Re: Do you tell your GP about private treatment?

[Guest guest]

Hi Shiela, thank you for the advice, I will follow it to the letter. I have not

had a heart

problem diagnosed but think I might start with the 1/4 grain as I get

palpitations and also

I once saw a chinese doctor ( who actually checked my pulse and looked at me

instead of

a computer screen!!!) who told me my pulse was weak and fluttery. I have

actually noticed

it feels stronger now since having treatment with levothyroxine. I decided

against the

chinese doc as he promised a total cure in 6 weeks with expensive herbs, and I

checked up on the internet and found that the advice was that it only sometimes

works if

you've not been ill for too long. So I thought it might not work for me.

- In thyroid treatment , " Sheila " <sheilaturner@...>

wrote:

>

> Hi Janet

>

> It makes a little more difficult with the 1 1/2 grain tablets as you have to

> split your dose of Armour. It would have been better to have started with

> the 1 grain tablet. If you go to our FILES and scroll down until you see a

> file called " How to Use Natural Thyroid Extract " read all of that. It tells

> you all you need to know about Armour and the end bit is about how you

> should use it. Basically, we recommend starting by using half a grain only

> for 7 days (starting quarter of a grain if you have had previous heart

> problems). You cut the half grain in two with a pill cutter, or a very sharp

> knife and take one dose as soon as you wake and about an hour before food,

> and the other half in the middle of the afternoon. This is because Armour

> has the active hormone T3 in it and it is the T3 that is the active hormone.

> However, unlike T4, T3 has only a short half life and after 6 to 8 hours,

> the effect will start to dwindle and you might experience what we call 'the

> afternoon slump' - so taking it in a split dose keeps you topped up.

>

> After 7 days, if no adverse effects, you add another half grain and take it

> in the same way but stay on this dose for about 3 to 4 weeks. Again, if no

> adverse effects, you take another half grain and you carry on increasing

> your dose every 3 to 4 weeks until you do get some of the adverse effects.

> This is when you stop your increases and you go back down to the dose you

> were taking before the dose that made you feel these adverse effects. This

> shows you have reached your sweet spot and that is the dose your body needs

> daily. There is often no need for any further increases.

>

> Adverse effects can include a bit of dizziness, sweating, palpitations,

> feeling 'spaced out' and generally yuk and it can be a little frightening if

> you don't understand what is happening to you. Quite simply, this is just a

> reaction of your body absorbing too much T3. Because T3 has such a short

> half life, this feeling disappears after say, a couple of hours. Just sit

> comfortably for this time and wait for it to pass. You don't take any more

> Armour for that day. Once you have built up to the dose that makes you feel

> good, you may wish to try taking all of your Armour when you go to bed. This

> leaves the day time free to take your other supplements. Never take calcium

> or iron anywhere near to taking thyroid hormone replacement as it interferes

> with absorption. Always take it at least 3 to 4 hours apart.

>

> There really is no way of doing a proper calculation as to how much Armour

> you should take to replace your levothyroxine dose. T4 is mainly an inactive

> hormone which has to convert to the active T3. Armour contains T4, T3, T2,

> T1 and calcitonin, so you are introducing other hormones your body has

> probably been without for quite some time.

>

> Remember that natural thyroid extract was the ONLY thyroid hormone

> replacement for all sufferers of hypothyroidism before levothyroxine was

> manufactured and used well into the 1980's by a lot of doctors. It has been

> a very safe and effective medication.

>

> Considering you have bought the 1 1/2 grains, it might mean that you would

> need to cut the tablet into 3 portions to start with, but this isn't a

> problem. Don't worry if you cannot get them into equal portions, because

> normally, your thyroid does not excrete the same amount of hormone

> throughout the day.

>

> Don't worry either about your GP at the moment, first, wait and see if

> Armour works, and if it does and you really do start to feel and look so

> much better, you can consider what you are going to tell him at that time.

