Re: Advice on whether to start thyroxine?

[Guest guest]

....When i had a follow up at the clinic i toldthe doctor what i had done and showed him my NDT med's and he was very rude andinsisted i came off them and i told him that having so many family members on itwith all symptoms and my sister having lots of palpitations that it frightenedme with all the side effects and i preffered to try a natural alternative but hesaid i could not been seen in his clinic so i agreed to take a smaller dose of50mg of thyroxine. i have not taken any yet and was hoping you all could help meto see if i should try it?1st blood tests before treatment with NDTTSH 45 / FT4 8 / TPO antibodies?2nd blood test before treatment with NDTTSH 22 / FT4 10 / TPO antibodies >600 (shows improvement without treatment)3rd blood test before NDTTSH 37 / FT4 8 / TPO ?Recent tests after 8 weeks on NDT taking 1 tab dailyTSH 18.6 / FT4 12.8 / TPO antibodies >600blood pressure is low 90/52i have upped my dose to 2 tablets daily recommended by my natural practioner butthis past week i have been feeling a bit tired in the afternoons, i have woke upa few nights with a numb leg and arms. Before i started taking 2 tabs daily for4 days i had a really bad hives looking rash which was mainly on my arms andmade my face and hands swell (allergy blood test came back normal)I would appreciate some advice on whether i should start on the thyroxine andwhether the symptoms are adrenal issues?Hello Ali and welcome J

Please let me come straight to the poin; I googled T-lyph and found that it is a thyroxin-free bovine thyroid concentrate – or in other words, it is a glandular.... and frankly, with thyroid results like yours you are way past rectifying your condition with glandulars. You have an autoimmune condition (Hashimoto's disease) and glandulars will not achieve to get you back to optimal thyroid health. That's like trying to extinguish a burning house with a bucket of water.... You call T-lyph 'NDT meds', which is a bit confusing ... NDT (at least in the sense we use this abbreviation on this forum) stands for `natural desiccated thyroid', which are natural thyroid hormones (containing T4, T3, T2, T1 plus Calcitonine) and this is not what T-lyph provides – T-lyph is a food supplement, not a hormone - and thyroid hormone is what your body needs. So I'm afraid, I have to agree with your GP up to a point .... you do need thyroid hormones one way or another, although my personal preference would be for the `real' NDT (like Armour or Erfa) rather than the synthetic Levothyroxine; but it is your choice. If you feel uneasy about taking synthetic thyroid hormones, then you always have the option to buy yourself some Armour or Naturethroid (USA) or Erfa (Canada) or generic Armour (like Thiroyd or Thyroid S from Thailand). They are all good and legitimate thyroid hormones – you would just have to decide which one to go for – and it makes sense to order 1 grain sized tablets (60 mg). They are easy to split and you would go up in increments or ½ grain every 4 weeks or so. You could ask your GP to prescribe you Armour or Erfa on NHS, but frankly, I would not hold my breath. Although there is nothing stopping them to do it, very few doctors are prepared to prescribe them, and to my mind – unless money were extremely tight – it is just not worth the hassle. NDT does not cost a king's ransom. I would inform my doctor that I have chosen to take a natural thyroid hormone rather than a synthetic one, and would ask for his or her support with monitoring your progress. It is always better to be able to level with our doctors, if at all possible.... However, you could pretend to take the Levo and take the NDT instead if you judge that your doctor would not agree with your choice. Personally I am all for honesty and luckily my own GP lets me do as I wish, but if he had not, it would not have stopped me taking what I believe is right for me.

Before, however, starting with any thyroid hormones – synthetic or natural – I would recommend you check out your adrenal function (questionnaire is in our files). If you suspect that you may have weak adrenal function, then either you do a private salivary adrenal test with Genova (instructions are in the files) or you start yourself on some kind of adrenal support straight away - you could ask your nutritionist for help or just order some Nutri Adrenal Extra (NAX) and start taking 1 tablet with your breakfast and about a week later you could begin taking NDT (you would start with ½ grain) or Levothyroxine if you chose that. The NAX can (if needed) be increased every 2-3 weeks or so (up to a total of 6 tablets per day if necessary) and you can divide dosages between breakfast and lunch – but never take them after 1 pm, or it might interfere with your sleep. You also need quite a few of other supplements to support adrenal function and the optimal uptake of thyroid hormone– namely Vit C (start with 1000 mg/day and up slowly to bowel tolerance), Selenium 180 iu/day, Co-Q10 (at least 100 mg/day)... and you might possibly need other supplements. Please ask your GP to test for – Ferritin, Folate, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Vit D3 and Vit B12.... if you were low in any of those (even if low within the ref ranges) you would need to supplement what is missing, because any deficiency would prevent thyroid hormone from getting inside the cells. All of the above I would recommend for your hypothyroid family members as well, because one or the other deficiency is likely to be the reason(s) why their thyroid medication is not working for them.

