not saying thyroid medication isn’t necessary or useful. In fact, I think it’s an important part of treating Hashimoto’s—especially when TSH is consistently elevated and T4 and T3 are consistently low. My point is thyroid medication is only one piece of the puzzle, and it won’t be effective on its own unless the autoimmunity and inflammation are addressed.
If thyroid medication is the fantasy magic bullet of conventional medicine, iodine is the equivalent in alternative medicine. In the next post I’m going to explain why supplemental iodine may cause more harm than good in Hashimoto’s patients.
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hi, i can’t say i’ve got an answer, but so far i am seeing wonderful results for myself. i was only diagnosed with hypo-thyroidism late 2014 and was on a t-4 med up until a few weeks ago, as i started realizing the symptoms i had before my diagnosis were present once again. got my md to switch me to armour T about 3 weeks ago, but i really think it has been all the research and reading that i have been doing of these websites as well as people’s comments that have educated me a Whole Lot! although my lab results were all within range and md said i was good to go, i questioned why i felt so tired and had muscle cramps at night…she responded that she wanted to help me with that and i requested armour T. i am on a very low dose and haven’t yet had labs done, but researched enough on why the body needs iodine thru Dr. Brownstein’s website and others and decided to try it along with the recommended supplements. today is day 9 and i tell you i have never felt soo good. clarity of thinking was the first thing after just a few hours and then the energy came! i have done other things like eliminate the cruciferous veggies i had been eating and gave up the red wine….all in all i am feeling fantastic…energy energy and no more fogginess. i can’t say this is a cure-all or that it will work for you, but i thought i’d give it a try. i spent hours studying different sites and wanted to try it. i am currently taking 25mg of lugol’s iodine every morning and i still take the thyroid tab…but i do take it at bedtime because i enjoy my coffee in the mornings and i was constantly waking up thru the morning hours checking on what time it was so i could take the thyroid so as to time it right when i got up and could have coffee. now i don’t need to worry about the timing when i take it at bedtime. mind you…this is what i do and i’m not saying to do it.
You seem to know a lot about the thyroid … I am desperate to find out what I am doing wrong …I would appreciate your insight Thanks
Hi Steph! as i have said…i don’t know a lot, just try to read/research things. so what is going on with you? share a bit.
Low thyroid paleo diet
I developed a goiter after birth of my son in 2000. I have been on levothyroxine on and off ever since. I went from 180 all way up to 280 lbs. I developed swelling in my legs, neck and shoulder pain, constipation, tremors, muscle weakness, brain fog just to name a few. I have tried: zinc and copper, kelp, selenium, l-tyrosine, B vits, D vits and have not seen any imrovement with any of these. I went off my meds Christmas out of sheer frustration and went on an NDT product.
I’m 55 years old and have been dealing with hypothyroidism for the past seven years. The first couple of years Levothyroxine worked for me. Then I got very tired and did’t have the desire to do anything. So T-3 was added, I’ve taken Cytomel, Armour and Nature Thyroid. The problem has been either they do nothing to help my symptoms or quit working after a few months. Once I did god for eight months then just one month. Change the meds again and again. Does anyone have this problem where the medication stops helping and you have to change it over and over?? Any help will be appreciated.
Yes! I’ve been going through this for a year. I feel great and then my thyroid crashes. What the heck?
Same thing they have now added cytomel. Once the first added the cytomel 3 times a day…I felt amazing. Energy back, less bloated, regular sleep. Then after about 3 weeks….honeymoon over!
Currently: 75mcg synthroid with 5mcg cytomel, noon 25 mcg symthriod, 3:00 5 mcg cytomel.
Let me know if your dr figures out why
I have had hypothyroidism for the past 17 years. I developed it while I was pregnant. It went undiagnosed during my pregnancy that when they did diagnose it it was already full blown and I have had it ever since. I used to be on Synthroid but my MD took me off of it because the maker of the company put a new ingredient in it t to make the shelf life longer and it made it not work for me anymore. I am now on llyxoill and now it work for a while and now I’m having symptoms again that I feel it’s not working again. Does anyone else have any ideas? I currently take 137 mcg
I am having a problem withmy thyroid meds iamon armour 45 I am looking for a new thyroid doctor any help would be nice I don’t think my thyroid doctor understands when I tell him things I live in union county in Elizabeth nj if any one can help that would be nice
I am trying to figure out Armour dosing. I was on 90mg and my tsh was 2.369,Free T4 .79 and Free T3 3.0. My Doc wanted to adjust to get Free T3 to approx 4. So, she raised the armour to 120mg. After being on this dose, I had my annual physical approx 2 weeks after new dose. My TSH rose to 4.880 and my Free T4 was .90. Free T3 wasn’t tested. I noticed when I got hot that my feet were puffy, so knew something wasn’t right. I emailed my doc and she has now raised my dose to 150mg after 2 weeks on 120mg. My question…if you want to lower tsh and raise free t3, do you raise or lower the armour dose? I am 57 and was diagnosed Hashimoto’s approx 16 yrs ago. I dont have severe symptoms. Actually the armour has helped with energy level.,My other complaints are really dry and scaly feet and hard to lose wt., I am 5’4 and weigh 156.
i just ahd the hiatel hernia surgery my name is marion and now i hope to have help with my thyroid i have been on armour for a while but i might be allergic to the t 3 because i sneeze whan i take it and i also have tingling and i am also on 0.5 of lorazapamany advice would be nice thank you
what is helping with decreasing the inflammation. I am already taking curcurmin and reservatol, grain , wheat and dairy free, high fat, low carb diet, etc.
Would just like to tell everyone that it made a big difference for me when i cut out caffeine from my drinks, the doctors don’t tell you this but i have read other people have found that caffeine affects their medication. I would feel fine on the levothyroxine but noticed at certain times of the day i would get tired again and start to feel fuzzy headed and on another planet and realised it was always when i had drunk a cup of tea or coffee, went on to de-caffeinated and i am now fine, might not work for everyone but is definitely worth a try 🙂
THANK you so much for that. I am drinking a cup of coffee now. Had my LAST sip. AHHHHHH! I will try de-caf for the next to week. Thanks. I just wish I could get rid of my bloated abdomen. The Liothyroxine is NOT working or my diet is preventing it from working.
