Hi All,
I've just received my blood test results from Medichecks, and was wondering if you could advise on whether to go the T3 or NDT route in terms of trying something to help the pain/ brain fog/ memory issues/ exhaustion? I'm in and out of bed like a yoyo at the moment and it's the first day of the school holidays tomorrow - argh! I am really not coping with life as I'm mostly housebound at the moment and I'm huge amounts of pain/ braindead-ness (as you can tell from my choice of words!)
This is what the Medichecks GP wrote just now -
"We note that you are taking this test to monitor your hypothyroidism for which you take levothyroxine.
Your thyroid stimulating hormone is in the upper half of the normal range and you have a low normal level of free thyroxine. Some people who are taking thyroxine feel better when their thyroid stimulating hormone is maintained in the lower half of the normal range. I gather you are experiencing problems with your concentration, energy, memory and that you are experiencing some pains. A slight increase in your levothyroxine may help with these.
Your FT3/rT3 ratio is low which could suggest that you are not getting sufficient free triiodothyronine (FT3) into your cells. There is currently little scientific research into the FT3/rT3 ratio, but some experts believe that this could lead to symptoms of hypothyroidism (slow metabolism) even though your thyroid hormones are at normal levels.
You may wish to discuss these results with your GP although you should note that it may be difficult to get advice and treatment for elevated rT3 or an abnormal ratio through conventional channels.
I also recommend checking your vitamin D levels to ensure that these are not low as this can also cause the symptoms that you describe."
Since these tests I've already been taking Vit D, ferrous fumerate for my low Ferritin levels, and B12 too (see my previous post - thanks all for your help translating them). I am aware of the protocol of how and when to take which vitamins/ minerals and around Levothyroxine.
I am currently taking 75mcg Levothyroxine.
I have in the past made progress on the Nutri Thyroid supplement which contains animal thyroid, so am instinctively drawn to the NDT side of things.
I already have Tiromel T3 in my possession and Thiroyd [sic] NDT is due to arrive later this week/ next week. So I am prepared for either path! Or maybe both can be taken?
Please advise me on what to do next with regards to which medication to follow, when/ how to take it, and... anything else you can think of - especially as I occasionally take Tramadol for pain at night
Also, I am preparing to start LDN for the ME/ CFS side of things - as well as hypothyroidism - and clearly don't want to do too much at once as it would be good to know what is and isn't working.
However, it would be still useful to know how to fit LDN into my new regime you're all going to design for me!
With much gratitude in advance for all your support and knowledge,
Abi.