NDT-experience...?

[McNels]

Recently I came to know that I am suffering from hypothyroidism.

Since 2 weeks I am on Natural Desiccated Thyroid (Erfa).

Are there anyone out there who has a good expierence of that medication?

Do I need to take iodine regularly as well?

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, McNels.

There are many members on the forum taking Erfa and other brands of NDT and many more who would like to try it rather than generic Levothyroxine but it is difficult to get it prescribed on the NHS in the UK.

You should get all the iodine you require from Erfa so it's not recommended that patients on thyroid replacement supplement iodine.

Take your Erfa with a full glass of water on an empty stomach one hour before or two hours after food and drink, two hours away from other medication and supplements and four hours away from vitamin D3, calcium, iron and oestrogen.

[McNels in reply to Clutter]

Clutter, thank you very much for this information!

I appreciated it.

/Mikael (McNels)

[helbell]

Hi Mcnels,

I am on NDT, Nature Throid. I am doing quite well on this and it took about 6 weeks to really feel benefit. I was very ill for 18 months prior to taking thyroid hormone replacement and assume that it will take some time for my body to heal, but the good thing is I have more energy to see the day through and pain has lessened. If there is anything I have learned myself and, on here, through other patients...one size does not fill all. It might take longer or shorter for you to feel benefit and also come to know if that is the right hormone for you and what your other needs are to support your thyroid replacement treatment. It's only recently that I have fully realised that treating Hashimoto's is addressing hypothyroidism as well as autoimmunity in general...so I am going for an extra push to address diet and lifestyle. And a few more tests on vit and mineral status. I eat fish and very occasionally seaweed, I also eat eggs and dairy which are all sources of iodine. I believe I have Hashi and reluctant to try iodine replacement. I suppose I could get serum level tested. That would another good topic.

[McNels]

Hi Helbell!

Thank you for all the information!

That meant a lot to me.

I appreciated that you mentioned something about the time also...

Of course, I understand that it is individually how and when the body reponse

on the medication. But I am happy that you mentioned that anyway!

I am a swede and from here I wrote about a woman who blogs and according to

what she wrote she felt an immediate response from the natural tyroid pills

- actually from the very first day!!

I am happy for her, but to me it sounds a bit unrealistic...

And my own experience, which is very short though, I have not noticed so much

yet on my 15 days on them now..

So thank you very much for coming with that 'time-info'!!

Wish all of you the best.

/Mikael (McNels)