Hi, l too have hashimotos and I am taking synthyroid 25mg , I have a goiter and 3 nodules , one was over 1cm so it was tested and it was benign the other 2 are too small to be tested. I am now feeling like I did before the synthyroid, my throat hurts, I am always tired. But I just wanted to mention the bloated stomach, I have had for years. I do have ibs. But just recently I have been seeing a lot about leaky gut and how they say it can be the reason for hashimotos. At my last ob/gyn appts my dr who I love dearly mentioned to me about taking probiotic, so I purchased nature’s bounty probiotic cd which is controlled delivery. I started taking it on Friday, then on wed I had my appt with the endocrinologist, I had lost 2lbs. I was shocked. My bloated stomach is no longer here. I just thought this my be helpful to you.
I have to say it is so frustrating to hear how many of us suffer from this. I don’t understand why this doesn’t seen to be taken more serious by the medical profession. Is it because it isn’t life threatening? Or because they are to overwhelmed with “bigger” issues? Some days i feel like i am losing my mind and why do i have to feel like i am crazy just because they don’t understand why I don’t feel good. I mean really and i actually told this to a provider, ” Look if I am crazy please do something, lock me up, put me in the white padded room, because then at least i would have a reason why I feel like this”. There response is your not crazy…..then stop looking at me like I am when I tell you how this is effecting my life.
I am 35 1/2 i have dealing with this since age 18. I now have no thyroid( going on 10yrs) and my levels still are not stable. I feel like I am in a game of ping pong and I am the ball. UGH
Sorry needed to vent, I just dont know what else to do 🙁
I too, feel the same way. It has been 11 yrs of trying to find the answers for me. Since all this mess I have lost everything I owned and have gotten pregnant in the process at age 44. He now has autism and I feel his levels may be off as well but no test has been ran on him for thyroid issues. Please someone help me I am tired of feeling awful. Most days I feel i will not live long to be there for my autistic child. I’m tired please someone help all of us.
I am sorry you feel tired, depressed, lost and desperate. I have s similar story, was on lots of different thyroid meds settled on Armor. I went to a hormone specialist in NC and he checked my hormone levels but also my testosterone, DHEA, estradiol and I started hormone pellets, my life us great now! Energy, no depression and 35 pounds of weight loss, please consider this also. Bless you, I know it’s tough.
What are hormone pellets? Are you on Armour and pellets? Thanks
I have hypothyroidism and have been on many medications for it. Including Lerothyroxine, Armour, Nature Thyroid. The problem is they either don’t help my symptoms at all or work for a few months then stop helping. Any suggestions? Thank you.
I am 45 and was diagnosed 3 years ago. Have never been the same since. 5’5″ and now 167!!! I gained 25 right out of the gate! I now have fibro as well. Just went gluten free, organic, non GMO and just started armour after doing tons of research. I once was a hyper person, now I just watch my life go by in compete exhaustion. Can’t keep a job because NOBODY understands because I look fine. I cry so often because I just want my life back. I felt good for a month so I exercised went to the doc and not one lb was lost. So discouraging always. I don’t even like looking in the mirror. I think the depression is worse than anything for me. Took my kids a long time to understand that this is the new me. They were used to me going nonstop. Breaks my heart. I think my energy would be better if I could get this weight off. My TSH is .49 my T4 is 1.05 and my T3 is 88. Still feel horribly exhausted like I’ve ran a marathon. Any suggestions from someone who’s more experienced with this than me?
After going through pure hell for 7 years of being sick to get a diagnosis of Hyperthyroidism, the loss of a sister due to not being diagnosed, I am confident that this disease is dangerous on so many levels…I often think “what if people are walking around undiagnosed and die due to unexplained circumstances ” or commit crimes and such due to the same..because it makes u bat shit crazy in a way no one understands u less you have experienced it yourself…now 3 years of being on meds not working anymore, tired, so fatigued…gaining weight even after 1000 calorie diet and exercise. I wish this on no one. Has anybody been able to lose weight..if so how did you do it. I’m mad all over again.
I don’t know if this will work for you, but after 2 1/2 years on T4 and bed ridden, I found a new doc who Who added T3, and that was the day my life began to change for the better. I still have some fatigue but I’m not bedridden, and I lost 30lbs in 7 weeks. Make sure they give you ENOUGH T3 (I take 100m t4 plus 25m T3, but I had to switch docs to get the T3 up that high, since $Pharma has put the fear of God into most docs, and even the most and Blyton docs are often over conservative). Important: I am not a d and even the most and Blyton docs are often over conservative). Important: I am not a doc, and your experience may differ, but always monitor yourself for hyper- symptoms such as heat intolerance, chest pain, heart Palps. This is what docs are afraid of, as hyper- is potentially more dangerous than hypo-. Good luck. Don’t give up, keep digging, keep testing, keep asking questions. It was only after 4 years of relentless reading, finding good docs, that my current doc discovered my Hypo- is caused by a copper-zinc imbalance. If I had not kept pushing, and found some good docs, this would never have been discovered, and I would have continued to deteriorate physically & mentally, and ultimately express Parkinsons, Alzheimers, and severe mental illness–Good Luck. Have faith, and don’t create a lot of negativity for yourself regarding the shortcomings of the Medical Profession. For the most part, everyone is doing the best they can, and all docs think they are doing the right thing!…Warm regards to one of “my people” 🙂 Papi.
How did you solve your imbalance kooper-zink? Taking supplements?
What a positive post! Where are you located? What type of doctor did you find that finally got you headed in the right direction? A D.O.? Thanks for your response in advance!
So sorry Heather. I even feel sorry for myself. I’ve literally starved and didn’t lose weight; only got a excruciating migraine.
Ladies learn about essential oils they are awesome as well
I can relate..Short story…address the adrenals, take supplements that nurture the entire endocrine system and bring hormone balance.
Sorry to hear that you’re going through this. Did they give you Lyrica or Cymbalta for the Fibro? Both caused me to gain a lot of water weight as well, which I lost after weaning off of them. Try reading about adrenal fatigue by Dr. Michael Lam, it’s very interesting. I also found that cutting out meat and dairy products helped me. Good luck!!
