Switch from Eltroxin to Naturethroid!! Help

[louise52]

Hi all,

Me again looking for advice. I finally got up the courage to ditch my endo and went to see a thyroid friendly endo who spent no time telling me what i essentially knew. Im not converting T4 to T3 and Eltroxin is doing nothing for me so he has put me on Naturethroid 65mg/1 grain daily. I was prev on 100mcgs Eltroxin with following readings TSH 1.75 (ref 0.27-4.2), FT4 20 (ref 12-22) and FT3 1.2( 1.3 -3.6). My issue is i started this yest and after about an hr i started feeling v unwell. Nauseous jittery dizzy. This morning i took just half a tab but still had same rxn admittedly not as bad but id put so much hope into this and have gone against everyone my gp and endo included to go this route that i hope it settles. New gp said i need to start on 1 grain and will prob need to increase to 1 1/2 or maybe 2 even until symptoms abate. My query is has anyone else felt like this? Im planning on splitting the dose to 1/2 a tab in am and half pm or should i just stay on half for 10 to 14 days before increasing. I really want to perservere. My levels of Vit D Folate and B12 ok on last test a mth ago. My iron was low and im supplementing but not at optim level yet but he said to still start the Naturethroid. Any advice suggestions welcome. Thanks all

[diogenes Remembering]

If y ou have been on one medication (T4 only) for a long time, your body has got used to this, and has adapted as well as it can to give you the best outcome (which won't necessarily be satisfactory but the best it could be). Now you are taking T3 - a drastic change which your body needs time to adjust to. I'm not surprised that initially there are problems - patience is needed to get through them and find the best dosage for you.

[louise52 in reply to diogenes]

Ive had 18mths/2 yrs of extreme bad health and was scared to make the change as i was afraid i might not tolerate it and would then be told I told you so by my endo and gp🙈🙈So to feel like this after the first dose was just so upsetting. It feels like an allergic rxn to me. Im not back to this gp for 3 mths hence why im looking for advice here. He is out the door busy and not seeing new patients until the new yr. I had an initial consult with him. Told to take 1 grain get my bloods done in 6 wks and go from there?? Would it be poss 1 grain was too much as i still have T4 from Eltroxin in my system?

[shaws in reply to louise52]

It could be as it takes about six weeks for the dose of levo you took to day, to leave your body, so you could be right as to why you didn't feel so good.

Naturethroid is said to hypo-allergenic so, theoretically, you should not have a reaction and begin to feel better. Usually you can switch from one dose to another without too many problems, if you've already been taking thyroid hormones. Maybe take 1/4 grain tomorrow and for the next few days, and then add 1/4 tablet for two weeks. and 1/4 thereafter till you are on 1 grain. Always take pulse/temp as that can be a guide i.e. too fast or too high in that case reduce by 1/4.

It is disappointing when a change doesn't work out as we hoped.

[louise52 in reply to shaws]

I will try that. Its more than disappointing. Ive been unwell on Eltroxin for a long time and it has taken me so long to get the courage to make the switch. It has to work as my other is alternative is back to bloody Eltroxin and continued bad health and to be honest thats not an option either. Now that i finally know its my thyroid there has to be a solution of sorts doesnt there and a way to return to health? Thanks for taking the time to reply by the way. Id be lost without this forum x

[shaws in reply to louise52]

Yes, thankfully many on the forum are doing well.

This woman was told that there was nothing but levothyroxine and this is her story. There must be quite a few people who do get very desperate and don't know where to turn but on the forum there's support and members have gone through similar experiences. She had a truly dreadful experience immediately after the op.

hypothyroidmom.com/suicide-...

