Can't get off the couch!

[Angiebaby9]

I'm new this is my first post, I was diagnosed around 2000 after a very traumatic divorce and many years of stress my immune system was shot and my herpes problem was out of control I went to a Chinese Doctor and she said the Herpes was a problem in my gut the health of your dictates the health of your immune system, my GP put me on Acyclovir. Which is an Anti viral, after many years now with out a breakout my GP has taken me off it, now I just take Levothyroxine 75 and 2mg of Candesartan for high blood pressure . I was doing good on 100 Levo but had trouble sleeping with palpitations I saw a nurse she started me on theCandesartan and dropped my dose of Levo to 50 I very quickly went downhill couldn't get off the couch, so now I'm on 75 but still feeling tired. What should I do ???

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Angiebaby.

Ask your GP receptionist or practice manager for a print out of your recent thyroid results with the lab ref ranges (the figures in brackets after your results) as members need to see them in order to advise whether you are optimally medicated. Post the results in a new question as updates get missed.

If it's sometime since your last thyroid test you could request one now. Hypothyroid patients are often low or deficient in ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate so ask for these to be tested at the same time. Low levels can cause musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and low mood similar to hypothyroid symptoms.

For maximum absorption of Levothyroxine make sure you take it with 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 iron, calcium, vitamin D and oestrogen.

[HEA72 in reply to Clutter]

Dear Clutter

Is the maximum absorbancy info you give in your last paragraph also applicable to NDT and also if the NDT's taken sublingually? (which is what I do).

Also when you say drinks does that include herbal and fruit teas (non caffeinated) and fresh lemon juice in water? Thank you.

[Clutter in reply to HEA72]

HEA72, it applies to all thyroid replacement. Thyroxine and T3 molecules are throught to be too large to absorbed sublingually. RLC labs were asked whether Naturethroid can be taken sublingually. Their response was it should be swallowed whole with water.

The advice on one hour before or two hours after food and drink includes herbal and fruit teas as there may be ingredients which the thyroxine and T3 bind to, reducing absorption. I can't see fresh lemon juice in water will be a problem but I don't know and could be wrong.

[HEA72 in reply to Clutter]

Thank you. Oh blimey this means I could be taking mine all wrong. No wonder I'm not getting the benefit of the meds that I'd hoped! I shall now change to the recommendations you state and fingers crossed for better health!!! I wish all this information was on a leaflet for patients to be given from their doctors. Or a downloadable one through ThyroidUK would be fab.

[Clutter in reply to HEA72]

HEA72, there is usually a patient information leaflet supplied with medication. When Armour was reformulated in 2008/9 the hard outer coating made breakdown and absorption difficult and advice was to chew the tablet before swallowing with water. Fast forward 7 years and the thyroid myth that all NDT needs to be chewed and sublingually absorbed is firmly entrenched despite Armour being re-reformulated to address the coating issue and other brands never being affected in the first place..

[HEA72 in reply to Clutter]

How interesting, thank you.

[HEA72 in reply to Clutter]

I got the original idea about taking my NDT sublingually from this article: stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

[Angiebaby9 in reply to Clutter]

Thank you my next bloods are in May I will post again then. Can you tell me what is the difference between Amour and Levothyroxine and which is better ? I live in UK my GP says it's not licenced but my daughter lives in California and is on Amour so I may be able to get her to send me some to try I would be worried to buy it on line .

[Clutter in reply to Angiebaby9]

Angiebaby, Levoththyroxine is synthetically produced thyroxine (T4). Armour is a brand of dessicated thyroid, often called natural dessicated thyroid (NDT) because the thyroid hormone it contains is derived from whole dessicated pig thyroid rather than being synthetically produced. NDT contains thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), the latter being helpful for people who don't convert T4 to T3 well on Levothyroxine only. Various brands of NDT are listed in the US national formulary and comply with pharmaceutical regulations but aren't licensed for use in the UK although NDT was the only thyroid replacement available for almost a 100 years prior to the development of Levothyroxine and Liothyronine (T3).

Armour and other brands of NDT, NatureThroid is also popular, can be prescribed in the UK on a named patient basis but few NHS doctors will prescribe it. Transitioning from Levothyroxine to NDT can take a few weeks/months as dose has to be started low to acclimatise to the T3 hormone and increased at the rate of half a grain every fortnight until you are on an optimal dose. Taking a few tablets your daughter may spare is unlikely to give you much indication whether or not Armour suits.

Most members on the forum who use NDT buy online, including those who have private prescriptions, as it can be cheaper to buy on the open market. If you want advice where to source it yourself post a question asking for recommendations but ask for replies to be via private message as it isn't allowed to post on the forum where to source UK prescription only medication without a prescription.

[Marylyn]

You need to have Vitb12,Vit d,folate,ferritin,iron,full blood count attended.Both my hubby & I were misdiagnosis end due to drs focusing on blood levels & not nerve damage & symptons.I had high blood pressure & eye disorders once started on Vitamin D all subsided.My hubby had depression,memory loss,clots in legs,fast heart rate,sleep apnoea,shingles in eye & ear which lead to paralysis of l side of face.All these symptons caused by lack of Vitamin B12.