Please have your hormones i.e. progesterone, estrogens, tested. The “fibro” pain might be from low progesterone. Menopause starts that way.
Janice,
I am in NC and having the same problem as everyone else on here. Can you tell me who you saw? I feel I can’t go on living like this.
I agree with you fully, but you need realize thyroid conditions can be life threatening. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s 20 years ago but after the birth of my third child, it killed my thyroid. My body was killing itself. My heart rate was very slow, along with my reflexes and thinking. My muscles were so atrophied it was almost like rigor mortis was setting in. My doc told me if i had waited another week or two, i would be dead. Since then my thyroid started functioning and i was taken off the synthroid. Recently it decided to go into full attack mode and I’m back on the roller coaster again. Most people think it’s no big deal, but unless you have this disease, you don’t know how crazy you feel or how hard it is to get out of bed.
I wish more doctor’s would test for antibodies, not just TSH levels. I have 2 children with symptoms and their TSH levels are fine.
I have o say my bloodworm NEVER showed anything wrong with my thyroid. I was bed bound, no mental cognition left, weak to the point I could not stand, major depression and anxiety out of the blue, could not put a sentence together, and severe weight loss with hair loss. Doctors all told me I had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and that my swollen lymph node in my neck was the virus, that they could not name, that attached my system and that I was going to be in bed for the rest of my life. FINALLY, a neuro believed me and demanded an ultrasound. Endo read it and said “its juts hashimotos”. Radiologist demanded the endo to get a biopsy. she refused. After yet another six months of going back and forth, the radiologist did another ultrasound and called my neuro and told her I needed to get in immediately. I ended up having stage four thyroid cancer, a severe case of hashimotos, 18 tumors in my thyroid , that disintegrated in my surgeons hands, 100 lymph nodes removed as it spread to those, a muscle, parathyroids, etc. I had a rare form of it called diffuse carcinoma. the ten hour surgery, two weeks in the hospital almost killed me but my surgeon told me that maybe, just maybe I had four months to live if I had not done the surgery. I have problems now getting the right dose,cognitive and brain issues still , but I do not believe my labs or doctors who only rely on them any longer. What caused this horrific type of cancer that needed up being paraneoplastic so the antibodies attacked my brain? who knows? Lyme, viruses, bacteria, etc…doctors need to be more informed of what is causing cancer and hashimotos. BTW: I live in Californian and am surrounded by “excellent” doctors who went to “excellent med schools”…very sad. I would NEVER suggest of anyone to go off their medicine as you may end up in a coma state. I had an adrenal crisis in December when my medicine was too high with the additional cytomel added. Too much for my adrenals to handle. THAT WAS INCREDIBLY SCARY. went into a fib and my adrenals shut down completely. just all be careful.
Gosh that just mirrors my experience of hashimoto, more than 40 tumours in my thyroid after fejng like commuting suicide
In bed thoroughly depressed hardly able to move, legs like lead, high fever, emotions of a 2 year old!!
What a nightmare
Can’t get armour in uk because they push levothytoxine on everyone despite it not really helping
Sat in hospital with a supposed specialist endo
Told him I wanted to end my life, tears flowing down my face.
His answer…. Lose weight
Yes unbelievable !!
But this is the level of care in uk for thyroid!!
They couldn’t give a toss
So I went on a fruit smoothie regime
Cut most breads carbs meat n dairy out, it’s very limited but it really has helped
The Weight is reducing and feeling better, still have bad days and fever attacks when I’ve overdone things
But it’s given me a bit of hope
XXXX
To Jane….glad you are feeling a little better. Honestly, traditional medicine doesn’t seem to look past their own nose. I have asked my docs to investigate my autoimmune, identify it and treat it. To me, support and rebuilding that part of my Hashimotos is crucial to my ultimate good health. They DO NOT do that. They treat the symptoms with thyroid meds. Meanwhile, those of us who suffer…continue to do so. I want to see an integrative/functional med doc, but they do not take most insurances because they don’t want to have to adhere
to the less effective guidelines of insurances. Sad. So many of us walking around feeling like crap. Be your own best advocate and read all you can on the thyroid. I read that by the time your thyroid isn’t working properly, your adrenal glands have already suffered. I also think digestive issues aggravate thyroid conditions. Certain foods aggravate. For me, my blood work showed low D, & low B12. I am currently getting acupuncture. I eat several smaller meals a day…try not to eat any junk, take my vitamins and rest when I feel drained. I am determined to feel better and wanted to share my enthusiasm with you. While I do feel down sometimes, it quickly passes when I feel better…so I do not think I have true depression…just more anxiety from not being able to do all the thing I want to do. Please know that all of us here are concerned…and hope that your suicidal thoughts vanish!
Hi.. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. Then another doctor says “No, you don’t have Hashimoto’s..” A new doctor prescribed Armour for hypothyroid and my symptoms are the same; no energy, hard to focus, impossible to lose weight, bad sleep, hair loss….Where in California do you live? Have you found good doctors?
Low many times is hoshimotos
Include essential oils too
Omega fats
Lots of protein all day long
No diary
No glutin
Make sure omega fats too
Complex carbs
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at 40 am now 56. It took a few years to get the right med. I am now taking armour thyroid and will never stop taking it because it makes me feel good. I am not tired, I have energy and most important my emotions are no longer scattered. My 16 yr old daughter could tell me if I missed a dose because of how I acted. I was a nurse for 29 yrs and after being on armour for my 3 rd year, I saw a endocrinologist and he explained so many things to me that educated me to help with this life threatening disease and yes it is a life threatening disease. Most dr.s except the endocrinologist do not I repeat do not know much about the hypo or hyper thyroidism. Where as the endocrinologist does but to this day very little is still known about why are thyroids go haywired. But anyone taking medication and not feeling well on their med please go to your dr and ask for a tsh and the free t3 and t4. Not just tsh. If you have to go every 6 weeks then do that. Because women have continuous hormone changes especially in their 30’s and 50-60’s. Premenopause and menopause causes incredible changes with this disease and men have hormonal changes also. So for anyone who feels bad please go to an endocrinologist and let them help you get straighten out if they are able it is a serious disease so do not take it lightly. I hope helped. One other thing thyroid disease was not fully diagnosed until the 1950’s synthesis was made until the 70’s to so that may seem like a long time but it really is not. Thanks
Hi Rose,
Thanks for sharing your experience. Did your endocrinologist give you armour? thanks
Armour Thyroid saved my life!!!!!!!!!!
