Doctor reduced my dose of NDT as he said TSH was too low. Is this correct based on my test results? I’m so confused 😒

[josiejoj68]

Lab results when on a dosage of 2 grains was TSH 0.407(0.27-4.2). T3 5.0 (3.1-6.8) Free T4 13.4(12-22). Now my recent results in the picture after reducing dose to 1.5 . Any ideas what I should be doing next to get back on track? Increase back up to 2 grains or will that just lower the TSH even more?

[Jazzw]

This makes me so angry ( on your behalf). Yet another idiot doctor who thinks that a low TSH means the dosage is too high — even though your FT3 and FT4 results were in range.

I’d go back up to 2 grains a day (and look for a new doctor).

[reliablerebel in reply to Jazzw]

Jazzw is correct!! Stupid doctors

[Anthea55 in reply to reliablerebel]

See this link from the ThyroidUK website, about Myths of Hypothyroidismthyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

[m7-cola in reply to reliablerebel]

Yes... stupid to treat the tests and ignore the patient and their symptoms.

[reliablerebel in reply to m7-cola]

That wouldn't be too bad, but they don't even know what a low tsh means!

[m7-cola in reply to reliablerebel]

And that’s not the only thing they don’t know

[pennyannie]

Hello Josiejo and welcome to the forum :

NDT was successfully used for over 100 years prior to the " science / knowledge " of blood tests, ranges and guidelines.

If a doctor suspected hypothyroidism, based on clinical symptoms, he would offer the patient a little nugget of pig thyroid to chew on.

When the patient returned if their symptoms had all been relieved the doctor maintained that size nugget : otherwise he would adjust the next dose as to the patients continued symptoms either cutting a smaller or larger nugget from the pig thyroid, until the best dose was found for the patient.

The blood tests, ranges and guidelines were all introduced alongside Levothyroxine - Big Pharma"s new thyroid hormone replacement launched to replace/supersede NDT treatment for hypothyroidism.

On NDT when optimally medicated I have a TSH at 0.01 :

I have a low in range T4 and a much higher T3 in range compared to when on Levothyroxine - in that in % terms the T3 and T4 have reversed places and I feel much improved.

If you doctor is mainstream he may never have been taught about NDT and probably constrained in his ability and knowledge to know anything other than the guidelines he is obliged to work within.

No thyroid hormone replacement works well if ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D are not maintained at optimal levels.

I'm with Graves post RAI thyroid ablation in 2005 and now manage lingering Graves, thyroid eye disease ( caused by the RAI ) and hypothyroidism and coming up to 2 years on NDT and self medicating.

I found no help nor support within the NHS with my continued symptoms and refused both NDT and T3. and referred to as a conundrum.

I found this amazing forum about 5 years ago, joined Thyroid uk, the charity who support this amazing forum, purchased a few books, and became my on best advocate and am much improved.

[josiejoj68 in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you Pennyannie , this has reassured me somewhat as I wasn’t sure how “low” was considered low, if you know what I mean . I am about to give up on doctors here as it’s costing an arm and a leg , without much results . Just when I feel I’m moving forwards I end up taking 2 steps back . If you don’t mind me asking, how are you able to self medicate? Is it possible to purchase NDT without a script?

[pennyannie in reply to josiejoj68]

Hey there ;

Where are you in the world as different countries, different regulations.

Also currently world stocks of Natural Desiccated Thyroid have dropped dramatically and believe currently there is only some stock available in the USA that UK residents can buy without a prescription.

Read up all you, keep a doctor " on side " as currently options to purchase independently are very few.

Stock of NDT from the Far East which were much cheaper, and easier to purchase should be back on the open market in around spring 2021 and then the situation may be worth reconsidering.

Sorry this doesn't actually solve your issue immediately.

[humanbean]

You might find the following thread of interest :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...