Bench mark blood tests before switching to NDT

[Hipp0cratix]

I would welcome any comments or advice on these results and on the process of switching from levothyroxine to NDT. Thank you!

Hypothyroidism

I have been taking levothyroxin 100 mg for over 30 years since my early 40s.

(This is my only medication. Otherwise I keep healthy with yoga, regular exercise and working voluntarily with three arts charities.)

 

I now wish to switch to NDT for two main reasons:

1. Increasingly low energy and continuing hypersensitivity to cold.

2. Research showing levothyroxin significantly increases risk of cancer.

Most recent blood test results –[Semble]

Date 23 April

TSH 0.49 [0.270 - 4.2]

FT4 19.7 [12 - 22]

FT3 3.3 [3.1 - 6.8]

B12 622 [145 - 569]

Total 25(OH) Vitamin D 145 [50 - 250]

Ferritin 48.30 [30 - 332]

Folate 28.1 [> 7]

TPA <9 [0 - 39]

Thyroglobulin Antibodies 26.90 [0 - 115]

Cortisol Saliva test: 13.3 – 9.59 – 1.58 – 1.62

Diet: Low sugar / no cow’s dairy / veg, fruit, fish, pulses, seeds and nuts.

 Vitamins / Supplements include:

B1, B12, C & Zinc, D3, Ashwaganda, Berberine, Turmeric, CoQ10, Chlorella, Natural Progesteron.

 My doctor is very sympathetic but forbidden to prescribe NDT by the local NHS Clinical Commissioning Group.

I have just had a consultation with a private doctor specialising in thyroid who has prescribed Armour Thyroid 60mg tablets to build up from 1 grain to 2 grains per day over a period of 2-3 months.

This is my second week. I am taking 1 1/4 grains per day.

[HealthStarDust]

How are you feeling on NDT so far?

[Hipp0cratix in reply to HealthStarDust]

OK so far. No sign of any adverse reactions. But it's early days!

[pennyannie]

Okie doke - your bench readings are clear and look good with the exception of your ferritin :

For reference I now know I need my ferritin up at around 100 - folate 20 - active B12 125 ( serum B12 500++ ) and vitamin D at around 125.

Your T4 currently around 80% with your T3 at just around 8 %:

Do you know the reason for your hypothyroidism ?

Everywhere I researched when my ferritin was at 22 - suggested that ferritin needed to be at least over 70 for any thyroid hormone replacement to work well :

I still need to supplement all core strength vitamins and minerals on a daily/weekly basis although 6 years on from switching to self medicating with NDT and have noticed if my T3 result has dropped there is correlation and my ferritin has also dropped -amazing but true:

[66future]

What is NDT? Not aware of this.

Also can you share your source of information about the cancer risk for thyroxine. I’ve been on it for 13years so I’d like to know more.

I hope any changes you make work out for you.

[tattybogle in reply to 66future]

Jimh111 collected some stuff on the research showing connection of T4 levels to various different cancers.

Can't remember which of these posts would be the best to read as it's a while since i've read them or thought about it... but i do remember that the connection was looking like a connection with higher T4 levels in general rather than anything specific about the T4 from levo,.... so if there is an issue with higher T4 promoting proliferation of cancer cells , then it is likely to include T4 produced by a human thyroid , and T4 from pigs/ cows (NDT)

but there won't be much / any research on NDT .

Sorry that's a bit vague , brain won't find the right words at this time of night so you'll have to have a proper read for yourselves to be accurate about the details :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... /t4-and-cancer (posted Dec 2021)

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... levothyroxine-monotherapy-and-cancer (posted Feb 2022)

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... thyroid-hormones-and-cancer-video (posted May 2023)

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... levothyroxine-monotherapy-cardiac-risk-and-mortality

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu.... interesting-articles-on-thyroid-hormone-and-breast-cancer-pregnancy-t3-and-heart-attacks-and-treatment-of-hypothyroidism-in-hospital.

[66future in reply to tattybogle]

Thank you. I’ll follow it up.

[Hipp0cratix]

NDT stands for Natural Dessicated Thyroid:

palomahealth.com/learn/natu...

Unfortunately, this is not available on the NHS. Being natural it is more expensive to produce than synthetic thyroxine. You would need to get a prescription from a private doctor.

References to research papers which associate levothyroxine with increased risk of cancer:

1. Breast cancer. Relationship to thyroid supplements for hypothyroidism;  C C Kapdi, J N Wolfe;JAMA. 1976 Sep 6;236(10):1124-7.    

2. Levothyroxine use and the risk of breast cancer: a nation-wide population-based case-control study ; Chieh-Chen Wu et al; Arch Gynecol Obstet, 2018 Aug;298(2):389-396

3. Risk of cancer in long-term levothyroxine users: Retrospective population-based study;  Chieh Chen Wu et al; Cancer Sci

. 2021 Jun;112(6):2533-2541

4. The Breast-Thyroid Cancer Link: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis;  Sarah M. Nielsen et al; Cancer Epidemiolo; Vol 25 issue 2, 1 Feb 2016.

5. Breast cancer in association with thyroid disorders;  Orhan Turken et al; Breast Cancer Res. 2003; 5(5): R110–R113.

Good luck with your own treatment!