Any one who has not tried it, you have to DEMAND to be switched. Yes it may not work for everyone and adjustment will need to be made the first month or so your on it, but how will you know if this is the answer to your prayers unless you try it?
Natural Drs use armour it’s great can take with food been on it 12 years now paleo diet helps out also
I feel the same. At my wits end. It’s like being on a dollar coaster from hell. I can’t believe how it affects my life!! Like I’m stuck under a wet blanket & can’t fight my way out. Sorry for venting. 🙁
Roller coaster! Thyroid brain! Argh
HaHa, that maybe laugh right out loud and the most ridiculous thing is that i read it as roller coaster and didn’t notice until you corrected it. My thyroid brain is use to auto correcting, because i make so many dumb mistakes now, lol
We all just need to stick together!
Yes, we do! I need to start a support group. TA. Lol
A message to EVERYBODY my life changed when I found a competent Doctor. There are more of them than you may think, and the numbers are growing as Functional Medicine gains traction. You can find lists of competent docs at STTM, and a number of other websites. I spent 3 years bed-ridden on Synthroid ( including a stretch being negligently diagnosed with RA and treated with highly toxic drugs and Prednisone for 2 years). Finally I went to a competent doc who gave me my life back with a combo of T4/T3 (extended release at compounded pharmacy). Now she is working in gut issues, “dormant” infections like EBV, LYME, etc. She is relentless and systematic and continues moving thru her protocol. PRIORITY #1: DUMP YOUR ARROGANT, ILL-INFORMED CONVENTIONAL DINOSOUR AND FIND YOUSELF A REAL DOC. ps never ever go to an endocrinologist–They are by far the most ill-informed, and are led around by the nose by the pretty girls who swarm around their office, ingratiating themselves with staff, and keep the doc “up to date” on the latest corrupt “science” choreographed by the criminals running Big Pharma (eg the ATA – American thyroid assoc funds bogus studies showing that Synthroid and only Synthroid must be used by doc’s who don’t want to be sanctioned by their licensing board. The odd thing is that ATA comprises one (1) employee making $750,000/year funding “studies” and conventions for doc’s to go to for full immersion in Big Pharma extravaganzas, under the guise of “continuing education. Here’s the clincher: ATA is funded by the criminal enterprise that owns the patent on Synthroid!! Synthroid generates more revenue–in the BILLIONS–than any other drug on the market.
I have a good Dr, but we can’t seem to be able to stabilize my thyroid. I started to feel better after starting T3, but it was short lived. I guess I had my hopes too high. 🙁
I had the same problem, but my competent doc just kept working on it, looking at possible adrenal problem, but mostly the gut. The main work is on the gut, leaky gut healing, Special gut supplements, bone broth, and most importantly, going on a gluten free, casein free diet. There is no silver bullet, all this stuff and more needs investigated. You must go on a gf/cf diet; that is basic. Gluten and Casein are at the core of the gut problem. If your doc isn’t working on this stuff, you need a better doc.
I am celiac, so already GF. I had bloodwork done about a year ago, also lactose & casein intolerant. I wasn’t being careful with dairy, but have been for the past month or so. Just saw Dr this morning, adding a small dose of T4 back in. Also checking me for diabetes. 🙁
Will it ever end?!?!?
Use coconut milk and coconut yogurts and oil
wow! that says a Lot!
Would it be OK to tell me who your doctor is. Are they accepting new patients. I’ve been to many practitioners all kinds of doctors alternative and conventional. Terri
is there any one in new jersey that can help me better than my doctor
David Trindle, would you be so kind to share with us your amazing doctor and the city/state? Maybe some of us are close enough to see her as well. Thank you!
my name is marion and I just started on wp thyroid I hope this works I started it last week I have been through the thyroid ringer with meds still not feeling good I have tingling all over my body stil don not know what is causing it if some one can help me I would appreciate it
Hi! I read your comment and have to say that I seriously word for word just told my doctor and my husband the same thing! I was taking synthroid 0.075 for the last 5 weeks and it felt like I was on a Rollercoaster from hell. One day id be fine laughing enjoying life and the next crying or ready to chew my family up and spit them out! I had blood work done Tuesday 5/23 and saw my doctor 5/24 in tears explaining how I felt like im loosing my mind. She said the labs showed my body want absorbing any of the medicine, that all the symptoms are those of an overdose of hormones and to stop taking it. Wait 4 weeks and start back fresh with Armour- A natural hormone. Today’s the first day of not taking it but im not in tears this afternoon so it a plus. I work graveyard shifts and juggle a family on a few hours of sleep a day. My biggest fear is falling back into a rut where all the old symptoms come back.
I am so sorry, even though I know we all feel the same it still sucks to hear people in thyroid hell. Stick with the armour thyroid it’s has made a huge difference in my life HUGE. Also my on gym decided he would start running labs as soon as I called him and said I didn’t feel good to try to pin point where I need to have my levels to function even if the means I am “out of the box”. Good luck, think happy thoughts and laugh cause what else can we do?
I totally agree take the all natural Armour Thyroid if in the USA in Canada it’s just called Thyroid. Thyroid is made from deccisated pig thyroid glands. The inactive ingredients are cornstarch, magnesium stearate, sugar and talc it doesn’t have any gluten, paraben, sulfiteor tartrazine therefore 100% natural and a miracle worker watch the weight drop and energy levels rise.
What do you mean that in Canada it is just called Thyroid. Is that what I ask the doctor for just Thyroid. No Synthroid or the other levo however you spell it.
I’ve had my thyroid ablated since 2000. And I too am on the Levothyroxine roller coaster. So I feel for you. Today I’m actually in bed and am unable to get up!
Get off simple carbs and glutin
Omega fats like oil from coconut
Bone broth
Do milk alternatives instead ( coconut )
Protein every 4 hrs too
Probiotics every day milk free ones
Low carbs does great on me
Use endo and immune oils too
i am 50, with Hashimotos, lots of surgeries and parts take out of my body. Not thyroid tho. I have tried every thyroid med combo and adrenal supplements. Everything makes me crazy. So, in that past 2 years I have lived on Npthyroid at a very low dose. I’m exhausted everyday, especially in the mornings and after meals.
