Help with results which have been abnormal for over a year

[Bioluminence]

Hello again,

the story so far...ive sacked the doc and I'm treating my own thyroid condition. I have been to hell and back with various dosages and the menopause but after a year feeling better

So i am on HRT estrodial and progesterone with a testosterone cream thrown in...this seems to have helped with the hair loss

In other news I'm currently taking daily

thiroyd 4 grains

zinc

magnesium

folate

EPO

vitamin D

selenium

B12 sublingual

and B12 injections periodically ( self administered)

my iron levels are currently mid range HURRAH! ( think this might be due to the HRT and not having periods anymore thank GOD!!!) i had an iron infusion a year ago....so the iron levels have been creeping back up again.

I FEEL ok...not 100% yet but have been getting palpitations..now this could be due to the HRT or menopause or even the thiroyd...not really sure...

my results are attached

Can any or you advise me on what to do? i had a chat with a well informed friend who also comes here and is a thyroid sufferer who suggests that i keep to my regime of 4 grains daily and re test in another 8 weeks or so....

I know that people have suggested an increase before but when i went to 5 grains I've felt really jittery...ive been on 4 grains for the last 8 weeks so think its evened out from the 5 grains...

i was thinking of lowering the dose as my heart still beats a bit fast i think...

i am gluten free and i exercise regularly, Swimming 3X week and yoga 2X week

Many thanks for your input and continued support!

Best

[fibrolinda]

I increase 1/4 grain at a time, one grain increase is a very large jump in one go

[shaws Administrator]

If you are on NDT I think it wise to add 1/4 tablet every few weeks if raising dose to try to find an optimum level.

Both Frees are very low. Could it be that you are resistant to thyroid hormones. If so, T3 alone may be the answer? (I am not medically qualified).

Your dose of NDT is high normal but hasn't raised FT3 or FT4. This is a link and which may be helpful:

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

Also T3 is required to drive our whole metabolism and palps can be caused by too little or too much.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

[Bioluminence in reply to shaws]

Hi again, thanks for looking at my results...I did increase to 5 grains initially but I felt awful...terrible palls and jittery...I thought I needed to reduce???? So went back to 4 grains..I have no idea what to do now...😟

[shaws Administrator in reply to Bioluminence]

I am not medically qualified but on looking again at your results I think because you are on NDT that the 'normal' blood tests are for those on levothyroxine alone. Levothyroxine is T4 only which has to convert to T3.

Because you are taking NDT I don't think the results or ranges can correlate to the ones for levothyroxine (T4) alone. (NDT = T4, T2, T3, T1).

That's why when on NDT it is how the 'patient feels' is the best way.

NDT was introduced when there was no levothyroxine at all.

I myself tried several NDTs. The following doctor (deceased) treated his patients as follows:-

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

Maybe start again from 2 gr or an equivalent to the levothyroxine you were taking. Take note of your pulse/temp a few times a day. If either goes too fast/high drop to previous dose. I also think increasing by 1/4 each time about every week or so might work. I shall also give you a link.

web.archive.org/web/2010112...

[dang]

You might have hormone resistance (sorry I don't know much about it so just a possible thing to look into). Palpitations could be due to your low levels of hormone. You don't be any chance have total T3 and total T4 levels do you? I'd think at this point you need a full thyroid panel including also RT3 which could point to what's going on here.

[Clutter]

Bioluminence,

Most people taking NDT need FT3 in the upper third of range ie 5.5 - 6.8. You could try increasing NDT to 4.5 grains.

[Bioluminence in reply to Clutter]

Hi again, thanks for looking at my results...I did increase to 5 grains initially but I felt awful...terrible palls and jittery...I thought I needed to reduce???? So went back to 4 grains..I have no idea what to do now...😟

[Clutter in reply to Bioluminence]

Bioluminence,

Try 4.5 grains.

[steviecat]

Irritation of the Vagus nerve can also cause palps. I realise that might be throwing a spanner in the works... It's just another thing to think about/research. Having said that, the advice from the other good folk above should be followed before going down the Vagus route. It's a blinkin' rough road and doctors generally don't give it any credence.

[Bioluminence]

The thing is I increased to 5 grains and I had a racing hear t and felt jittery!!! Surely that can't be right? Could this mean a pituitary issue?

[humanbean in reply to Bioluminence]

You are increasing/decreasing your dose in jumps that are too big.

If you feel over-dosed on 5 grains then you need to reduce. If you feel under-dosed on 4 grains then you need to increase. You might find that your ideal dose is 4 and a quarter grains, or 4 and a half grains or 4 and three quarter grains.

But if you only ever change your dose in 1 grain amounts you'll never find your sweet spot.