Hi there!
I'm struggling again with NDT dosing. It's been a long haul, since swapping over ( from 75mcg thyroxine plus 20 mcg T3) back in early August (so it's been 4.5 months on NDT).
My GP felt I had raised to 1.5 grains too quickly in the beginning (although it was raised over 6 weeks, I had added in some T3 also, on advice of my compounding pharmacist) and had me drop back to 1 grain for the 3 weeks. She wanted me at 1 grain for 1 month, but I was very hypo, so I continued with my raising (mindful of the danger of 'negative feedback loop???' From staying on low dose too long) So, more recently, I have been on -
3 weeks 1 grain (dropped back after raised to 1.5 over 6.5 weeks)
10 days 1.5 grains
8 days 2 grains
4.5 weeks 2.5 grains (4 days on 3 grains in middle, was too much so dropped back to
2.5)
2 weeks 2 grains (after 4.5 weeks on 2.5 grains, I felt suddenly hyper, so dropped back to 2 grains)
Bloods drawn after 1 month at 2.5 grains were good (sorry I don't have them on hand) and doc thinks I may be optimal on 2 grains with 2.5 grains maybe twice a week.....I saw doc a couple of days after dropping back to 2 grains.....the clinic has the attitude that I am far too impatient, and want to see me staying on each dose for 4-6 weeks (to allow for full T4 conversion) Slow and steady......so she wants me on 2 grains now for 5 weeks then draw bloods.....she did say that I would probably feel 'a bit hypo' but DONT CHANGE dose.
I understand the need for patience, allowing for T4 conversion, but I also wonder about the negative feedback loop (Broda Barnes I think?) caused by staying on low dose too long.
After just over a week on the reduced 2 grains, I started feeling hypo, more and more each day. As it has been 2 weeks on 2 grains, I am tempted to increase to 2.25, and stay there for the 5 weeks....and risk GP irritation!
I am a single mum, and it's been 4 months of up and down, impacting our lives severely! I felt wonderful during the month at 2.5 grains, best I've felt in years, and am so disappointed to be back in the hypo horror again (though not so bad as the early days on 1 grain!)
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks very much for this wonderful community, and happy new year!
Sophie x