[louise52 in reply to shaws]

Omg Shaws im not lying when i say this is me!!! Im bawling here. I was admitted as an inpatient for 3 wks everytest under the sun but all ok. I have too many hypo symptoms to mention including wks of double vision ive constant tinnitus . I like her tried every drug given to me every antidepressant and too felt worse and experienced every side effect. Was told ive amplified anxiety and a primary anxiety disorder. Have spent 1000s seeing private consultants including immunologists neurologists gynaecologists endo...the list is endless. I was told i had primary ovarian failure as my periods stopped overnight. That changed to early menopause when my cycles returned. Was put on every hrt going..they just made me worse. Severe migraines lasting 5 days and more. Not to mention muscle and joint pain palpatations distended abdomen....there have been numerous times in the last 2 yrs when i wanted to end it all but my 3 kids and hubbie kept me going. My gp and family believe the endo that my blds are normal so obvs im neurotic. Why the hell anyone would want to live like this is beyond me. So now you can see why i so need this to work. I really cant cope with it not working. At least this new gp that my gp said is a quack confirmed my beliefs. Looked at my results and said You know yourself you are not converting T4!! You need NDT. You have been v badly mistreated for yrs and its time to get well. It IS time for me to get well.

[louise52 in reply to louise52]

By the way i was v lucky in that the psych i went to said i dont have any mental health issues my problems are all physical. She also wrote to all my consultants stating the same but said she felt none of them listened!! She advised me to travel to UK for hormonal help if required. So there are some caring drs out there that see the patient and not just the numbers or €

[shaws in reply to louise52]

Most of our 'caring' doctos have retired or died.

The fact is that our caring doctors were pursued and appeared before the GMC for doing as they were taught in the 50's/60's.

NDT was withdrawn from the NHS a few years ago now. It is amazing what backhanders can do together with the money Big Pharma has for promotions.

One of our genuine, caring, sympathetic doctor was pursued many times but was always found innocent and appeared before the GMC. Another resigned his Licence but now advises patients but cannot prescribe.

How many doctors would have 10,000 testimonials from patients whose lives he saved???

Unfortunately Dr Skinner died of a stroke and his patients believe was caused by the strain and constant attacks on his method of diagnosing, i.e. symptoms and levo or NDT if patient not improving.

All doctors now are terrified of losing their livelihoods if they don't stick to the rules, i.e. T4 alone.

[shaws in reply to louise52]

You have turned a very important corner, someone who is aware that many of us cannot convert T4 to the essential T3, so you've had a long road and an awful journey but hope gives us courage and I wish you the best. The link above has given Lorraine impetus and now has a Facebook page.

Doctors should have the 'art' of healing. How wonderful is that but nowadays it is all done on looking at a blood test whilst ignoring the patients' severe clinical symptoms (they know none).

If Endocrinologists ARE POORLY educated - families would believe the doctor rather than us who are unwell so as that would be a normal thing to do.

The fact that we need optimum thyroid hormones to feel well but are given 'other' prescriptions for the symptom but not more thyroid hormones. It just doesn't make sense.

Try not to look so far ahead and take one step at a time to increase dose. NDT should be helpful. Give it time to work and you start on a dose of NDT and after 2 weeks add 1/4 and continue until your symptoms are relieved. Take pulse/temp before you begin as a guide. Sometimes we can feel hot but temp is about the same. If either goes too high drop to previous dose.

Best wishes and good luck. You can give your family a copy of the above link and hopefully they will realise your suffering.

I believe psychiatrists are more knowledgeable than many doctors about the effects of hypo.

[Framboise]

Hi, I think 1 grain is too much to start with. When I switched from taking 125mcg T4 and 40mcg T3 to Armour I was told by Dr Skinner to start back at the beginning with just quarter of a grain of Armour for a couple of weeks, then half a grain etc. I gradually increased that way and had no problems, but that was having already taken T3. I did not have a good level of iron at that time but managed to increase it from then on.

That said I have been taking various NDTs for about 12 years now and twice I've had a reaction similar to yours. The most recent was when ERFA changed country of manufacture and something altered in the tablets. I had to change to another brand because the reaction was just too worrying.

[louise52 in reply to Framboise]

Oh no so do you think its like an allergic rxn? Im v sensitive to ingredients and really hope thats not the case. Going to just stick to 1/2 a tab i think for 2 wks and see if my body adjusts

[Framboise in reply to louise52]

I'd reduce the dose, if half a grain causes the same reaction I'd go down to a quarter, then build from either of those and see what happens. You may have to be very patient. If NatureThroid doesn't suit you then WP has even fewer fillers and may be better, but NatureThroid should really suit most people.