I have seen many, many specialist in the past years. So, I just tried a new endo and she was sharp. She just put me on Tirosant and generic t3. I feel crazy as ever but something good is trying to happen. But, I’m itching all over and I have reduced my meds. I just started them last Sat 4/9. I was praying for good results. But my itchiness is from within and I feel like I want to jump out of my skin.
Has anyone experienced this from an increase in meds?
Thank you.
I too had severe itching were I wanted to peel my skin off!! My Doctor prescribed me a wonderful itching medication called HYDROXZINE 25MG take it when your only at home. Wow this medication is awesome!!! Stops the itching within 10 to 15 minutes and then relaxes you where you can fall asleep like a baby without itching like a cat & dog with Fleas!!!
Hi i only have itching with my meds are not working you should yr doc know .my thyroid was removed 13 yrs get blood work done u should never have to suffer the itching
Well, this may not be applicable, but may lead to some insight, the last 6 to 8 weeks of
both my pregnancit’s I itched from the inside from head to toe, it was awful! They said the baby was pushing on my liver and causing it to misbehave in some way, maybe check your liver, hope this might help.
Great points but, as many others asked: other than eating healthier, then what DO we do about inflammation? I tried searching “how to reduce inflammation” in your website, but nothing specific came back. I’d love to hear your main points to reduce inflammation!
I too would like to know how to reduce inflammation.
I just read that if you drink 10 ounces of water with the juice of 1 lemon and 1/2 tsp. Salt each morning…that this helps reduce inflammation. I also read that jumping on a rebounder helps to flush out lymph. I am giving both a try!
I have a question. Does anyone else have completely debilitating exhaustion? I am always so tired that if I do finally fall asleep I can sleep for about 22 hours at a time. I also have another issue with what I think is crashing syndrome. Everytime I eat something I will immediately get a drunk like feeling and passed out. I will sleep for anywhere from 4 to 6 hours and then wake up only to go back to sleep. Is this just me? I am not even going to ask about the pain because I’ve already read enough of your other comments. It seems we all suffer together.
Hi Teri…before I was diagnosed with Hashimotos, I had severe fatigue where I couldn’t even get dressed. No amount of sleep helped. I also had the same reaction after eating. My reg. Doc suggested eating several (6) smaller meals a day.
DuRing this time, my blood pressure would also drop..usually within 45 minutes of eating. Doc did not state what she thought it was. I suspect either low blood sugar or post prawn dial hypotension. The second is where your body draws a supply of blood towards your digestion; thusly, causing the feeling of light headed nests and fatigue. An endo finally diagnosed me with Hashimotos. My own research also informed me that I was most likely low in vit D and B12. Blood test confirmed both. Since Hashimotos is due to an autoimmune issue, I wondered how the thryoid can can fixed if the underlying health concern isn’t addressed. I started taking D3 daily. And due to acid reflux, I started taking 12 liquid sublingual. If you take it, the best form is methylcobalamin which is natural…NOT cyano cobalamin which is synthetic. Still wasn’t feeling a whole lot better. I remembered that a chiro told me several years ago that I had adrenal weakness. Further research showed me that if one suffers from thyroid, most likely their adrenals were already having a problem. I take Drenamin.. And slowly have started to feel better. I am sorry this is so long, but I know how awful it is to feel sick and tired every single day. Don’t give up. BTW, prayer and meditation helped me tremendously!
Hi. My symptoms are the same. I am 26 and my body been super swollen feeling. I’ve been taking snythroid I’m in the process of trying to switch to nature thyroid or armour throiyd. Last week I went to doctor for disk issues in my back and doctor told me my blood pressure was low. 73/58. I ate oatmeal and brown sugar before eating. . you sound a lot like me from reading this.
To Teri…corrections on my post to you. The condition is called post prandial hypotension. And the other correction is B12 liquid. Wanted to be clear.
I am always fatigued.wake up feeling tired n sore, no energy but i push thru it.as the day progresses i get more n more tired n have almost no energy (or want) to do anything.usually 1-2pm is the worst.yet my bloodtests are always saying my levels are fine.i k ow theres something more so im going to follow up but its definately a constant lesson in how ur thyroid affects ur life.
I also have hoshimotos thyroid ism and the med is not working any more. I have zero energy and am always sleepy. I feel that I have no quality if life which has caused grave depression. Some days… Well most days actually I feel like I’m just taking up space and shouldn’t even exist 🙁 I was never this way before and I hate it.
Maybe you should have your adrenals looked at. I read that by the time one’s thyroid is malfunctioning, the adrenals already have. I take Drenamin for adrenal support and it seems to really make a difference. You might also try acupuncture. It, too, is helping me. If you haven’t had blood work recently, you should get your magnesium, post assign, B12 and D levels checked. Hoping you feel better soon!
I have taken Armour for 20years highly suggested from my homeopath doctor and made a world of difference
Acupuncture is my other suggestion because thyroid deals with our hormones and they need balancing and acupuncture helps with balance.
Lastly yoga is a form of exercise that relaxes ,strengthens and does not over tax your body.
Hope this helps someone it a daily challenge
I have been on Armour now for roughly 7 years. When I was first diagnosed with Hypo they put me on Synthroid and not a thing changed. The exhaustion was there, the brain fog, memory loss, constipation. Then I found Armour and told my Dr I wanted to try. Within 4 months I had lost a good 15 lbs and was feeling like a more so normal person and a lot of the symptoms lifted. 1 year ago I was doing research for optimal health for those that suffer with Hypo and I found that a raw/vegan diet is the key. You want to heal your gut along with decreasing inflammation and this is the best way to do it. I just had blood work after 8 months of being on a vegan diet and to my surprise, I was found to be over medicated . I was having some symptoms of Hyper like sweats out of nowhere, racing heart and palpitations, mood swings and etc. I had been on the same 120mg of Armour for over 6 years and was doing well with it. Point is you have to heal the body from inside out with the cleanest diet that is intended for humans to begin with. Heal the gut and you decrease all kinds of inflammation which leads to better absorption of all nutrients.
Hope this help! Hang in there because there is a solution and it’s as easy as changing your diet completely. I have never felt better!
