Bovine Glandular Support with NDT?

I have recently been wondering whether it is advisable to take Bovine Glandular support to help with T4 to T3 conversion now that I am proceeding with NDT after confirming through trial and error that I have allergic reactions to synthetic T4 and T3. I have finally had a hashimoto diagnosis confirmed after years of being hypo without full medical support following paying for a semi full blood panel test and presenting it to my GP. The results showed that they can no longer deny that I do not convert T4 to T3 very well, and I also have high antibodies, therefore, my symptoms aren't just a "sign of getting older" or "hypochondria" as I was so often made to feel. After reading that to absorb T3 optimally, glandulars are often recommended, I purchased a bovine glandular supplement from the U.S and started taking it,however, since starting on NDT, I am no longer sure whether taking a bovine supplement with the porcine thyroid meds is advisable or not.

Any advice or experience from anybody in the know on such things would be gratefully received... Thanks!

[Hidden]

How much NDT are you taking each day and for how long, how do you feel?

First things first OK?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Bunnyjean,

I am now up to one and a half grains split between two doses. This will be my almost third week. I was prescribed 100mcg Levo with the GP. I am feeling OK and the wonderful thing is my post nasal drip and constant sneezing as though I have a heavy cold all the time has gone. This alone is heavenly as I feel better in myself just for that reason. I am hoping now I can loose the weight I gained since being on Levo. I am taking pretty much all the vits and minerals recommended plus Myoinisitol and Berberine. I don't take the bovine glandular everday due to my uncertainty on whether I should take it.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi I am glad that your feeling better it took me two years to feel better after my TT back in October 2015 before this I knew nothing about the thyroid but have learnt a lot on this helpful site.

I have taken 2, 2.5, and 3 grains per fay of thyroid s NDT over 18 months but I never felt 100% of either dose.

I now take 1 NDT + 1/2 x 25mcg T3 at 6.30am and 1/2 of T3 in the afternoon.

The difference has been nothing but amazing.

When I started on NDT I soon lost the weight that I put on when on Levo for 7 months. It was only 10 lbs but I had never been overweight in my life.

I think that it's a good idea for you to be more consistent and take your medication every day, what do you think? Have you posted your blood test results?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your thoughts. I do take all meds and supplements everyday apart from the glandular support which I have stopped for now because on reading about glandular support there are fors and against them and so I can't seem to find a clear answer on it's use with NDT, there is no point asking my GP. Do you use probiotics? I have heard those can beneficial, although I am starting to feel like a mobile pharmacy and spending a fortunate on all this stuff in the hope of getting well. I have posted my blood results very recently. I am just starting out on NDT as a result of my last blood results in order to try and get some t3 in a natural form, synthetic meds don't seem to work for me. After Christmas I am going to try and go gluten free as well.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi I have never had gut problems or hashimotos. I don't use probiotics either.

I think that it depends on the individual. You should be getting better on NDT and T3 lets hope before too long.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Bunnyjean, Hi, how much Levo were you prescribed previous to taking NDT? I was on 100mcg Levo and now up to 2 grains but I am not starting to loose the weight I had hoped by switching over to NDT. I am thinking maybe adding some T3 to the NDT as I don't want to rise my T4 too high, my results showed just over normal range and my T3 was borderline normal on the low end so I think the T3 is more important to level out. Why did you reduce to just one 1 grain when on T3 and not stay on the 2 grains. It all seems like we have to medicate by trial and error quite often.

[Hidden]

The thing is that I was only on Levo for around 7/8 months after my TT. I was not on any medication before that and I was never overweight. I put on approx 10 lbs in the 7/8 months but it went when starting NDT. I was on 100mcg and then 150mcg Levo.

It depends, but if I were you I would just wait a while and see how you feel. If you were very overweight it may take sometime before your body responds.

Yes I agree by trial and error theory. My main reason was that I had a reading of 8.3 when taking 3 grains i.e. at least 1/3rd over the top limit. So, therefore, I was going to reduce to 2 grains anyway. I was always tired on 2 , 2.5 and 3 so hence the addition of T3.

My idea was trying to balance to around 2 grains by taking 1x NDT and 1 T3 per day and it works. I will not be having another blood test for a while but I feel great.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I am not too overweight, but I have been gaining slowly since being on Levo. I actually weighed less before I was diagnosed with hypo and so I desperately want to get back to my ideal weight pre-levo days. The last two days I have had lumbar back ache, nauseous and full on diarrhoea. I am hoping it's due to something icky I ate or a bug and not because I have increased the NDT (Thyroid S), I am desperate to be suitably medicated.

[Hidden]

When you have diarrhoea it can be too much NDT? I hope that you feel better soon.