Re: Any difference in potency of desiccated meds?

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam, why are you taking NDT that contains all the thyroid

hormones plus synthetic T4 and synthetic T3. Have you tried stopping the synthetic

T3 and increasing your NDT, or even stopping both the synthetics and increasing

it to see if that works. You should be getting all you need in just NDT alone.

I know some of us need a little more T4 and others need a little more T3

because the amounts in NDT are not for everybody (one size does not fit all)

but you shouldn't have to be taking both with NDT.

There is little difference in potency between the different

brands of natural desiccated thyroid extract, but you might find Nature Throid

will be a little different to the Erfa 'Thyroid' as some people are not happy

since the company who manufacture it changed the formulae, some people do OK

with it, other's can't get along with it. You cannot take any of the other

NDT's sublingually, they are now designed to be swallowed, but best to chomp

them up and then swallow them with plenty of water.

The Armour in the fridge should be fine to use. If this was me

however, I would knock the very small dose of synthetic T3 on the head, and

increase your NDT to 1 1/2grains (90mgs) daily and just take the 25mcgs T4 with

it. I would take the NDT twice daily though, or even 3 times daily so the

effect is spread throughout the day.

I bet it made your day that your postman forgot to charge the

customs charge on your Nature-Throid. Well done.

Luv - Sheila

I have just received 2 grains Nature-Thyroid and will take 1 grain (also 25 mcg

thyroxine, and 12.5 mct T3). The postman missed the customs charge of £13.25

and delivered the package without asking me to pay anything!

Have been on 1 grain of ERFA for over a year but about to run out. I did wonder

if people have found any difference in strength between the different products.

I am also asking cos I have found some Armour in my fridge from 2009 that isn't

out of date. Only problem is that its 3 grains so could try a half and adjust

the T3 accordingly.

The ERFA was ok but I didn't like the sugar in it cos I take it sublingually

and don't have any sugar at all in my diet.

Thanks

Pam

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi Pam, why are you taking NDT that contains all the thyroid hormones plus

> synthetic T4 and synthetic T3. Have you tried stopping the synthetic T3 and

> increasing your NDT, or even stopping both the synthetics and increasing it

> to see if that works. You should be getting all you need in just NDT alone.

> I know some of us need a little more T4 and others need a little more T3

> because the amounts in NDT are not for everybody (one size does not fit all)

> but you shouldn't have to be taking both with NDT.

>

>

Hi Sheila

Thanks for your reply. I will explain why I am taking a bit of everything.

At the end of 2009 I had adrenal crash and couldn't tolerate any thyroid meds

for nearly a month. I was taking around 2 grains N T at the time plus 25 mcg

thyroxine. During the stressful period leading up to the crash I kept appearing

to go hyper and this together with the garlic I was taking pushed me over the

top.

Of course I went severely hypo which was horrible but it just had to happen

couldn't tolerate the meds. For the first time ever my TSH moved up to 5.4

whereas previously the highest it had ever been was 2.2. Very gradually I added

back plain T3 in frequent small doses. I never had to go higher than 12.5 x 3

before I would get hyper symptoms.

I noticed that my muscles were very poor so added in the T4 and noticed a

difference from day 1 which I know is hard to believe. My GP was very unhappy

because my T4 on 3 blood tests was below the bottom of the range therefore I

dropped one dose of 12.5 T3 and instead took 1 grain ERFA with no problem from

about last April.

I have stayed that way till March this year when I had the latest blood test

which as usual showed TSH completely surpressed which for me always happens on

any meds with T3. The T4 had moved up to 12 which kept my GP happy but T3 was

5.8 with the top of the range 5.7. However I have felt a whole lot better with

this combo plus long term Doxycycline. Tomorrow I have to go to see my GP to be

told off about the T3!!

The way I take all my meds is on waking around 5 am I take my 2.5 Pred plus 1/2

0.5 mcg Fludrocortisone plus 25 mcg thyroxine. Then I go back to sleep till 7

ish. Then I take the 1 grain sublingually with 2.5mc hydrocortisone and get up

by 7.30 but have to rest after breakfast till at least 9am to get energy to come

in.

These last me till midday when I take my 2nd dose of 2.5 mg Pred and only dose

now of 12.5 T3 is taken anytime between 3-4 pm plus final dose of 2.5 h/c.

This schedule has really worked for me and you will notice I have dropped one of

the doses of 12.5 T3 recently because of being over the range. So far no

problems. Because of dropping this extra dose of T3 I have this week just added

in 1/4 grain extra with the early morning ERFA to see if I can tolerate it.

In the past I have never been able to get the dose right of dessicated. I keep

getting hyper symptoms with it and feel quite toxic. I think it might have a

bit too much T4 in it for me even at just 2 grains.

My adrenals are shot and I am completely reliant on the steroid so this might be

it. I have also been diagnosed with XMRV the new retrovirus which certainly

messes everything up.

It is very strange but I have been on Doxycycline for 6 weeks now and have been

doing so well but I get some hyper brain symptoms and almost feel like I have

too much energy. It must be killing off some intracellular bugs and this has

happened to me before on Doxy but I made the mistake of cutting right back on my

thyroid meds and steroid and then end up feeling bad.

So situation is I am going to the Breakspear in a week's time for them to do

more tests on my immune system because this is undoubtedly playing a part. What

I am not sure about is how to handle the hyper brain symptoms that have started

again together with the better energy.

It cannot be the extra 1/4 grain cos it happened before I added this. Only

stopped the 2nd dose of T3 since Sunday. Actually writing this makes me feel

that I shouldn't be adding in the 1/4 grain should just stay with dropping the

second dose of T3.

Hope I haven't confused you!

BW

Pam

[Guest guest]

I have stayed that way till March this year

when I had the latest blood test which as usual showed TSH completely

surpressed which for me always happens on any meds with T3. The T4 had moved up

to 12 which kept my GP happy but T3 was 5.8 with the top of the range 5.7.

However I have felt a whole lot better with this combo plus long term

Doxycycline. Tomorrow I have to go to see my GP to be told off about the T3!!

Don't take any thyroid hormone replacement on the morning you

have your blood drawn for testing, otherwise, your T3 will show high in the

reference range, because T3 peaks in the blood between 2 to 4 hours after

taking it. It is when doctors see this, they have a dicky-fit and tell their

patient to cut down their dose or stop taking it, the consequences of this have

been quite horrendous for some patients.

My adrenals are shot and I am completely

reliant on the steroid so this might be it. I have also been diagnosed with

XMRV the new retrovirus which certainly messes everything up.

Have you been tested for the specific minerals and vitamins that

can stop the thyroid hormone from working Pam? These are ferritin, vitamin B12m

vitamin D3, magnesium, folate, copper and zinc. If you have never had these

tested, I would recommend you get them done because it might be one of these

that is holding you back.

It cannot be the extra 1/4 grain cos it happened before I added this. Only

stopped the 2nd dose of T3 since Sunday. Actually writing this makes me feel

that I shouldn't be adding in the 1/4 grain should just stay with dropping the

second dose of T3.

Be careful about getting insufficient T3 Pam. You have already

dropped your second dose of T3 and I would think this would need replacing with

the quarter grain of Erfa. Don't penalise your health just because you are

trying to dose to get good thyroid function test results. When taking thyroid

hormone replacement, whatever it is, thyroid function tests are next to

useless. You treat until your symptoms start to go - and that's it - whatever

it takes.

Luv - Sheila