Switching Back To Synthroid

[GReenMachineX]

I’ve had a tough time the past 10 months with palpitations and other bizarre side effects from hormone replacement therapy at wrong dosages and medications. Basically I’m trying to go back to the basics of what I knew worked 2 years ago.

Today is day 1 going back to synthroid from being on Nature-Throid for 6 months. I just don’t believe I’m tolerating the NDT well and have to make sure. How quickly will I notice a drop in symptoms if I’m right about this hypothesis? I’m on 81.25mg NDT and switching back to 125mcg synthroid.

I’ve recently stopped all extra supplements because I realized some were making me worse (hypermagnesemia and aromatase inhibition), but by doing that, realized I was treating a whole host of hyperthyroid symptoms like increased blood pressure, anxiety, nervousness, face and hand flushing, sweaty hands and feet, breathless, extreme hunger, insomnia, etc. I could be wrong about all this, but I’m pretty sure I’m not. I’ve even been prescribed a beta blocker to control the BP spikes and elevated heart rate. I’m guessing I should continue the beta blocker until the symptoms resolve but I don’t know how long that will be.

I also need to donate blood for a high hemoglobin which I’m not sure I should do quite yet with all this or just wait a few more days.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Do you have Hashimoto's (high antibodies)

Have you tested vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.

[GReenMachineX in reply to SlowDragon]

Ferritin was 150 but had a iron saturation of 24. Liver enzymes were mildly elevated. Both of which can point to too much thyroid, correct?

Last b12 was top of range normal.

Can’t recall what D was and never had folate tested.

Thyroid antibodies were normal or whatever 10 years ago.

[GReenMachineX in reply to GReenMachineX]

Also waiting on saliva adrenal lab to come back.

[Hidden]

I think you should feel better rather quickly if elevated FT3 levels have been causing your symptoms. T3 is a fast-acting hormone and will decrease rapidly in your system (24-48 hours).

Has your doctor said that hypertension is a symptom of hyperthyroidism? I always thought it was the other way around, and that hypothyroidism causes hypertension, whereas hyperthyroidism tends to lower the BP...? More curious than anything.

Good luck with the new regimen, I hope you feel better soon!

[GReenMachineX in reply to Hidden]

One of my doctors said it, but I just know anxiety makes my BP jump a good bit, as well as the palpitations and stuff.

[GReenMachineX]

So far feeling better today than I have after donating a pint of blood (hemoglobin was 19 now) and synthroid instead of nature-throid. I also read that too much thyroid can increase hemoglobin, which may explain why I feel like I have low iron symptoms with a low-ish iron saturation but a ferritin of 150.

[Clutter]

GReenMachineX,

There will be 40mg NatureThroid left in your system a week after last dose, 20mg after 2 weeks, 10mg after 3 week and 5mg after 4 so it will take up to 6 weeks to completely clear NatureThroid from your system.

[GReenMachineX in reply to Clutter]

Oh, so it’ll take a little longer than a few days to recover if my issue was too much NDT...

Thanks!

[Clutter in reply to GReenMachineX]

GReenMachineX,

If it was due to too much NDT, yes, but 125mcg Synthroid is a higher dose than 81.25mg NDT.

[GReenMachineX in reply to Clutter]

It is??? But it’ll take a couple weeks for the synthroid to build up, right? Or will it be quick switch?

[Clutter in reply to GReenMachineX]

GReenMachineX,

It will take 7-10 days for the Synthyroid to be absorbed and if FT4 is low it will take up to 6 weeks for FT4 level to build up.

[GReenMachineX in reply to Clutter]

I’m ok with that. I know 125mcg synthroid worked for me before. It can’t be too far off.

I’m figuring out that methylation is actually the biggest problem right now, both overmethylation and undermethylation and trying to find the right balance.

Thank you so much for the help!

[GReenMachineX]

Clutter,

During the transition from coming off NDT and on to Synthroid, could that explain a lump in throat type of feeling occasionally? I think about a week or 2 after switching to Synthroid this started, and it’s been about a month since the switch. Granted, I’ve changed a lot of things in my protocol but I’m exploring every possibility.

Also, pretty sure I was hyperthyroid before, since the switch, I haven’t been cleaning drain hair out of the shower daily anymore. No more hair loss!