Re: armour change and headaches

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I don't know how much help I can be since I am not on Armour or hypo (my

brief foray into " hypo for me " taking too much tapazole about did me in).

But I am a life-long headache sufferer, and what you are describing sure

sound like migraines. I found my migraines most closely keyed to changes in

female hormones--for instance, I got a huge 3-day one every period (yes I

LOVE menopause!). I also get " cluster " headaches when extremely stressed, or

when going through the hormonal changes that seemed to accompany the move to

menopause--but I finally discovered that short-term use of a simple yam

cream helped fix those.

I guess my first question is, are you SURE there's a direct correlation

between the Armour and the headaches? Or is it possibly coincidental and

with some other cause. I always question my own conclusions about things,

'cause sometimes I jump to the wrong ones. And headaches take on a life of

their own, especially if you treat them. OTC stuff like Advil causes rebound

headaches, modern drugs like Imitrex do, too for me. Having become intimate

with my headaches over these many years, I've developed a 'system' for

treating them in a way that usually avoids this pattern.

You will have to develop your own, if the headaches continue--I know for me,

for instance, despite the common advice to treat the headache immediately

before it gets too bad, treating them with drugs too soon is lethal, they

don't go away and it seems to " set " them in place stubbornly. First I try

steamy hot compresses and neck massage (besides a willing husband who loves

his neck massages when he gets a headache as well, I also have this dining

room chair that's got a perfect-height knobby-topped back). Sometimes icy

cold compresses alternated with the hot help. I also find that the right

kind of exercise, that gets your blood moving, sometimes helps. Music that I

love and can get really involved in helps. Clearing all the 'stuff' I have

hanging over me uncompleted also helps--although it's awfully hard to do

when you have a headache.

I find that the only time taking anything helps me is when I wait until I

have an overwhelming desire to go to sleep. Then I try taking either advil,

asprin or tylenol--if I take one exclusively, my body 'gets used' to it and

it won't work the next time--and go to sleep in a dark room. When I have a

really bad headache, sleep is the only relief. And if I've waited to take

anything until a can't do anything else but sleep (that is, that my body

won't stay awake any longer), I often wake up without the headache, or with

it greatly diminished.

Finally, stuff like Imitrex works for me if I use it only every once in a

great while--otherwise, my body quickly acclimates to it and it's no use at

all. I only use it when I'm desperate, for instance when I have a bad

migraine and have to cater a wedding--and usually am disappointed. I have no

idea if it's something you can take when nursing, but it's also extremely

expensive.

Whew, that is an awfully long and detailed mess of info--hope some of it

clicks with your experience. I do wonder if the headaches may be caused more

by the shifting of hormone levels when you increase the armour than by the

drug itself; also I wonder if switching to another drug might be an option?

Best to you, and if you still have a regular monitor, think about getting a

flat-screen--the flickering is much less and therefore doesn't have the

effect of increasing the intensity of headaches.

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 10:10:06 -0500

> To: <graves_support >

> Subject: armour change and headaches

>

> Hi all:

>

> Haven't been posting much because I've been so weary and depressed that I

> couldn't force myself to do another extra thing - wa la: I am indeed hypo

> (for me). My normally .5 tsh is now 2.8 which would explain my bleak outlook

> and lack of initiative.

>

> I'm writing because I'm now supposed to increase my armour to get that tsh

> down adn my FT4 up (which is below normal range). But every darn time I

> increase the armour, I get bad headaches. I was wondering if this happens to

> anyone else? IT's like a thyroid eye headache -- light bothers me etc. But I

> know I need more thyroid hormone because otherwise, I have all the symptoms of

> hypothyroidism.

>

> Any feedback deeply appreciated: does anyone else experience transient

> uncomfortable symptoms when their thyroid changes or they increase/decrease

> armour or synthroid?

>

> On the plus side, for all those contemplating pregnancy, my endo assured me

> that given my profile, I would NOT become hyperthyroid after pregnancy but

> would most likely battle more with hypothryoidism now. He was right! On a

> very low dose of armour to see if I would become hyper, I became more hypo.

> THis is great news (despite the blue mood) because I was more fearful of

> becoming hyper than hypo this go-round. Hypo is less comfortable, but has

> proven to be more treatable for me.

>

> Okay, hopefully I'll pop some more hormone and be back to my usual energetic

> self soon.

>

> Best,

>

> B

>

> ps: Baby Merrick is doing GREAT. Four months old, 17 lbs, and happy as a

> clam (a clam that drools and sucks his thumb, too!). I'm even well-rested.

