Metavive

Hi, I'm currently back on Levo (75mcg) as I ran out of That NDT last year and apparently it's now unavailable.

I don't have my most recent blood results, and we recently moved from the Hebrides to West Yorkshire so I've changed GPs. Obviously, it's difficult to see anyone at the moment anyway. I suspect I'm not doing too great as I've piled on weight: probably 2 stone in the past 18 months, and it's not all due to 'lockdown pounds'. I have the usual symptoms of Hashis (which I was diagnosed with in 2018). Also: tired (always), cold, headachey, hair thinner than it was, sluggish digestion etc. I think I'm also experiencing the joys of perimenopause - my periods are very heavy and are increasing in frequency to every 3 weeks or so. My GP in Scotland tried me on the progesterone only pill but that was a disaster. If my periods stopped I'd be celebrating, for reasons stated below. I'm 45 and feel much older.

I know 75mcg of Levo isn't much; prior to this I was taking 1.5 grains of Thai NDT daily. I do get private bloods done via Medichecks but my circulation is rubbish and getting the blood out is almost impossible so next time I want to pay to get it done in one of their approved centres - hopefully once we come out of lockdown.

I have godawful reflux at the moment, I've had it on and off for around 4 years but am going through a bad episode which has been going on for several weeks now. I'm prescribed Famotidine (a H2 inhibitor) because PPIs - I've tried all the 'azoles' - make me feel very ill and I suspect there's definitely an allergy/intolerance thing linked as I also get a lot of rhinitis, nasal drip and itchy inner ears after eating. I've been strictly gluten free since 2017.

I know low stomach acid is an issue with Hashis (I also have very low iron - not even reaching the bottom of the scale, apparently - I was finally offered an iron infusion but then my doctor changed his mind as he said it was 'unpleasant' (!); I've tried regularly eating chicken liver pate etc, no use, and he gave me ferrous gluconate tablets and said they hopefully wouldn't aggravate my occasional constipation - and I also self inject B12 - another story) but I was diagnosed with chronic gastritis 4 years ago and have had 2 endoscopies, and am awaiting a third as I was given conflicting results. I have a phone consultation with a GI specialist next week prior to this, just to get things moving as we've moved from the Scottish health system back to the English one and I'm having to start the whole process again. Because of the gastritis, supplementing with HCL to increase stomach acid levels isn't really an option.

It's very complicated and messy and exhausting.

I'm considering trying Metavive in the absence of Thai NDT (which I did well on). To be honest, I try to avoid dealing with GPs as much as possible - I've had so many bad experiences with them over the years, and am tired of being dismissed as neurotic etc etc. I'm much happier taking responsibility for my own health as much as possible and not having to beg for help, only to be repeatedly fobbed off.

Please could anyone advise? I've read there's Metavive I and II. Which is used for what? How much would you recommend taking if on Levo 75mcg? Should I replace the Levo with it, or use both?

Many thanks!