Should I decrease NDT and raise Levothyroxine?

[Boon79]

I have been taking 1 grain of Armour and 50mcg Wockhardt levothyroxine for 5 months now.I have been gluten free for 8 weeks.

Apologies as I don’t have my test results, but the GP said that I have a suppressed TSH of 0.1, T3 high in the range, and T4 low in the range.

I take Vit D and iron daily.

I have noticed that my hair is falling out and I am suddenly turning grey! I am also slightly constipated lately.

Should I reduce my Armour to 30mcg and increase the levothyroxine to 75mcg to improve my T4 level?

[pennyannie]

Hello Boon :

Without the full details of your blood test result it's impossible to say.

The guidelines and ranges were introduced to be used when treating with synthetic T3 an T4 and with NDT you simply dose to the relief of symptoms and not the science of a blood test,

Since you are taking NDT your TSH will be low suppressed as NDT contains T3 as well as T4 and T3 is known to lower, and or suppress a TSH blood test result.

On NDT the most important number is the T3 and depending on how long you left between last dose and blood draw this can " look " very high when analysed.

You " sound " as though you are still with some hypothyroid symptoms :

I noticed your ferritin level in a previous post and just to add, that I now know through experience that I need my ferritin up at around 100, my folate at around 20, my B12 active 75 ++ and my vitamin D at around 100 for optimal conversion of thyroid hormone replacement.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Boon79

I am also slightly constipated lately.

Iron tablets can cause constipation. Do you take them with Vit C as that is supposed to help prevent constipation but, of course, it depends on how much Vit C.

[Boon79 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I take an iron tablet every morning with a full glass of orange juice.I take my thyroid meds before sleep.

[shaws Administrator]

The problem for us, the patient, is that the majority of doctors only know about results when we take levothyroxine alone.

When we take 'options' i.e. NDT or combination T3/T4 etc they cannot figure out our results.

When we take our own thyroid hormones (Natural Dessicated Thyroid hormones = Armour) we judge our dose by 'how we feel' on it and make gradual increases. NDT was the very first replacement hormones that saved our lives.

Armour is the original thyroid hormone replacements - now withdrawn in the UK. It is also known as an NDT = natural dessicated thyroid hormones.You make small increases until you are symptom-free.

verywellhealth.com/armour-t...

If doctor hasn't tested B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate request these when next blood test is due.

[shaws Administrator]

Blood tests were introduced for levothyroxine alone which is T4 alone and is supposed to convert to T3.

If we take any other thyroid hormone replacements apart from levothyroxine, few doctors will understand the results of blood tests.

T3 (liothyronine) is the active thyroid hormone and it allows our body to function normally, our heart and brain have the post T3 receptor cells and we have millions in our body.

T4 is inactive and is supposed to convert to T3.

Therefore if we take any other replacements i.e. T3/T4, NDTs (Armour etc). GPs. The aim for us, the patient is to 'feel well' and 'have no clinical symptoms'.

Armour contains T3, T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin and is a 'dessicated natural thyroid hormones - the very original first prescribed for 1892'.

I've not had a blood test for ages but I go by 'how I feel on a particular dose'.