Without a thyroid, what medication works best?

[Margo]

I haven't had a thyroid since 2003, (thyroid cancer). Since then I have struggled to find the right medication that works for me. For the last 2 years I have been taking TR Mann purchased from Thailand, I have felt "normal" since taking it. However, in March the pot expires and there is no more as I think the company folded. What I am asking here is what works for you? Have been thinking about Thyroid S also from Thailand. I would love to hear from others taking thyroid medication from Thailand. Thank you

[shaws Administrator]

It's a great pity that in the UK the 'powers that be' have removed the oldest and first life-saver from 1892 for people who developed hypothyroidism and it is called 'Natural Dessicated Thyroid' hormones made from animas' thyroid glands.

Members who have taken the thyroid hormone you request will respond when they read your post.

[Margo in reply to shaws]

Can't have people getting well shaws can we.....Essential to keep people un-well, more money for the pharma' companies.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Margo]

Maybe trial Dr Lowe's method - if you've not already done so.

google.com/search?client=fi...

[Margo in reply to shaws]

Thanks shaws , hadn't thought of Dr Lowe, will take a look.

[Hennerton]

Have you actually tried getting it on prescription? I think the T3 ban has lightened up since the truth about the Pharma companies and outrageous pricing has been revealed. You are in a special position, as you have no thyroid. I am the same and had to see an NHS endocrinologist last year regarding my ongoing prescription that the CCG were obviously trying to cancel. This endocrinologist, female and very kind, said she could not understand why I had been asked to see her, as I have no thyroid and of course I need T3. She wrote a brilliant letter to my GP and I hope all will be well until someone else comes along and tries to cancel it. Anyway, it is worth a try…

[Margo in reply to Hennerton]

Thank you Hennerton . Some years back I was on T3 only, and was fairly ok until, I was told T3 alone was not good. I have always loathed the idea of adding Levothyroxine as I didn't get along with it in the past. What do you take at the moment?

[Hennerton in reply to Margo]

Ah! I thought you were on Levothyroxine and were buying T3. I did try T3 only at about the same time as you, I believe, because I seem to remember we had a few exchanges of information on this site. I could not get on with it by itself and have now been on the T4 T3 combo for many years. It is about as good as it will ever get, I think but I still miss my own thyroid. My biggest regret in my entire life is not quizzing the endocrinologist more thoroughly when he recommended thyroidectomy.

[Margo in reply to Hennerton]

It's awful when we can't expect to be as good as we can be, but no medication can ever replace a gland/body part. What do you take and how?

[Hennerton in reply to Margo]

I take 75mcg T4 and try always to get Mercury Pharma, plus 10mcg T3, which I take morning and evening.

[lau99 in reply to Hennerton]

I feel exactly the same way regarding thyroidectomy Still not well nearly 3 years later...easily my biggest regret in life. Do you mind me asking what dose of T4 and T3 you're on?

[Hennerton in reply to lau99]

I take T4 Mercury Pharma 75mcg and T3 10 mcg split into two little pieces morning and evening. I am very thin plus I lost a lot more after the Covid vaccinations and simply cannot gain it back. I looked up the reported side effects of the vaccine and found others had also lost weight they did not want to lose. It is very odd.

[Margo in reply to Hennerton]

Thank you Hennerton, I might give your programme a go. I am prescribed both Levo' and T3 so can go straight on to it. I find it a real pain trying to work in the times taking all the supplements I have to take, in particular things that don't blend well with thyroid medications.

[Hidden in reply to Margo]

Who said that T3 only is not good? What evidence did they have to back it up? Why would T3 be OK in NDt or combined with levo but not on its own? Many take T3 only and feel great. They cannot tolerate any T4 and do best without it.

[Margo in reply to Hidden]

This was a while back and I can't remember the dialogue. I never felt "great", never have, although better on TR Mann. I wish I could remember why I stopped and who said what. I am open to trying it out again, will just gather up the information given on here and make a decision. Thanks PurpleCat71

[pennyannie]

Hello Margo :

I am with Graves Disease post RAI thyroid ablation and around 4 years into taking Thyroid S from Thailand.

After being refused any options other than T4 monotherapy on the NHS and virtually housebound I started self medicating in around 2108 and purchased both T3 and NDT to trial.

I " flirted " with a T3/ T4 combo , felt turbo charged, and never found a dose that suited me,

NDT did suit me better, and believe I'm restored as good as it's " gonna get " and the bonus was a very subtle weight loss of around 2 dress sizes.

I still need to supplement vitamins and minerals to keep optimal levels and also take adrenal glandular.

[Margo]

Thank you for your reply, I am still interested in Thyroid S as I am a little nervous of T3/Levo' combo'. I could certainly do with a bit of weight loss although that is not my main concern, and I guess if it hasn't happened with TR Mann it is unlikely to change with anything else. Do you mind if I private message you to ask where you get your supply/costs etc.? Thank you.

[susanmhall62]

I had a thyroidectomy due to thyroid cancer in 2004. I'm currently on Armour Thyroid 3 grains or 180 mg which works out to be 114 mg of T4 and 27 mg of T3. I split the dose taking half in the morning and half at bedtime. I feel reasonably well (which I measure by whether or not I'm able to exercise.) I'm currently running 1-3 miles a day, in addition to walking.

My most recent thyroid labs:

FT3: 4.1 pg/ml range 2-4.4

FT4: 1.42 ng/dl range .82-1.77

TSH: < 0.005 range .45-4.5

[Margo]

Thank you Susan for your reply. I tried Armour about 15 years ago and didn't get on with it, that said, things change maybe I could now. I am collecting all the information on here and will make a decision quite soon. Thanks again.