Re: Re: Help with Adrenal Cortex & Thyroid Hormone Resistance

[Guest guest]

> I started on a low

> dosage of Armour (1gr) 2 wks ago and felt worse. Was easily explained

> by them as too low a dosage, so now I have added another 1/2gr.

> According to 's Temp Syndrome, Armour does not work and

> sustained release T3 is the best protocol. Do any of you readers have

> experience with this? I appreciate all of you!

Yes, the standard line on most thyroid forums is that if you feel 'worse' on

Armour then you are taking to little. I think this is a simplistic approach

that does not look comprehensively at all the thyroid options.

Armour is fantastic for some people and is the first choice for thyroid

support most of the time due to its natural combination of T3 and T4.

Many people with Hashimotos are reported to have used it also to stop the

attack.

However, if you feel worse on Armour you need to consider a few things:

1) You are increasing to fast and boosting your metabolism which is

stressing your adrenals. You could need adrenals support, and in fact this

should ALWAYS be looked at first. You can tell you need it by fluctuating

daily average temperatures.

2) You need more Armour to get to the optimal dose (as it the most common

advice on the thyroid forums) and are too low, or have not increased to your

next increment as you thyroid slows down its own production once you are

providing it from outside. Once you reach 3 grains you should only increase

by 1/2 grain every 4-6 weeks.

3) You are supplying T4 via Armour and this is converting into RT3 and thus

slowing your metabolism/lowering your temperatures and making you feel

worse.

The third option is what happened to me on my trial of Armour. I obviously

made too much RT3 and felt much, much worse. Of course the thyroid forums

just kept saying 'take more', and I just felt worse and worse.

Tracking temperatures is most vital for thyroid treatment, and if Armour is

unable to lift your temps then you are likely to be stuck in what Dr

calls 'conservation mode' and be making lots of RT3 which slows metabolism

and keeps temps low. Therefore you should NOT be providing T4 in any form

(glandular, drugs, Armour, or even herbs that increase T4 production), as

thus will convert into RT3 and make matters worse.

Rather, you should be heading towards Sustained Release T3. Dr 's WT3

program is an excellent option for most and Andy does recommend it.

It is the only protocol that has lifted my temperatures. Straight T3 did not

work and Armour made my temps much worse!

This effect is due in part to what is now being called, Thyroid Hormone

Resistance and Dr Lowe talks a lot about it. He differs in his theory to Dr

, but he also uses ST3 in higher doses than are normal to drop the T4

production, reduce RT3 levels and clear the receptors of RT3. Thyroid

Hormone Resistance can be 'diagnosed' essentially by being able to tolerate

high dosages of T3 without batting an eyelid. I can take 180mcg of ST3 and

my pulse does not rise, no anxiety, no hyper feelings and not even one

palpitation.

In conclusion there are SEVERAL ways to look at the thyroid:

1) A thyroid output problem = not making enough T4 hormone. This is called

Hypothyroidism. Sometimes people need to be above the suggested lab ranges

to feel well. Mostly it is in the top 1/3 of the range. Fibromyalgia and

Chronic fatigue people need more T3.

2) A conversion problem = not converting T4 into T3 peripherally in proper

amounts (needs selenium for this).

3) A receptor problem = Thyroid Hormone Resistance and/or 's

Temperature Syndrome, with the receptors blocked by RT3 and not responding

to T3 levels. Cortisol mediates this pathway in many ways. This is usually a

Low temperature problem with or without normal thyroid hormone output.

4) A combination of the above problems.

5) An autoimmune problem e.g. Hashimotos, or Graves Disease (too much

thyroid hormone).

Usually, in all of the above cases, you are going to have low body

temperatures and can conclude that you have a thyroid SYSTEM problem. But

you need to ascertain WHERE in the thyroid system this problem is before you

can treat it. And sometimes the problem started outside the thyroid system

(e.g adrenals, or high estrogens).

Ultimately you need to get your temperatures up to 37 C degrees (98.6 F).

I prefer the 's approach because it is temporary and a cure is often

achieved in the first few cycles, and then you can come off the meds.

http://www.livingnetwork.co.za/healingnetwork/wilsons_syndrome1.html

But you may need combinations of the above approaches to find what works for

you.

Of all the above, Hashimotos is the most tricky as your thyroid system is

being attacked by your own immune system. Does anyone have any further

information/success stories on how to best treat/cure this?

Overall, mercury can be the cause of all of the above issues, and chelation

a huge part of the cure.

Thanks,

DeanSA