I’m amazed at lingering problems since being on T4: Though I’ve been on desiccated thyroid for 8 years, and do quite well since correcting low ferritin twice thanks to the lousy T4-only treatment, I discovered that my RBC magnesium is low, as I suspect my RBC potassium is, as well–all probably down due to chronic economic stress from this lousy economy. But it underscores that we all have to be vigilant and not hesitate to periodically get minerals and electrolytes tested, especially RBC (Red Blood Cells), as well as anything else your doctor recommends, or you read about. Labs you can do yourself are here, then share with your doc. You can read about potassium issues here.
Under stress with the economy or the holidays? When stressed, I love and use the herb Ashwagandha. It’s been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic healing, helping your immune system and stress response. High dose B-vitamins are said to help counter anxiety and depression. Vitamin C is huge for your adrenals like the B’s, and has been known for years to counter the effects of stress. In fact, stress depletes it, so they state you are wise to raise it when under stress. (Is Vit. C why I never got adrenal fatigue when I deserved to get it? I always took a lot.) Also recommended include the herbs Valerian Root, Marshmallow, Lemon Balm, Chamomile tea, Passionflower, and more. But first do research on any herbs and talk to your doc.
Hypothyroidism can falsely raise your A1C, implying you have diabetes even with normal blood glucose. Just got word from thyroid/adrenal patient Jackie about this study concerning the A1C test, here. In turn, those on thyroid treatment saw their A1C fall. We don’t know what the thyroid meds used were, but imagine even better results if on desiccated thyroid, which many patients report does a much better job than T4, especially in the presence of optimal ferritin/iron and adrenal function.
Don’t be complacent: register yourself: Sheila of TPA-UK is working to create a register of patients who have had continuing hypothyroid symptoms while on T4. After she creates this register of patients, which right now only involves a couple of questions, she will create the a Worldwide Register of Counterexamples to Levothyroxine (T4)-Only Therapy for. Register yourself here. This will also run alongside Dr. Gordon Skinner’s Worldwide Register, which you can also be a part of here.
Listen to a new video produced by the FDA about drug shortages here. I wonder what our own 2009 shortages with Armour and Naturethroid played a role in this video? Wonder if the FDA will ever admit that they were partly to blame for this shortage by shutting down the 2009 generics? Has anything been left out of this video?
No, Las Vegas Review-Journal. Hypo get undiagnosed because of the lousy TSH, not “subtle” symptoms. Yes, this journal did a recent article, quoting AACE as stating half of thyroid patients remain undiagnosed. The article then states it’s probably due to symptoms being very “subtle” or “very similar to other health problems such as anemia, fatigue, depression, slow metabolism and a wide array of other diseases.” GROAN. It would be nice if these articles on hypo got it straight: hypo remains undiagnosed because of the lousy TSH lab test, which too many Endocrinologists worship, and because they fail to noticed the obvious symptoms of a hypothyroid state, which include anemia, fatigue, depression, slow metabolism and a wide array of other diseases. i.e. those ARE the symptoms of hypo, not “other health problems”. When oh when will reporters DARE to state what patients have learned?? (Oh, and guess who included a link to this article in their email Thyroid Weekly? The Endocrinologist-loving, TSH-loving American Thyroid Association.)
Have a great holiday season!!
Janie
P.S. HO! HO! HO! The publishing company will send a book for you to a friend or loved one for a Christmas present. Go here.
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15 Responses to “Electrolytes, Stress, A1C and diabetes, FDA, Las Vegas and more!”
Zeo
Excellent info, I’m glad to see the low iron/lowT connection, I recently tested low iron, now I know why. I’ve been taking magnesium at night to help me sleep, didn’t connect it as a lowT symptom. Most who have adrenal issues are high potassium, not low. I haven’t had mine checked for a long time now, guess I should.
Elizabeth
Carla, thank you!!
Carla
For those unable to find Armour, I’ve had great success with my local Walgreens. Make sure you call in your refill before you’re totally out, but they’ve always come through for me.
karen
i think a major reason is because of the gmo food s in the past 20 years, they affect your immune system. and any kind of processed food does too.then again most processed foods here in the u.s. have gmos now !and theyre not labeled here in the u.s. thanks to big business.
but raw dairy , non pasteurized ,non homogenized, has the good bacteria for a healthy immune system just make sure all the food and dairy is from small local organically grown family farms not big corporate farms .[organic valley raw milk cheeses are not truly raw they are heated to a few degrees below pasteurization which means they’ve killed the good bacteria , they are a big corporate business even if they are organic]
i’ve totally changed how i get my food and now i don t have the antibodies that had 5 years ago! it tested normal.