Hi. Wow. I have been reading through some of these. Comments on here as I have recently been dismissed by my endocrinologist. I have hashamotos disease. He doesn’t know what to do for me. I have been on levothyroxine for years with really very little problems with the exception of the beginning.
In the beginning I could not take several brand because they caused heart palpatations. Now after fifteen years I have found myself back in the ever frustrated cycle of fatigue without the medication and heart palpatations with it. Also my endocrongist has no idea what to do for me.
So my reason for posting this was to share my experience in hope that it might help some one else.
I started using an Acupuncturist. It has been life changeing. No more thyroid meds that make my heart race. And I feel like my body is healing. Some thing I never even realized that were symptoms. I am still fairly new to the acupuncture/herbal view so I do not know what my outcome will be withr the Hashamotos in the long term. But for where I started I feel awesome. Would highly recommend that road to everyone here as it has been my experience that the Drs of the modern medicine do not know how or really want to help some one who has problems taking the convential medication
So everything you just explained is what I’m going thru. I’m on armor , I’ve been sick for 3 years. Lots of inflammation. I now have many auto immune disease. My question is how do we get to the root of our problem?
hello everyone……I was wondering if anyone had any advice for me regarding side effects of WP thyroid.
I HAD been a dose of Synthroid for 3 years (125mcg) and my TSH was 0.19. I became very ill after being on it for 3 years. Hair falling out, panic attacks, chest/heart pain, joint pain, achilles tendonosis, extreme back pain, PVCs, scintillating scotomas and migraines among others. I complained to my doctor and she said my TSH levels were fine and it wasn’t the medication causing the problems.
I am 48 years old and in perimenopause. I have estrogen dominance and have been taking 100 mg oral natural progesterone every day at bedtime for the last 30 days. I have low cortisol in the late afternoon and it starts to rise at night (based on adrenal function saliva test).
I was very sick on the Synthroid and stopped taking it. I finally found another doctor, after two months of NO medication at all) who ran the adrenal function saliva test and full thyroid panel and sex hormones. She found me to be low in progesterone so put me on natural progesterone. She decided, based on my test results to start me on 1 1/4 grain of WP thyroid (because I had stopped taking the Synthroid cold turkey for 2 months, and by the time I found my new doctor my TSH level had shot up to 95).
I took the WP thyroid for 7 days with no problem and was feeling optimistic. I felt great. On the 8-10th days I began experiencing very bad anxiety about 6-8 hours after taking the WP. On Easter Sunday I had such extreme anxiety about 4 hours after I took the medication that I was unable to leave my house to celebrate the holiday with my family. It was debilitating.
My doctor took me off the medication for two days (Monday and Tuesday) and then had me start on just half a WP thyroid pill once per day. Today (Wednesday) was the first day I took half a pill. I took it around 5:30 am with water and went back to bed. I got up at 7:00 and I had a great morning. No coffee. I felt almost normal. No panic, anxiety, racing heart or palpitations. Then at about 11:45, I was sitting at my desk working (nothing stressful at all) and I was hit with a wave of anxiety and panic and racing heart that was so bad I thought I was going to drop dead right there at my desk. I started having heart pains like I was being jabbed in the heart with a needle. I was trembling inside and felt nauseated.
I took a xanax and that stopped it, but I was so scared that I was afraid to even leave my office to go have lunch. I called the doctor immediately. Waiting for a call back.
What is happening to me? I was so excited to get on the NDT and now I am becoming afraid to take it.
Is this normal when you first start taking WP thyroid? Anyone have any ideas or have had similar experiences?
Oh..my vitamin D levels were low so I have been taking 10,000 iu per day for 30 days, and most recent results were 33 and rising. She never mentioned low iron or ferritin, so I am going to assume they were okay. I do B-12 shots once per month, so those levels were fine.
I just want to know if what I am experiencing is normal and should I stick it out and it will get better? I hate taking the xanax, but it’s the only thing that stops the massive anxiety. I’m afraid my heart is being damaged from all these attacks of heart pain and anxiety. Thanks for reading.
Hi Hun your story sounds so similar to mine, I am no closer to finding a solution but I do believe that we somehow have become to t4, and to get better the only way is to find out what is unbalanced in our bodies! I’ve just recome off thyroxine as I have been bed bound for 2 months! Once the t4 has left my body I am going to try very slowly adding t3? Once I have addressed the adrenal issues
I have the same problems…as yous
It started in June last year ,I was diagnosed with takatsubo cardiomyopathy. Then they found I had hyperthyroidism, so I had radioidine treatment. ..then I went hypothyroid. So they increased my levels of thyroid meds then I went the other way …feel sick as I have graves diease autoimmune. I can’t get well .any advice would be appreciated. ..Maree ?
I had same treatment about 20 years ago. I am 51 now. I had my thyroid removed via radioactive iodine as well. I was on Synthroid 150 mmg for a long time in fact years and it was fine. I had tests done every 6 months and levels were normal. about 5 years ago that changed. Maybe Perimenopause changed it but I become slightly hypo so they decided to give me T3 and lower the T4 to 100mmg. I was taking that 5mmg in the morning and 5 at night but quickly became hyper. They reduced it to once a day and that was fine for a few years then I became hyper again. The Dr. took me off the T3 and left me on the T4 100mmg; I became hypo. so they gave me back the T3, shortly after I became hyper. This has been one big roller coaster ride for sure. I’ve had the Dr. want to do a clean slate over and over with same result. I went to an expert Dr. who has now taken me off the T3 and now I am on T4 only but back to 150mg. I am waiting to see the results as I am starting to feel a bit tired. Not sure if its the change in meds or because I am exercising more to prevent the horrid weight gain of no T3. Ughhhhh!!!!! Why can’t someone figure this all out, there is so many of us out here.
I’m on armour and levothyroxine. Have you tried the combo? I get all of your symptoms (including anxiety and heart palpitations) when I’m not on enough meds!! Also, cut out gluten and dairy to reduce inflammation. ?