> Now there's somethign to be thankful for - a baby who appreciates his own good

> night's sleep!!!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

What may be happening is that the T3 in the Armour is too much on one dose

alone.

I need 127 and to get it without having too much T3 I have to stagger my doses.

I take 135 one day then 120 the next.

I also take the armour twice a day and it made all the difference in the world.

If you take it once a day it is almost like a diabetic trying to get their whole

insulin dose in one shot in the morning.

On my 135 day I take 60 at 9am then 60 plus a 15 around 3 pm= 135.

On my 120 day I take 60 at 9am and 60 at 3 pm=120.

This gives me the equivelnt T4 (long lasting) of the 127 dose but alters the T3

too where it is not too much.

The only way I could deal with the T3 (fast acting) portion of armour was to " 1.

split each dose into twice a day and 2.stager the dose every other day.

Hope this helps

[Guest guest]

Dear

Sorry to hear you have gone hypo - glad it is relatively easy for you treat.

I'm not much help to you as I haven't had to change my dose since my 23 month

son's 12

week of pregnancy! Some 2 years ago. And at that time I had only just started on

it after a

sub total thyrodectomy. If I got any reaction it would have been mixed up with

normal

pregnancy 'stuff'.

I'm not surprised that headaches can be a side effect of increasing the thyroid

hormone. It

does effect so much of our body's chemistry.

I would suggest that you do all the things that help to reduce the intensity of

the headache

while you are stabilising the dose. You probably already know what I mean -

increase H2O

(dehydration, even mild is a killer for potential headache suffers), rest (glad

you are getting

plenty ), eating right, aromatherapy especially lavender drops on forehead using

the temple

pressure points (just on each side of the temples press lightly to medium and

small circlular

motions with your index fingers and lavender oil - jusy divine).

Merrick sounds lovely. It is such a treat to have a baby that likes to sleep at

night from such a

young age - you lucky girl!!!

Cheers and good luck with the meds

Caroline

[Guest guest]

To all, Terry and JD in particular:

I'm pretty sure this is Armour related. I had those headaches and they

instantly disappeared when I cut back my dose (I KNEW I was hypo, so I tried

increasing my armour and boom, headaches). However, I also may have some other

hormonal imbalance, so I'll get estrogen adn the rest checked. That said, the

headaches did indeed correlate to teh armour.

I'm going to try dividing my dose, twice daily. Instinctively, I feel that's

the right thing to do. Today will be my first day doing that and we'll see how

it goes. My T3 is still on the higher normal end (280) with a 2.8 tsh and a

FT4 out of range into hypoland. So I feel like my thyroid needs real

fine-tuning and I am getting too much T3.

Ii'm going to try this today and see how it goes . . . whoops, baby M is on hsi

own with the dreaded sister old so I must run. We're getting ready for a long

weekend away and packing. Our nearly five year old daughter still HATES the

baby. He had a hib vaccine yesterday (went great) and boy, was she thrilled to

watch that pain. Eager, anticipatory, excited for his grief. The doctor said

that's developmentally approrpiate for her. You should hear her lecture Merrick

on his 'naughty' behavior: peeing and pooping in his diaper; staring (a big

affront to her); sneezing without putting his arm up; drooling; sucking on

fingers; spitting up. Poor guy is a bundle of social missteps.

More later -

armour change and headaches

>

> Hi all:

>

> Haven't been posting much because I've been so weary and depressed that I

> couldn't force myself to do another extra thing - wa la: I am indeed hypo

> (for me). My normally .5 tsh is now 2.8 which would explain my bleak

outlook

> and lack of initiative.

>

> I'm writing because I'm now supposed to increase my armour to get that tsh

> down adn my FT4 up (which is below normal range). But every darn time I

> increase the armour, I get bad headaches. I was wondering if this happens

to

> anyone else? IT's like a thyroid eye headache -- light bothers me etc. But

I

> know I need more thyroid hormone because otherwise, I have all the symptoms

of

> hypothyroidism.

>

> Any feedback deeply appreciated: does anyone else experience transient

> uncomfortable symptoms when their thyroid changes or they increase/decrease

> armour or synthroid?

>

> On the plus side, for all those contemplating pregnancy, my endo assured me

> that given my profile, I would NOT become hyperthyroid after pregnancy but

> would most likely battle more with hypothryoidism now. He was right! On a

> very low dose of armour to see if I would become hyper, I became more hypo.

