Using thyroid S with T4 please advise

[cbraffe]

Advice needed on how to use thyroid S with Synthetic T4 together. I would like to slowly move to self medicating and have bought throid S . How do I use the 2 together? Can I take both at the same time. I am on 125mg thyroxine. I have started with half tab thyroid S in place of 25mg thyroxine and 100mg T4. I am doing the right thing .

Amy advice will be much appreciated

[Hidden]

What you are doing is very common; that is, slowly decrease levo by 25 mcg while adding 30 mg of NDT.

Are you sure you'll need both? Many do well on NDT only.

[cbraffe in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your advice. I plan to slowly move towards using thyroid S only in the future. I will reduce the T4 until I am only taking thyroid S. I forgot to mention I do not have a thyroid.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

cbraffe

I have started with half tab thyroid S in place of 25mg thyroxine and 100mg T4.

I just want to point out that "thyroxine" and "T4" are one and the same, you aren't taking 2 different things there.

[cbraffe in reply to SeasideSusie]

I am taking thyroid S and Teva thyroxine. One is synthetic and the other is natural

[greygoose in reply to cbraffe]

So, you're taking 1/2 grain NDT and 100 mcg levo? I'm afraid that's not at all clear.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to cbraffe]

I am taking thyroid S and Teva thyroxine. One is synthetic and the other is natural

Yes, I read that you are taking Thyroid S with synthetic T4 and I understand what they are.

But you have stated that you are using "half a tab thyroidS in place of 25mcg thyroxine and 100mcg T4" - what I am pointing out is that thyroxine and T4 (two ways of saying synthetic T4) are the same and the way your original post reads is that you are taking the Thyroid S in place of 125mcg synthetic T4. It's just confusing the way you have written it for those who wish to respond.

[cbraffe in reply to SeasideSusie]

Sorry about the mix up.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to SeasideSusie]

I think cbraffe means

Has reduced Levothyroxine by 25mcg from 125mcg to now taking 100mcg Levothyroxine and added in half a tablet of thyroid s

[cbraffe in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for the quick response. I appreciate you advise so much. You truly helped when I was at my lowest

[pennyannie]

Hey there cbraffe

I swopped directly from 125 levothyroxine - to Natural Desiccated Thyroid - Thyroid S. which I understand is slow release, and I dose once a day in the early morning.

I have Graves Disease diagnosed 2003 at age 56, RAI in 2005 and became very unwell about 8 years after this treatment, and now manage lingering Graves, thyroid eye disease and hypothyroidism.

I had trialled a T3 / T4 combo and knew it worked for me and experienced no ill effects.

I believe it takes about 6 weeks for Levothyroxine to fully leave your body.

I stopped Levothyroxine one day and started NDT the following morning.

Week 1 - I started on 1/2 a grain/tablet.

Week 2 - I increased to 3/4 -

Week 3 - I increased again bringing me up to 1 grain/tablet.

Week 4 - I was on 1+1/4

Week 5 - I was taking 1+ 1/2 grains.

Week 6 - I took 1 + 3/4 but woke up agitated -

So I dropped back down and have stayed on 1 + 1/2 grains and am feeling much improved.

I have tried introducing a little bit extra again, but it doesn't suit me and I've tried adding in a little in the afternoon, but that results in my wanting to eat everything in the fridge at midnight.

My total daily intake equates to 58 T4 + 13.5 T3 - I did try adding back in some T4 thinking this measure looked too low for someone with a burnt out, defunct thyroid, but found no benefits, and prefer to stay with just the one thyroid hormone replacement.

I don't think you can actually equate NDT measure to measure with the synthetic forms of T3 and T4 - you just need to take what you need, until you go a little over, and simply drop back down to the previous dose, which will be your most appropriate dose of NDT.

I have read that 1 grain / tablet of NDT is said to be about equal to 100 Levothyroxine :

I thought I would be on a much higher dose, but this seems to be my Goldilocks dosage.

I continue to maintain my vitamins and minerals at optimum levels and monitor myself.

My TSH is suppressed, but it was when on 125 Levothyroxine.

My T4 is low but in range, as to be expected, and my T3 came in at 7.8 over range by 1 after a blood test some 10 hours after medication.

I had absolutely no symptoms of over medication and have since read that this is perfectly ok, and should I need a blood test for a doctor's appointment I'll wait 24 hours and take my medication after the blood draw, and know that my T3 and T4 results will then be in range.

Since I'm self medicating I'm not concerned about the blood tests anyway, and simply did the test as a reference since I felt well, and was curious to know, where my T3 and T4 now sat.

The ranges were introduced along with the synthetic thyroid hormones, and the rules and guidelines that seem to have the effect of keeping many of us under medicated and on the wrong thyroid hormone replacement.

Good luck, and wishing you a smooth transition ;

[cbraffe in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. You have made it very clear for me. My journey is similar to yours. I also have Teds and had graves for 5 years maybe longer to be honest I was diagnosed 5 years ago but had symptoms since 2008. I had a total thyrodecotomy in July of this year. Since my surgery I have put on 2 stones in weight and though feeling much better, I still have symptoms such as racing heart rate, fatigue and sore muscles/joints. I would like to try the NDT as I have read so many positive stories about living without symptoms after switching to NDT.

[chrisbuy63 in reply to cbraffe]

I hope you will soon find your optimal dosing and feel much better, it is such a struggle especially with all the weight gain. It is all individual and trial and error and taking it slowly and monitoring how you feel each week before and after raising is the way to go.

[cbraffe in reply to chrisbuy63]

Thank you.

[pennyannie in reply to cbraffe]

Well, all you can do is give it a try, and you owe it to yourself to try, don't you.

Yes I forgot to mention that I used to monitor my temperature and blood pressure :

My temperature slowly went up from 35.8 to 36.6 - where it now remains :

and I never really saw much change with the blood pressure gizmo I purchased :

Maybe it was me, but since I've settled on being my own doctor I am less anxious,

and my overall health and well being improved.

[cbraffe]

Thank you. I believe it is better. The doctors seem to be obsessed with TSH

[LuluCops]

Hi, I’m interested to read your stories with regard to NDT. I’m currently on combined dosing, and while I certainly feel much better than when I was previously on mono T4 therapy, I’m still not quite right and unwell.

Would either of you be willing to message me where/ how you purchase your NDT please? I would appreciate it so much. Many thanks and I wish you both well on your health journeys xx