4 years ago, after trialing NDT I decided to go back to levothyroxine ( due to supply and cost)
Symptoms were manageable until earlier this year when brain fog and weight gain came back with a vengeance
Has anyone else had this happen to them ?
Thanks for reading
Hello Anniewoz :
Do you have any blood test results and ranges you can share with forum members from when on NDT and now on T4 monotherapy ?
Switching from NDT which is a full spectrum thyroid hormone containing both T3 and T4 back to just T4 can be problematic and may have left your body a little confused.
I presume you never really felt well on T4 monotherapy and why you tried an alternative treatment option - did you feel better taking NDT ?
What dose of NDT were you taking and what dose of T4 only are you now taking ?
No thyroid hormone replacement works well until your core strength vitamins and minerals - those of ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D are up and maintained at optimal -
Do you have any current readings and ranges of these co-factors ?
P.S. Just looked back and see you had a partial thyroidectomy so likely you'll need to add in a little T3 to your T4 dose :
A fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you on a daily basis with trace elements of T1. T2 and calcitonin + a measure of T3 at around 10 mcg + a measure of T4 at around 100 mcg.
Some people can get by on T4 monotherapy :
Some people find T4 seems to stop working as well as it once did and that by adding in a little T3 their thyroid hormone balance is restored.
Others can't tolerate T4 and need to take T3 only - Liothyronine.
Whilst others find their health restored better taking Natural Desiccated Thyroid which contains all the same known hormones as the thyroid gland and derived from pig thyroids dried and ground down into tablets referred to as grains.
Seeing as you have lost part of your thyroid you have likely lost that little bit of T3 that your thyroid once supported you with which would have kick started your metabolism and conversion of T4 :
Sounds like your Ft3 and/or vitamin levels are dropping
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
What vitamin supplements are you taking
is your hypothyroidism autoimmune
Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
support.medichecks.com/hc/e...
Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee
How much NDT were you on and how much Levothyroxine did they switch you to?
After 4 years on Levothyroxin 50
TSH creeping up
Old symptoms back
Back to levothyroxine after many years on Armour, etc
