I was treated 25 yrs ago for overactive thyroid received RAI which made me hypothyroid and prescribed 100 mcg of thyroxine. I have never felt better with any brand or quantity of Levothyroxine and have given up with NHS doctors with regard to endocrinology.
I have just completed reading a new book published in 2023 by a British doctor I cannot give details of the title or author on this forum. It has a full chapter on thyroid glandulars but the author clearly states the preference as wholefood dessicated thyoid supplements which I have never heard of. I have heard of natural dessicated thyroid. Is this the same product or completely different?
The fatigue that I am now feeling particularly brain fog and muscle weakness is getting worse. I have experimented with different doses 100, 125 mcg. I did drop Teva Levo some years ago have been on Accord for several years I wondered if they had changed the filler in it. I feel that I am completely on my own with regard to CFS .
At a recent appointment with NHS practice nurse I had numerous items checked some not relevant to the thyroid so I have listed those items which apply.
Date of blood test 17th May 2023
TSH 0.08 range 0.34 to 5.44
Free T4 17.3 range 11.5 to 22.7
Serum B12 383 ng/l range 211-911
Vit D asked for this to be checked practice nurse stated NHS no longer testing for Vit D .
Serum Folate 5.9 range incomplete on form only showing 5.4 to ?
Serum Ferritum 46ug/l range 22-322 seems very low in the range to me no advice given by medical staff.
I am planning on having a private lab test done this June for a full thyroid profile , also private adrenal testing done using saliva and urine samples.
My question is does anyone have experience of Wholefood Dessicated Thyroid supplements and if so can you give me your experience and recommendations.
Thank you
Written by
delboy25
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Thank you for your reply. I am not on B12 at the moment I have ordered Jarrow B12 1000mg tablets recently . I need to order Folate . I have ordered Better You Iron spray. I am due to see the practice nurse on the 20th June I will raise the Iron result and a full Iron panel test but I doubt they will oblige because the result is within the range. Can you suggest a private lab that does this. I started to take Vit D3/K2 drops this week.
A high percentage of my diet is fruit/veg and because there is a small % of protein in this when I buy food I always look for high protein content.
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement and add a separate vitamin B Complex after a week
Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12 until levels are high enough
Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing. It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
We have received further information the lab about ferritin reference ranges. They confirm that they are sex dependent up to the age of 60, then beyond the age of 60 the reference range is the same for both sexes:
Males 16-60: 30-400 ug/L
Female's: 16-60: 30-150
Both >60: 30-650
The lower limit of 30 ug/L is in accordance with the updated NICE guidance and the upper limits are in accordance with guidance from the Association of Clinical Biochemists. ‘
and quite why this treatment is still offered in what we presume to be a health care setting beyond me.
Looking back, you appear to have tried all the treatment options so I guess the answer is to find one that suits you best and ensure you keep your core strength vitamins and minerals at optimal levels.
i had RAI back in 2005 - and told at my very first hospital appointment that i was to have RAI the following year as the AT drug was too dangerous to stay on long term, which was a shock as I felt very well on the Carbimazole and thought my health issue ' sorted ' .
I now self medicate NDT - I find this softer on my body and am much improved - but a work in progress - as we all are as with the age I'm sure the goal posts move.
I have PA and hypothyroidism ( sub clinical thyroid doctor says). I’m following guidance on this forum plus Dr Barry Durrant-Peatfield’s Your Thyroid and how to keep it healthy. This means I’ve begun my thyroid regime by boosting adrenals first. And adding liver enzymes, before trying the glandular thyroid route. Which is my chosen experiment
Whatever I try I start on very low doses to see if it suits, then build up. Feeling better energy and sleep so far. I also inject 0.5ml B12, 2 or 3 times a day depending on activity and add B complex, P5P, D + K2-7, sublingual B12 and Vit C, with occasional pauses to check in on body.
Yes, I too have Dr P's book as my goto - some 6 years on - and it still has relevance -
and yes, I too started off by supporting my adrenals as read RAI is taken up, to a lesser extent by other glands and organs in the body, including the adrenal - just popped back to add this to my reply above as I forgot to mention this in the main body of my reply.
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