I just started on a beef thyroid supplement this morning (Grassfed Beef Thyroid by Ancestral Supplements). And it looks like my body is reacting the same way it reacted when I tried 2 porcine thyroid supplements in the past - heart palpitations and severe fatigue. Although I think the fatigue after trying the beef thyroid may have been a little worse.
I only took 1/2 of one beef thyroid capsule today, so roughly 15mg of the beef thyroid and 235mg of beef liver which is in it. I have felt terrible all day, unable to do anything but sleep pretty much.
I have been on a supplement called T3 Release since my Hashimoto's diagnosis in January 2020. It has herbs in it that help the body produce T3 (and T4) I believe. So I did take that just once today about a couple hours after I took the beef thyroid. Wasn't sure if I should continue that or not while taking beef thyroid - but when I don't take T3 Release, I feel more fatigue.
I didn't start the beef thyroid for a while because I have been very sick for weeks! Bad sinus and upper respiratory infection. So I thought I'd give myself a little time to get over that before introducing something new. I've found that whenever I get sick like that, it affects my adrenal glands (exhaustion) and it takes me a long time to recover because of my autoimmune condition.
What can I do? I was really hoping this beef thyroid would help me since I couldn't tolerate the porcine thyroid supplements. I have never tried the synthetic hormones, only the natural dessicated thyroid hormones, and I don't seem to be able to tolerate the NDTs.
I was reading on this forum today and one of the moderators in the group said that whenever he makes a change to his thyroid meds, increasing or decreasing the dosage, he has to go very very slowly because he's so sensitive. So he makes a 12.5mg change at a time and takes that every other day until his body adjusts. As I said I took half the beef thyroid capsule today, so about 15mg. But I'm concerned about getting consistent doses because I'm just eyeballing it. Should I try taking less than half a capsule? Is there anything else I can do?
I'd appreciate any suggestions you have. Pretty discouraged right now.
Thank you!
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Betterhealth4me
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Welcome to the forum, let’s see if we can help you a bit.
Firstly can to answer a few things so we can better help you.
Are you in the UK or somewhere else in the world?
What is your age and weight and do you have any other health issues. We need to think of everything in relation to the whole.
I can say this from my own experience …
I am a huge advocate of natural when it is appropriate. I am also no purest and use whatever works. Whilst I might have taken natural supplements to support my thyroid if I had a virus and was getting over it I would definitely not be taking herbs to deal with a thyroid that is already damaged by an ongoing autoimmune disease. I am just getting over a cold I used pharmacy decongestant tabs and echinacea (taken apart) and it has been the quickest recovery I have ever had. Neither on their own have produced results like this. Just an example of pick and mix efficacy.
I expect you are really hypo still. Have you got any recent blood results? FT3, FT4, TSH, vitamins etc. Your TSH might be high, or might not but TSH has to be viewed through a critical eye it is not wholly reliable. If you stay on here long enough (and I hope you do) you will come to understand 😊 Your thyroid hormones are the most important measure and being in range is not enough.
I know you probably won’t want me to say this, but essentially you have been unmedicated for three years. Your body needs thyroid hormones and the only way you get there is through getting onto a full therapeutic dose of thyroid hormones, whichever method you use. Importantly this is not a topping up process, but gradually removing the strain from a failing thyroid completely. So when we start thyroid hormone replacement the thyroid itself shuts down and we control dosage ourselves. Actually this is a good thing because to try to supplement dose would actually be far harder and we would be only to attain a steady state and therefore better health.
“I didn't start the beef thyroid for a while because I have been very sick for weeks! Bad sinus and upper respiratory infection.”
If one is actively hypothyroid (through no thyroid hormone replacement) our immune system will weaken, we will often have vitamin deficiencies, further impairing our ability to function/fight infections.
“, it affects my adrenal glands (exhaustion) and it takes me a long time to recover because of my autoimmune condition.”
So when you are hypothyroid this puts incredible strain on your adrenals. Not treating the hypothyroidism and getting onto a therapeutic dose of a form of thyroid hormone treatment will be impacting your adrenals.
You really need a blood test to set a baseline as to where you are in relation to the thyroid and your nutritional status. This is really important. One should NEVER treat the lab work as most conventional doctors fall into doing, but it does give us an idea of what needs addressing and Results should be calibrated to the patient not the other way round.
I was reading on this forum today and one of the moderators in the group said that whenever he makes a change to his thyroid meds, increasing or decreasing the dosage, he has to go very very slowly because he's so sensitive.
Many people do find this, some think having been left undiagnosed and /or untreated can make the adjustment of thyroid hormone levels problematic so a low and slow process works well.
The process of titrating up onto the thyroid hormones will be a process where you will experience the effects of thyroid hormones. They may be good and bad in equal measure or a rocky road until your body adjusts to once again to having an adequate supply of thyroid hormones. Your body will have made all sorts of compensatory adjustments to deal with the hypothyroidism and the undoing of this will not be without effect.
If I am honest, I would Initally go down the levo route it is the easiest, This is what I did. Some people find this isn’t enough, will migrate onto NDT from there or go for combination therapy. We are all different. You have already said you haven’t done well on NDT and you are getting problems with this other substitute. You need thyroid hormones.
‘I'd appreciate any suggestions you have. Pretty discouraged right now’.
Please please don’t be discouraged. I suspect you will ‘experience’ your transition onto thyroid hormones whichever route you plump for and the longer you leave it the worse you will get. Either way using blood tests to ensure the balance between FT4 and FT3 and getting vitamins and minerals at a decent level to support metabolic processes is very helpful which ever route you decide to take.
If you get to a steady state you can tweak.
I will tag SlowDragon in as she has loads of info you can work through. I did this three years ago and I am well now. If you click on my face (at top of reply) this will take you to my bio my posts and my replies.
Try and get some background reading in there are some good books suggested on the thyroid UK website. I went for a book called “be your own thyroid advocate (when you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired)”. It’s on Amazon or you might be able to pick up a 2nd hand copy. Knowledge is power. I read from many different sources so I don’t fall down the rabbit hole. The truth tends to float to the top then.
"Natural" may have a place in medication but that doesn't mean it is always the best.
First we need to work out what the problem is, and only then can we start dealing with it
To that end it's best to start with a full thyroid test to include...
TSH, FT4, FT3, vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin....you have Hashi's so thyroid antibodies must have been tested already.
Glandulars don't have stated thyroid hormone content/ amount so immediately dosing becomes a hit or a miss. As dosing progresses lab results may help show what the changes in hormone levels are. It's not straightforward!
Have you been advised to optimise essential nutrients to support thyroid function?
I'd suggest you start with a full thyroid test and then with thyroid hormone replacement/ levothyroxine....starting dose 50mcg to be re-tested after 6/8 weeks followed by appropriate increase
Recovery will take time so be prepared to be patient.
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