I think that the adrenals have a lot to do with it as well. I take Armour Thyroid and do not have the same issues as you do with the anxiety thank goodness! But, I have heard since I accidentally took an extra dose last Sunday afternoon after a nap. I did not sleep very well at night and have issues with insomnia so I laid down and slept for a whole 4 hours and thought that I had slept all night and into the morning so I took my medication again. I called my Pharmacy and my pharmacist told me to call Poison Control. They gave me some enlightening information. They said that it takes weeks for the medications to build up in your bloodstream so just going off of it for a couple of days and then going back on half of a tablet is not going to do anything basically it will take up to another week for me to see if I’m going to have palpitations and severe anxiety from my mistake. Make sure that you actually ask your doctor to check your iron and ferritin levels. If you are in the United States it is now legal for you to go to many of the testing centers that are free standing and Terros Laboratories are extremely inexpensive and are located inside a lot of Walgreens across the country depending on what state you are located in. I would Google which low-cost Laboratories are in your area. I am in Arizona. It amazes me that now out of pocket if I just want to run and CBC with differential or check my own level my entire thyroid panel then I can do so a CBC with differential only cost around $3.40. Quite different in the hundred plus dollars that they feel for it on my insurance with other Laboratories like Sonora Quest and others. I would suggest looking into what labs are in your area and running whatever test that you think you might need for your own information to supply to your doctor rather than convincing them which can sometimes be rather difficult, as I am sure you know to get them to write a order for. This is a new law that was only recently passed so a lot of people do not know about it. Do not fall for the tricks on the internet about the labs because they are very expensive. Good luck. Make sure your vitamin D levels are more than Optimum. Mine was down to a 9 and I’m out at 3:10 thousand milligram tablets a day. You want it to be between 80 and 90. You do not want to go over a hundred and twenty. I would also run a iron and ferritin check as well since that is not typically a part of regular blood work. They are dirt cheap. My doctor ran those at my request and he both of our surprise I was critically low on both of them. We are still trying to get them to drive and I just had a new set of labs drawn it yesterday. It is also affected all of my other hormones as well. I have numerous autoimmune disorders on top of this and would love to try to find out more information. I wish you the best of luck and will keep you in my thoughts.
Hi Terri! I was reading your post and I saw that you are in AZ. I live in Phoenix. I was curious who your doctor is. I was on 25mcg of t-3 and low dose of synthesis. My levels TSH were at .4, I was also taking selenium, iodine, vitamin b and adaptogen. I constantly have palpatations and I just wasn’t feeling well and was starting to get depressed. I decided to try Derosa Medical the NP had me decrease my t-3 to 15mcg for 5 weeks to see what happened and if it helped the heart palpitations. What it did do was throw me into major depression, I gain 10 lbs, my monthly cycle became irregular going from a predictable 28 day to 40 days. It’s been 14 days since the First day of last period and I just started again yesterday. My TSH went from .4 to 4.7… I really don’t know what to do. I Hashimotos, endometriosis and PCOS.
Thank you for the info. I am in Texas and do not have insurance. I am going to look into the labs in Walgreen’s. My dr. Lowered my levothyrlxine dose from .125 to .112mcg. I am also perimenopausal and worried my iron is low too.
Oh my gosh so many have what I have! I’ve had my thyroid removed and drank the radioactive poison. My levothroxin has been increased twice and I still am not down where I’m supposed to be-2.14 now. I have horrible bone or joint pain moves every day from face to hips to knees…everywhere. Horrible zits or painful boils on my head and face that I never had before. Fingers hurt usually the worst and I have no energy, barely holding onto my job. I have to take pain melds and hot bath for an hour before I go to work every day. Can’t sleep, sweating,weight gain, stomach pain, face blowed up, hair loss, brittle nails, bad skin, eyes hurt, back hurts. I was active and in decent shape now fat zitty miserable couch potato with no answers.
I would cut out gluten and all grains including oatmeal also sugar if you haven’t already. do an elimination diet for 3weeks. then add one food at a time for 3-4 days to see if you have a reaction to that food. then add another in the same way. sounds like more than thyroid issue.
Get your levels tested; those are hypothyroid symptoms. They may need to increase your meds.
Hi Chris,
I could certainly use some guidance. I have been taking Tirosint 150 once a day and taking cytomel 5 twice a day. My levels have been increasing slightly, then stabilized, now it is off the chart at 17.89. My sister, who is a nurse, visited last week and notice I was retaining water in a big way. I started taking over the counter diuretics and it has relieved some of the retention. I visit my doctor this Friday to go over my results and next steps, I feel miserable and now weigh more than I did when I was pregnant with my some 30 years ago. Where do I go now? I am tired of this fluctuation with my meds and out of no where they skyrocket off the charts.
Less than one month ago, my thyroid and 1 parathyroid were removed. My endocrinologist prescribed 137mcg of Levothhyroxine which caused heart palpitations so badly I went to ER three times in first week after surgery. Also 2000mg calcium. After an overnight stay with 24 hr heart monitor and echo it was determined I do not have afib. Endocrinologist agreed to drop my dosage to 100mcg. The cardiologist agreed with me when I told him I cut that in half to 50mcg. I still feel like I am on speed all the time. After years of having normal BP the other day it shot up to 156/103. Is anyone else suffering from Synthroid causing palpitations? I am going crazy so my GP gave me antianxiety med. just one fourth of the pill knocks me out. Help!
Sorry to hear your not feeling welk. I had a complete thyroidectomy a year ago. I also lost a parathyroid. It is still a struggle as I am not yet on the correct dose if thyroid hormone. Here are some things I’ve found helpful. Do your research. Look up to see what is the suggest dose for your sex and weight. My PCP adjusted my dose once by increasing my Levothyroxine by 25 mcg. I started with heart palpitations and hand tremors. My endocrinologist said she only changes doses by 12.5 mcg. Hope this helps.
I had that same problem while taking the generic synthroid like your taking the doctor now writes daw on my script. do not have those symptoms any more. They thought I might be allergic to one or more of the fillers in the geneic.
What is daw?
Dispense As Written. (Fill script the way it is written) Meaning the pharmacy cannot use generic prescriptions as they do if one is available; DAW means fill the script with EXACTLY what is written on it, no substitutions, no exceptions. (That is the way I think of it which may be more extreme, but it is the general idea…fill as written)
Didn’t realize we had same name lol. I can be Bobbi
Dispense As Written
DAW means dispense as written. If you don’t want to get the generic form of synthroid, then the doctor writes it on your script so the pharmacy won’t just give your generic form.
