3 months post-partum - advice on these results?

[amansterdam]

I was diagnosed with hypo right before I found out I was pregnant last August. Levo was awful for me, so I switched to NDT and have done well on it.

Throughout pregnancy, my TSH was optimal and T3 was good too but T4 was difficult to get optimal.

I'm on 180mcg of NDT, split 90/90 morning and night.

I gave birth a few months ago and just had my blood drawn (I know I should get RT3 but I'm in the Netherlands and it appears IMPOSSIBLE to get this).

I also cannot get a T3 only prescription here.

I was thinking to drop the NDT down to 120mcg and adding in 50mcg of Levo to get my T4 up.

But I'm also feeling VERY good so I'm also thinking maybe best to just leave it?

Thoughts?

[Bertwills]

Hello, I’m afraid I don’t know much about the effects on the thyroid of recently giving birth but I have taken T3 only for years & been much better on it than when I took T4 too. I also don’t know about NDT but I think in your situation I would stay with what you know is suiting you. Stay on the same dose of NDT.

I think it’s more important that you check your vitamins & minerals. Presumably your breast feeding & that needs good vitamin support. Post another question for advice about which vitamins etc to test or look at other posts. Essential to have good levels of Vit D with Vitamin K2, iron, maganesium, selenium & folate. Don’t take them at or near your NDT doses though.

Congratulations on your new baby.

[amansterdam in reply to Bertwills]

Yep, I'm still taking my prenatals with extra D3 and K2

[pennyannie]

Hello Amansterdam ;

When taking NDT you track of the Free T3 - not total T3 - which is this blood test reading :

When taking NDT you may well have a low Free T4 - mine is also -

and tend to think it means my conversion of T4 is good and that I'm not carrying much surplus T4 which in turn becomes reverse T3.

Reverse T3 is a natural process and we all make some - and simply the body's way of losing excess T4 - which is then broken down in the body and excreted.

There are no guidelines for NDT -

and suggesting your T4 needs to be higher is a nonsense -

If you are well and happy where you are - please stop worrying about your T4 -

and jif you must lose sleep - it's for this bundle of joy - at this special time in your life -

Congratulations

[amansterdam in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you, this is reassuring. I really feel good so I don't want to mess with a good thing.