After years of suffering with various "mystery" symptoms (fatigue, headaches, dizziness/brain fog), I'm keen to start trying some NDT as my Dr simply won't entertain thyroid as an issue (even though I have a strong family history and very low body temps).
Ideally I'd like to work with a practitioner, can anyone recommend someone?
My TSH is 4.1 at last test and had been sitting around 2.5 for a few years before that.
I also have low FT3 (4.70pmol/l).
I understand Dr Myhill recommends metavive. I actually ordered some thyroid s from Thailand 6 months ago but never touched it.
I've been wanting to start ndt for years but have been trying to get my fatigue/adrenals under control first. I never seem to get them stabilised and body temps never stabilise either, so think I'm just going to press ahead.
Dr Blanchard (recommended read by Dr Myhill) in "The functional approach to hypothyroidism"
book states: "thyroid extract's t3% is too high for this to be an effective long term replacement for most patients".
~My Qs:
1. Do you think I can self medicate ndt? Pressfield seems to think so, but I don't particularly like the idea. I also don't like the idea of putting my trust in a mainstream dr that won't think holistically and is stuck in "conventional" thinking (e.g. only treat if TSH is over 5.0).
2. Do you have any recommendations of a practitioner or where to find one?
3. Do you think NDT alone can help (which i believe is mainly t3?), or should i also being looking at syntehtic t4 options, bearing in mind Dr Blanchard's opinion above.
4. Do you think Thyroid S will be okay or might Metavive be a better option?
5. What do you think of going keto (listening to Dr Berg atm who recommends that route).
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Mowgyi
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I would go for the Thyroid S because it does suit a lot of people. I would start on 1/4 grain and see how you tolerate it. I did this and then I increased after 3 weeks to 1/2 grain. With NDT you go by how you feel and if you start to feel jittery you can always reduce by a 1/4 grain the next day. You will need a sharp scalpel because the pills are very tiny to cut. I took mine first thing in the morning with a large glass of water and a hour before food. It took me about 6 months to work myself up to 1 1/2 grains but some people need more than that. I was scared at first to self medicate but I had no choice because my GP refused to help because my TSH was within NHS guidelines.
Yes you can self-medicate. Many on this forum do so. Dr Lowe was suggested above and he was a researcher/scientists/doctor and his expertise was thyroid hormones.
Dr Lowe was also an Adviser to Thyroiduk before his untimely accidental death.
Click on the links within the following and you will find them helpful. Dr Lowe would never prescribe levothyroxine, only NDTs (natural dessicated thyroid hormones) - now more difficult to source). He also advised T3 only for people who were 'thyroid hormone resistant.
You are very lucky to have a stock of Thyroid S as currently no orders are being fulfilled and many of us are getting anxious as to what do we do next if this situation continues as other than the USA and much higher prices, sourcing NDT is difficult and currently impossible .
Natural Desiccated Thyroid is made from pig thyroid dried and ground down into tablets referred to as grains and has a known measure of T3 and T4 in each grain generally at around a 1/4 ratio T3/T4 - with Thyroid s containing a measure of 9 T3 and 38 T4 per grain.
Other " supplements " which are relatively easy to purchase Over The Counter do not need to specify breakdown so are not as exacting though, I probably have some overall benefit.
I have been self medicating with Thyroid S for almost 2 years and monitored myself with daily temperature and blood pressure checks while slowly building up my dose by 1/4 grain increases.
I'd suggest you take an initial blood test for T3 and T4 so you have a bench mark to work from and then when you test again you can see if your T3 has moved and if NDT is working for you - best also to ensure that your ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D are optimal as you still need to convert the T4 content of the NDT and these core strength vitamins and minerals assist in this process.
I'm with Graves Disease and following RAI thyroid ablation in 2005 now manage lingering Graves, thyroid eye disease and hypothyroidism.
If you are lucky enough to have thyroid S then defo try that first. Like most people I ran out of thai ndt, so am now on metavive because I had no other options. But luckily doing well on it. I am also self medicating, dr knows about it and is semi supportive. I do my own private blood tests twice a year. I think that is the most important thing for you to remember is you decide to self medicate. Once you settle on a dose you feel good on, test after six weeks. It takes that length of time after each dose change for levels to settle again. Good luck x
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