Any questions, just yell J

With best wishes,

[Guest guest]

Hi thank you for your advice i am so glad that i have your support and help, can

i buy my NAX from nutri west where i bought my t-lyph from? and should i take

them for a week before i start my levo or NDT?

I feel i do have adrenal issues and where can i find the questionaire

[Guest guest]

Hi thank you for your advice i am so glad that i have your support and help, cani buy my NAX from nutri west where i bought my t-lyph from? and should i takethem for a week before i start my levo or NDT?I feel i do have adrenal issues and where can i find the questionnaire

You're very welcome J - anything to do with adrenals you will find here:

thyroid treatment/files/ADRENALS/

and you can buy NAX and/or other supplements from either here -

http://www.yournutritionshop.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?Search=Yes & sppp=20 & page=1 & Keyword=nutri%20adrenal%20extra & category=ALL & highprice= & lowprice= & allwords=nutri%20adrenal%20extra & exact= & atleast= & without= & cprice= & searchfields=

or phone as outlines below.... just work out where you can order products the cheapest J ....

As you cannot access the prices of the supplements from the Nutri Ltd web site (it is for Practitioners only) I have typed these out below. When ordering, do not use the 0800 telephone number given on their web site, instead, phone on the following number ONLY - otherwise, you will not get any discount. His number is 01663 718 831. will be there Monday through to Friday - 8.30a.m. to 5.30p.p.m., but if you can only order in the evenings or weekends, you can leave your order on 's answer phone, with your card details and he will send off your order as soon as possible and give you the 33% discount. If you also leave your telephone number, will be happy to call you back if you have any queries. When ordering (and please keep all these details safe) always quote the TPA-UK account reference number 3057428

Product Code

Size

Product name Description

Retail £

Discount price £

Plus Postage and Packing

3201

90

Nutri Thyroid (thyroid gland concentrate)

9.95

6.66

£1.70 single item

3201-A

180

Nutri Thyroid (thyroid gland concentrate)

17.50

11.73

£1.70 " "

3320

60

Thyro Complex (vits.mins.herbs)

21.15

14.17

£1.70 " "

3320-A

120

Thyro Complex (vits.mins.herbs)

39.95

26.77

£1.70 " "

3206

100

Nutri Adrenal (adrenal gland concentrate)

10.40

6.97

£1.70 " "

3205

60

Nutri Adrenal Extra (high potency concentrate)

12.95

8.67

£1.70 " "

3205-A

120

Nutri Adrenal Extra (high potency concentrate)

22.95

15.38

£1.70 " "

3360

90

AdrenoMax (vits,mins,herbs)

23.50

15.75

£1.70 (4 items or more free of charge)

If you wanted to buy NDT, you can buy Armour or Naturethroid here:

http://www.internationalpharmacy.com/en/products/search/armour/1

http://www.internationalpharmacy.com/en/products/search/nature-throid/1

Erfa from here:

http://www.internationalpharmacy.com/en/products/search/armour/1

(it is called Armour Thyroid, but it is ERFA – when the panel comes up about a prescription, type in "no script needed" and it will be ok. We in the UK do not need a script.

Or "Thiroyd" or "Thyroid S" from here:

http://www.1drugstore-online.com/showprice.asp?name=thyroid & bysearch=ok & Go.x=0 & G\o.y=0You will see that the generic NDT from Thailand is roughly half the price of the US or Canadian NDT. This is no reflection on quality.... generic tends to be cheaper.....

Please bear in mind that when you buy from the US or Canada you are likely to have to pay VAT & Royal Mail charges on top, which usually adds up to around £ 23 or so.... you will be notified and have to pay the duty before they deliver. Buying from Thailand usually gets through the customs-net and it comes straight to your door. - also remember, it takes a couple of weeks or so to receive NDT from the various places - so decide which to order and do that first....

