Thinking of switching back to Levo from NDT

[AleB]

Since my last post of 2 weeks ago, I finally settled on a dose of 1 grain of NDT and 25mcg of Levo. Finally things started to settled down a week ago, but I have another UTI (that's 3 in 3 months)! My doctor won't support me on NDT and the NHS Endo has refused to see me because of NDT. I have been told by GP and Gyno and Nurse that the NHS does not prescribe T3. I have run out of money to pay my private endo, plus all the costs of thyroid hormone, extra supplements and blood tests. To be honest, NDT has done nothing for me but for a bit of warmth. I seemed to have more energy on levo, but for the side effects of anxiety, insomnia, internal shakes and blood pressure. If I was to switch, can I just go back to what I was taking a year ago? 107 levo, or will I suffer hypo kick back (that's my big fear), ever since just before Christmas I have been bed bound, but increasing my iron and also added a bit extra Vit D. I feel totally let down by the medical profession, there is no trust there anymore. I can't carry on like this anymore, it's crippling me financially and physically I am pretty useless.

[fuchsia-pink]

Various things to unpick here. First I'm sorry you are so unwell. It's not good that so many doctors just don't/won't get us well.

Second. you can get lio on the NHS - I do - but it must be prescribed by a consultant. If you email Dionne at Thyroid UK she will send you the list of lio-friendly endo's. You can ask GP for referral to any consultant - they don't have to be local.

Third, you will only know how you do just on levo if you try it. I tried it - see my earlier post after a private endo wrote to my GP to suggest a return to my previous levo dose - and it was hideous. Happily, my GP put my back on lio and I have reversed the problems caused by a mere 2 weeks on levo-only.

Your experience may be different. But if you do try levo-only, I'd recommend a slow switch back, reducing your NDT over a period of time rather than stopping straight away.

[AleB in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thank you fuchsia pink, I'll e-mail Dionne tomorrow... In the meantime I'll continue with the few grains of NDT that I have and try and work out how much to drop and replace with Levo! I know it's going to be bumpy because I don't convert well on Levo only. Thanks again for your advice. 😂

[AleB in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Hi again, would you think if I reduced 1/4 grain of NDT and then added back 25mcg of Levo that this would be a good starting point?

[fuchsia-pink in reply to AleB]

Sorry, I don't feel I know enough about NDT to say - but I think SeasideSusie did a post a day or so ago which mentioned conversion rates for NDT - perhaps she'll add her expertise when she has a moment.

PS SeasideSusie - how is your dog doing? x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Sorry, it wasn't me, I don't remember seeing that thread so don't know who it was, and I don't really know what the conversion is supposed to be.

AleB the nearest I can get is that 1grain NDT is said to be approx 38mcg T4 and 9mcg T3. T3 is supposed to be 3-4 times as "potent" as T4, so that 9mcg T3 is approx 27-36mcg T4. So altogether that should be roughly 65-74mcg T4 per 1 grain NDT.

fuchsia-pink She's bounced back very quickly since her operation last week (I wish humans recovered so quickly!). The lump on her head was easy to remove so vet wasn't concerned enough to send for biopsy and I have no worries about it. Unfortunately her dental/clean showed that she had to have 8 teeth removed, 3 incisors top, 3 incisors bottom, 2 pre-molars. Good job dogs have 42 teeth! She's absolutely fine except for a temporary bald patch and a gap tooth grin . The whole thing only cost £20 more than my one double tooth extraction 2 weeks previously! Thank you for thinking of her

[AleB in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi SeasideSusie,

that's what I had worked out (many calculations), trying to get something close to what I was on with Levo... maybe I'll ride out another 4 weeks test the bloods and try and work from there! As ever, thank you for your help. 👍

[cazmania7 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Glad poochie is doing ok susie! Sounds like you have good insurance if that all cost £20! Wishing pooch a speedy recovery. My mums dog is finally on the mend after a very poorly botty!!!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to cazmania7]

No, she's not insured any more, gave that up when she reached 7 years old and it became £££stupid. She's nearly 10 now and on the whole a very healthy little dog.

What I meant was that it cost £20 more than my tooth extraction. Her bill for all that was £180, my bill for one tooth was nearly £160 I think. February has been an expensive month!

There's something going round here with dogs' botties too! Involving yellow and runny. I wonder if it's the same thing. One of my son's dogs has it, fingers crossed it doesn't spread to his others.

[cazmania7 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Oh I see! I misunderstood. My mums dog had infected anal glands!! She was on antibiotics for some time then it came back and the vet said the infection probably burst through the skin so yes, runny yellow stuff and much scooting!! The joy they bring us eh?! 😀🐾

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to cazmania7]

Ah, we've never had the AG problem (thankfully ). So your poor mum's dog reason for her poorly botty wasn't the bug that's going round the dogs where I live. We had the same bug 2 or 3 years ago as well, my dog got it then - not pleasant

Good to hear your mum's dog is on the mend now.

[cazmania7 in reply to SeasideSusie]

No, thankfully lulu has never had any bugs! Surprising really as she eats everything even if not edible lol!