T3 too high on ndt: Hi I took ndt 2 grains for... - Thyroid UK

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T3 too high on ndt

spragg101 profile image
36 Replies

Hi

I took ndt 2 grains for 2.5 years and felt really well. I started to feel poorly and blood test showed t3 out of top range. I did reduce it to one grain but continued to feel poorly. Came off it and endo put me on 50mg of levo. For first 3 weeks i felt really well but it was shortlived. Now endo put me on 75mg of levo.only taken higher dose for 2 days and will have to stop as feel terrible. Should i try ndt again? Am confused as if the t3 in it comes out of system quickly how did mine get so high? I take all of the vitamins needed to asorb plus adrenal support.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I havent got another endo appt for 3 months and want to feel well before that. Its the lack of energy, tiredness,hairloss and weight gain im struggling with. That all stopped on ndt until i became poorly on it.

Many thanks

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36 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

How high did it get, exactly? Do you have the numbers - results and ranges?

spragg101 profile image
spragg101 in reply to greygoose

Hi greygoose. The range is 3.1 to 6.8 and the result was 7.5. I felt awful at the time. Sweating and very bloated

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to spragg101

That's a very high result considering there is only about 18 mcg T3 in NDT. Do you perhaps have high antibodies/Hashi's? How was the FT4?

spragg101 profile image
spragg101 in reply to greygoose

No had antibodies checked and they were fine.the ft4 range is 12 to 22 and mine was 12.9?

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to spragg101

OK, so that's low.

I wonder if perhaps you reduced your NDT too violently. A quarter grain would probably have been sufficient. I don't think it was necessary to go down to one grain. Given that you felt good on NDT for such a long time before, if it were me, I would go back to NDT at 1 1/4 grains, and increase by 1/4 grain every two weeks until I reached 1 3/4 grains, and see how I felt. :)

spragg101 profile image
spragg101 in reply to greygoose

Hi greygoose. Thanks ever so much for reply. I think i will try it again. When i was feeling bad and had that blood test my weight was going up and felt so unwell. I think im just worried abt it all going really wrong again. Im lucky as nhs endo is good and he did say he would supervise ndt if i decided to go on it but told me to try 75 of levo first. Its such a long road isnt it. Also i wonder if being in menopause caused problems as only found that out a year after these blood tests.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to spragg101

Well, it all depends how well you convert whether you get on with levo or not. Do you know how well you convert?

spragg101 profile image
spragg101 in reply to greygoose

I had an appt with dr p in 2013 and he diagnosed adrenal problems, low cortisol and said i wasnt converting very well. I wasnt on any meds at all then. He advised nutri extra and nutri thyroid. I was a new woman and weight fell off but then it changed and weight went on and back to feeling tired again. So its highly likely i dont convert. I did try nutri t convert but it didnt help

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to spragg101

Then it really wasn't worth the effort of trying levo only. I sometimes find these endos difficult to understand! lol

spragg101 profile image
spragg101 in reply to greygoose

I know this might sound simplistic greygoose but what i cant understand is why the t3 went too high after 2.5 years? Yes levo on its own wont help will it. He did suggest t3 altho have to get prescription from him privately but to discuss after 3 mths on 75 of levo and if thats not working consider that or ndt, but im thinking ndt would be easier anyway

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to spragg101

To be equally simplistic - these things happen. We don't always find out why. My first thought would be Hashi's - you can have Hashi's even with low levels of antibodies, you know. My second thought would be lab error - were you taking any form of biotin at the time? I would want a repeat test, anyway, to confirm or refute. But, it's a bit late for that, now. :)

NDT is easier, if it suits you. But, T4+T3 is more flexible.

spragg101 profile image
spragg101 in reply to greygoose

No never taken biotin. Never thought of hashis either. Geez its a minefield!! I really appreciate your advice. You are right re the t4 and t3 option giving more flexibility. I think im going to drop down to 50 mg of levo and get thru next 3 mths.have blood test which will no doubt show low t3 and see what he says in march. Im not great on 50mg levo but it keeps me going so at least i can function and have no brain fog just no energy. Thank you so much. You have helped me to decide on a plan!xx

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to spragg101

You're welcome. :) It's good to have a plan.

spragg101 profile image
spragg101 in reply to greygoose

Hey greygoose. I have some blood results. Would you mind awfully if i send you personal message so i can pick ur brains?

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to spragg101

Well, you could do. But, don't you think it would be better to post a new question so that you get a variety of responses? I might no know all that you want to ask. :)

silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7 in reply to spragg101

You may not have realised you have taken biotin. It's in B vitaminsxand haso shampoo and nail products. Not a problem if you don't take any for 5 days before bloods.

I missed my sweet spot when starting in NDT. I followed instruction upping my dose every two weeks by 0.5 to I reached 2 then dropping back to quarter increase I felt good but not as good as I've expected as the NHS gave me NDT when first diagnose over 30 years ago but a strike meant I had to take Levo and I was fine on that then. So by the time I went to see the Endo I was up to 3 grains but the bloods showed I was over medicated. He dropped me down to 1.75, still my current dose. Being over medicated I think is just as bad as being undermedicated so test I felt awful compared with how I feel today!

