Meds Reaction or Thyroid Symptoms, how to know???

[TappedOut]

Hi All,

I'm new to Nature Throid, and thyroid meds in general. I'm currently titrating to optimal dose, slowly but surely. Any tips on distinguishing reactions to the medication, versus needing to increase?

I know Labs/Bloods are telling, but while I am mid-titration, I won't be doing labs/bloods for another few weeks... today I had some dizziness, and plan on sticking with it, but wondered how, or whether, I will be able to decipher if responses are due to the thyroid, or a side effect of the medication.

Are there telltale signs, or is it just a matter of "wait and see"? Thank you for your time and for reading this post.

💋💊 TappedOut

[shaws Administrator]

If taking Naturethroid, in theory you should have symptoms due to ingredients as it is 'hypo allergenic'.

All you should be concerned about if your pulse should go too high or temp increases.

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

[TappedOut in reply to shaws]

Thank you Shaws! So I shouldn't have ingredients reactions....keep watching pulse and basal temp.

I think my iron is low, but I don't know how to go about asking my doc to do the full iron panel (ferritin, saturation, TBIC, iron serum...). She said, "well you're not anemic," based on my low ferritin, but as I understand ferritin isn't the full caption of whether ones iron is optimal or low.

This will be my first appointment so I don't want to come in with too many demands. I'm trying to make sure any symptoms I'm having are legitimately thyroid (or other health related) and not NT/medication related.

Just ordered a mercury-free, glass, thermometer to get those Temps taken properly....

Thank you! Good advice.

[shaws Administrator in reply to TappedOut]

The most important is how we feel on each dose change: i.e. whether we feel it is a little too much, or we need a little bit less. It isn't a science as each of us could take an identical dose but could have an entirely different affect.

[Heloise]

Hi T O, you've made me recall that article from STTM, 19 Mistakes Patients Make

Thinking Natural Desiccated Thyroid doesn’t work because one feels worse!

In reality, patients discovered that natural desiccated thyroid “reveals” two certain problems: adrenal insufficiency or low iron (both seemingly common in patients who’ve remained undiagnosed for years or were poorly treated on T4-only medications). Patients might find themselves with a high FT3 lab result with continuing hypothyroid symptoms (T3 pools rather than gets to your cells). Or patients report experiencing anxiety, shakiness, fast heart rate, or other problems while on NDT.

5) Failing to multi-dose

As you have pointed out, doctors are reluctant to investigate these side issues which really are very important and undermine any treatment you attempt. I think there are three types of anemia so one blood test certainly is not definitive. Dr. Kharrazian points this out.

You could possibly need hydrocortisone if your adrenals are very weak.

[TappedOut in reply to Heloise]

Hi Heloise! Thank you for your reply....

Wow. Well the good thing is, the side effects can be a compass. I think I will know more as time progresses and I get labs/bloods redone. That's what I don't look forward to...worse symptoms or pooling. I'm pretty certain my iron is low.

I've read that iron needs a full panel of TBIC, Saturation %, Serum Iron AND ferritin. The few docs that check for iron only look at Hemoglobin, Hemotacrit, and Ferritin at best; and in some cases docs only look at ferritin only, if anything at all.

Thank you Heloise!