I started Metavive II 6-7 months ago on advice of nutritionist who suggested 30mg. I raised every 2 weeks and settled on 5 caps a day. Had bloods tested without stopping Metavive and gynae was concerned at v low TSH, low normal T4. T3 was normal. I tested again after I stopped Metavive for 2 days and results were normal. I gradually reduced to 3 caps a day - 2 in morning and 1 in afternoon. Just tested again and again low TSH and low TSH. Wondering if I need to reduce or stop Metavive. I fo worry about that as temps and heart rate tend to decline when I reduce and energy plummets. I have not really had bothersome hyper symptoms other than feeling a bit warm. I have had adrenal issues, first v low cortisol all day and now 2 years later treating high evening cortisol with Phos Serine. Do people who take NDT have hyper bloods and is it cause for concern?
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Dollyrocker000
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I think it would be best if you could give the actual numbers - results and ranges - rather than using terms like 'low' and 'normal', which are pretty meaningless. We need to be more precise when discussing doses. But, your gynae is wrong to be concerned about a low TSH. It doesn't mean you're taking too much, it just means that your pituitary is satisfied with the amount you're taking. The TSH is low because you don't need it anymore, you're taking T3. Therefore, it is the FT3 number that is the most important.
Blood tests were introduced along with levothyroxine. Before that only NDT was given and no blood tests as doctors concentrated on relieving our clinical symptoms by small increases of NDT and we felt well again. If we take other thyroid hormones rather than levo, the concentration is on relief of our symptoms rather than the dose.
TSH is from the pituitary gland - not thyroid gland - and it rises when thyroid gland is struggling trying to get it to send out more. It is not a thyroid hormone. If we take other than levothyroixine the thyroid hormone numbers wont add up but it is all based on how 'we feel' i.e. improved or not.
The following link is by an expert on Hormones. Its no wonder his waiting list is full and he cannot take on any more patients.
When taking NDT it's normal to see a low, even suppressed TSH, and a low FT4. As long as FT3 is within range and you feel well then it's doing it's job properly. Your nutritionist should know this and should have explained it to you. Although Metavive is not classed as NDT, it's a thyroid glandular, it has the same effect.
Why is your gynae passing comment on your thyroid treatment?
He tested thyroid and progesterone as part of an annual “wellwoman” profile. I don’t have results in front of me but he said T3 normal.
My thyroid levels were always normal but naturopath started me on Metavive due to long-standing hypo symptoms, low temps, and DUTCH test which apparently suggested poor T3 conversion.
I was given NDT by the NHS in the 1980’s. I was never tested. I started on 1 grain and probably around two years after I found a few symptoms returning so my doctor gave me another grain and I was fine. Went back on Levo when my NDT was out of production with a strike and to be fair I was fine on that so I also believe bad doctoring can pay a major role in wellness. I’m now back on NDT and was now told I was on too high a dose but I’d planned to start knowing this appointment was made. I had realised I’d probably missed my sweet spot as I was increasing very slowly but I got to the point where more increases were not showing at increase in wellness so I stopped at that level till I saw Endo who dropped me down-he was spot on but he returned to Romania! But mostly been on same since though one day out of theee I dropped to 1.5 instead of 1.75. Now I’ve decided to go back to my first teaching and take 1.75 daily and I still feel good so my body was probably happy before but I’m finding now that the odd manic day I’m now coping better. Hospital doctor is now telling me I needn’t go back as I don’t need any help and my doctor says she can’t talk thyroid as she can’t get her head around it but as long as I take responsibility I can continue. I’m happy to do this as feel very good but I’m just wondering it anyone currently on NDT isn’t tested tested at all so yes to your question if it’s NDT, I’m not sure if Metavive is identical though and I’ve noticed that people who add in T3 and/or T4 stops things reacting in a way NDT does so I think is probably not a good idea to do that.
As Shaws says they was just a small add if things made you feel you needed an increase.
What is apparent though and answers the other part of your question if you are on any form of T3 then results are read differently. TSH will be very low or even suppressed-nothing sinister-just that when correctly medicated then we no longer need the pituitary feedback to work as on the correct dose and FT4 reading can fall as we down need as much as before. Sadly both are things that make uninformed doctors panic for no reason! So that’s not helpful. I’ve only found one downside of taking NDT-we can’t tell if we are converting well but again we don’t need to, our body is taking what it needs from our medication and if we need anymore that like what happened to me symptoms suggesting that will let us know.
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