Obtaining NDT privately?

[Suzy61Taylor]

I'm awaiting the results of a Adrenal Stress Saliva test, but was diagnosed with Primary Hypothyroidism 6 weeks ago and I am taking 50mcg at present. How does one separate adrenal symptoms with thyroid symptoms. My body temp and blood pressure drop quite alarmingly when I try to exercise or if I've had a busy night shift. I instinctively feel that my 'Levo' is not helping as I feel worse than I did 6 weeks ago. I have read that adrenal fatigue has to be sorted before taking NDT. I also have osteoporosis and Bicuspid Stenosis of the Aorta. I'm sure my GP will not fund NDT and I want to know how easy/expensive it is to obtain this medication privately.

[Marz]

drrind.com/therapies/metabo...

This may possibly help you to decipher Adrenals v Thyroid ....am sorry I cannot help with the other things you mention except I am aware that heart issues can sometimes be connected to thyroid and either its under or over active status....

[Suzy61Taylor in reply to Marz]

Thank you also Marz. Certainly I match the low blood pressure, hypoglycemic, low body temp, with a yoyo effect of all three.

[Hidden]

Easy. I buy ndt online however when i have money to spare i see a private gp - take my own blood teSts. He charges £80 for 15 min. Will give you 2 repeat scripts. It ws £35 for 100 tabs from Pharmarama who courier it to your door

[shaws Administrator]

You should have a new blood test after six weeks since beginning levo and GP should increase, usually by 25mcg increments until you feel better. Whatever medication you decide on It is a gradual process and it takes a while to work up to an optimum dose. Many do well on levothyroxine and then you can find an alternative if it doesn't.

Exercising etc takes its toll as your metabolism is low due to your thyroid gland not producing enough hormones.

[Suzy61Taylor]

I do appreciate your comments and your time replying. There is a wealth of information to 'wade' through and my concerns are feeling worse since being on Levothyroxine (headaches fatigue etc) and the long term use of Levo because of Osteoporosis. This is listed as a side effect. Would you agree with that? Supposedly, not with NDT because of calicitonin in the mix. I fractured my wrist in 3 places 2 years ago. Two operations with plates and screws put it all back in place but my bone density is very poor in my spine and hips. I would hate to think that I am leaching even more from my bones in favour of topping up my thyroid gland. What a juggling act it all is. Like everything which you pop into your mouth it doesn't necessarily get absorbed into the 'right places'. I am reducing my exercise in favour of walking and cycling. My training programme is of short duration because I feel so limited. Best regards

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Suzy61Taylor]

I don't know for sure, but I suspect that topping up your thyroid levels with anything leaves you vulnerable to osteoporosis (as does being a western woman over 40). I don't think that ndt protects you against it.

I think it is the boost to your metabolism that is the problem. My doc explained it to me (and why being overcorrected can compromise your bones) but I can't remember the details.

If you're active this should help.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Appropriate thyroid hormone levels (whatever they are!) appear to help with bone health.

I am very wary of any claims about calcitonin in desiccated thyroid:

We do not know how much is in the tablets as delivered to us, nor how consistent that content;

We do not know how much we can absorb from oral administration - being a protein, calcitonin might be seriously degraded by digestive enzymes;

I do not know how different porcine calcitonin is to human calcitonin. Different they definitely are. But is that difference of any significance?

We do not really understand whether the effects of calcitonin in humans are the same, or as important, as in many other animals;

Use of calcitonin medically is now extremely restricted due to worries about the possibility of increased risk of cancer with long-term use - though the only product on the UK market was based on salmon calcitonin which is again different!

mhra.gov.uk/Safetyinformati...

The about might mostly be unimportant, or answered if you look hard enough. But nevertheless it does not seem to be "obvious" that desiccated thyroid will help because of any calcitonin content.

Rod