Testing thyroid medication

Hi everyone, I’m new here and for quite a few years many of the symptoms I’ve experienced has led me to think I have hypothyroidism (my mom has hashimotos and she has had me tested multiple times thinking something is off with thyroid) I’m 22 and went to an endocrinologist who says my thyroid tsh is in normal range, right now it’s 2.62. Was 3.25, dropped to 2.1 and then up to the current 2.6 , anyways going through lists of symptoms I have usually 80% of them and I just feel terrible so often. He said I could try it out when I asked and prescribed me NP thyroid at 60 mg (is it mg? Lol) I’ve read many reviews before starting it and utterly freaked myself out by people’s stories and the side effects stated etc.. Could anyone tell me how they felt when they very first went on thyroid medication?

[shaws Administrator]

I think, before you 'try' it, you should get a Full Thyroid Function Test.

We have three private labs that do home pin-pirick tests. You must be well-hydrated a couple of days before blood draw and if you were taking thyroid hormones, you'd allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take it afterwards.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

If someone is prescribed levothyroxine it takes a while to work up to a dose which relieves symptoms. It isn't like taking a tablet for a headache as we are dealing with essential life-giving hormones.

You need tested: TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.

Post your results on a new question for comments. Ranges are important as labs differ and they are required in order to comment.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[greygoose]

Were all your TSH tests done at the same time of day? TSH is highest early in the morning and drops throughout the day. It also drops after eating. So, to be able to compare results, the blood draw always has to take place under the same circumstances.

But, a TSH test on its own is not much use. It needs to be done in conjunction with the other thyroid tests: FT4, FT3, TPO antibodies and Tg antibodies. You also need nutrients tested to get a full picture: vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin.

Thyroid hormone replacement is a very personal thing. And what helps one person won't necessarily help another. We react differently to different brands as much as we do to different types of THR - T4 (levo)/T3/NDT (such as NP thyroid). So, asking for other people's experiences probably won't be much help for you. It's all trial and error where thyroid hormones are concerned.

I would also like to say that the difference between different brands is the fillers. The active ingredients are all the same: T4 or T3 or a mixture of both. T4 and T3 are hormones, and you don't usually get side-effects with hormones if you take the right amount. The side-effects are usually due to the fillers in the tablet.

What your doctor has given you is 1 grain of NP Thyroid - or 60 mg. It's much easier if we talk in grains when talking about NDT, because it contains both T4 and T3. And, starting on 1 whole grain might be a bit too much for you. People usually start on 1/2 a grain. With any hormone you need to start low and increase slowly, so as not to shock the system. So, with NDT, we increase by 1/4 grain every two weeks. That will ease you into the treatment much more gently. Then, once you have been on 1 whole grain for six weeks, you should retest to see how you're doing. But, there is absolutely no point in just testing TSH. If you are taking T3, you need to test the FT3, and dose by the FT3. Do not let your doctor dose by the TSH alone.