Switching back to NDT I have been taking 125 Levothyroxine. I have decided to take one grain of Armour in the morning as I switch over. I’m wondering if I should add 25mgs of Levo at night…
I am waiting my results but two months ago I had very high TSH. I had two operations on my bowel and I’ve been recovering from that so didn’t want to change immediately.
Hi
I recently had to take Levo again when I couldn't get hold of my usual NDT. I was on 1 & 1/2 grains of NDT, previously, and when changing back over I split 1 grain AM and PM for one week then 2nd week added the 3rd half in the second week, no issues. How long have you been on the Levo? If for quite a long time you may need to change back more slowly and add in some levo whilst building your NDT dose back up.
I don't know anything about NDT I have to admit this is the first time I have heard of it. I take 200mcg of Levothyroxine at night. Sometimes I know they are not working properly because of the symptoms I have, then my GP increases my Levo than after a few weeks my blood is checked and if everything is fine he reduces them again
Bacaloca
then my GP increases my Levo than after a few weeks my blood is checked and if everything is fine he reduces them again
If everything is fine, you feel OK and your test results are in range, why is your reducing your dose? It doesn't make sense. It doesn't sound as though your GP knows how to treat hypothyroidism.
Can you post these results (with their reference ranges as these vary from lab to lab) so that we can see why your GP is changing your dose?
Do you always do your tests as we advise so that your results can be compared accurately:
* Blood draw no later than 9am. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, an increase in dose of Levo or to avoid a reduction then we need the highest possible TSH
* Nothing to eat or drink except water before the blood draw. This is because eating can lower TSH and coffee can affect TSH.
* If taking thyroid hormone replacement, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then last dose should be 8-12 hours before blood draw. Adjust timing the day before if necessary. This avoids measuring hormone levels at their peak after ingestion of hormone replacement. Take your thyroid meds after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.
* If you take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin (B7), leave this off for 7 days before any blood test. This is because if Biotin is used in the testing procedure it can give false results (most labs use biotin).
These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with phlebotomists or doctors.
I really don't understand any of what you are saying!! I have a blood test once a year to check my levels. my GP is looking after my Hypothyroidism, The hospital consultant said there was no need for him to see me again. I also have Fibromyalgia so I have short term memory loss, I have quite a few other problems which I won't bore you with now. I really don't know anything my Partne Tony deals with everything, sorry,
Bacaloca
With the greatest respect you really should learn about your thyroid condition so that you can help yourself, your doctor surely wont because most of them are very ignorant of how to treat it.
If you are happy to continue as you are then leave it. But if you aren't well and want to help yourself then:
Read posts on the forum.
Get your test results and post them here and we will explain things to you. In the UK we are legally entitled to our test results. If your surgery has online access to test results then register for this. If not then ask the receptionist (not the doctor) for a print out of your results.
When you read posts here you will realise how many ignorant doctors are happy to leave hypothyroid patients suffering, whereas in reality if they truly understood how to treat hypothyroidism there would be no need for forums like this where patients have to help themselves.
I will have a look & see if I can print them off or save them to my computer. Thank you for trying to help me
Hi Seaside Susie hope you are well- any thoughts on my post ?
Hi Maria, and apologies for taking your post off track.
I didn't respond because it's not something I'm familiar with so I couldn't offer anything constructive.
Actually, I told a lie. Dr P put me on Armour back in 2000 but I don't remember how the changeover from Levo was made. I don't remember taking both during a changeover period, I think it was a straight swap but I have no recollection of how it went. Turns out NDT wasn't right for me anyway 😞
Ah did you see Dr P - me too in 2015… when I was really lost. He was nice and listened well. Is he still going do you know ?Good to hear from you anyway- hope your are well. I’ve been slowly recovering from my emergency surgery and will start chemo in a couple of months so of course need to get my thyroid supported as best I can. Have an endo appointment in Feb too.
Dr P retired a couple of years ago, he is over 80 now and not in the best of health I understand.
I hope all goes well with your chemo and your recovery.
(((Hugs)))
Is there any other admin who can advise on NDT switch - today legs and upper arms felt weaker so I may stick to the 125 Levo until I see the Endo
Sorry, I don't think so, I know a couple take either Levo or Levo plus T3, and one takes T3 only.
Hi Maria I am very interested on switching from levo to NDT aswell, I hope some one can advice the both of us.👍
Yes have you taken NDT before. When I started I had to raise slowly as the T3 can be quite intense.
MariaStrawCinar,
I am ex-admin on this forum and will point out unless it is a certain persons input you specifically seek it is disrespectful to other members to specifically ask for admin, who may not know any more than the forums many extremely knowledgeable members. Therefore, you are more likely to receive replies from these members if you leave your question undirected specifically for admin.
The usual advice in switching back to NDT from Levo is when T3 in any form has been medicated before you can do a straight switch. If it is some time since medicating any form of T3 it is better to reintroduce a little more slowly and especially considering you have recently had an op.
It is tricky because optimising thyroid meds will aid in your ongoing recovery but any form of major surgery can cause complex metabolic changes & alteration in your need and usage of thyroid hormone for several weeks/months depending upon previous health and speed of recovery. Hence your high TSH which may not be reflective of your actually thyroid hormone needs so isn’t always a good time to start changing meds.
If you go ahead be advised many members add a little Levo or T3 to their NDT depending on their needs, so in answer to your question I think taking 1 grain + 25mcg Levo is a good compromise and if it were me I would leave this exact dose for at least six weeks and retest.
If may be if your need of T3 is small (like mine) this will be your continuing dose (it is mine) which is beneficial because having to split NDT is a pain and buying anything less than a whole grain costs nearly as much making it even more exorbitant in price than it already is. And splitting your NDT dose am & pm will be more sympathetic to the adrenals given the stress they will have endured regarding your ops and upcoming chemo.
Whatever you decide it would be beneficial to ensure all iron and nutrients are optimised (anaesthetic is known to lower VitB12 levels), and possibly support the adrenal glands. I hope your op recovery is going well.
Thank you so much for your reply. Apologies about asking for admin I don’t usually do that. It was because I was talking to SeasideSusie and I wasn’t thinking straight- she is always really great at pointing me in the right direction. Apologies and won’t do it again.Thank you for your advice it is exactly what I was thinking. I tried switching one day last week and felt v strange that day so went back to the 125 Levo. I know it was my body adjusting to T3 which I have taken before but not for about a year now and all the things that have happened since.
One of my hypo symptoms is weak upper arms and that was exacerbated the day I switched but still bad now.
I will see an Endo in February so may wait until then but I also need my thyroid optimal to face treatment in a couple of months so as Paddington would say it’s a sticky situation !
Maria,
Yes, SeasideSusie is great. All the admin are great & members at making all feel welcome & valued. We have a lovely forum sharing our knowledge because .... ...
"Seagulls don't know everything ... I always keep a marmalade sandwich under my hat, just in case!" 😊
Thank you 😊 xxx
Love it ! That made me smile - brilliant 🤩:)))
Struggling with switch to NDT
Switching from Levothyroxine to NDT
Results after switching to NDT
Add t3 or switch to ndt? 
