Experimenting with switching over from Levo to NDT, advice appreciated

[MiaMam]

Hello. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto 10 years ago and have since then been on Levo with low t3, irritable bowel issues, swelling, stiffness, etc. I am now experimenting with NDT and would love to hear from someone with experience. Questions:

1. I was on 100 mcg levo and am now taking 2 grains NDT. What is the usual dose one is on?

2. Do you split your NDT dose or take all at once in the morning?

3. I read somewhere that NDT is not for hashimoto and could make matters worst. What is your experience?

4. Has NDT helped you and reduced antibodies and made you feel better and in how long etc? Are there any other factors you had to work with like improve vit D, ferritin, folate, b12 and at what levels should they be?

5. does anyone take iodine with their NDT?

I am gluten and diary free for years and try to eat sufficient protein and fat to balance my sugar levels.

I thank you in advance

[pennyannie]

Hello Miamam and welcome to the forum :

There is no usual dose - you dose to the relief of symptoms and not a blood test result.

Some people take one dose, others take two, it's an experiment and you need to work out what suits you best as you build up your dose in 1/4 grain increments, monitoring your blood pressure, pulse and temperature.

Hashimoto's does throw a spanner in the works as this AI disease systematically destroys and disables your thyroid gland so you will be liable to erratic own thyroid hormone production and probably need to adjust your dose more often than someone like me who hasn't a thyroid gland.

If already on 2 grains suggest you stay on this dose for 6-8 weeks and then run a blood test to see if your T3 has moved from your benchmark readings and check list your symptoms before and now after being on NDT for 8 weeks- and what's changed for the better.

Your TSH will likely be low suppressed, your T4 possibly lower than when on T4 monotherapy but you T3 should have moved up and your symptoms relieved, if this is not the case you maybe need to rethink a few steps.

No thyroid hormone replacement works well until your core strength vitamins and minerals are up and maintained at optimal levels, especially those of ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D.

Iodine is not recommended as well as thyroid hormone replacement.

There is a school of thought that suggests NDT is not suitable for Hashimoto's patients as this AI disease attacks thyroid gland and your medication is pig thyroid gland and could be triggering your immune system further - - I don't know the answer to this, as there are very many Hashimoto's patient taking NDT and presume it's worth a try to see if this medication suits and works for you well.

You might like to read around Hashimoto's AI disease and read the research and articles of Dr Izabella Wentz are very useful - thyroidpharmacist.com

[serenfach]

Like many here, I moved from just T4 to adding T3 and felt much better, but not "right". I then moved to NDT and felt better again - the main improvement was my brain came back. I adjust my dose probably every few months as I have found I need more in the winter. I go up or down half a grain. I do split my dose, as I found it helped me not get that afternoon lull.

My antibodies were only checked once, just to prove it was hashi's I think. Any other infection can alter the antibodies drastically, so I am not bothered about that.

I try to avoid iodine, as I am sensitive to it - brings me out in a rash just on the skin. I use it on the farm animals to dip new born navels to prevent infection, so have to be careful. I drink a lot of milk as I love it, butter in everything, cheese for pudding.... I have a theory that I test quite a lot that red wine cancels that bit out!

After insisting on a Vit D test, which was denied a number of times, I was found to have very very low Vit D - I now use a spray with K2 in it. I have been denied any further tests.

Hope all this helps.

[Imaaan]

Hello,

1. I was on 75 mcg of Synthroid (T4) before switching to Ndt and t4 treatment. I'm currently on 2 grains and a 1/4 of Erfa and 6.25mcg of Synthroid (t4). I'm still in the process of raising my ndt because I'm just at 45% through the range for my free t3.

2. I split my doses to 4 times and that helps my heart and energy.

3. I've read that as well and was concerned it might raise my antibodies but it hasnt , thanks to God.

4. Ndt has helped me raise my free t3 because they were below level when I began. It took 10 months to get my free t3 to 45% but I'm an extremely poor converter. I'm a working progress but my symptoms have improved along the way . I'm in the process of getting my nutrient levels optimized. I know from past experiences that I feel my best when my ferratin is at least 75% through the range. My b12 and folate are good, thanks to God. I'm trying to get my D3 levels at the higher end of the range because I watched a video of Dr Berg.

I have Qs for you if you dont mind.

What ndt are you on? How do you source it if you're in the Middle East?

[MiaMam in reply to Imaaan]

Thanks for your reply. I source Thyroid-S from Thailand from travels or friends.Its freely available there.Im not sure you could import it into the middle east. Where do you source the Erfa from if I may ask and do you have a Dr that guides you in the middle east or are you doing it alone?

[Imaaan in reply to MiaMam]

Im in Canada. I got my Erfa from my family physician. My TSH has recently dropped below range and she has become uncomfortable with it despite my free t3 at 45%. She has given me a prescription of 6 weeks to see if it comes up. If it doesn't she told me that she was going to lower my dosage. I'm currently weighing my options of self sourcing or seeing s naturopath. God willingly everything will work out.



[MiaMam in reply to Imaaan]

Fingers crossed for you that all works out. Mexico pharmacies also may ship online but Thailand ships as well, just in case. Best of luck.

[Imaaan in reply to MiaMam]

Thanks for the suggestions and wishing you all the best. Its always helpful to add your current labwork to your posts.

[Imaaan in reply to MiaMam]

One more question, if you will. Did you make a straight swap or slower transition? If slow, what were your steps? T

[MiaMam]

I made a straight swap. Just stopped T4 on one day and switched to NDT. started too low honestly so suffered the first month with hypo symptoms and TSH went to 20. I now do 2 grain, one in morning and one in afternoon and feel human. Will test again in 2 weeks time and see where Im at.

[Imaaan in reply to MiaMam]

Thanks for the info and pls keep come back to update us on your results.

[pennyannie]

Please reread my reply on here, your first post :