Thank you all for all your help over past 4 years. I really appreciate it. Learned loads.
However I am now unable to workout the most simple arithmatic!
My last (& final ) private finger prick test after trialling proper NDT for the 1st time revealed a TSH of 0.14 (range 0.27 - 4.2) previous results over year were 0.01 on metavive or mative & T3.
My question is; does the increase represent a 14 fold increase - or is it 140 fold?
Thank you math experts!
Yes 14, the easiest way to do it is to shift the decimal place along one step at a time. This is a very good result if you feel just as well.
Thank you jimh111. Very useful to know. I have increased the dose last week by quarter tablet now 1. 1/2 tablet. Now today able to stay awake in morning, but wondering when or if to increase further as still bedridden & still very cold.
Try taking some of the dose at bedtime, I find my bedtime dose of T3 helps give deeper sleep and I feel better the next day.
I would if it were not for my need for magnesium supplements. I am unable to stay awake beyond 9PM, on previous dose I could not stay awake beyond 7PM.
Don't sleep for long either, awake in middle of night, unable to get back to sleep. I am thinking of trying 2 split doses instead of 3?
I assume you take the magnesium around bedtime then? Could split into two and take the magnesium earlier in the day.
When I earned my crust as a young teacher, part of the training process was ‘observation’ by a mentor.
There were so many times that I was glared at for moving the decimal point one place to the right / left instead of moving the decimal place, I learned it once and for all and never forgot again.
Hello again ;
With NDT it's all about tracking your T3 :
Do you have a result and a comparison T3 from when on an alternative thyroid hormone option ?
Hello, & thanks for your question, here are 2021 results. Latest test was while on NDT only.
24-11-21 LATEST TEST (on 75mg NDT) - TSH 0.14 - FT4 8.5 - FT3 4.3 -
All normal range of TSH ( 0.27 -4.2) - FT4 (12 -22) - FT3 (3.1 - 6.8)
14-9-21 (bovine metavive & NDT) - TSH 0.01 - FT4 12.8 - FT3 4.9
5 -7-21 (bovine metavive & T3?) - TSH 0.01 - FT4 14.7 - FT3 5.4
11-5-21 (bovine metavive alone?) - TSH 0.02 - FT4 12.5 - FT3 4.4
8-1-21 (bovine metavive & T3) - TSH - 0.01 - FT4 19.72 - FT3 9 (had been taking 25mcg T3)
So in light of those results you need to increase your NDT :
TSH will likely be low suppressed - mine is stuck down at 0,01 :
T4 can be low in range and lower than when on T4 monotherapy :
T3 should be high in range and likely higher than other when on T4 monotherapy.
I had RAI thyroid ablation in 2005 and my thyroid finally gave up the ghost in around 2013, when T4 seemed to stop working for me and I became very unwell.
I started self medicating with NDT almost 4 years ago now :
I switched to NDT from 125 mcg T4 daily :
My T4, so far, has come in at between 13.90 - 15. 80
My T3, so far, has come in at between 6.13 - 7.96 :
My temperature rose from 35.4 to 36.6 and I am in no way over medicated and still with some symptoms of hypothyroidism.
I increased the dose on 20th November. As I stated, I would like to order 1 last finger prick test while it's 20% off, then increase again either when I have sent off sample or when I get results? My TSH is usually 0.01 on private test too, now increased 14fold.But then the metavive was stronger than the NDT I'm taking now. TSH was well under 1 before I started self medicating with T3, in spite of very low FT3 & FT4.
I must congratulate you pennyannie on your success with your own treatment. you did well there!
My temperature was around 35.4 when I 1st bought thermometer, now low 36's I wish I could get as high as 36.6 though.
I can't help but wonder if my low temp & other symptoms are from low FT4, rather than FT3, as even when my FT3 was much higher my temp didn't rise above 36.3.
I will order some bovine glandulars - just in case.
I'll read your history now. x
Jenny - I just think you need to keep building up your dose ;
Low and slow in 1/4 grain increments monitoring your pulse, blood pressure and temperature :
When you feel you've gone a little bit too far, and likely feel a bit anxious and over medicated drop back down to the previous weeks dose and stay on that dose for 6-8 weeks letting it bed in, and then take a blood test and see where you are there then.
