First time user of NDT, could I have some advice on my dose please?

[Paula101]

I'm on day 17 of Thyroid S. Have followed the directions for dose on the tpauk.com site.

As per directions I now take a half grain till day 21.

I felt well days 1-11 however I've not been well since days 12-17. I'm now anxious & stressed over slightest thing, light & noise sensitive, not sleeping resulting in anxiety waking me up, then on waking in the morning feeling anxious, sore legs & other muscle & joint pain.

I also started with a migraine day 12 and mid cycle started too.

Do I continue with half grain till day 21 or is my body telling me to up my dose already?

It's my first time using NDT & not sure how to proceed?

Thank you everyone 😊

[shaws Administrator]

I shall give you links of three chapters and they were made by one of our Advisers before his untimely death.

He advised when we start on a dose of NDT (he'd never prescribe levo) or T3 to increase dose every 2 weeks by a small amount.

tinyurl.com/ya5blrr2

tinyurl.com/y7ejh9sh

tinyurl.com/ycxpz565

copy and paste the tinyurls onto a new page.

[Paula101 in reply to shaws]

Thank you shaws.

Charting symptoms gives you a good visual of progress made & keeps you focused.

Although I've not been keeping a graph chart I have been keeping a NDT diary of symptoms, temps & pulses.

Thanks again, the links make for interesting reading.

[phoenix23002]

Did you have labs done confirming your hypo status before you started NDT? Did you also have your iron, b12 and d3 levels checked? If vitamin and iron levels are optimal (not just within range), there is something else going on that is keeping you from being able to raise NDT. If everything else is eliminated as a probable cause, time to check cortisol (adrenal output) levels with a 4 part saliva test. Also maybe have Reverse T 3 levels checked. Many of us have to work on several things at the same time in order to get healthy again. But... you need those labs to see what is going on and you may have to get them done privately.

[Paula101 in reply to phoenix23002]

Hi Phoenix

Thanks for your reply.

I had Blue Horizon full thyroid panel test in May 2018. I'm working on my ferritin as it's 53.7 (13-150), B12 is good at 747, noted as high but I know you can up too 900-1000. Vit D is 57 (25-50 insufficient), so this weather is going to help boost it, or would you say I need a loading dose? Serum folate 21.90 (8.83-60.8) I take 1 xThorne basic B complex with 400mcg methylfolate, should I take 2 to boost folate? Have also read more Vit B is required when taking NDT. I'm gluten & soy free, eat organic as much as possible. Will start seed cycling to help with periods. Taking other Vits & mins too.

Yes, I too was thinking of taking another Adrenal stress index test as the last one I did was last May.

Thanks again 😊

[phoenix23002 in reply to Paula101]

Bless you... you are working hard to get well. I would continue as you are at present and work on that iron. Some folks who need iron take a tablespoon of black strap molasses with each meal (okay if you are not diabetic). Also the supplement, Lactoferrin, helps. The lactoferrin helps the body to normalize iron but it, itself doesn't contain iron. Strange stuff but it works. As always, do your own homework and research.

It probably won't hurt to take a 1000 mg - 5000 mg D3 supplement. I take a Swanson's 5000 mg D 3 with K2 each day. The other supplement you might add is selenium, especially if you have hashimotos or an auto-immune condition. Don't exceed 200 - 400 mcg (that is mcg NOT mg) per day. Some who hate taking pills will eat a few brazil nuts each day instead. Depending on size and freshness, brazil nuts can contain 50 - 75 mcgs per nut.

Here is a link to the STTM site that discusses adrenals/cortisol and some home tests you can take to see if adrenal exhaustion might be a problem.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/a... If you do decide to check your adrenals, do do the saliva test and not the blood test.

[Paula101]

Black strap molasses, never would have thought of that, I'll read up on it. Lactoferrin sounds like it'll help, had a very quick read up about it in between sorting out my two boys, will look into it further.

I take a Better You D3 MK7 spray as I am Hashi's but I'll take a look at Swansons. I'm on selenium & have SSTM book, so will have another read up & check out your link.

Thank you so much for your help 😊

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Paula101]

The actual iron content of blackstrap molasses is tiny.

(I suspect that the sugar refiners are pushing the idea so they can sell vast quantities. )

[Paula101 in reply to helvella]

Thanks for that, much appreciated. I'm going to research Lactoferrin to see if it will help me.

[phoenix23002 in reply to Paula101]

Paula, it sounds like you are doing fine with your D3/MK7 spray. Swansons is a brand that I trust but what I like about their D 3 is that it is relatively inexpensive and it is in a tiny little gel cap..lol.. the smallest I have found. I am so sick of pills/tablets. I may look into your spray as an alternative to pills/caps/tabs.

The black strap molasses has been such a help to folks who just can't tolerate iron supplements. Iron can be real hard for some to handle. And, I think the body just handles it differently since it is a 'whole food' product. It has been used here in the states for a long, long time (considered old-fashioned) and not necessarily for it's health benefits.. Black strap was a left over from refining sugar cane and has all the 'good stuff' in it that was stripped out of sugar cane to make white sugar and it can taste a little strong (salty/mineral).

link to black strap uses/benefits...

naturallivingideas.com/10-b...

"2. Prevent or Cure Iron-Deficiency Anemia

The most common cause of anemia is iron deficiency (although deficiencies in other nutrients such as B12 can also cause the disorder).

Characterized by fatigue, paleness, cracking at the corners of the mouth, feeling cold, anxiety, hair loss, and dizziness, anemia is caused when the body cannot produce enough healthy red blood cells to successfully transport oxygen around the body.

Because blackstrap molasses is such a fantastic source of iron, many doctors recommend a tablespoon a day stirred into hot water for those with anemia or related disorders. This tonic is often called ‘pregnancy tea’ as it’s so frequently advised for pregnant women, a group at high risk of developing iron-deficiency anemia!

"

[Paula101 in reply to phoenix23002]

That is an interesting history of black molasses. My first thought on you mentioning it was that it came from the mists of time in America of old, not an English delicacy that's for sure 😀

I do tire of tablets and am looking more into extracting Vits & mins from wholefoods. That said of course, my improvements have been down to synthetic supplements, so I won't completely dismiss them. I'd take anything spray form if I could, at least it goes straight into the bloodstream.

Talking of 'pregnancy tea' I think the English equivalent would have been drinking stout years ago!

Got to go as we're off on our holibobs to the coast.....hooray!👣🏄‍♀️🏖

Thanks again phoenix. That's why I love this forum everyone is so helpful.