Raising NDT .... I found this a VERY helpful read...see what you think

thyrophoenix.com/adjusting_...

Xx

[estrellaliliana]

The first thing I look is WHO wrote it. What's the source? Is it reliable or not? I have no idea if the person has studied a lot about the subject, what she knows what she doesn't, and there's so many things to read out there that I doubt I will read it. It does not say anything about the person who wrote the info, so then I think that I may know more than her. Sorry I won't be able to judge it.

[Spareribs in reply to estrellaliliana]

Yep sometimes we just don't know the source, looks like someone in Minnesota.

[claudiasmum]

Personally, as far as my own experience is concerned, the article makes a lot of sense and is exactly the sameas my doctor advised.

Shame about the awful font though!

[Hidden in reply to claudiasmum]

I agree......dreadful font!!!

[Jackie]

HI I would be very wary of raising the dose without TSH, T4 and Free T3, that is how a doctor overdosed me and I was very ill.

Jackie

[shaws Administrator]

Thanks for that link. It is extremely useful and gives good clear instructions.

[CarolineC57]

This is a really useful article - a great way of explaining what goes on from someone who has obviously been there, done that, got the T shirt! It describes exactly what's been happening to me as I've started on, and begun to build up the dose of, NDT. I've been ill for many years and, in my impatience to feel better at last, I was building up the dose (from an initial starting dose of one-quarter grain) by increasing every week. I ended up feeling hyper in some ways (heart palpitations, etc) and still very hypo in others (chronic fatigue, etc). I've now dropped back down to where I feel comfortable (one grain) and, after seeking further advice from Dr P who I consulted before starting NDT, I'll most likely gradually start to build up again. The key word here being "gradually". This article is a great reminder to me not to be so impatient this time! Many thanks.

[Schenks]

This article is excellent - and very fortuitous, thank you. I half-remembered reading on this site that you have to increase slowly as all the bodily systems that have been starved of thyroxine come back 'online' gradually, and the dose has to be adjusted accordingly.

I wasn't sure if I remembered rightly and was about to ask here, but this article exactly substantiates my experience. That going up in dose too quickly gives weird hyper and hypo symptoms. I have stopped increasing my NDT remaining at the moment on 1 3/4 grains, but am aware that I am starting to get really tired, foggy and reflux-y, achy, fat (of course - what esle? ) and generally CFSy again, but my pulse rate is around 75 and my temps are in the low 97s. So, gritted teeth, I'll wait a bit longer (especially since that extra 1/4 grain gave me such terrible palps and ectopics!!)

This has been a lovely, timely and comprehensible reminder - thanks, joesmum! x

[sulamaye]

Yes this is kind of what the NDT leaflet that accompanied my NDT says, it takes time for the cells to soak up the T3 on offer. One thing that I disagree with though is that NDT contains 4 parts T4 and 1 part T3, that is not actually a small amount of T3, if you are taking two grains for example you are on aprox 18mcgs of T3, not insignificant and T3 has a different half life and will effect the body differently, which means it is different from taking simple T4 - just something to bear in mind. As someone who is using T3 only at the moment, obviously T3 doses are being increased far quicker, every 7 days with monitoring as there is no T4 to complicate the issue at the moment.

[Hidden]

What I have found very interesting in this article is that we are usually told to raise our dosage relatively frequently ie every 2 or 3 weeks. For me this has been my downfall!

I simply cannot convert that quickly and it just ends up pooling in my system and swimming around with no place to go!

I have learnt this to my cost......checking all vitamins and minerals etc along the way. But they were never the problem. The problem has always been much simpler.........RAISING TOO QUICKLY FOR MY OWN BODY.

(recently I added another 1/4 of a grain an ended up in terrible problems with heart arrhythmias) not good! Very, very, disconcerting. I stopped my meds completely for 2 days and then re-started them at an even lower dose and the heart bumps have gone again.

I guess I am a raise every 6-8 weeks king of gal!

Yes it's frustrating....especially for me because this is 2nd time around. I was perfectly stable on ERFA at 1and 3/4 grains until it all went pear shaped earlier this year. Stopped everything for a week or so and then went on to Naturethroid. I am now still only at 1 grain having had my bad experience. But I shall heed what I have read and do it very, very gradually.

[Heloise]

The current theory seems to be that any exogenous dose of hormone shuts down your own production of T4. And that was to explain why you needed to increase your outside hormone. I know this is the theory when taking cortisone. But I'm not sure that this theory isn't more correct because the pituitary is so involved as well.

[helbell]

Brilliant thank you. I too am on the dosing roller coaster. Loved the sponge analogy...very good

[Daisy77]

I read some other interesting things on her site too. She describes who she is on her home page. And the comparison between NDT and synthetics is worth looking at.