Trialling novothyral (levo/t3)

[bluejoppo]

In December I saw endocrinologist here in Germany who although governed by Tsh agreed to let me have novothyral 75 1/2 tablet per day alongside 25mcg Levo. Bloods were done prior to this when I was on 100mcg Levo.

DEC 2019 BLOODS

TSH - 0.5 (0.27-4.20)

FT4 - 14.2 (9.3-17.0)

FT3 - 2.4 (2.0-4.4)

JAN 2020 BLOODS

TSH - 4.63 (0.27-4.20)

FT4 - 8.5 (9.3 -17.0)

FT3 - 2.0 (2.0-4.4)

She wrote to my gp and said stay on 1/2 tablet novothyral and increase Levo to 50mcg.

Bloods done last week

TSH - 0.88 (0.35-4.5)

FT4 - 11.0 (8.0-17.0)

FT3 - 2.5 (2.0-4.4)

Saw gp yesterday (different doc to my normal) and she said everything was ok, however I said I had a calculator and that ft3 and ft4 were low through the range and should be higher. I asked if I could just take the novothyral 75 tablet and leave off the additional Levo so putting me on 75mcg Levo and 15 t3. She agreed to let me try even though they are bound by a certain book etc and I have new bloods in 8 weeks. I know that last Feb I was feeling pretty good and my ft3 was 50% through range and ft4 was 87% but I had been taking 125mcg Levo per day.

Anyone tell me if what I'm doing now will help or do i need to keep a bit of levo there too? I have some 25mcg tablets that I can split if needed or shall I just wait and see how I feel in a few weeks?

Vit d, B12 all under control, iron/ferritin also good. I take magnesium 400mg daily, vitamin d3/k2 10,000 I.u, selenium 200mg. Had a gastroscopy recently too as I have antibodies also against the parietal cells and there was a thought I may have autoimmune gastritis as well but everything was clear.

Thanks for any insight.

[greygoose]

My personal opinion is that what you're proposing is a very good idea. I doubt you need the excess T4. But, time will tell. See how you feel at the time you get retested.

[bluejoppo in reply to greygoose]

Thanks grey goose. Will see how I get on.

[greygoose in reply to bluejoppo]

You're welcome.

[bluejoppo in reply to greygoose]

Grey goose I have a question or 2. It's been 2 weeks since I started, I feel good but have noticed my resting heart rate has increased slightly and I feel warmer. I've done a bit more exercise and have managed to lose 4lbs in the past 2 weeks (needed and more still to go. )

So the question is does this all

sound normal? Or should I split the tablet and take 3/4 tablet instead?

Thanks for your response.

[greygoose in reply to bluejoppo]

There's no such thing as 'normal' where thyroid is concerned, because we're all different. I would say you're just lucky to have felt such good results in such a short time. But, it is just a short time, and if you feel well, then carry on as you are, and get labs done in four weeks to give you a better idea how it's going. But, how you feel is the most important.

[bluejoppo in reply to greygoose]

Ok, I just wanted to check I guess that I'm not potentially overdoing it as have effectively doubled the t3 dosage. Doctor me 8 weeks before we do bloods again. I think I may have a battle though as I strongly suspect that tsh (oh how important that is! 🙄) may be supressed. It was 0.88 on my last bloods. Doctor

[greygoose in reply to bluejoppo]

Almost bound to be suppressed. Because you're taking T3. And that's what T3 does. And, if doctors are going to prescribe T3 they should at least know how it works.

[bluejoppo in reply to greygoose]

She did say I should speak to end but end appears to have discharged me back to gp as she didn't ask for my results from gastroscopy that she recommended. There is a doctor 2hrs away that does treat the patient not the bloods but they are not taking new patients. Have asked twice. Don't know if they are taking private but not sure even if they are that I could afford it. Will have a look on a German group here for a recommendation to one that does support this as the endo I saw wasn't that great really. Thanks for your help.

[greygoose in reply to bluejoppo]

You're welcome. Hope you manage to find someone.