Thank you pennyannie. I will do that. I'll just go by signs & symptoms.
If I win the local lottery then I could splash out on tests too!
😁
Now I have just one blood test a year more to see where my ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D sit, as I still need to supplement these on a regular basis.
My T3 hangs around where it needs to be and I've been on the same dose of NDT for coming up to 4 years .
NDT was the original and successful treatment for hypothyroidism for very many years prior to Big Pharma coming along and wanting it's share of the market and introduced it's T3 and T4 medications, along with the guidelines, ranges, and blood tests one needed to " treat " hypothyroidism.
I read your history pennyannie. You have had quite a journey I see. I had graves too, though I was never told it. Just told the symptoms were all in my head & booted out of England with a carrier bag of max dose carbimazole & propranolol after apparent thyroid storm. I see you had symptoms of sjorgren's. Was that from low ferritin or graves? did you start with too much saliva or just suddenly dry up? curious.
Yes yes and yes, totally agree re big pharma! I am too now an expert on their shenanigans.
We need to dose by symptoms as in days of yore. Even the Endo that refused to treat my hypo & booted me out on my ear told me to continue buying metavive & dose by symptoms...
My dentist suggested I should checked out for Sjogrens's as he'd seen first hand over 18 months how my saliva had all but totally disappeared and my eyes were burning and my nose and ears just not right.
I had asked the doctor for a referral several times but nothing happened during the 18 months until my dentist got involved.
I had managed a referral to an eye consultant as my eyes were very dry though watering and light sensitive. I was prescribed eye ointments which I later found out contained preservatives and were actually compounding my problems rather than ease them. So now I buy my own perservative free drops and mind my own business.
I went through over 2 years of O/P appointments believing something would be found as I was so ill .
The lip biopsy for Sjogren.s was negative but the surgeon said she had never seen anything like the state of my mouth :
Full blood panel run by the hospital flagged low ferritin and as I was of " an age " my doctor wouldn't prescribe iron tablets until I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy performed.
I expressed my concern as with no saliva I couldn't swallow the mouth piece and after 3 no goes the man swung the table round and tried to gain entry at the other end.
To my horror the same pain as in my mouth was in my anus. I fainted with the pain waking up attached to various monitors on both arms and a man determined to finish what he had started and get 1 out of 2 results.
I declined the barium meal as again, I was unable to swallow as required.
All clear - iron tablets prescribed and referred to as a conundrum by my doctor.
Housebound and with no answers I thought maybe that Graves I had 10 years ago had come back and I purchased Elaine Moore's first book - Graves Disease A Practical Guide :
I read that symptoms similar to Sjogren's can be experienced after RAI :
I read that RAI induced hypothyroidism is more difficult to treat :
I read that RAI is taken up by other organs and glands within the body :
I read of an increased risk of breast and small bowel cancer after RAI :
I believe my whole digestive track was damaged from the RAI :
I read of myself :
I purchased a second copy of the book for my doctor believing she would be interested and help ma, as she knew I was dyslexic but received a flat " No " :
and I started my own recovery despite the lack of interest or acknowledgement.
I had years prior to RAI treatment a colonoscopy and at another time an endoscopy :
I didn't have any problems, the endoscopy not pleasant, but tolerable and the colonoscopy was painless and I watched the procedure on the monitor.
I'm so sorry you found out the hard way about RAI, you really have been through the wars. Is there no help for RAI damage then? it sounds a lot like iatrogenic Lupus, very similar. I believe my Husband had drug induced lupus. Do you chew gum for your mouth? I chew gum all the time now. I lost many teeth too from dry mouth, though some of that was from hypocalcaemia. But the last filling I had cost almost £600 not including Xrays!I was offered another colonoscopy a few years ago, but I found it so painful that I said no, besides whats the point. I don't remember the endoscopy as I was sedated.
I bet you keep away from 'Dr's' after your experiences!
I use viscotears for my eyes, but I don't find they help.
My maternal grandfather died during an endoscopy performed by medical students age 60. He choked on the blood. Sorry.
😱
Results to interpret please
Can stress cause your tsh to rise? 
How can TSH rise and T3 stay the same.
How quickly does tsh rise? 
