Not sure if I'm in the right place or doing the right thing. Suffering from memory loss, can't remember anything. Just found this by going through something on my laptop.
Apparently I've been having panic attacks and seizures.
I've been taking 3 grains of thyroid S.
Went to see an endocrinologist here on Fuerteventura and they suggested decreasing my meds by half as my TSH is suppressed.
2 weeks later panic attacks have decreased apparently and seizures stopped but feel like an absolute zombie.
Was thinking of swapping back to levo ( although that in itself is presenting difficulty)
Looking through all my old blood tests TSH has been suppressed for years as been experimenting with adding in T3 and then swapping over to NDT.
When last on levo my TSH was over 15
Sorry if none of this makes sense.... Kind of how my head it ATM...
Any advice or thoughts appreciated.
Best wishes,
T
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Tinx71
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Taking NDT will suppress your TSH. That doesn't mean you're over-medicated - in fact, it doesn't mean anything at all on its own. Do you also have your FT4 and FT3 tested? If the FT3 is over-range, then you are probably over-medicated. But, the answer is never to just slash your dose in half. Reductions should be made slowly, but 1/4 grain at a time.
If you have any FT3/4 results, post them on here, with the ranges, and let's have a look.
Thank you for your help Greygoose, I was out while writing this so going from memory.
Just got home...
Free T4 0.72 ng/dL range 0.54 - 1.24
Free T3 3.08 pg/mL range 2.00 - 6.80
TSH 0.01 mcUl/mL range 0.38 - 5.33
Autoimmunity
Ac. anti-Microsomales 5.4 Ul/mL range 0 - 10
Ac. anti- Tiroglobulina 117.6 Ul/mL range 0 - 4
Always fascinates me that they always measure my "Autoimmunity" but never ever take any notice of the results ....... there´s always at least one of them way way over the range
Your FT3 is very low for someone taking 3 grain of NDT! You do look to be under-medicated. How do you take your NDT? On an empty stomach leaving at least an hour before eating, etc. just like levo?
I take my NDT late at night. I eat a snack "tea" at 6.30pm and take my NDT 10.30pm with water. I had tried other ways like first thing in the morning but it can be chaos here so wasn't very consistent if that makes sense...
It doesn't matter what time you take it, as long as your stomach is empty. And, yours should be with that timing. Yet, you don't seem to be absorbing very well. Do you know if you have low stomach acid? Read this article, and try the home test at the bottom:
Hiya, I meant to say .... I've never suffered with anything that had the need to be treated with antacids so I don't reckon it's going to be that after reading through and then researching about it... Fascinating information, it's incredible the amount of things that can be wrong with our bodies. I'm thinking that it's something to do with conversation , although the seizures have now stopped since the decrease in meds two weeks ago, haven't had any panic attacks in 7 days now.... I have terrible problem with my memory so relying on what my family tells me as I never recall any of these things at all!
I do wonder though if it's because I ran out of vitamins a while back and didn't think about ordering more since I figured that changing to NDT would change everything 😊....
I obviously started off ok on it as I had been able to get back to climbing mountains and cycling ...
However little by little definitely things have gradually gone downhill and the seizures and panic attacks came into play about a year ago apparently.
Going to focus on taking my vitamins and book for a blood test for each of them.
Have another endocrinologist appointment today so compiling a list of questions.
Especially the fact that my resting heart rate is 40BPM and only reaches 60 if walking..
Thanks for all your advice, I really appreciate it.
Did you actually do the acid test? Just because you don't have to take antacids, doesn't mean your stomach acid is a normal level.
I do wonder though if it's because I ran out of vitamins a while back and didn't think about ordering more since I figured that changing to NDT would change everything
Quite the contrary, actually. When taking NDT, it's absolutely essential that your nutrients are optimal for it to work. But, not sure that having optimal nutrients will affect absorption in the gut, and that's your problem. Except, of course, low B12 can affect stomach acid levels.
Hi T. Brain Fog is significantly helped by getting sufficient B12. I run my B12 anywhere from 800 to 1400 by injecting a B12 hydroxocobalamin ampoule every 3 month. My GP put me onto it and I now just self inject. Dr Google recommends "200 and 900".
Anxiety - low and particulary high thyroid levels will bring on anxiety. Looking at your bloods I would suggest you are high and need to drop. As others said do this slowly. Look for symptoms you can use to drive NDT, tingles, temperature , heart palps, cold feet hot feet etc . With NDT you need to tune, more NDT in winter less in summer , more with exercise, less with sedentary life style. If you could do a blood test 5 times a day like a diabetic it would be great but you can't, so you need to find side effects and work out what they mean in terms of NDT levels.
Thanks James, no brain fog .... body is very tired as if I have just completed 7 marathons in one day kind of thing.
I just want to sleep.
Only able to walk at the moment but would usually be cycling minimum of 10km a day and walking 15-20km with the dogs.... only doing generally about 10km walking .
Problem i have is seizures and panic attacks which I have never experienced in my life up until a year ago.
Doctor has decrease my meds from 3 to 1.5 grains of Thyroid S
Seizures have stopped thank goodness... panic attacks decreased.... had zero in the last 7 days.
I am extremely irritable which isn't anything like me.
No heart palps
Resting heart rate currently on 40bpm on waking
only other big thing is memory. I cannot recall things that are happening most of the time and having to keep notes of everything important that happens as i don't recall anything at the moment and normally I have an excellent memory that everyone else around me depends upon .....
I had however run out of vit B12 so that could be the key to it all and have just gone and found some down town and taking it so with luck .....
Yes get lots of B12 into you . But 40bpm is too low, unless you are an Olympic athlete. For me this is not enough NDT. Dropping from 3 grains to 1.5 is massive. Try bumping it up slowly over a few days until you feel side effects. As I say, you cant use a blood test every 3 months to drive NDT.
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Can antibodies change? Hashimotos.
Is suppressed TSH more likely with secondary hypothyroidism?
Anxiety & Panic attacks.
Anxiety/panic attacks
Panic attacks related to overmedication
