when to increase NDT dosage....

hello! I am not sure if there are many people on T4 and T3....i was wondering if i needed to be as careful with increasing the dose of NDT...

I am going to be self medicating, I have read that you should start low and work up SLOWLY but as i am already on T3 and T4 i am assuming i can go a bit faster!

thanks for your help xx

[LouiseRoberts]

People can only give you advice based on their own experiences.

Please provide your latest thyroid bloods, including the ranges in order for people to offer informed support.

Also, are you currently on thyroid meds? What symptoms are you having?

Louise

[Hidden]

I have posted a few times already, thanks Louise....I was diagnosed 3 years ago, basically i just want to know if i need to increase armour at such small increments when i already take T3 and T4

These are the latest results

september 2013

TSH 0.3

T4 10.4

T3 5.4

Antibodies 279

I take 125mcg (recently increased from 100mcg) of Levo, and 30mcg of Lio...been feeling worse and worse over last few weeks, Endo said yes to NDT then backed off when the GP asked the prescribing advisor who told them it was unlicensed....so i am going to self medicate

[Jackie]

Hi You always need to have the ranges for any blood test.Originally I saw a private doc, who hardly believed in blood tests, no on line bloods, WEB, TUK then.He overdosed me, I was very ill. I had become hyper but felt the same ( this can happen). I saw my new Endo, vastly reduced the armour and I had /have a little T3. My FT3 was always below range before

Her rules, common with careful doctors, is a blood test for TSH, T4 and FT3 before any rises or drops in meds. Most people armour is enough. However, when I tried all makes of Levo, I was allergic to them

. From the bloods you give , at a guess, without the ranges, I would say you do not want more T3, it is the most dangerous drug if used incorrectly. I think personally if you had a lot more T4 to bring your T4 up to a third from the top, you would feel differently. Often, on treatment at first, you do feel a lot worse until the dose is near what your body requires.T3 of course, is brilliant if needed, it will lower the TSH too, although we do not bother too much about that, most Docs go hysterical about it!

Best wishes,

Jackie

[Hidden]

Thank you! Yes the FT3 is in the higher range I am aware of that, i was just going to swap all the sunthetics for the ndt initially

it's so hard trying to do this alone...

I am having another blood test next week as my endo has increased my Levo to 125mg so I will be up to date before I start on the armour

I am just going to have to go on how I feel though, I'm going solo and won't have the luxury of blood tests

You have made concerned tho saying you were hyper without knowing

I don't want to end up in hospital xx

[Hidden]

I'm also a bit confused when you say the ranges? This is all the doctor ever gives me I thought there was a standard set of 'healthy' range that the nhs used x

[Hidden]

I am sorry if I sound blunt... I am being very straightforward because I really don't think anyone should self medicate if they need to ask this sort of question!

What you need to do is research more before doing it.

NDT has T3, and in that respect is "harder" on adrenal function than T4 alone so that has to be OK in the first place, and I would suggest all the other "usual" things too.

[Hidden]

I am simply trying to do my best with the knowledge I have

My GP is not very helpful and is reluctant to give me even the test results... I will call later and ask for the ranges

I'm sorry I haven't done enough research, I thought that coming on here would help to answer some of the questions I have as I am at the end of my tether

I just want to feel better

[debjs]

I just ask the receptionist for a print out of my results which has the ranges on it. If she asks why I want it I say to take with me to see the consultant. It hasn't been a problem but I know surgeries vary. I am on Armour and have found it best to keep a record of results and doses as my results were all over the place to start with and my TSH became supressed very quickly even though my dose clearly wasn't high enough.

[Hidden]

thanks for replying :o)

its silly really because they are my results, but the receptionist at my current surgery will not give them to me, i have to speak to a doctor first and they are always very suspicious....i have emailed and asked this morning for the range

the thing is once i start taking the armour im not sure what i will do - as i wont be able to get my blood tested on the nhs because they have refused me the NDT so im a bit worried about that

x

[malone1]

I would think under data protection they must give you print out if you ask - check it out x