Hi Everyone,
Still searching to be less housebound and energised. It's another thing to try before I throw in the towel.
Any thoughts and experiences would be greatly appreciated ,as my TSH continues to decline out of range and T4 andT3 both low in NHS range.
every best wish , G
Some people report requiring slightly more thyroid medication when commencing HRT, but I actually found I needed less. As many symptoms of perimenopause/ menopause and hypothyroidism overlap, I would suggest adding/ adjusting one medication at once, otherwise it can be difficult to work out which dosage is effective.
Regarding HRT, it may be useful to have a look at Dr Louise Newson’s free Balance App, as I find it really useful for comparing HRT medications & having up to date research articles. There is also an ability to post questions.
healthunlocked.com/redirect...
Thank you Buddy195 for taking the time to reply.
I am already on NDT going on 9 years in various timings,amounts,brands, T3 only etc etc all so far have not allowed a reasonable quality of life. And i did wonder as Dr Newson advocates (ive found her books,knowledge,passion excellent, just wish I found her 10 years ago) getting the HRT balanced before thyroid is less complex way around........that this is why Im still struggling and out of action.
However I am where I am, but interesting to see that yours and AKatieD's experience are opposite, an clear that we have to treat ourselves, back to homeostasis.
Thank you for your support and kindness, every best wish, G.
Agree with Buddy195, I needed to increase my thyroid meds after starting HRT.
If your free T3 and T4 are low in range you likely need more thyroid hormones to feel well. Don't worry about TSH when being treated as it does not matter, use the free T3 and free T4 to guide you, along with how you feel.
Hope you can adjust things so that you are feeling better.
Thank you AKatieD for taking the time to reply.
Yes i feel very undermedicated,but I am not tolerating increase of meds very well at present, with too much domestic stuff in the mix, my adrenals cant cope ...even with 1/8th grain increase.
It was really that ive wondered for a while now , had I had HRT, would I perhaps have needed less thyroid meds overall, and all the mins/vits be better absorbed too.
Dr Louise Newson (menopause -balance ) mentions if possible, getting your HRT in balance first is easier to balance thyroid hormones.
I can see by Buddy195's kind response that you both improved, but with opposite approach.We are all beautifully unique.
Thank you for your kindness, every best wish, G
Know what you mean about adrenals as I am trying to sort out my cortisol levels at the moment.
blinking nightmare! Ive got the CAR test to do ,which is a bit more complex than just the 4 salivas test i have done in the past... dependent on waking naturally (difficult) not a jump start alarm, doing the first test horizontal,no feet on ground literally and the 2nd one 30 mins later but upright, then the remaining 4 are done as previous 4 saliva test ie living your usual life.
Have you seen Dr Lams website on adrenal fatigue ? although fatigue seems to be the wrong word, he does however make you feel reassured you are not going nuts with the myriad of fluctuating symptoms, and offers quite a protocol of self help.I must have come across him 20 years ago, and he updates his info regularly.
Every best wish G
Yes did the 4 plus car a few weeks back, now trying to fix but slowwwww progress. Not heard of Lam so will look up
It is slow , i describe it to folk that say 'you look alright' as walking in quicksand most days and feeling that you progress by taking 3 steps forward and 2 back. Sometimes you know what you did wrong and sometimes its a mystery.
Take care, G
Thought I'd drop this here for you, following your request to me for a PM
balance-menopause.com/menop...
Earlier you said
I believed our T3 was meant to be near top of range and T4 mid to high in range .....im wondering now if maybe my T3 is too high for me, because of the NDT ratio. Levo gives me hives.T3 only a disaster.
Since we are all different our needs vary accordingly and much depends on the amount and type of thyroid hormone replacement we are taking. We advise that, in most circumstances, both Frees should roughly be approaching 75% through their respective ref ranges ....but nothing is written in stone!!
Estrogen, for example, has been shown to block (some) T3 receptors....this has caused a problem for me.
HRT can affect thyroid hormone levels meaning many need more hormone.
As you will know 1 grain/ 60mcg NDT generally provides 38mcg T4 and 9mcg T3.
How much exogenous hormone(s) are you taking?
It's more likely to be excipients in levo that cause hives than levo per se.
In what way was T3 "a disaster"? The wrong dose is very possibly the cause
Do you have any recent labs....tested after at least 6 week on a steady dose?
Many of us test privately to obtain a full thyroid test - link to site appears down at the moment!!
TSH, FT4, FT3, vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin
It is essential that all nutrients are tested....rarely done on NHS
If not previously tested then include thyroid antibodies TPO and TG to check for thyroid autoimmune disease/ Hashimoto's
You mention adrenals. Have you tried taking an adrenal cocktail? No gin involved!!!!
health.com/adrenal-cocktail...
Home adrenal check.....
Sit down, relax
Take blood pressure
Immediately stand up, take BP again
If BP falls on standing up then adrenals likely struggling
guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/heal...
Just a few thoughts
We're all here to help....just ask!
Good luck
Hello DippyDame,
Thank you for taking the time to give me so much information. I do not have my data to hand at the moment.
I guessed it was more likely to be the excipients in Levo rather than the active ingredient that gives the hives. Ive yet to road test the Aristo brand which is acacia -free. Im just a bit overwhelmed and wiped out at the moment, to go through the GP again to explain a different worded script and why ,then remonstrating with the pharmacy to act on the brand worded in the script.
The Chronic Fatigue side of this disease is a nightmare trying to sort ourselves out with exhausting hurdles to get there.
I do my BP every day, sitting and standing, at different times of day, monitoring medication peak times etc and to keep an eye on adrenals.
My electrolytes have been variable the last year, too little salt, when over hydrated, too high calcium, too low magnesium ,all at different months of testing, which suggests adrenals, which i am about to redo.
Yes over 10 years ive spent literally all my savings on private testing, to no avail.
The best i ever felt was 2019, fatigue and gutwise was on 1 grain of Nature Throid (less punch than Armour, but discontinued) + 7.5mcg of T3, both in split doses...........but this put my T3 at 13.5 , T4 at 20, and TSH out of range . I had a slightly fast pulse for me at about 80 i recall.I would prefer to have a detectable TSH, but to drop meds lower , put me totally housebound and horizontal. Meds currently 1 3/8gr NDT, TSH 0.06, T4 15.4, T3 5.5 thats off the top of my head today ,all NHS ranges. B12,Vit D, Iron, Folate ,Ferritin all ok, Mg a little low this time.
T3 only, I could barely move, i do better with some T4.
I am aware that although 1 grain of Armour contains 38mcg T4 + 9 mcg T3 , that the 1 grain of NDT equates to approx 75mcg Levo and 5mcg of T3 as a starting point.
It would be much easier to micro- manage the synthetic versions, but now I do not have a T3 source anymore, as Endo has gone.
Ive looked into B12 too as I am DIO2 + and MTHFR +, and these all seem to be intrinsically linked, and may look good at serum level but not necessarily at a cellular level. The problem is always getting a physician on board with us to look at other options....but the fear/ 'claims' world we live in appears to prevent this.
Bless you for being there, and take care of yourself too.
Every best wish, G
Thinking of switching NDT to T3 - conversion help, please :)
Mirtazapine. Anyone had experience of this?
Advice on starting NDT please?
Does anyone take a combination of NDT and Levothyroxine.
fT4 dropped from 16.4 to 8.3 after starting trial of NDT? 
