Anyone else on Levothyroxine? *Just got my Armour thyroid, pg 8*

[cjeanean]

From what I've read so far the synthetic T4 (synthroid/levothyroxine) works for a lot of people. I called around to ask about Armour, and found that a lot of people said it was "impossible" to get. Others told me that even if they did get it one script would run me about $50/month. Just keep checking around, there's a pharmacy about an hour away from me that has over a thousand 15mg pills, and a local pharmacy that has a few 120mg pills. BTW, it only costs about $10/month at the places that do have it! Also, if you have family in other states you might have them check around for you too, cause the script can be filled there and mailed to you. Then, of course, there's Canada....I'm waiting for a call from my dr right now to see if she'll write the script, otherwise I'm gonna have to drop $$ on a different doc who is guaranteed to write it. Say a prayer, everyone!!!

 

[TerriLaChicks]

Well, I've been on levothyroxine for years---I had thyroid cancer & had my thyroid and 3 para-thyroid glands removed. Had all of the symptoms everybody has listed, everything cleared up after my surgery. Check levels every 6 months now & adjust when needed. Still struggling with the weight gain but that's not due to thyroid issues, just have to get off the couch & move more, lol.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
hee hee
I'll have to get me some more pet pigs...

Red, I miscarried till I was on Armour. It's a common symptom of being undertreated for hypothyroidism. They won't generally admit that, though, and say miscarriage is common, so there's no connection.

Don't ask for it. INSIST! If your doc says no, go elsewhere. Naturopaths are more open to it. Find a compounding pharmacy, not Walgreens and the like. Your pharmacist will have to make it themselves, as Armour is currently only filling backorders.

Jeez, I wish you had said this months ago, girl. I would've said something!!!!

EEK! I'll ask my IVF doc...shes a reproductive endo...(yeah..that big word i cant spell..)
So she'd know about the Amour.... I'd hope..

My problem is..i havent been taking my thyroid meds correctly... I only just started to take it correctly now because in a couple months i am going for the IVF and i want my levels correct...
so..i cant even go get tested right now...because i've been messing up taking the meds..

I just dont like taking them...

When can i get tested again? How long until it shows true levels in my blood work?

 

[redhen]

Quote:
see i USED to be on levoxyl and i liked it much much better...then i switched doc and now i'm on this other stuff..and i dont like it at all....i just dont feel the same as when i was on levoxyl...but then..someone told me that levoxyl was the same as this levothyroxine that i'm on..so... *sigh* i dont know...

 

[redhen]

Quote:
"Most Common Cause of Fibromyalgia: The main cause of fibromyalgia has been determined. As I recently announced in France, in most cases, fibromyalgia is caused by inadequate thyroid hormone regulation of cell function. The inadequate regulation results from thyroid hormone deficiency and/or partial cellular resistance to thyroid hormone." - Dr. John Lowe

Levothroid isn't working for you.

I can't stress this enough, to all the people saying they're doing great, but they have to take other meds for other sypmtoms....... You still HAVE those symptoms because your meds aren't working on your body. Increasing your dosage is not going to alleviate your symptoms. Those symptoms are a result of your thyroid problem, so why treat the symptoms individually? We've all seen the list of thyroid symptoms. Treat the thyroid, fix the symptoms, right? But only if you're taking a good medication for your body.

i agree that they arent working for me..i STILL feel like crap..i'm exhausted literally ALL the time....and have brain fog...
when i was on Levoxyl i did feel much better though...
but they say my numbers are okay... i'll call and get my last numbers and post them when she calls back.. she checked my t4 also...
it was 3. something.. something.. (see! brain fog! told ya! ) I'll have to call and ask..

 

[cjeanean]

GREAT NEWS!!! I got my script for Armour today! The script that is, I don't have the meds yet. There's a facebook group dedicated to NDT, and they suggested a canadian pharmacy to fill it for me. It'll be a couple of weeks, but I should be getting a 3 month supply. Provided they can read what she wrote...it took me forever to figure out how many mg's she had written....it looked like an "ao" but turns out it says "60" lol!!! Thanks for your help, everyone, I'm super excited about trying this stuff!!! The pharmacy was suggested by many people, and I've seen some pretty good reviews for them. The medication is cheap, too....even with shipping!

 

[cjeanean]

Quote:
Why don't u try to get on the Armour Thyroid instead?

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
see i USED to be on levoxyl and i liked it much much better...then i switched doc and now i'm on this other stuff..and i dont like it at all....i just dont feel the same as when i was on levoxyl...but then..someone told me that levoxyl was the same as this levothyroxine that i'm on..so... *sigh* i dont know...

It is the same, or should be. My doctor writes the script for Levoxyl, the pharmacy bottle says levothyroxine.

 

[Eggs4Sale]

Quote:
Call around and ask pharmacies if they can compound it.

I was surprised to see a sign in the Walgreen's window that said it's a compounding pharmacy. But the other 2 Walgreen's are not.

60 mg is one grain. That's normal to start out on that. I started on 60 and now take 240. 4 grains. Don't be put off at having to take more.
If you take it and the pain subsides, but returns later in the day, that likely means you need the higher dose.

And a lot of people suggest taking half in the a.m. and half in the p.m., but for me, it works better all at one, the floodgate effect. With only the one pill, you don't have to worry about that.

Meantime, make certain you don't take Calcium or have dairy products for at the very least an hour before taking your pill. Calcium inhibits the absorption. I avoid calcium supplements all together, as they seem to negate my medication, and I don't drink milk more than 2 hours (preferably) before taking the pill on an empty stomach.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

 

[Eggs4Sale]

Quote:
Red, I miscarried till I was on Armour. It's a common symptom of being undertreated for hypothyroidism. They won't generally admit that, though, and say miscarriage is common, so there's no connection.

Don't ask for it. INSIST! If your doc says no, go elsewhere. Naturopaths are more open to it. Find a compounding pharmacy, not Walgreens and the like. Your pharmacist will have to make it themselves, as Armour is currently only filling backorders.

Jeez, I wish you had said this months ago, girl. I would've said something!!!!

EEK! I'll ask my IVF doc...shes a reproductive endo...(yeah..that big word i cant spell..)
So she'd know about the Amour.... I'd hope..

My problem is..i havent been taking my thyroid meds correctly... I only just started to take it correctly now because in a couple months i am going for the IVF and i want my levels correct...
so..i cant even go get tested right now...because i've been messing up taking the meds..

I just dont like taking them...

When can i get tested again? How long until it shows true levels in my blood work?

They claim it takes 6 weeks to get true levels.
You know, it's your body. If you don't like that medication, tell her, and demand you be switched, preferably to Armour.
You're in the prime of your life. Why spend it like this?????
Only you can do it.