> Always remember it is your health and the NHS medicine has not made you

> well, you are amongst many who have had to take their health into their own

> hands an d who are now well again. A good and caring doctor would appreciate

> that.

>

> To reassure you also, I have had 3 doctors telephone me and 2 doctors email

> me asking me to give them information about Armour, where to buy, how to

> treat etc. They were asking because they were hypothyroid and were being

> treated with levothyroxine and they still had symptoms. What is sad, is that

> although I gave them as much detail as I could and wished them luck, not one

> of them ever got back to me to let me know if it worked - but I bet it did.

>

> Good luck Janet.

>

> Luv - Sheila

>

>

> I don't know how I am going to cope with the GP issue either (as I know he

> will not be

> supportive as he tried to take me off the levothyroxine which was prescribed

> by another

> partner in the practice who has now gone. ) How different will the blood

> test be,will it be

> obvious? Do I need to have blood tests done to get the dose right, and if so

> where will I

> find a lab that wil do them for me if I can't face the GP. My instinct is to

> not let on about

> self treating as it is a bit frightening for the poor old soul, but it is my

> body and I have to

> live in it. I wonder if the medics follow their own guidlines if they get

> ill, I bet they don't

> just think 'well I am a somatoform now and will have to wait til I reach the

> right figure

> before I can get well,' and then go into retirement for a few years!!

>

>

>

>

> _,_._,___

>

[Guest guest]

Hi all, Dr P will write to your GP to let them no what he is treating you for and he explains what you have wrong with you and why you need treating for it basically if your doctor will not believe Dr p`s version of things , and this is likely as he is not an endocrinologist of the NHS then I would trust DR p to give me back my live and take the endo`s lack of knowledge as being their fault not yours.hope this helps you all regards angel-who treats all info as suspect until I find the correct evidence to treat my symptoms. lol.lol. take care.

[Guest guest]

Hi Janet,

Have you seen a Private Doctor regarding changing over to Armour? I

think you need to make sure your adrenal glands are okay before

starting on it. I am not as clued up on all this tho. not as much as

some of the others on here.

With regards to the tests, I have pushed and pushed to try to get my

Free T3 tested and they will not do it! Although the GP has offered

to draw the bloods if I want to pay to get it done privately.

I think Sheila can tell you were you get the tests done privately.

I think I may come clean with the GP as I would like to try and get

them on my side if I can, I know it is a struggle; but I try to think

of things long term. I am thinking if I ever end up in Hospital I

want it to be on my records if I am on Armour.

Also if I can take armour successfully I am really going to push to

get it prescribed on the NHs even if this means writing to the PCT,

local MP/Councillor etc. I am prepared to dig my heels in with this.

I am seeing Dr P on Sunday to check about going onto Armour. Also I

have the Stop the Thyroid Madness book and am going to get some other

reading material to try and teach myself as much as I can.

I can relate to your question about how the Drs would treat

themselves, it would be interesting to ask them; but I doubt you

would get an honest answer!

Take care,

Love Alice

P.s I shall be really excited about ordering my first batch of

armour, lets hope I do not fall flat on my face!

bakeacarrotcake wrote:

> >Hi,

>

> I have just ordered my first batch of armour and now I am wondering

if anyone can guide

> me as to how to change over from levothyroxine 50mcg to armour

which I have bought in

> 1 1/2 grains.

>

> I don't know how I am going to cope with the GP issue either (as

I know he will not be

> supportive as he tried to take me off the levothyroxine which was

prescribed by another

> partner in the practice who has now gone. ) How different will

the blood test be,will it be

> obvious? Do I need to have blood tests done to get the dose

right, and if so where will I

> find a lab that wil do them for me if I can't face the GP. My

instinct is to not let on about

> self treating as it is a bit frightening for the poor old soul, but

it is my body and I have to

> live in it. I wonder if the medics follow their own guidlines if

they get ill, I bet they don't

> just think 'well I am a somatoform now and will have to wait til I

reach the right figure

> before I can get well,' and then go into retirement for a few

years!!