I am 35 and had the first part of my thyroid removed at 18 the second when I was 26 and I am STILL having issues with unstable thyroid levels. I do have to say finally they listen to me when I was on generic synthroid and the put me ok n brand name. However I was still having issues. I was on 200mcg and still couldnt get it regulated. They then switched me to Armour thyroid and I felt better right away…..after being on it for 9months I got pregnant which i guess means my levels were working??? Love how Dr’s explain stuff.
So during my pregnancy my levels went out of control again and they couldnt lower them. I was on 90 mg and they finally said thats the best they could do. 3 months later no one has address my levels I have to go back to work in 2 weeks and I know this fatigue and body fatigue are my levels again. It extremely frustrating.
I had something similar happen. I had RAI-131 to eradicate my thyroid and that made things so much worse. Was on Synthroid for 4 years and was having horrible palpitations and bad panic attacks and mood swings. I switched to Nature-throid and felt much better, but still not great. Two years later I moved, saw a new doctor and she did a slew of tests on me. Found out I have a severe form of Celiac disease by a genetic test and the inflammation markers. It helped so much to calm some of the inflammation down, my weight just fell off when I stopped eating the things that caused me pain. I didn’t realize it was all lymph node inflammation and not actual fat. It’s still a struggle to get my body under control, but I’m working it out and will hopefully feel good soon!
Could you please tell me the foods you cut out
My experiences with Synthroid are not all that good either (I had a complete thyroidectomy about 6 years ago). Generally, high doses of Synthroid will cause you all kinds of problems including palpitations, joint pain, stomach distress and elevated cholesterol, just to name a few. (137mg is a pretty high dose in my opinion.) After years of trying various dosages, my previous endo switched me to Armour and for the first time ever, I felt good and my numbers were good. Then the manufacturer of Armour changed and I sure noticed the difference. I felt overdosed and my tests showed that I was. Unfortunately, that endo left his practice while my dosage was being adjusted and I had to find a new doctor. The new doctor put me back on Synthroid (because she believes Armour is bad for you) despite knowing that my history showed I did not do well on Synthroid (she blamed me saying I was taking it wrong, not getting enough Vitamin D or calcium, etc. – not true!) So, I’m back in Synthroid hell and during the first several weeks had severe headaches and stomach cramps. I’m not sleeping, my energy level has dropped and I basically feel ill. I’m not convinced that most endos know or care how to adequately treat their thyroid patients, but they LOVE Synthroid because the people who make Synthroid throw a lot of money their way. If you can find a doctor who is open minded enough to let you try Armour, do that, but those doctors are RARE. Good luck.
My PCP wrote it for me( after she found out my endo had written it) and now my OBGYN does. You need to talk to you other doctors! This medication is still available and I know several people on it that couldnt tolerate the synthyoid, generic or brand name.
I agree that no one really seems to care about treating thyroid issues correctly. I have been dealing with this 18yrs old and no one seems to know what they are talking about. I have done so much research I feel i could treat better than some of these doctors. Please find a new doctor do not settle. And demand someone write the medication your body feels better on.
I had troubles with heart palpitations too while on synthroid. Something that i found helped was to cut all caffeinated drinks: including coffee, tea and especially pop that contained caffeine.
I have done all of this!! And every doctor changes my dose everyone I see!! I feel like crap and can barely hold my head up!! I have had open heart surgery and just thought it was my heart meds. But the Cardio doctor changed the dose of the Levo! Said I was getting too much! When I was one the Higher dose, I could run circles!! What gives?
My Dr. told me Armour was sold to pharmaceutical (?)company , so it is no longer natural…..try WP Thyroid or other natural
brands….hope this helps 🙂
I still take the Armour Thyroid nothing has changed.
I do wanna say i have also been taking 600mg of ibuprofen 2x a day and I am starting to feel a little better since starting this. My levels are good per my doctor even though my hair is falling out, my skin is super dry with tons of lotion all day long and drinking a gallon + of water. So i called because this is “normal” for me. He sent me for an update glucose test and testosterone test. He told me hey no one has very checked your testosterone before how knows this could be the source of all your issues….what??
Has anyone else been told this?
Hi, … on this med and a very small 1/4 size dosage i feel like im on speed. 1st. day i took only 1/2 the pill, i did not sleep for hours and hours. … im going to speak with my Dr. about changing it anyway, im not sure it is working. after reading this, it seems it’s the wrong med for me anyway, … i have Porphyria (AIP). more research for me. … sorry to hear about your issues, it’s exactly why i did not take the full prescribed dosages (and also the AIP) but even on a 1/4 size it’s bothering me.
HI Pamela,
I too have been having this adverse reaction, along with complete inability to function, tremors and bedridden. Have you been able to get some answers yet??
Do you have Hashimotos? In my opinion, unless the underlying autoimmune issue is addressed, it will be impossible to feel better on just the med. my endo has me taking the 25 mcg of Unithroid at 5 am with a full glass of water. I go back to sleep and don’t eat for hours. So many things can interfere with the meds…like calcium and iron. If you are taking the med at night, you will never be able to sleep. In addition, I was deficient in D and B 12. My folate was also low. I don’t think the thyroid is ever just the thyroid. Just my opinion. Hope this helps.
Forgot to say that in my own “thyroid” experience, I had read that when your thyroid is sluggish, your adrenals are also. My chiro suggested Drenamin which help heal the adrenals. Once I started taking it, I could feel a surge in my energy…not 100%, but over time, I hope it returns to normal.
does anyone have acne from taking Levatroxinen? My face is a mess..been to skin doctor and he has put me on creams but still not working…
Hey there! I am sans thyroid and I know any hormonal imbalance can do this… but a friend had this issue and a lot of the time it can be the fillers or just the adjustment period. Have you tried Tirosint at all?
No. Is Tirosint for acne or thyroid?
I have tried Tirosint but have same heart palpitation and dizziness as with all other levothyroxine brands.
I also have been on levothyroxin for 6 years. Over the last year and a half i have been using a natural solution to help with it. Last oct. my dose was cut in half. Looking forward to my next blood test this fall.
What is the natural solution that helped you cut your meds in half?