Does maintaining a thyroid starting dose of 1 grain for 5-6 weeks risk worsening someones hypothyroid symptoms? I have seen this said but I'm not sure if it's a myth or not. I want to maintain this starting dose of Tru Thyroid for just over a month, then after that add 1/4th or 1/2 grain on every two weeks. This makes sense to me, however, I thought it would be worth checking as I am fairly new to thyroid supplementation
Thanks, Connor
The starting dose is usually a quarter or half a grain. Starting on one grain is too much in my opinion.
I take it you're already on 1 grain, and that was your starting dose?
What often happens is that when you first start taking thyroid hormone, whatever it might be, your body welcomes the extra hormone after not having much for a while, and you feel better. But then it becomes obvious that it's not enough, so your symptoms start to creep back in again. All it means is that you're ready for an increase in dose. It doesn't mean that it's worsened your symptoms.
Why do you want to stay on that dose for a month if your symptoms have returned? It doesn't make a medical sense. Or are you wanting to retest before increasing? If so, you'd have to be on it for six weeks.
People usually start with 1/4 grain, then increase by 1/4 grain every two weeks. And, when they reach 1 whole grain, hold for six weeks and retest. Then increase further if necessary - but only by 1/4 grain every two weeks. If you increase by 1/2 grain every time, you risk missing your sweet-spot. It's easily done if you increase too fast.
Yes I want to test my blood after being on one grain for awhile to see where my bloods were at; but I've just been a little cautious about waiting so long as per recommendations here with what I was saying in op. I've been on one grain for close to two weeks thus far, I'm not sure if that was a bad dose to start off on but I thought that was the recommended starting dose
Well, it's not recommended on here. But, depends, were you taking something else before NDT?
Even so, not much point in testing before six weeks on the same dose. You won't get the full effects until at least six weeks.
But, going back to your original question, staying on your starting dose of 1 grain for one month will not do you any harm, it's whether or not you can put up with the returning symptoms. 
Nope I have been on NDT only. Like you say, I'll do my best to stick on 1 grain for as close to 6wks as possible then retest. Hopefully the long stretch being on one grain compensates for starting on one grain instead of half a grain
Well, if you haven't felt any ill effects so far, then it should be fine.
I cut my dose in half and take them 12 hours apart at the advise of my Dr because taking the full dose at once was too much. He was right taking the half dose twice a day was a game changer for me I felt so much better. I take 1 grain at 2am before work and 2pm... Cut it in half and see how you feel
Yeah might try that myself. Have you not eaten for a few hours when you take your second dose at 2pm or do you take it with food?
No food my 2am dose is before work and by the time I get there and make a coffee it's 3am and my 2pm dose I have nothing but water from 1pm take my dose at 2pm and nothing 3pm accept water.
I will definitely break my tablets in half and go for the 1/4 increments I think when I next up it.
That would be best, yes.
Does thyroid correct high cortisol by the way? I got my saliva cortisol results back today and can see that my noon cortisol is high but the rest are in normal range
No, it doesn't really work like that. But, it may help your adrenals to regulate the daily out-put of cortisol, so that it's highest first thing in the morning, and gradually drops throughout the day so that it's at its lowest at bedtime.
Difficult to say without seeing all your results and ranges, but your noon cortisol is probably high because your early morning cortisol is too low - even though it's in range. The adrenals will continue trying to produce their daily quota, despite the time of day, so that levels become inappropriately high later in the day. Once the early morning cortisol is at optimal level, other levels during the day will drop back into place.
These are the results + ranges
Yes, your early morning cortisol is quite low in range. But, a little TLC should help that: plenty of B vits and vit C, plenty of salt, a high protein breakfast first thing (take your NDT later) and plenty of rest, and, of course, raising your T3, should help raise your early morning cortisol, so the noon cortisol will drop.
Yeah I'll try that. I usually leave breakfast till late and usually have fruit when I first wake up so would be worth a go. Do you reckon splitting the NDT dose in half twice a day could help as well as someone below suggested?
