I am taking two tablets of NDT. Am not sure what to do now as I did not want to add levothyroxine, but maybe this is what I have to do to increase my T4.
However did not measure my vitamin levels, so am wondering if I need to do this? Did test first thing in morning, after fasting, but thought I was over medicated so did not take NDT 12 hours before, but 24hrs. Would this make such a large difference to the 3 results? Should I skip taking the tablets in the morning and instead take at 7pm (12 hrs before) and remeasure? Or do I have to take Levothyroxine if I want to increase T4 and then remeasure? Pulse was up at 90 and blood pressure also higher than normal, also feeling dizzy. Don't understand why TSH is still high. What would be the best thing to do next? Thanks.
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but thought I was over medicated so did not take NDT 12 hours before, but 24hrs. Would this make such a large difference to the 3 results?
Not quite sure of your logic there. To know if you were overmedicated, then you need to take your thyroid hormone at the advised time to give the normal circulating hormone, and for NDT that is 8-12 hours. Leaving 24 hours means that your FT4 and FT3 results are showing a false low.
If you normally take your NDT in one dose in the morning, for a day or two before the test you could split your dose and take half in the morning and the other half 8-12 hours before the time of your test.
Personally, I would retest, following the suggested timings to see where your normal levels lie. I would also do the full thyroid/vitamin panel, especially as in a previous post you mention Hashimoto's. Hashi's tends to affect nutrient levels and often they are low or deficient.
Either of the following would be suitable:
Medichecks Thyroid Check ULTRAVIT medichecks.com/thyroid-func... You can use code TUK20 before the end of May for 20% discount, or at other times THYROIDUK for a 10% discount on any test not on special offer.
Both tests include the full thyroid and vitamin panel. They are basically the same test but with the following small differences:
For the fingerprick test, Blue Horizon requires 1 x microtainer of blood (0.8ml), Medichecks requires 2 x microtainers (total 1.6ml)
Blue Horizon includes Total T4 (can be useful but not essential). Medichecks doesn't include this test.
B12 - Blue Horizon does Serum B12. Medichecks does Active B12.
Serum B12 shows the total B12 in the blood. Active B12 shows what's available to be taken up by the cells. You can have a reasonable level of Serum B12 but a poor level of Active B12. (Personally, I would go for the Active B12 test.)
This test was my first fingerprick test and it was not as hard to fill the microcontainer as I thought it would be, after following all the advice given on this forum, so hopefully I might be able to manage 2 microcontainers. Thank you for the details on the differences in the tests.
Fill your boots time we have 6 months to use the test, but check the date on the blood tubes, it's an expiry date and will need replacing if the date is up before you use it, providing you do the test within the 6 month time limit.
When you say you are taking 2 tablets of NDT, do you mean 2 grains of NDT, and which NDT are you taking? If it is Armor, that is a high dose and could be responsible for your fast pulse and high blood pressure. Again, if it is Armour, then I would try 1.5 grains. Your TSH is saying undermedicated but your symptoms are saying overmedicated. But before we go further, please tell us the dose of "one tablet", and which NDT.
It is two grains of Thyroid s. The day I measured pulse I took 1.5 grain and felt worse. So I am now taking more iron and Vit D as when last measured they were in range but low. I was undermedicated for a long time esp when on Nature Throid, since they changed it, with hair falling out etc. So all vits probably low now. I will order thyroid ultra vit test to find out levels. Don't know how important it is to measure cortisol levels, or if it is equally as important as vitamin levels? As obviously something is wrong, as T4 so low.
Don't know how important it is to measure cortisol levels, or if it is equally as important as vitamin levels?
Thyroid and adrenals work together, Dr P - if he suspects an adrenal issue - always suggests starting adrenal support for a couple of weeks, then add thyroid replacement. So cortisol/DHEA levels are important, as are optimal levels of vitamins.
If you consider testing adrenals, don't bother with Medichecks or Blue Horizon, they test cortisol only and it's important to test both cortisol and DHEA. Look at Regenerus or Genova Diagostics, both need ThyroidUK as your "practioner" as they don't deal direct with the public
1 grain of Thyroid S contains approximately 38 mcg Levothyroxine (T4) and 9 mcg Liothyronine (T3) so with 2 grains you are taking 76mcg T3 and 18mcg T3. That is not a particularly high dose, many people are on 3+ grains - it doesn't matter what you take, you need what you need. However, these results suggest undermedication
TSH 3.49 (0.27-4.2)
FT3 4.71 (3.1-6.8)
FT4 8.54 (12-22)
but that could be because vitamins aren't optimal, it could be that adrenals are a problem, it could be that the balance of T4 and T3 isn't right for you. NDT isn't the answer for everyone with it's fixed ratio of T4:T3 (which is approx 4.2 : 1), which is why many of us opt for synthetic Levo plus T3 and we can find the right balance for us personally. I didn't get on with NDT, it did nothing for me at all. But after eventually optimising nutrients, working on adrenals, using a combination of Levo and T3 I'm now optimally medicated. It took many months of tweaking to find the right combination and I find that a ratio of T4: T3 at approx 6:1 is right for me.
Would I then have to see a practitioner to get the cortisol results, if they don't deal direct with public and then do you take an adrenal support supplement if required? Many thanks.
No you don't have to see a practioner. It's just a way of the public getting the test done, with TUK named as your "practioner". Regenerus send results direct to you, Genova send the to TUK who then send them on to you. You can use the practioner mentioned in TUK's article for interpretation of your results if you wish, but that would cost and possibly lead to further consultations, etc. Or you can post your results on the forum. If they're fairly straightforward, eg a tendency to all being on the high side or all being on the low side then it's just a case of trying the right supplement for that particular situation. It gets more difficult if you have a mixture of high and low.
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we have 6 months to use the test, but check the date on the blood tubes, it's an expiry date and will need replacing if the date is up before you use it, providing you do the test within the 6 month time limit.
Help with results please!!
Help with medichecks blood results please.
Help with results
Bloods Results help please