In case you aren't aware results when taking any form of NDT are read differently so if on the correct medication then TSH should be suppressed, FT4 can fall in its range but FT3 should be high but never over.

spragg101 profile image
spragg101 in reply to silverfox7

Hi silverfox

I didnt know biotin was in those things. Thankyou so much for info.theres hope!!!xx

Trigger88 profile image
Trigger88 in reply to spragg101

Dear Slow Slowdragon,

Have you been hiding under a rock? Levrothyroxine is the problem. It is like putting a 5 story elevator in a 50 story building. It will leave you feeling like s====T. It keeps you alive but feeling way below par. It is cynical Big Pharma who controlls this. They don't want a solution. Then they won't be able to prescribe Anti Depressants, Cholesterol drugs and Blood Pressure Drugs. It's time to take controll and find a universally useful system for people to follow. Every GP and Endo has a different take on a common problem.They test TSH for people who have had their Thyroid removed. There is nothing to test. It is a bad joke.

Solution: NDT correct dosage, Supplements to balance Chemistry, Correct Diet, Meditation and a belief you can be well.

TSH110 profile image
TSH110 in reply to spragg101

I was on 1.25 grain of ThyroidS for two years and felt great then suddenly started feeling. Hypo again - no idea why. I had to go up to 2.25 grains to feel ok again but now I have needed to drop back to 2. My thyroid was ultrasounded and was described as shrivelled very small indeed and unlikely to have any function whatsoever. So it ought to be totally moribund. I have been terrible for sugary coffee for some years but suddenly lost my taste for sugar altogether and fancied tea again. The workings of the body can be very mysterious!

I hope the decrease of 1/4 grain to your original dose works. I always up or decrease by 1/4 grain only at a time.

spragg101 profile image
spragg101 in reply to TSH110

Hi tsh110

Yes i was taking thyroid s too. I think your right just a quarter of grain can make huge difference

Furface profile image
Furface in reply to spragg101

This is just an opinion but if you got rid of your symptoms on NDT, then maybe cutting your dose by a quarter at a time then holding it for a while would be worth trying. As your system has been on NDT, it may not take too kindly to being deprived of the T3 part of NDT if you have any conversion problems.

I also wonder if it is possible that you may have changed in some way healingwise or got your vitamin levels more optimal and therefore need just a fraction less NDT? The majority of people who first go on meds are put on Levo and when that doesn't make them feel better, they look at T3 and NDT. Very few go from NDT to Levo out of choice. I know I wouldn't, but then I seem to be okay on NDT though not optimal yet, though much better than when on Levo.

spragg101 profile image
spragg101

Hi cat

I really feel for you. Its horrendous. Greygoose suggested cutting it down but only slightly? Xx

Maggie0652 profile image
Maggie0652

Just a thought, what make of NDT were you taking?

spragg101 profile image
spragg101 in reply to Maggie0652

Hi maggie

I was taking thyroid s. Not sure whether to try that one again as did do so well on it or whether to try armour

Maggie0652 profile image
Maggie0652 in reply to spragg101

I’m on Thyroid S and feeling really well on it. I got up to 3 grains but found I was above range with my fT3 reduced to 2 and a half then last blood test I was over again so now reduced to 2 grains. I’m blaming my antibodies.

TSH110 profile image
TSH110 in reply to spragg101

I have tried Naturethroid which was OK a little stronger than ThyroidS but I hear it has been reformulated since. I also gave npthyroid a go again it was fine but I found thryoids just as good as either of them, and a lot less costly.

spragg101 profile image
spragg101 in reply to TSH110

Thats interesting. Thyroid s def cheaper. I think maybe ill try it again after endo appt

I had FT3 way over the top range when on 3 grains of NDT for 5 months. I was losing weight and felt heart beating too fast. I reduced to 2.5 and then felt fine. You should have reduced by 1/2 not to 1 maybe.

spragg101 profile image
spragg101 in reply to

I think your are right jellybean. Think i reduced it down too much

TSH110 profile image
TSH110

I have never tried armour but that is even more expensive than the rest

Trigger88 profile image
Trigger88

Seems to me you have the wrong dose of NDT + What supplements do you take?

Also change of diet. Problem is when you feel bad because of meds that's all you seem to think about. Exercise,(gentle) and meditating on being well can change everything.

spragg101 profile image
spragg101 in reply to Trigger88

Hi trigger.

I was on 1.5 grains but gave up with it. I take all my supplements b12,folate,selenium,zinc and magnesium. Its a nightmare!!

Trigger88 profile image
Trigger88

Do you still have your Thyroid? If so the NDT dose is too high. What do you do for activity?

Also diet, weight etc. It's not just one thing.

spragg101 profile image
spragg101 in reply to Trigger88

Hi trigger 88

Apologies for late reply yes i do still ha e my thyroid. Have healthy diet and exercise too xx

Trigger88 profile image
Trigger88 in reply to spragg101

Have you tried seeing someone who practices Holistic medicine or even a Chiropractor? Their studies re diet etc are much more in-depth than mainstream

spragg101 profile image
spragg101 in reply to Trigger88

I have considered holistic but have no idea where to go to find a decent one

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