has anyone gone back to t4 after trying thyroid-s?

[MiaMam]

Hello,

Happy 2024 to everyone! May it bring you health and happiness!

Ive had a crazy year with Thyroid-s and while i like the feel of the medicine - im not sure it loves me back!

At 1.25 grains my results where tsh 0.6 and ft3 just in range, while t4 slightly under. I tried increasing to 1.5 grains after 6 weeks and then went to cold europe, and all of a sudden my temperature crashed to 35.5 C and I was cold all the time, shaking, face swollen, hyper and irritable and just not well. Ive lost all my nails this year and they have never been worst.

Ive since switched back to t4 75 mg and a combo 12.5 t4 and 2.5 t3 (1/4 of novothyrol) - total 87.5 t4 and 2.5 t3 for the last 4 days but I cant even seem to now tolerate the 2.5 of t3, it just "buzzes" in my head. Ive had the same reaction with synthetic t3 before when I had tried a long time ago, the "buzzing".

Im thinking of throwing in the towel and just going back to the 100 mcg t4 I used to take before for 10 years. Im just tired of not being well. Ive upped my iron as well this time round and was hoping that would help.

I still wonder what I did wrong with the Thyroid-s and wish it could have worked, but maybe its not for everyone, ie me?

[radd]

MiaMam,

Sorry no-one has replied. I’ll give my two penn'orth 😊

When we consider adrenal issues and thyroid antibodies, both common in hypothyroidism, it can be difficult introducing any thyroid hormone replacement meds.

This is because the meds don’t just ramp up metabolism to increase our well-being but can speed up the negative issues caused by hypo meaning they can make our 'failing systems' worsen (such as adrenals). It is thought by many that the order of meds being most easiest to tolerate is T4, followed by T4/T3 combo, NDT and lastly T3-alone.

A switch from T4/T3 combo to NDT can be tricky if you have mistakenly decreased the dose too much to allow a slow introduction. This risks any remnants of thyroid gland tissue activity that may induce thyroid antibodies to raise. There is also thought if thyroid antibodies aren’t managed, then molecular mimicry can occur, raising antibodies further. Long term these antibodies can cause chronic inflammation that prevents our meds from working effectively.

Another reason for NDT failure is the hormonal changes are is too excessive for struggling adrenal health and this is when you see the T3 (within NDT) causing issuing such as racing, heat and rushes. Sadly we have seen quite a few members unable to raise NDT enough to fulfil their required thyroid hormone need.

If you have resorted back to Levo, be aware many need a little T3 adding, and if you can’t tolerate it, you could multi-dose T3, taking just tiny amounts over the day (away from food). We have previously had members call their dose ‘the speck of dust’ taken off the end of their finger because that was all they call tolerate until other issues were sorted.

Don’t forget the usual forum advice regarding optimising nutritional status including iron.