Started candida diet and feel over medicated

[JacqS71]

Good morning

First I attach my latest results: as you can see there were done in May. I see a private GP (through a menopause clinic). I take novo which she prescribes - T4 / T3 100.

My question is: I have not felt "right" for a while. I know, from previous stool tests (a while back) that I have candida and leaky gut. I have always felt better cutting out gluten, sugar and most dairy. However, I have lost my way a bit through a period of work related stress and a challenging teen. I had a moment of clarity a few weeks ago as my fatigue was quite bad. I knew - from results - that I could not take more meds. So I started a candida diet and took it seriously, not going to low on carbs, but getting the right one - buckwheat / veggies / some fruits...

So, I feel MUCH better and that horrible fatigue that is always there has gone. But, I have started sleeping badly. I toss and turn for about two hours and then get to sleep after midnight. Once asleep, I go through til about 7.30. But I used to be a 10 - 6.30 solid sleeper (which is what I ideally need for work). But with less sleep, I feel tired, not that horrible fatigue - if you know what I mean. For me there is a real difference.

Overall, I am pleased with my diet. My QUESTION! Do you think I am now overmedicated and this may be causing the trouble getting to sleep? I have been overmedicated before - years ago - and I tossed and turned. I feel that maybe now my gut is absorbing better, I don't need as much novo?

My GP is great - she says go on how I feel / ignore TSH etc. I could ask her, but it's £50 for an email to be answered, so I though I would give you guys a go. My GP also said at the last app that I was high and if I felt over medicated at any stage, I could reduce on my own and use trial and error. I am minded to take 75% of my current dose and see what happens.

Any advice at all really would be appreciated.

Thank you, Jacqui

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

I don't know what Novo is but yes you could certainly do with reducing your dose, assuming these results are taken using the recommended protocol?

Free T4 (fT4) 16 pmol/L (7.9 - 14.4) 124.6%

Free T3 (fT3) 7.8 pmol/L (3.8 - 6) 181.8%

Edit... just looked up Novo(thyral) 100 not many use it in the UK

So it's a combined pill 100mcg T4 and 20mcg T3 (so restrictive when tweaking)

So yes I'd agree with you that dropping back to 75 would be a sensible trial

It looks like the ratio is a bit T3 top heavy for you

[JacqS71 in reply to TiggerMe]

Thanks TiggerMe that's really helpful. Yes it is combined. I was on T4 / T3 separately but I was sourcing this myself and it got too expensive. Even through my private GP it is prohibitively expensive. The only thing I could do, which has crossed my mind, is take 50% of my novo dose and top up with T4 only. That would give me more T4 in relation to the T3. My thought is to reduce to 75% novo - see how I feel on that and then think about my second option.

Thanks for your speedy reply though - sometimes feel like I am trying to figure it all out on my own

[arTistapple in reply to JacqS71]

Decades ago the Candida Diet was pretty popular. One of the things reported about it was (similar in some ways to the thyroid with Hashimoto) of ‘stuff’ being dumped in the system bringing about all sorts of horrible symptoms. It was put down to the diet ‘working/detoxing’. Many people gave it up because they just could not handle the ‘side effects’.

However if you are over medicated it’s likely to bring on similar results.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to JacqS71]

Sounds like a good plan, many using NDT take this approach.

Intrigued that Novo is more cost effective, I'm always keeping an eye on alternative options as though I currently am supplied T3 & 4 by the NHS I always like a Plan B

Is Novo lactose free?

[RedApple in reply to TiggerMe]

I suspect Novo is Novothyral, which is a synthetic T4/T3 combo available in a handful of countries. helvella may know more

[helvella in reply to RedApple]

This is Merck's page in German, for Germany:

Novothyral ® (Levothyroxine, Liothyronine)

merckgroup.com/de/company/m...

A translating browser works quite well. Links to the German SPC/PIL documents.

Two doses: 100 T4 + 20 T3 and 75 T4 and 15 T3.

Makes fine dose adjustment difficult. But it is always possible to add some levothyroxine and/or liothyronine to shift the effective balance or dosing.

Sold under various similar names (e.g. replacing th by t, and y by i.) as well as Euthyral.

[JacqS71]

Hi - I am not sure. I have googled it but am not sure. It is prescribed by my menopause clinic - London Bioidentical Hormones. The prescription is about £60 ish for 4 - 5 months ish. Previously I sourced T3 from Greece for very little cost but I cannot get it now.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to JacqS71]

That's a very reasonable price so hopefully with a little levothyroxine to balance it out you can find your sweet spot, Tiromel is still a cheap option if lactose free isn't important

[Bertwills]

Re Candida , I find Oregano oil very effective. I’ve tried using low carb diets etc but haven’t found them very helpful. The Oregano oil works very quickly. I know as I stop being flatulent. Sorry if that’ s tmi. I have a fermenting gut problem if I eat too much fruit or sugar. Berberine is also very useful for controlling sugar blood peaks & digestion,

[Margo in reply to Bertwills]

Which oregano oil do you use and how do you take it please? Thank you

[Bertwills in reply to Margo]

this one, once a day after a meal. Don’t take for more than a couple of weeks without a break as it’s strong. I’d research it online to learn about it but I relay on it to stop symptoms of Candida etc. Good probiotics help too. Though nothing mould based. I like Time Health supplements.

Oil of oregano supplement

[Margo in reply to Bertwills]

Thank you very much, this is very helpful. Might give it a go myself.

[Noelnoel in reply to Margo]

I use it for two weeks 2-3 times a year

[Margo in reply to Noelnoel]

Excellent, have you found it beneficial?

[Noelnoel in reply to Margo]

It relieves the discomfort and stops the bloating and embarrassing gurgling noises. It’s a helpful short term solution but the reason for the candida needs addressing. I’ve pm’d JacqS71 to ask for details of the candida diet though I’m not hopeful about diet alone. I think candida is about so much more than food

[Margo in reply to Noelnoel]

Yes you are right. I worked for 9 years with the Candida "expert" Mrs Erica White. Some people got well quickly on her very strict regime, and others just didn't. She wrote some very helpful books. For example 'The Beat Candida Diet' Cook Book, and many others.