NDT advice....: Hello, still new here, just was... - Thyroid UK

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NDT advice....

Bellerin profile image
14 Replies

Hello, still new here, just was looking for some advice again! Really appreciate it :)

I am looking to start taking NDT and wondered if people could, either on here, or by private message, what they take or what they would recommend?

I am currently on 100 mcg of Levo, and I took one T3 of 25 mcg of T3 until recently, but it didn't really suit me.

My most recent test results show very little change from last may 2016,

Serum TSH - 0.05 miu/L (0.3 -5.5)

Serum free T4 level - 15 pmol/L (12 -22)

serum free triiodothyronine - 5.8 pmol/L (3.1 - 7)

I am also about to start taking Holy Basil and PS100 for high cortisol, when my order arrives next week.

Thank you, I am quite scared but also want to try NDT and always really appreciate anyone's recommendations. Thank you so very much.

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Bellerin profile image
Bellerin
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14 Replies
shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

There's absolutely no need to be scared in self-medicating. After all it's only hormones our body would produce if not hypo. If we took a bit too much, we'd not feel too good so would miss next day's dose and continue on a lower one the following day.

Members will respond by Private Message an we have many satisfied members who've changed their lives by 'going it alone' :)

Are you sure T3 didn't suit you or was it the levothyroxine?

Bellerin profile image
Bellerin in reply toshaws

I've been taking Levo for about a year up to now, and only introduced the T3 in May for a month until June, and I felt dreadful! Thought I had been hit by a bus! So have weaned off the T3 and have gone back to where I was before, still not right at all, but different to the month with T3.

Thank you for your response, and I am now more determined to try the NDT :)

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toBellerin

How much levo were you taking, how much T3 did you add in? Giving quantities makes it much easier for people to see the whole picture.

Bellerin profile image
Bellerin in reply togreygoose

I was on 75 mcg of Levo since February this year (from 50mcg) and then I was feeling so awful, I added T3 in May, starting with a quarter of 25 mcg tablet, and then over 3 weeks increasing to 1 25mcg tablet along with the 75mcg of Levo. Felt so much worse, so weaned off the T3 and upped my Levo to 100 mcg, which is where I've been for 2 weeks to now :)

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toBellerin

I think you probably increase the T3 too quickly. So many possibilities, but I think you were probably under-medicated now. But you need to give things time to work. All this chopping and changing isn't going to help. You certainly didn't give the T3 time to work, and it's going to be another 4 weeks before the present dose of T4 reaches its full potential.

However, you don't seem to have a problem converting. So, maybe you just need to be on a high enough dose of T4.

But, if you do decide to go with NDT - and you will have to increase slowly with that, too - then all your nutrients need to be optimal first, otherwise, the NDT will not 'work', either. :)

Bellerin profile image
Bellerin in reply togreygoose

Thank you, yes I am struggling with the impatience to get better, I think its because of the weight gain, and being anorexic, its so devastating (as I know it is for other people) so I do think that maybe I try to change too quickly. I just didn't like the way the T3 made me feel, I was so ill. I am a coeliac and am allergic to dairy too, so I have to be very careful with my supplements , but I do take magnesium, selenium, Vitamin C and Omega 3, my recent bloods showed high levels of Vitamin B12. Thank you for you reply, all help is greatly received.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toBellerin

Yes, that is always the problem, isn't it. People want what they want and they want it now! But with hormones, it doesn't work like that. You know the old saying : more haste, less speed? Well that really just about sums up hormone replacement therapy. Going to fast is not going to make you better faster, it is just going to knock you back to square one. :(

I really think you ought to wait a while before going on to NDT.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply toBellerin

I agree with Greygoose's response below. 25mcg of T3 is equal, in effect, to 100mcg of T4, so you would have increased your dose of 75mcg of levo to approx 175 mcg thyroid hormones within three weeks. Far too quickly.

Gradual is always best and if you increase by 1/4 and when you don't feel good/improvement, you drop down to previous dose.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

This is a helpful link:

web.archive.org/web/2010121...

kathy1029 profile image
kathy1029

hi

I sent you a message as to where I buy my NDT, they carry at least three different brands, not sure why you didn't get it

Bellerin profile image
Bellerin in reply tokathy1029

yes I did thank you very much, I am actually in the UK, so I will have a look on the sites you suggested, I just wanted to get people recommendations on what they take :) Thanks again :)

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

you need to check Vitamib D, B12, folate and ferratin are ALL at very good levels for thyroid hormones to work.

Chopping and changing is hopeless. Increasing or especially decreasing thyroxine (or T3 or NDT) really needs to be kept to absolute minimum and only fine adjustment.

I have found over the years any change up (or much more difficult) downwards can take weeks or even months to settle.

You only want to add one vitamin supplement at a time and wait at least two weeks to see how you are responding to it ...good or bad.

Glynisrose profile image
Glynisrose

Start low and build up over a few weeks DON'T just do a direct swap.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

As you are coeliac I assume your GP has you on high dose vitamin D ?

What was your last vitamin D test result?

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