Due to blood tests being introduced along with levothyroxine (T4) alone but if we take or add other thyroid hormones (NDT contains T4, T3, T2, T1 and cacitonon), symptoms relieved are the best way of knowing whether or not someone is on an optimum dose. The fact that you feel happy and state "On NDT I have lost over 2 stone and feel “normal” again." answers your question I believe.
I shall give you a link and this doctor (now deceased) only took one blood test for the initital diagnosis and thereafter it was all about symptoms being relieved.
I could not agree with you more, Shaws! Unfortunately, most doctors do not. They consider the TSH the holy graal of thyroid hormone replacement (many won't even test FTs), and freak out at the sight of a suppressed TSH and some also at above-range FT3 levels...so, for the majority of hypothyroid patents on NDT or T3, it's a constant struggle for their right to stay on the treatment that makes them feel well...often for the first time in years. Sad but true.
It is scary at first and many are nervous but, when you discover that you eventually know more than the doctors and even some Endos and you recover your health it is amazing when everything settles down and you feel well again. Of course, it isn't an instant fix but a gradual climb back to good health when you get to a dose/hormones that suit.
GP will only prescribe to bring vitamin D up to 50nmol. So you will need to self supplement. Aiming to improve Vitamin D to at least 80nmol and around 100nmol may be better .
Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.
B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast
Recommended brands on here are Igennus Super B complex. (Often only need one tablet per day, not two. Certainly only start with one tablet per day after breakfast. Retesting levels in 6-8 weeks ).
Or Jarrow B-right is popular choice, but is large capsule
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
Slightly high ferritin is pretty common. Are you post menopause? This can be reason ferritin rises, or it can be due to inflammation of thyroid disease. If GP has checked iron levels then it's likely fine
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
If/when also on NDT make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test
Is this how you do your tests?
Suggest you spend 2-3 months improving vitamin levels and then retest thyroid and vitamins
Thank you very much for your reply. Looks like I have a lot of reading to do!
I didn’t realise I should have taken my NDT 12hours before test, I always take it as soon as I wake and leave an hour before anything other than water.
My blood test was pre dose or anything other than water (8.30am) do you think that will have made a big difference in the results?
I was told never to have a FT3 reading over range so I would be shouted at with your results and also if I was just in range but strangely I've thought again and decided I would go along with the plea to lower it and I actually feel better! Not ready for testing yet so we shall see what happens then but I'm now wondering if the difference is because I'm managing to address my vits etc on a more regular basis and so needing less medication so looking forward now to what my new levels will be. At the end of the day we need to go with what's right for us. I've also lost a little weight so may be the extra I was taking was actually working against me.
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1st BLOOD RESULT ON NDT
Latest results & urgently need NDT
Results after switching to NDT
NDT results
Blood results after 14 months on NDT