> THis is great news (despite the blue mood) because I was more fearful of

> becoming hyper than hypo this go-round. Hypo is less comfortable, but has

> proven to be more treatable for me.

>

> Okay, hopefully I'll pop some more hormone and be back to my usual energetic

> self soon.

>

> Best,

>

> B

>

> ps: Baby Merrick is doing GREAT. Four months old, 17 lbs, and happy as a

> clam (a clam that drools and sucks his thumb, too!). I'm even well-rested.

> Now there's somethign to be thankful for - a baby who appreciates his own

good

> night's sleep!!!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi -

JDs advice was good about splitting doses. Don't be surprised if it takes a

while to get used to this new regimen. Your body is used to the old regimen

and you might feel hypo for a while even with a dose increase until your

body adjusts to a 2wc daily dose.

When I was taking Armour, I'd never get headaches on dose increases. I'd

only feel hypo and get migraines (thank goodness they didn't happen often)

when I wasn't taking enough.

Jeeps! Merrick is huge! I thought Arthur was big at 17ish lbs but he's 5

1/2 mos. I guess I'm used to tiny Tavis (when he was a baby) and petite

little Eleanor.

Take care,

> Hi all:

>

> Haven't been posting much because I've been so weary and depressed that I

couldn't force myself to do another extra thing - wa la: I am indeed hypo

(for me). My normally .5 tsh is now 2.8 which would explain my bleak

outlook and lack of initiative.

>

> I'm writing because I'm now supposed to increase my armour to get that tsh

down adn my FT4 up (which is below normal range). But every darn time I

increase the armour, I get bad headaches. I was wondering if this happens

to anyone else? IT's like a thyroid eye headache -- light bothers me etc.

But I know I need more thyroid hormone because otherwise, I have all the

symptoms of hypothyroidism.

>

> Any feedback deeply appreciated: does anyone else experience transient

uncomfortable symptoms when their thyroid changes or they increase/decrease

armour or synthroid?

>

> On the plus side, for all those contemplating pregnancy, my endo assured

me that given my profile, I would NOT become hyperthyroid after pregnancy

but would most likely battle more with hypothryoidism now. He was right!

On a very low dose of armour to see if I would become hyper, I became more

hypo. THis is great news (despite the blue mood) because I was more fearful

of becoming hyper than hypo this go-round. Hypo is less comfortable, but

has proven to be more treatable for me.

>

> Okay, hopefully I'll pop some more hormone and be back to my usual

energetic self soon.

>

> Best,

>

> B

>

> ps: Baby Merrick is doing GREAT. Four months old, 17 lbs, and happy as a

clam (a clam that drools and sucks his thumb, too!). I'm even well-rested.

Now there's somethign to be thankful for - a baby who appreciates his own

good night's sleep!!!

[Guest guest]

Have to clutter the airways with thanks!! As always, so many good replies and

much help.

Gotta love this list!

We'll be on vacation (small scream from me -- six hours in the car ahead) till

Sunday, so I'll check in again then.

Hopefully the headaches and hypo will be gone by then . . .

B

armour change and headaches

Hi all:

Haven't been posting much because I've been so weary and depressed that I

couldn't force myself to do another extra thing - wa la: I am indeed hypo (for

me). My normally .5 tsh is now 2.8 which would explain my bleak outlook and

lack of initiative.

I'm writing because I'm now supposed to increase my armour to get that tsh

down adn my FT4 up (which is below normal range). But every darn time I

increase the armour, I get bad headaches. I was wondering if this happens to

anyone else? IT's like a thyroid eye headache -- light bothers me etc. But I

know I need more thyroid hormone because otherwise, I have all the symptoms of

hypothyroidism.

Any feedback deeply appreciated: does anyone else experience transient

uncomfortable symptoms when their thyroid changes or they increase/decrease

armour or synthroid?

On the plus side, for all those contemplating pregnancy, my endo assured me

that given my profile, I would NOT become hyperthyroid after pregnancy but would

most likely battle more with hypothryoidism now. He was right! On a very low

dose of armour to see if I would become hyper, I became more hypo. THis is

great news (despite the blue mood) because I was more fearful of becoming hyper

than hypo this go-round. Hypo is less comfortable, but has proven to be more

treatable for me.

Okay, hopefully I'll pop some more hormone and be back to my usual energetic

self soon.

Best,

B

ps: Baby Merrick is doing GREAT. Four months old, 17 lbs, and happy as a

clam (a clam that drools and sucks his thumb, too!). I'm even well-rested. Now

there's somethign to be thankful for - a baby who appreciates his own good

night's sleep!!!