How long did the jitteriness and dizziness last? With the odd batch of ERFA mine lasted almost until the next day. Once was enough, I didn't take it again, but it also caused stomach cramping and palpitations, so that was definitely a weird reaction for me because I had been taking ERFA for several years before that and had loved it.

[louise52 in reply to Framboise]

Lasted most of the day. However im v unwell everyday anyways. Havent felt well in 2+yrs. Its a distant memory

[Framboise in reply to louise52]

Hmm, I know what you mean, thankfully those days are almost gone for me. I would definitely go down to 1/4 grain and see what happens, but if that dizziness continues over days or weeks then I think it may be better not to keep going. I suppose you haven't tried just a very small amount of T3 without any T4? But I think that's becoming more difficult these days!

[louise52 in reply to Framboise]

Framboise took 1/4 this am so will see. Im also coming off high dose contraceptive patch my endo put me on. Was so sick thurs i ripped it off so it could be a combination. I will stick with a 1/4 for next 2 wks and see how i get on. Not sure about T3 yet. Complete no go from my endo which is why im trying this gp that my gp told me to steer well clear off🙈My endo tokd me to do what im told and stop trying to look for a 'cure'. Its all in my head apparently

[shaws in reply to louise52]

NDT contains all of the hormones a healthy thyroid gland would i.e T3,T4, T2, T1 and calcitonin (good for bones) although the latter Ts is very low.

[louise52 in reply to shaws]

Tks Shaws

[christina61]

Louise just read your post. I had been on levothyroxine for 35 plus years and started feeling very unwell. Went and saw a private endo who i asked to try me on nt...i used to take 150mcg of levo so she started me straight away on 2 and half grains ...wow i felt terrible off balance sick feeling tremors really bad headaches bedridden ....i knew it was far to much to quick ...over this year its been trial and error since jan 17 ive taken nt 1/4 grain every 2 weeks and gradually uptd the dose slowly ..i am now on 1 grain in the morning and i take another 1 grain b4 i go to sleep..without this forum i dont know what i would of done ...i now take a vitamin b12 tablet which immediately helped with my balance ...i also take a vitamin d3 tablet which i know has really helped me .....just go with naturethoid slowly louise it will get better ....good luck

Christina

[louise52 in reply to christina61]

Thank you Christina

[louise52 in reply to christina61]

Christina can i ask did u have to start on 1/4 of a grain for 2 wks then up to a 1/2 and continued upping by a 1/4 every 2 wks?? Im 10 days on it now. Tried upping my 1/4 in the am to 1/2 yest and today and feel awful. Maybe i should go back to 1/4 x 2 a day for another wk or so. Im afraid im going to go even more hypo than ever!!

[lucylocks]

Hi

here is a link you may find helpful.

tpauk.com/main/article/how-...

Good luck.

[louise52 in reply to lucylocks]

Wow tks for this. Definitely going to order the Genova Saliva test and starting tmrw will restart at 1/4 grain. Excellent article!!!

[louise52]

Omg...cannot thank you enough for all the replies...sorry only getting back now as busy with 3 kids! Christina and Framboise thank you both. I will try to cut my tab in 4 tmrw and start with a quarter and move up v slowly. I was just afraid i might become even more hypo than i am if thats even possible considering the state im in!! I take Vit D3 Multi B Selenium and iron and vit c daily. My last reading for Vit D3 over a mth ago was 95 so new thyroid gp happy with that and i expect it to be higher again now. My B12 was 500 a mth ago and folate in upper third. Iron was dire 15 so have been supplementing with Galfer and Vit C 1000mgs daily. Again to all who have commented Thank You Thank You Thank You. It makes this hard journey not so solitary and somewhat bearable. Im determined to get some quality of life back no matter how long it takes. Christina i was on Eltroxin 20 yrs and my health just took a severe nosedive 3 yrs ago and ive been fighting to determine the cause. Because here in Ireland all dosing is TSH and FT4 dependent i never knew my FT3 but heavily suspect now i was never converting🙈i feel like im just at the start if a long battle

[mischa in reply to louise52]

Hi. If you are taking D3 then make sure you take it with vit K2 as this ensures D3 goes into bones and teeth and not ending up in the soft tissue. Very important.

[louise52 in reply to mischa]

Will do thank u