First blood test since changing to NDT.

[pennyannie]

Good morning, I wonder if I might have some feedback on my recent results.

I am with Graves Disease diagnosed 2003 and RAI thyroid ablation 2005.

I started self medication with Natural Desiccated Thyroid in November 2018.

I am currently on 1+1/2 at 4.00 am in the morning. I feel good, and my intention, with this blood test was simply to have a reference marker, as I know I do not feel well on a higher dose.

If anything, my plan was to maybe adjust the above dose with T4 to bring me into a "more human ratio ", and attempt to replicate that of a human glands output of 100 T4 and 10 T3.

I took my one and a half tablets 9 hours before the blood test.

So, this is where I am now :-

TSH = 0.005 ( 0 .27 - 4.2 )

T4 = 13.90 ( 12 - 22 )

T3 = 7.86 ( 3.1 - 6.8 )

My vitamins and minerals are now all optimal ( thank you Seaside Susie ) -

My first thought is to drop back to 1 + 1/4 NDT - and see where I am in 8 weeks time. Should I add back in some T4 now, or wait and see ?

I am surprised at how quickly I seem to have found a near perfect balance considering I'm effectively without a fully functioning thyroid.

Prior to the above I was on monotherapy with Levothyroxine but was very unwell with no stability of T3 on a dose of either 100 or 125 mcg.

Thank you, one and all,

[fibrolinda]

Personally I would just drop the 1/4 and retest in 6-8 weeks. I find it makes a big difference to me either way 1/4 tab. Revaluate then wether to add t4, you may need to reduce NDT again if you do.

X

[pennyannie in reply to fibrolinda]

Thank you - yes, it makes sense, have dropped the quarter today. I doubt it will cause any symptoms as if memory serves me right, once my brain " came back " with the one full tablet - I was pretty much symptom free, but just not knowing how " well " well can be !

[shaws Administrator in reply to pennyannie]

It is wise to increase by 1/4 tablet every two weeks until you are on an optimum dose (which means no symptoms and you feel well). Symptoms' relief is the priority.

[pennyannie in reply to shaws]

Yes, thanks Shaws - I'll try and assess if dropping this quarter makes any difference to me.

The good news is that if I feel I'm going a bit backwards, I have the ability to adjust the dose myself - so in the overall scheme of things, it's not a problem at all.

Just surprised at how high my T3 had become, as I wasn't aware of any symptoms,

Maybe had I waited a couple more hours before the blood draw, I'd have been in the " range " and unconcerned.

I think it's also a confidence thing with me.

Just posting the post, clarified my thoughts, as I'm now in my own driving seat !

[shaws Administrator in reply to pennyannie]

Keep in mind that when NDT was the only replacement available since 1892 until Big Pharma (1960's I believe,) thought it would produce another replacement. Unfortunatley it was T4 alone plus blood tests. There were no blood tests at all before T4 was introduced along with them (making a fortunate for Big Pharma) - only clinical symptoms. So it is symptom relief which is the priority not the TSH or anything else. TSH etc are only guides and don't state if clinical symptoms are relieved, only we can tell.

bmj.com/rapid-response/2011...