Sleeping Problems

February 22, 2005

Hi Everyone,

Glad to join a new group. I have been on Armour for quite a long

time now. At first it was 120mg. I told my PA that I still didn't

feel good so she upped it to 2x 120mg and told me to take it all at

one time. I was hesitant but did and had a helacious headache in the

morning so went to 1 in the morning and 1 before dinner. I have been

having problems getting to sleep. Last night I got about 3 hours of

sleep and this is depressing! Of course, I'm really tired! I have

searched other forums and wonder if I should be taking that last dose

before going to bed! I have no health insurance or a job at this time

so can't afford to go through the testing right now. A month ago I

had my TSH checked and it was a 10. Any recommendations - I can't

function like this - let alone function at a job!

Thanks,

Patty

February 22, 2005

EEEE...GADs!!! Why did she tell you to do that? Did she want to shut

you up with your complaining? First off that is a huge dose

increase. Second, she must be really stupid about Armour to tell you

to just take it at one time or she made a big mistake. This is

definitely why you are not sleeping.

Your total new dose is not really too high, but you are supposed to

get to that point slowly by 15 to 30 mg dose raises and a two week

minimum wait between that and the next.

My suggestion is to drop back down to your old dose for about a week

or two or untill you recover your sleep and general condtion. Then

increase your dose by 1/4 to 1/2 of a grain depending on whether you

think you can handle the higher amount or not. Stay on that for two

weeks minimum and if you are handling that ok then increase again by

15 to 30 mg or 1/4 to 1/2 a grain. Wait another two weeks and if you

are ready do it again. Work yourself up slowly to that extra 120 mg.

When you get up to about 180 mcg, you might want to wait 4 weeks

before anymore raises. Here are two links to help you adjust your

dose and know when to stop: http://www.drrind.com/tempgraph.asp

http://www.thyrophoenix.com/self_monitor.htm Monitor your symptoms

and go up slowly to the entire 240mg if you feel you need it. The

heatlhy human thyroid makes 3 to 5 grains a day. So, you can go up

to what your healthy thryoid would make and even more if you have

anitibodies or thyroid resisitance. But, you gotta do it slowly or

you will crash. It is very hard on the adrenals to not go slow.

You have to make thyroid dose raises slowly to give your body a

chance to adapt before the next one. The reason that you can't sleep

is because your dose raise was way too large and taking it all in

the morning was a big adrenal killer. You have overtaxed your

adrenal glands and in doing so have lost your circadian rythem and

the production of melatonin. The adrenals are very sensitive to

thyroid dose raises and when they are over taxed, you will have all

kinds of problems including weakness, fatigue, the shakes,

hypoglycemia, palipitations, severe insomnia and on and on. The

adrenal gland size and output is controlled a lot by the stimulation

of circulating thyroid. So, if you have been mildly hypo for some

time, the adrenal gland is quite weak and cannot handle dose raises

well. Adrenal output of hormones have to be in balance with thyroid

or you will get a bad reaction. The adrenals take time to adapt to

each dose raise, so you need to go slow.

Break up your dosing to two times a day. 3 times a day every 8 hours

is easier on the adrenals. This is what I do. I became a total

insomniac for months when I was put on thyroid and had weak

adrenals. So, I know how miserable that can be.

Tish

February 22, 2005