To compare the different NDT's please read the following:

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/armour-vs-other-brands/

It is really difficult to advise which NDT to go for... most people here take ERFA now, but some stuck with Armour after the reformulation and are doing fine on it. People who are very sensitive tend to opt for Nature-Throid (hypoallergenic), some take Thyroid S and are happy with that, and some swear by Thiroyd. If you were lactose intolerant, Thiroyd would be a good choice, as it is lactose free. I take Thiroyd and think it is brilliant. But we are all different. They are all good, it just depends which one will do it for you. I am not saying that Levothyroxine is bad, btw, it works for many people – it just doesn't work for me .....

The other advice I would give you is – read, read, read..... get Dr. Peatfield's book "your thyroid and how to keep it healthy" and read all you can. The info in our files is extensive and perhaps at times it will all get a bit too much – but don't give up. I promise it will all become clearer in time as you keep reading and learning. – and please don't expect miracles. It took years for you to get where you are with your declining health today, it will take at least a year before you can look back and will find that you are almost `back to normal'. Miracles just take that little bit longer these days J - so be patient.

With best wishes,

[Guest guest]

....and should i take them (NAX) for a week before i start my levo or NDT?

Sorry, forgot to say – yes, please, if you have low adrenal function, then support your adrenal with NAX for 7or 8 days before you start with thyroid hormones....

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

should i buy the nutri adrenal or the extra high potency? and do i continue to

take these whilst on thyroid hormone and how long for.

Thanks

Ali

[Guest guest]

Hi Ali,

Nutri Adrenal is dried gland, Nutri Adrenal Extra is the same but with lots of

extra vitamins added. I've been taking NAX for almost 2 years alongside my

thyroid meds and HC. You take them until the problem is fixed......

depends how much is wrong.....

.

>

> should i buy the nutri adrenal or the extra high potency? and do i continue to

take these whilst on thyroid hormone and how long for.

[Guest guest]

HI Alison:

Yes, the Canadian brand is the ERFA. It is also taken under the tongue, instead

of swallowed. Just put it under your tongue and let it melt until it is all

dissolved. It enters the blood stream through the mucus membranes which makes it

special.

The most important thing to do now is to start a list of all your symptoms.

Write everything down. After a week on ERFA, go back to the list and see if any

of your symptoms have changed or have been eliminated. This list will tell you

all that's going on. If you suddenly get new symptoms, write them down as well.

Whenever you start a new drug or treatment, write them down and date everything.

Cheers,

JOT

> Hi, i have bought some

> Product: Armour Thyroid (Canadian brand - Erfa Thyroid)

> is this Erfa? i am still learning at this point, i am going to self treat

myself due o my doctors being ignorant, i am now on Nutri Arenal for a week and

will take 1/2 tab of Erfa daily after that (the one i have ordered)?

>

> Thanks

>

> Alison

>

[Guest guest]

Hello Alison

Go here thyroid treatment/files/ALL%20NATURAL%20DESICCATED%20THYROID%20INFO

and scroll down to the document entitled 'How to Treat With

Natural Thyroid Extract' and follow the information there. You only stay on

half a tablet of Erfa (30mgs) for 7 days before increasing this by the other

half tablet which you stay on for 3 weeks before increasing by 30mgs yet again.

The regime is pretty easy, but remember you need to take 200mcgs Selenium

daily, at least 2/3000mgs vitamin C (which will help with absorption,

especially absorption of the Nutri Adrenal supplement.

If, at any time you feel palpitations, dizziness, sweating,

hyperthyroid symptoms after you have increased your dose (maybe a couple of

hours after taking it) then don't take any more that day, and the following

day, go back to the dose you were on before the latest increase and you may

well find that is the dose your body needs for the rest of your life.

If ever you have any thyroid function tests done, then do not

take any thyroid hormone replacement on the morning your blood is drawn,

otherwise, the results could be flawed. Take your medicine as soon after the

blood draw as possible.

Good luck and keep us informed of your progress.

Have you asked your doctor if s/he will monitor you whilst

taking natural thyroid extract?

Luv - Sheila

Product: Armour Thyroid (Canadian brand - Erfa Thyroid)

is this Erfa? i am still learning at this point, i am going to self treat

myself due o my doctors being ignorant, i am now on Nutri Arenal for a week and

will take 1/2 tab of Erfa daily after that (the one i have ordered)? I

appreciate all the help i am getting and wish that we could all getting treated

to what we feel is best for us all