i agree the mainstream medical system is totally wrong
Michelle Lougoon
Thank god for STTM from Australia, my own experience with synthetic T4 then switching to compounded desicated thyroid, too low dose and the Gel caps were my problem. But my daughter has just been tested and found to have elevated thyroid antibodies – I am still studying up. My daughter has seizures and I had mentioned the antibody test to the doctor while she was in hospital for a week being video recorded – Doctor made me feel like a stupid old woman. I have to ask the question – why are so many people having thyroid problems and what is worse undiagnosed. Something is wrong with the way the medical system is approaching this problem. My life was not worth living while being undertreated. Thanks again from Australia
Elizabeth
Help! The shortage of Armour Thyroid is supposedly over, but since we moved from Michigan (where I was always able to get my Armour) to California, I just hear this crap from pharmacists: “Armour Thyroid? I haven’t seen that stuff in years….You’d better get a prescription for Synthroid – Synthroid is much better!” and “Oh, no, we don’t have Armour Thyroid; no one can get it; they don’t make it anymore!” and “Everybody takes synthroid these days; Armour Thyroid is obsolete!” etc., etc., ad nauseum. Does anybody know of a pharmacy in Southern California that actually has Armour? I repeat: HELP!
machteld Schrameyer
It was so timely to get the news letter with the information of the ferritin deficiency and low thyroid. My doctor had prescribed a beta blocker for my heart rate which supposedly is to high because of too much armour in my body. I did not want to take it, but it became so bad that I took one pill. Great effect, but when I did not take another one the next day, Things went awry. I read something about on about betablocker withdrawal syndrome, where they also describe something called Thyroid Storm, a very dangerous and scary thing. My heartrate went through the roof and the anxiety was worse than I had ever had. I took half a betablocker a couple of days later because it did not want to stop. Then I read the ferritin article and remembered my doctor telling me my iron was low. She did not make the connection with the thyroid at all.
I went out and bought some iron with all the other vitamins to go along , recommended in the piece.
I took 1000mg of Ester C with the first iron pill and after less that 10 minutes my heart rate came down and the anxiety disappeared. After about 4 hours it started up again and I repeated the vit C by itself, to the same effect. For three days I repeated this and then the time in between pills became longer and longer, and now my heart rate is normal, No anxiety. I was so desperate and now it seems under control, until I can start looking for the right dose.
just anecdotal, but no harm in trying for high heart rate and palpatation.
Also important to know about the betablockers and the Thyroid storm.
Johann Mitchell
I tried to leave a reply to the Las Vegas Journal article and discovered that none of the links on their site work. You have to be signed in to comment and the links to sign in or register don’t work! Not to mention any other links on the site. If you right-click, and ask to have a link opened in a new window, you just get the same page in a new window with links that don’t work.
They don’t have any comments on this article. I’m not surprised.
Thomas
My mom is really sick since Armour changed. It is every single day. She is very, very tired and just not right.
I am scared that other things are going to go wrong, like what all the other people are saying is happening to them. How can she ever get well if the medicine is bad? Can’t they do something? She is always sad now. I am scared she is going to get very sick and die.
Janie
Thomas, there are ways around the problems with Armour. One is to chew it up before swallowing, which everyone reports has much better results, and even add more. Other med options are here: https://stopthethyroidmadness.com/options-for-thyroid-treatment She needs to join patient groups for feedback: https://stopthethyroidmadness.com/talk-to-others
Cindy
I think it is terrible that with all the patients speaking out that they still cannot make the thyroid medication like they use to. It must be the active ingredient, otherwise, it would work.
(From Janie: Cindy, it’s either the fillers (cellulose being a big problem, the removal of sugar another problem) and/or the way to the tablet is compacted. Probably not the active ingredient. Many do well on a variety of desiccated thyroid brands, tho.)
Michelle Vincent
My potassium and magnesium have been low since having my thyroid removed 2 years ago…and taking synthroid/cytomel. I take 10/20 MLQ’s of potassium each day and 1,000 of magnesium. It is important to take magnesium with calcium because they balance each other. If I have to take extra potassium I have to take to take magnesium…and if I have to do this for a couple of weeks, I have to do sea salt. I’m getting pretty good balancing this, but I still have weak muscles? I can’t get my potassium up above 3.6…..so if magnesium and potassium balance one another too, maybe I’m too low in magnesium. My dr. said labs have the old ranges. It should be 2.6 now instead of 2.0. Mine will not get over 2.0…..so adding epsom salt to the baths I go. Oh, and working on ferritin too. I also upped vitamin D to 4,000 units a day, 2,000 units vitamin C and extra vitamin B12 (the methyl version is immediate release B12..) 🙂
Insanity101
Broda Barnes, M.D. warned that untreated hypothyroidism leads to diabetes. My own mother had this happen and has spent most of her life with untreated hypothyroidism.
Tonya B.
That’s very interesting about the higher A1C levels and hypothyroidism. I was “pre-diabetic” for at least five years before my thyroidectomy. A year after the surgery, I became full flown diabetic and have had issues getting my blood sugar under control. Nothing says fun like trying to get your thyroid medication right while also having your diabetes meds work.
Insanity101
Not enough thyroid can also cause FALSE high cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels. Of course that is the ONLY thing reported as wrong to me on my tests. I’ve had mono and was told I was fine and then told at a follow up visit by the nurse practitioner that’s why I felt so lousy. But, by golly, the person calling you is going to be sure you know about the cholesterol. With dessicated thyroid, I’m a naturally thin person and frankly am not interested in what they label as “high cholesterol”. BUT, even with lowered numbers to include people who USED to be normal on those tests, as long as I have thyroid Rx that works (old Armour) I still don’t test high.