NDT: I apologise for the briefness of this post... - Thyroid UK

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BarkingBadger profile image
16 Replies

I apologise for the briefness of this post, and the general lack of information.

This has been the most awful week of my life. T4 makes me so unwell I couldn't even go to my mother's funeral this week. After 8 years of this 'hypersensitivity' and general T4 poisoning, this is my final straw. Thd endo I saw today won't prescribe Armour. I'm suicidal with it all.

Please can somebody DM me with info on a reputable source to buy Armour.

I'd be forever thankful.

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BarkingBadger
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16 Replies
Clutter profile image
Clutter

A-Bird,

I'm very sorry for your loss and that you weren't well enough to attend your mother's funeral.

NDT isn't licensed for UK use so it is rarely prescribed on the NHS. Most members using it have private prescriptions or buy online and self medicated.

Armour is the most expensive NDT. NatureThroid, Acella NP and Erfa are less expensive and the Thai NDT Thyroid-S and Thiroyd are the cheapest.

If you post your recent thyroid results and ranges and say how much Levothyroxine you are taking I can guide you to NDT dosing.

BarkingBadger profile image
BarkingBadger in reply to Clutter

I know it's so rare to get it prescribed on the NHS on a named patient basis but I had to be hopeful.

I don't have any recent blood tests to share with you - I was so upset today I just wanted to come home tbh, so I'll get those done another day.

I'm so done with synthetic replacement. My M.E. riddled body hates it.

I'm at the point that I'll take any NDT I can get my hands on.

Thank you.

X

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to BarkingBadger

A-Bird,

How much Levothyroxine are you taking?

BarkingBadger profile image
BarkingBadger in reply to Clutter

I'm on 275mcg atm...high, I know, but I take other meds that interfere, Sertraline for example. I feel poisoned irrelevant of dosage, but many of my thyroid symptoms feel much better on a higher dose. I just feel so ill on it, bed bound ill. M.E. alone never floored me so continuously like this.

Dosage is kinda my secondary problem but I need to get that right, too, obviously.

It just helps to know people understand how tiresome this is.

X

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to BarkingBadger

A-Bird,

I felt poisoned on Levothyroxine as soon as I was switched to it from T3. Over 15 months I titrated dose from 200mcg to 100mcg with minimal improvement except when I was taken off Levothyroxine for more RAI.

Endo was no help so I started self medicating. Adding T3 to Levothyroxine seemed to calm the adverse effects Levothyroxine only caused and raising FT3 from below range was a great improvement. I've been well on T4+T3 combination since 2014.

You can buy T3 without prescription as well as NDT. It may be worth trying T4+T3 combination and if you find that doesn't work after a few months then switch to NDT.

275mcg Levothyroxine is equivalent to 4.25 grains NDT but you should titrate both rather than straight switch over to NDT until you know how you tolerate the T3.

BarkingBadger profile image
BarkingBadger in reply to Clutter

I'm logging all this info as best I can this week. Forgive me if I get confused.

I'm so awful with maths I'm more thankful than you can imagine that you've done that conversion for me.

We did try T3 + T4 back in 2012 but the T4 aspect was still a problem.

I really wouldn't be going 'rogue patient' unless I felt I had another option.

I can but try. At least I'll know, one or the other, if I'm going to feel better.

Thank you!

X

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to BarkingBadger

A-Bird,

Try reducing Levothyroxine by 75mcg for each 1 grain NDT you add. Every 2 weeks should be okay. Hold at 4 grains for 6-8 weeks and have a thyroid test including FT3 to check FT3 remains within range.

BarkingBadger profile image
BarkingBadger in reply to Clutter

I've screen capped this so I can't misremember it.

This is so appreciated.

X

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to BarkingBadger

A-Bird,

That transition is faster than usually recommended but if you feel poisoned on Levothyroxine the quicker you are off it the better.

marsaday profile image
marsaday

Why haven’t you looked into using some t3 with the t4 first.

Do you know if you are on enough t4 ?

Nth is not some miracle drug and many people still struggle to get it to work

BarkingBadger profile image
BarkingBadger in reply to marsaday

T4 is my chemical nemesis - I don't get the same 'poisoned' problem with T3 but they won't prescribe T3 here without T4. (We've not long moved area.) After 8 years I'm now willing to try NDT. It might not be cure all, I'd be amazed if it were but I have to try.

X

marsaday profile image
marsaday

Your issue is ME is isn’t it?

This means your whole metabolic level is very low. Thyroid hormones will not make you well on their own.

Your adrenal performance will be rubbish and this will explain why t3 makes you tired. You just don’t have enough cortisol to take the thyroid into the cells.

The aim is to improve the environment of your mitochondria. Specific vitamins and minerals are important. Dr my hills website is very good info.

Where thyroid replacement is used in your condition it has to be done on a lower level so as not to suck up all the precious cortisol to fast.

Ft4 doesn’t want to go to high so use enough t4 to get the ft4 into the teen area.

Then use t3 to improve how you feel.

Bedtime dosing of the t4 can aid cortisol generation

cwill profile image
cwill

My primary diagnosis was ME but was also ignored autoimmune hypo. On T4 I was really dire but started on NDT and have been much better for it. I have sensitivities to all sorts so used the least reactive version, Clutter hasn’t mentioned it as it is not in production at present but might be soon if you find that the brand that you start on doesn’t suit.

And if you have found this site I am sure that you are on the full vitamins and minerals advised for hypo and ME. My adrenals were scrapping along the bottom no matter what I did but with the NDT they recovered with no further targeted help. I had simply used coenzyme 10 and plenty of vit C as Dr Myhill advises and of course a good diet. My body obviously needed the full set of hormones. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

BarkingBadger profile image
BarkingBadger

Thought I'd just replied but it's vanished so I'll try again...

I just wanted to thank you all. It's only five days on NDT and I already feel so much better. I'm not expecting a miracle cure but the feeling of being poisoned by Levo was gone within 24 hours. This is the difference I needed.

Thank you!

Clarrisa profile image
Clarrisa

Sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. It really is a huge strain on anyone's system. Reading posts here has made me realize these thyroid problems take time & effort to correct, just as grief over the loss of your mother will take time & perhaps joining a grief group to best help. "Patience is virtue" was a quote my mother liked to say ... Take Care A-Bird.

BarkingBadger profile image
BarkingBadger in reply to Clarrisa

Thanks, Clarrisa. It still feels very odd to hear that said. It's all still a bit of a shock. But feeling physically better is helping that filter through. I can barely believe the impact on my life thyroid issues have had. That I wasn't anywhere near well enough to travel to see my mum is hard to process.

But I know I'm not alone in walking this tightrope back to some kind of better health.

This forum is a life saver, I think.

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