I'm afraid to jinx myself but I talked to my acupuncturist about my concern with my thyroid and she didn't even blink an eye before she said we would absolutely try something. I've read some article about the debate over synthetic and natural treatments for thyroid. I don't have a firm grasp on the complexities of how it works but after reading all the posts here and in general I was convinced it was worth a try to consider some sort of treatment. My doctors flat out disagreed.
I've been taking Tri-40 manufactured by Progressive Laboratories out of TX and have noticed some big improvements in the fatigue area along with some other bothersome maladies. I've learned not to get to excited about anything these days- but I am excited. My energy level has sky rocketed. I'm not saying I'm all good now but I'm having more good days than bad and I was almost convinced I wouldn't ever be able to say that. I'm still waiting for all the nastiness to return but am trying to focus on enjoying the good instead of waiting for the bad to return. For the first time in a very long time I wake in the morning feeling somewhat refreshed and ready to go. For well over a year I felt just as bad or worse when I woke up than when I went to bed. I never was able to feel rejuvinated. I still tire more easily than in the past but this renewed energy makes me walk around the house with a goofy grin on my face.
I'm not sure how the ingredients differ but I'm now taking one supplement pill a day that contains:
Iodine 150 mcg
sea kelp 100 mg
raw bovine thyroid conc (thyroxin free) 40 mg
raw porcine spleen conc 40 mg
raw bovine thymus conc 40 mg
It is allergen free and my Enterolab result show I'm fine with both beef and pork. It is only dispensed under a licensed health care professional.
If the this supplement is the reason that I'm seeing improvements in my overall well being, is this something that has to be taken for life or can it be discontinued after a period of time? I truely believe that the second round of predisone I took years ago screwed up many of my workings. I know it's too soon to make any firm decisions but there are just so many questions.
I go for my 15th acupunture treatment next week and feel like I've turned a corner (but continue to keep looking over my shoulder for some new issue to catch up with me). I was almost ready to give up after the 13th treatment because I had new pains and problems and I felt like everything was getting worse. I'm going to reevaluate how I feel after 20 treatments and hopefully by then I won't have to have weekely sessions.
My eye issues fluctuate but this week the pain and burning have become less intense.
I had my teeth cleaned this week and the dentist told me my mouth is too dry and sent me home with biotene and few other drugs. They will sit in the drawer. Most of them contian milk and egg ingredients- no good, and the thought of adding more chemicals to my body right now is not appealing. I'm not sure if there are any natural ways to help with this but in the long list of things that are bothering me, my dry mouth is at the bottom of the list. I'm not fond of the idea of gum disease but it will have to wait for another day.
Synthetic vs Natural Meds for Thyroid
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Glad to hear that you are doing so much better!
I am curious, Did you have a TSH blood test and if so, what was your number? Did your doctor prescribe the Tri-40 or the the acupuncturist? Since it's a thyroid med, I would guess that you'd have to take it for the rest of your life.
Hope you continue to improve!
Leah
I am curious, Did you have a TSH blood test and if so, what was your number? Did your doctor prescribe the Tri-40 or the the acupuncturist? Since it's a thyroid med, I would guess that you'd have to take it for the rest of your life.
Hope you continue to improve!
Leah
I'm hoping this will resolve my non-D issues, time will tell. I requested labs last summer so its been a while and I have them recorded somewhere...... I should call for the information again. My doc was firm that my numbers werent even borderline but now that you ask I vaguely remember being annoyed because I specifically asked for the T3 & T4 to be tested and I think they skipped one so the labs may not have been as informative as I had wanted. I find, not to my benefit, that I get so frustrated that I just want to hurry up and get out of office because they aren't open to investigating my thyroid because, IMO, I brought the idea up and I have no medical training. 
Thanks for the warm wishes- I just have to keep reminding myself that this too will require more time than I'd prefer to reverse itself.
Thanks for the warm wishes- I just have to keep reminding myself that this too will require more time than I'd prefer to reverse itself.
DebE You sent the snow our way. We got just enough lake effect snow to make things really clean and white again.
I was lucky enough to have a friend who is a nurse practitioner and loves the study of hormones and women's issues. She was sure that I had a low thyroid that was probably subnormal and would not show up on most tests. I take 30 mg of Armour Thyroid. It has become borderline enough that my internist thinks it is a good thing for me to take it, though he was trying to push Synthroid. I am sorry that you have to jump through so many hoops to get what you know you need. I don't know why it is so hard for the doctors to wrap their brains around the fact that many of us are more familiar with our bodies than they are!
I was lucky enough to have a friend who is a nurse practitioner and loves the study of hormones and women's issues. She was sure that I had a low thyroid that was probably subnormal and would not show up on most tests. I take 30 mg of Armour Thyroid. It has become borderline enough that my internist thinks it is a good thing for me to take it, though he was trying to push Synthroid. I am sorry that you have to jump through so many hoops to get what you know you need. I don't know why it is so hard for the doctors to wrap their brains around the fact that many of us are more familiar with our bodies than they are!
Jane
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis 12/19/12
"When it gets dark enough,you can see the stars."
Charles A. Beard
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis 12/19/12
"When it gets dark enough,you can see the stars."
Charles A. Beard
Armour is only a available by RX right? One of my concerns is if the supplement I'm taking is not as effective as what a traditional doctor may prescribe. Although the fatigue lessened considerably after I started taking it so hopefully that means its working. I'm glad to hear that you have a doctor that listens to you- what a blessing!
Yes, Armour is available by prescription only, but foreign brands of NDT are available for sale on Amazon.DebE wrote:Armour is only a available by RX right?
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.