I’m 15 weeks pregnant and taking 125mg NDT. I have hyperemisis and have needed hospital treatment for this. I’m exhausted and finding it hard to absorb information and make informed decisions.
My endo told me when I became pregnant to stop taking NDT and take 125 mg thyroxine instead. Before I was taking NDT I was taking 125mg of thyroxine but all thyroid symptoms persisted and I was incredibly unwell.
I saw another endo in the hopes of obtaining NDT based on this but they have instead said to take 175mg based on the fact that I didn’t absorb it before so need more to try and absorb it.
I asked why I couldn’t take NDT and was told because my T3 was high (just out of range by 0.something) and that the baby would be hyper as a result.
I’d read the reason I couldn’t take it is because it doesn’t cross the placenta.
I asked for evidence I could read to support the decision and was told to look on BTA, but that’s where I found the info saying NDT doesn’t cross the placenta.
Asides from the hyperemisis the pregnancy is going well, I had a scan last week and baby looks as expected.
I couldn’t support myself in thyroxine so how would I support myself and a new life,
I’m exhausted and have missed a lot of work from previous ill health and can’t afford to go private (I could stay on it then)
I have less than a month of medication left and don’t know what to do!
My head and heart say NDT is the way to go but I’m being told otherwise but can’t find evidence to back it up.
Any pointers?
TIA
Written by
ML44
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I asked for evidence I could read to support the decision and was told to look on BTA, but that’s where I found the info saying NDT doesn’t cross the placenta.
I'm not an expert on hypothyroidism and pregnancy, but even I know that is rubbish. NDT is not just one thing. It is a combination of T4 and T3. The T4 will cross the placenta wherever it comes from - levo, NDT or your own thyroid.
Question is, does T3 cross the placenta? A lot of sources say it doesn't, but your endo is saying, effectively, that it does, if it's going to negatively affect the baby. But, what on earth does he mean by 'your baby will be hyper'? Hyper what? Hyper active? Hyperthyroid? Hyper intelligent? Can't imagine it would be any of those things.
I think he just doesn't know what he's talking about, otherwise he would have given you chapter and verse instead of just fobbing you off with doing your own research.
Plenty of women take T3/NDT when pregnant. 100 years ago, NDT was all there was, but it didn't stop women having babies. I think it's just plain ignorance and prejudice that make them say you shouldn't take it now. Hopefully, someone on here will have some solid research to show it's ok.
I am sorry you are not being helped by the doctors. They appear to not know any history of thyroid hormone replacements of which NDT was the very first replacement which saved lives from 1892 onwards. Long before levo was invented. I am sure some pregnant women would also have been prescribed.
I think your GP hasn't the knowledge about NDTs - only about levothyroxine and/or liothyroxine. He may be anxious he will be blamed if you develop something which will then be assumed it must be the NDTs..
My doctor told me that T3 converted to T4, and one could not diagnose someone whose TSH was 100 and told the patient there was nothing wrong.
Bear in mind that from the 1890s until (very approximately) the 1970s NDT was the only (or the most common) thyroid treatment available. There must have been many, many thousands of babies born during that time whose mothers were taking NDT.
Although this is about taking T3 during pregnancy rather than NDT you might find it useful :
I took up to 5/6 grains of NDT in 2017/2018 pregnancy. It was gradually increased from 4 grains. Baby was perfect and now toddler. Before when on levo unfortunately had miscarriages.
Hi! May I ask who monitored you during your pregnancy please? I've been told to switch to T4+T3 combo medication as I'm trying to get pregnant and my doctors say that nobody will know how to monitor a pregnancy on NDT. I've felt miserable ever since I switched and I'd love to go back on the NDT if only I could find a doctor who could monitor me during my pregnancy if I was on NDT...
Only a few days ago, I posted some information about hyperemesis gravidarum - a newspaper article and the newly published paper that referred to.
It is not an easy read, and might have little to help you as an individual, but I am pointing it out so you can be aware. The article is better than most newspaper items!
Why are women who suffer extreme sickness in pregnancy told it’s all in their heads?
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Advice sourcing ndt please
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HAS ANY ONE BEEN SUCCESSFUL TAKING NDT WITH HASHIMOTO'S?