Splitting the dose helps some people. Taking it all in one go suits others. You'd have to try it to find out if it helps you.
i will do thanks a lot
You're welcome.
How are you feeling? I got up to 1 1/2 grains of Thyroid S but I am smaller than you being a woman so you probably need an increase. As I have said before if you increase by 1/4 grain and you feel jittery you can always reduce it and try again in a couple of weeks. Just to add I never had a blood test just went by how I felt because I knew the blood test would show a suppressed TSH and a low T4.
Really good these past couple of days. This NDT from Thailand is working better than any I've tried in the past. Im about 190 lbs so I'll see how i do on 1/4 grain increases.
I'm pleased to hear that, as I said before you go by how you feel with NDT and I didn't do any blood tests but you might want to so you see what your levels are now compared to what they were before.
Are you self medicating?
I am yeah
Based on what test results? I think people would like to see your tsh, T3, t4 and the ranges prior to you medicating to see what might work. And why start with what I guess is ndt? You’re very brave!
NDT is very natural and was used years before the artificial Levothyroxine. In those days there were no blood tests and people went by how they felt
It’s natural but really strong - I’d be very apprehensive of trying it without testing blood levels first. Even then I’m not sure I’d start with a whole grain.
I felt really well on it and yes it is strong but you can adjust the dose easily because it contains T3. I started on a 1/4 grain and slowly worked myself up to 1 1/2 grains. I am not taking it at the moment but I still have some and I would not hesitate to take it again if my levels become too low. Also your TSH will become very low or suppressed when you take it and your T4 will become lower. It doesn't suit everyone but a lot of members take it and it has helped them recover their health.
Well I’m confused by your confusion then! If it were me I’d do blood tests, see where I’m at, self medicate, then retest after 6 weeks. You’ve got no baseline to compare how you feel with what your blood is like. Forgive me if I’ve missed something above and misunderstood but I’d want a lot more info - vitamins too - before self prescribing.
If you look on my profile and scroll down you will see my results from earlier this year. As I said I am taking nothing at the moment because I don't need it. I have actually just filled in a form so I can look at my Endocrinologist's records about me when he told me I had Graves' disease 10 years ago. At that time I didn't know anything about my condition which of course has changed now because I have been reading lots about thyroid disease since then. I do intend to have another blood test once the coronavirus is under control. The last thing I want to do is to go my local hospital to have my blood drawn because at the moment I don't feel safe visiting it. Having said that I just had my hair dyed yesterday and I did actually feel safe because it is a small salon and only a couple of customers were there at the same time. I did get a very sweaty face because I was wearing a mask for 2 hours but it wasn't as bad as I thought.
Yeah I will be doing a blood test each time before increasing my dose; however, it's quite safe if the dose is increased slowly, and the basal temps, pulse and symptoms are kept an eye on I think.
Hi Connor, how are you doing on Tru? I received the NDT powder (Not defatted unlike the NDT tablet form like Tru etc) from same supplier - took 3 months to get here- and am trialling it now. I know the Tru tablets are 2 tablets are equivalent to 1 grain of other NDTs (like Thyroid S, Armour) and see you started at 1 Tru tablet which would be 1/2 grain of Armour equivalent. I don’t need a lot of ndt anymore (c less than 1 grain outside of winter) and was wondering about the Tru tablets. I think the powder is ok but it may suit someone who takes several grains a day as 1/4 tsp is c3 grains of NDT.
I have noticed more of an effect these past few days since multi-dosing, but my waking temperatures are still low and I still have low thyroid symptoms. Take this with a grain of salt though; I tried the american WP Thyroid with not much effect, either. I have definitely felt some improvement, but it's early days. I'm gonna continue slowly bumping up my dose - I think I may just need much more thyroid than the usual 1 - 2 grains people do ok on
How are you going with the Tru thyroid now? Just about to start taking mine. Thanks
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