As hashimotoa patient or under active thyroid, I was ill on levothyroxine and never felt well over 9 months. I had a few months trial of liothyronine (T3) which I took with the Levo. I felt a bit better but was no way optimal, particularly getting out of bed for work and also thinking was cloudy. I decided that as you are supposed to feel well way before 10 months that's I would try NDT. Did a lot of reading (stopthethyroidmadness is a good website on NDT) and ordered from US from a reputable pharmacy.
I started on 1 grain for 2 weeks, then upped to 2 grains on week 3. I had a blood test from NHS GP at the 2 weeks (was on previously 50mcg Levo and 10 Mcg lio) which was 4 weeks + 2 weeks on NDT. It showed me under medicated which I expect on the 1 grain.
I told my GP I was taking NDT and she was horrified and said I wouldn't find an NHS GP in the UK to prescribe me it. She said (after googling it!) that the endo's are against it because of bovine disease (mad cow) which was passed to humans through glands). This she read from an article in Australia she googled). NDT is made from pig thyroid not cows and there is as much counter-argument for using NDT as there is for Levo. It seems cost is a huge factor as NDT is prescribed in the US as Hilary Clinton takes it.
A long story p, however, I wanted to say that after 10 days of taking the NDT I feel the best I have all year. In particular the brain fog is so much improved. I am studying part time and also have a full time job and as you can imagine it has been near impossible to keep both going whilst medication has made me so sick. On Levo I was depressed, spent every available minute in my bed completed zapped out, I had bad digestion (worse than before) and overall I lost "me" the zest for life had gone. So far (and I am aware it is slow and ongoing process to get properly well) I feel that the old me is returning. I am starting to wake up through the night again (which I always used to do to visit the toilet) and feeling more alert. On Levo I could sleep for 14 hours without waking up and still feel like I hadn't slept. I also had very serious emotional imbalance on Levo - some days I was crying and upset for no reason. It totally affected my life, I stopped much of my social life as just wanted to sit in on my own in my pyjamas "resting".
I have moved house (that went better than expected - I think NDT helped with better energy) so will be joining a new GP (my old one said that she would never prescribe NDT but that the NHS would monitor my blood) - great news for someone who has paid NI & tax for last 30 years (!) I am going to try and work on my new GP - will post up how I get On after next blood test on the 2 grains (around January) and if I get any luck asking the NHS To do full thyroid bloods rather than just TSH.
Cost to me on 2 grains just now is approx. £25 for 7-8 weeks supply ordered from US.
Am I still over medicated on NDT?
raised blood pressure and NDT- what to do?
8-9 weeks on NDT
T3 Only - 5 Weeks in
GP review - low TSH on NDT
