Increase in Armour Thyroid : I need (agreed with... - Thyroid UK

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Increase in Armour Thyroid

Karen-Eleanor profile image
12 Replies

I need (agreed with Consultant) to increase my NDT by 1/4 grain in the afternoon. By day 3 I start to feel jumpy and revved up! Should I start increase more slowly say every 3rd day then every other day?

TSH 0.01 (0.27-4.2)

T3 4.0 (3.2. - 6.8)

T4 13.0 (12.5 - 22.0)

Has anyone else experienced this on increasing either NDT or T3?

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Karen-Eleanor profile image
Karen-Eleanor
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12 Replies
pennyannie profile image
pennyannie

Hey there again :

I haven't a thyroid - RAI thyroid ablation for Graves Disease - and taking NDT and feeling jumpy and revved up would, for me, be a sign of over medication.

Since you have Hashimoto's AI Disease you are liable to own erratic thyroid hormone production so it can be a challenge knowing if it's the dose or your own body reactions.

Generally speaking you need to stay on the same dose at least a week before adjusting up or down by 1/4 grains :

No thyroid hormone replacement works well until your core strength vitamins and minerals are optimal and i can only see limited results when I look back a few posts.

Karen-Eleanor profile image
Karen-Eleanor in reply topennyannie

Definitely not overdosed - levels are low in range. I’m displaying lots of hypo symptoms. Not had vitamins checked recently but D and B12 were previously good. AI is a complete pain to live with.

pennyannie profile image
pennyannie in reply toKaren-Eleanor

NDT does not present in blood tests the same way as synthetic T3 and T4 :

When optimally medicated you will likely have a low suppressed TSH and your T4 proportionately lower but your T3 proportionately higher than when on synthetics and we track on the T3.

Karen-Eleanor profile image
Karen-Eleanor in reply topennyannie

TSH 0.01 (0.27 - 2.2)

T4 13.0 (12.1 - 22.0)

T3 4 (3.1 - 6.8)

Are most recent readings - 7.30 am only water 💦 to drink, last meds at 4:30 pm.

pennyannie profile image
pennyannie in reply toKaren-Eleanor

Ok - so when taking any form of T3 it's suggested to arrange =

a fasting blood test at 10-12 hours post last dose -

so this blood test shows a false low as we are looking at a 15 hour window and maybe some food, the evening before, after 4.30 pm ?

So it's pretty meaningless as it stands :

Going by symptoms- as previously detailed - I see these as hyper symptoms - but of course i don't have a thyroid and you have Hashimoto's so liable to erratic own thyroid hormone production -

Maybe get your core strength vitamins and minerals run just to ensure ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D all are up at optimal levels :

Since you have AI thyroid disease have you been checked out for celiac disease and now cut out gluten, and possible other food intolerances such as dairy and wheat ?

thyroidpharmacist.com

Karen-Eleanor profile image
Karen-Eleanor in reply topennyannie

Apart from the side effects when trying to increase all symptoms are hypo - tired, cold, weight gain, hair falling out.

I’ve never done fasting option - only nothing but water on morning of test. I’m dairy free as allergic to cows’ milk from child. I’ve been tested for gluten intolerant which was negative and have tried gluten free diet but it made no difference. I’ll look at the thyroid pharmacy site and vitamin testing. Thank you

pennyannie profile image
pennyannie in reply toKaren-Eleanor

OK then - very common with Hashimoto's patients is this ' leaky gut ' issue and since absorption of the thyroid hormones takes place in the gut this is the first issue is to check out :

When testing thyroid hormone we suggest a fasting blood test - I know from experience fasting my T3 level is higher than if I've eaten as I need energy to digest the food and metabolise it, thereby using up some of my T3 store.

Since you are under a consultant I'd follow whatever blood test protocol s/he works to and consistency on time of testing and conditions more is important so that we can compare ' like for like ' situations.

Could be non optimal levels of core strength vitamins and minerals so yes, another base that needs covering.

Karen-Eleanor profile image
Karen-Eleanor in reply topennyannie

I feel consultant doesn’t know a lot about NDT as seems to think bloods can be done at anytime of the day as hoc!! I just did what I’ve done since starting on NDT in 2004. Always felt better with T3 at about 6.

pennyannie profile image
pennyannie in reply toKaren-Eleanor

Ok then - so you are not a stranger to this treatment option :

What dose were on before that achieved a T3 towards the top of the range ?

My T3 comes in at around 90-110% with a T4 at around 20-25% through the ranges after around 8 /10 hours - fasting blood test - and just taking in water.

I only need around 1 + 1./2 grains - but then I haven't a thyroid, 76 and retired, so probably not worth comparing and I self medicate so have the freedom to adjust as I see fit, as there can be a slight variance in different batches of NDT

pennyannie profile image
pennyannie in reply toKaren-Eleanor

Looking back at your first post on this forum a year ago, you mention tht in 2021 I grain was giving ou a T3 slightly over range in the ' 7 's ' and you felt the anxiousness and irritable so cut back the dose.

This again shows how difficult it can be when your ow thyroid hormone production becomes erratic - the reality is though with these Hashimoto's swings when the swing swings back, after an AI attack, your thyroid is left further disabled and if anything you need a dose increase from you thought yourself stable prior to the AI attack.

Karen-Eleanor profile image
Karen-Eleanor in reply topennyannie

Thank you again. I’m seriously considering self-medicating going on symptoms- as they did pre-1973 when ranges were introduced! As you can see the AI causes fluctuations. I’m 59, quite slight and only 5ft 2. I don’t work but have a very active lifestyle.

How do you source your medication please?

Lalatoot profile image
Lalatoot

You need to take the same daily dose of NDT. Because it contains t3, you can't take different doses on different days.

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