Wanting to switch from levo to NDT: I am on 100mg... - Thyroid UK

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Wanting to switch from levo to NDT

Pinktijen profile image
6 Replies

I am on 100mg of oral levo, my 3rd week since a TT. I know I am still recovering from surgery on 25th Feb, but i feel odd. Sometimes I sleep in the afternoon if my night sleep was bad and I have permanent tinnitus in left ear since surgery.

I want to swap onto NDT to see if I feel any better. I'm getting bloods done next week as will be 4 weeks post surgery.

Also I take oral levo as I'm allergic to most fillers in tablets. Which NDT brand is best for minimal fillers?

Many thanks

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Pinktijen
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6 Replies
bantam12 profile image
bantam12

Don't assume NDT is a magic cure as many people don't get on well with it, as you are still getting over the op and adjusting to Levo you would be better to stick with it and see if things improve, takes many months to find the right dose, no quick fixes.

cjrsquared profile image
cjrsquared

Please be aware it takes up to 6 weeks for anaesthetic drugs to be fully cleared from the body and that they effect circadian rhythm and sleep cycles. You have also had major surgery which takes a minimum of 3 months to recover from. I understand you want to be well, and ndt may be right for you, but you need to be on a stable dose of hormone replacement with optimal levels of vitamins and minerals before getting full thyroid bloods to look at TSH, ft3 and ft4. It is then that you can realistically assess how you feel along, with your blood levels, to see if ndt or t3 could be beneficial for you. Sadly it is not something that can be hurried, I wish a speedy recovery. Goodluck

MaisieGray profile image
MaisieGray

I'm not sure what you mean by oral Levo, as all Levo is taken orally as far as I'm aware. I agree with cjrsquared and with the advice you've received before. You need to allow time for your body to heal from the physical trauma of surgery and the effects of the anaesthesia; which can differ for each person, not least if say, your general health and/or your nutrition pre-surgery weren't optimal, but even if they were, individual recovery responses vary. Then your body has to adjust to whatever your thyroid function and hormone levels were like with endogenous thyroid hormones, to how things are with no thyroid and with exogenous hormones. You were asked about levels and testing of important vitamins and minerals in your previous post, to which I don't see a response - have you been tested recently? Some of your symptoms may easily be attributed to low levels. Regarding NDT, it isn't a perfect solution for all, and can even be no solution for some - no one form of exogenous thyroid hormone works for everyone. But it is far too soon to be deciding Levo isn't a good fit for you, or that it's appropriate to swap, or what to swap too. You might even find that changing horses mid-race, as you suggest, can set you back rather than improve things. Some people report taking a long time to recover from what turned out to be wrong decisions about medicating.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

If you're thinking of changing to NDT because you're allergic to most fillers and NDT is "natural", check out this article which gives the ingredients of all NDT tablets. The only natural thing is that they use pigs' thyroids, but to make the tablets they have to use synthetic fillers, just like synthetic thyroid hormone, and the list is probably just as long.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/a...

Check through the list of different thyroid hormone replacements on ThyroidUK and you will see if there is anything available that would suit you, if you know what fillers you are allergic to:

thyroiduk.org/tuk/treatment...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

You really need to wait 6-8 weeks before testing on Levothyroxine, especially after recovering from surgery

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw). This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Essential to test TSH, FT3 and FT4

You could test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 now, as these need to be optimal (not just within range) for good thyroid

Post results and ranges on these, when you get them

jgelliss profile image
jgelliss

I'm afraid that some of us as TT patients have a very unrealistic expectations of ourselves . We think that once our thyroids are out we should now be our old regular selves only better . In many ways it's true . I had to learn this lesson myself . Our bodies want to do one thing and in our mind we want to conquer the world . Giving yourself time and as much time as you need to heal yourself is the best . Laugh a lot read enjoying able materials and watch funny movies . Catch up on the rest you didn't get before your TT .

Nutrients are very important too . Vitamin D" /K2 , B-Complex , B-12/folate , Vitamin "C" , magnesium , Iron if you test low , Celtic Sea Salt for electrolytes /adrenals .

Sending You Positive and Healing Hugs . You'll get there before you know it .

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