I am considering Armour Thyroid - any feedback?

[vanessa]

Hello,

I haven't posted in a few years. I have Hashimoto's, hypothyroid, goiter, nodules, etc. I had a biopsy last year that came back negative:) I have been trying to work on these issues through diet, lifestyle changes, and working on any emotional issues as well. This has worked off and on for now, but recently my thyroid swelled up for over a week, and my carpel tunnel also flared up vigorously, and I am suffering from skin fungus issues, such as ringworm.

All of these are connected to my thyroid problem and I am now seriously considering getting on some natural medications such as Armour. I have not done much research in this area since I was determined to stay away from meds, but this is starting to really interfere with my life (I am having trouble even typing this blog) My profession is a musician and graphic designer, so carpel tunnel paralyzes me in both of these areas. I am feeling a bit confused and out of options & time.

I changed my diet, which has helped a lot. This includes going on a gluten free diet, avoided too much corn and other grains, with the exception of brown & wild rice. I generally try to eat as many whole organic foods as possible and steer clear of sugars, coffee, processed foods, etc. This really does have a huge impact, but for some reason it is flaring up now and I no longer can continue this guessing game of trial and error.

So my question is this: is there any reason I should NOT go on Armour Thyroid? Is it the sort of thing where once I go on it, I can never turn back and must be on medication for the rest of my life?

Please send me any feedback.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Vanessa
Austin, TX

[Mo]

Hi Vanessa,

Have you considered seeing a natural doctor about some of these questions? I am not a doctor (as you know) but it certainly sounds like you've hit the nail on the head when talking about fungus issues and swelling. I wonder if there is a culprit you have not thought of?

Have you read a book called "The Fungus Link"? It seems like you are quite a go getter and maybe you would be up to a round of that diet to help eliminate the culprit by diet. However, I can also recommend NAET as an option before you go to the meds to check out possible allergens you may not have guessed. They can usually assess you pretty well on the first orientation visit. I understand what you are concerned about with the thyroid meds but if you need them, then of course, it may be the best way to get relief. However, you haven't mentioned what your numbers are. How's your TSH and your antibody tests coming out? Perhaps you can first figure out where you stand with that?

Also, remember that hashi's tends to flare up in cycles and you might be swelling from something that happened (food, stress, etc.) even weeks ago! On my main site, on the health tab, it talks about the cycle of the antibody attack: (sorry about the formatting issues)

Patients      with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder responsible for      most instances of hypothyroidism, do not have constant levels of destructive      autoantibodies. Nor do patients with Graves' disease. Like most autoantibodies,      these IgG immunoglobulins only last about 120 days. New antibodies      are formed at a rate proportional to the immune system's response.      How can these patients be expected to thrive on one standard thyroid      hormone replaement dose or one dose of anti-thyroid drugs while their      immune status is ignored? Furthermore, dying thyroid cells, especially      after radioiodine ablation, release thyroid hormone and autoantibodies.      This causes transient symptoms of hyperthyroidism, although in some      cases these symptoms may persist for longer than one year. No wonder      many hypothyroid patients feel hyper one minute and hypo the next.

I think there is a lot to be learned but one thing may be true: A gluten free diet or a strict change of diet may not show it's full effects and long lasting effects for a year or more after one has transformed their diet and lifestlye permanently. That is what I am currently working on but it will be a slow process. I am taking an eCourse on preparing foods the Nourishing Traditions way (soaking grains, sprouting, etc.) hoping over the next few months I will be healing and within a few more months, hopefully see results in my tests but this is of course, speculation. I won't have proof, until I, well, have proof!

I hope you can find relief soon.

Hang in there.

Mo