[kimmie]

in reply to: Update with questions????? #1075061

I cannot thank the people on this site enough. What clear, easily understood answers you’ve given me. Doctorspeak is so much harder to understand and retain. Again, thanks to all for your help, and bless this site.

[kimmie]

in reply to: Update with questions????? #1075058

Yikes, sorry, I also searched forums for info relating to the following comment (cut and pasted here):

"Armour is generated from pig thyroid tissue, and so is thought by some to contain more of the elements we miss without our thyroid. One thing for certain is that it contains a bit of T3, the active form of the thyroid hormone (which our body typically generates FROM T4, the main component in our replacement), and in some cases that is helpful for patients. In other patients, they experience sensitivity to the T3 over time".

What I tried to search for was the explanation of what KIND of sensitivity some patients experience to the T3 in Armour. Can find mentions of that, but no specifics.

Thanks,
Kimmie

[kimmie]

in reply to: Update with questions????? #1075057

Ski –

Thank you so much. I did, indeed do an ‘Armour’ search first, and did read most of (well, spents lotsa time anyway lol) them. Was kinda wondering specifically what people with no, or almost no, TSH, thought about it Armour. Now, I realize that may be a really stupid specific request, as maybe all the people on this site affected by thyroid problems have no-to-low TSH levels? I’ve ordered several books via Amazon.com about the subject, and at this point am so uneducated about it that, for all I know, nobody here has ‘normal’ TSH levels lol. What a wonderful, educational site this is!

Thanks,
Kimmie

[kimmie]

in reply to: Update with questions????? #1075054

Just to add one important point to Ski’s thoughtful post.

Synthetic T4, IS indeed comparable to what you thyroid produces naturally.

A healthy thyroid however produces MORE that just T4, there is T3, T2, T1 and Calcitonin (Calcitonin known to participate in calcium and phosphorus metabolism). Although T4 and the conversion from T4 to T3 within the body is MOST critical to our bodies healthy metabolic function (NO argument there). The fact remains that there is more to the Thyroid that meets the eye and is more complicated than most of us give it credit for. If you are interested, a good endocrinologist should be able to assist you with any questions concerning the COMPLETE picture. Every Thyroid patient deserves to have ALL these questions answered to their satisfaction before they make a permanent decision.

James

James:

Just discovered this board. Interesting questions, good answers. Short version of my thyroid story: Diagnosed 1.5 years ago with thyroid problem (my mother’s been on Synthroid for 15+ years). Originally, my blood tests showed .01 TSH level, normal T3/T4 levels. My doc told me 2 things – she’d never seen normal T3/T4 levels with NO TSH production, and that I had Graves Disease (HYPERthyroid). Eventually sent me to the local endocrinologist, who, after running tests, said I was HYPOthyroid, did that iodine uptake test, told me I needed my thyroid ‘killed’ – which has yet to be done lol. (Bear with me, I’m getting to the info you posted above).

Went to another doc today for a DOT physical, she listened to the history, said I am NOT hypothyroid, but probably have Hashimoto’s Disease. Now, to address the copy of your post above – this doc says synthetic thyroid, such as Synthroid, is not the way to go – no no no. She says synthetic thyroid meds provide only ‘storage’ T4, and that dessicated natural thyroid, such as Armour, provide all of the T4, T3, T2, T1 and Calcitonin you mentioned above.

So, what is your opinion of dessicated natural thyroid products instead of synthetics? If you’ve addressed this subject in previous posts, please forgive me, please.

Thanks,
Kimmie

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