>

> love janet

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I have as of yesterday managed to get T3 and HC. prescibed by my GP ....and get an exemption cert !!!!!

I think they must know that people are going undiagnosed because of the lousy TSH test because I have seen three different GPs in the practice since being diagnosed with euthyroid hypometabolism (hypothyroidism not due to low T4 as in Hashimotos, but low T3 as in thyroid hormone resistance. ) None of them showed any surprise , or gave an

apology for the decade plus I've been suffering with undiagnosed Hypothyroidism, but I suppose that would be expecting too much !

I suppose I should count myself lucky they have at least listened and prescribed the meds. even if they haven't admitted any shortfall, .....scared of getting sued I suppose. Still time for that when I'm better !!!

Have just been readind through some of Sheilas letters to the various thyroid bodies (SPECIALISTS ...HA HA ! ) she has them nailed. Very articulate , we're so lucky we have someone who is so intelligent and eloquent fighting our corner....YOU GO GIRL !!!!

I have every intention in rattling a few cages as well, I have a very big axe to grind !

Hope you find a helpful GP, if not exactly sympathetic one , we seem to be all just numbers now.....NEXT ! (excuding our very own and lovely Dr P. of course ! )

" We will overcome some dayaaaay ! " and wont that feel SOooooo good ! )

Hugs, Joni

From: <.fairyhedgehog@...>Subject: Re: Do you tell your GP about private treatment?thyroid treatment Date: Friday, 24 October, 2008, 8:31 AM

> I am concerned that if I self treat and tell the doc he will strike > me off the list and then how will I get a sick note if I am off work?That's exactly my fear,Alice. I'm not working at all now and I'm onIncapacity and I worry that my GP will stop signing sick notes if Idon't co-operate. The trouble is that I'm not _officially_ hypothyroid - my TSH iscurrently "normal". So my GP and the CFS specialist will see no needfor thyroid treatment.If anyone knows a sympathetic GP in the Epsom area, please feel freeto email me.

[Guest guest]

Hi Jo, it's reassuring to know that you have got T3 and HC on the

NHS, let us not forget that there are, amoungst the idiots, decent

doctors who are doctors because they want to help people. Dr P used

to work for the NHS, we need more doctors to stick their neck out and

put their patients first. Anyone who questions establishment thinks

for themselves are heroes in my eyes! :-) X

>

>  

>  

> Hi ,

>  

> I have as of yesterday managed to get T3 and HC. prescibed by my

GP ...and get an exemption cert !!!!!

>  

> I think they  must know that people are going undiagnosed because

of the lousy TSH test because I have seen three different GPs in the

practice since being diagnosed with euthyroid hypometabolism

(hypothyroidism not due to low T4 as in Hashimotos, but low T3 as in

thyroid hormone resistance. ) None of them  showed any surprise , or

gave  an

> apology for the decade plus I've been suffering with undiagnosed

Hypothyroidism, but I suppose that would be expecting too much !

>  

> I suppose I should count myself lucky they have at least listened

and prescribed the meds. even if they haven't admitted any

shortfall, .....scared of getting sued I suppose. Still time for that

when I'm better !!!

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

When I was recently off work for nearly three weeks due to an

overdosage of thyroxine the first GP said she did not know what to

write on the sick note as there was no diagnosis.

Of course she would not admit that it was due to my thryoid not being

treated properly and I think she wanted to put deppression, but knew

that would be a sore point. I said put what you like, she put

Fatigue.

The second GP admitted that my thyroid was not being treated properly

by putting Fatigue/ Hypothyroid on the sick note!

I hope you do not have any problems with getting a sick note. However

if you do try contacting your local Patient Advice & Liaision (PALS)

at the Hospital. Also your locaL MP/Councillor they have details of

these on my local Council Website.

Take care,

Love Alice xxx

> That's exactly my fear,Alice. I'm not working at all now and I'm on

> Incapacity and I worry that my GP will stop signing sick notes if I

> don't co-operate.

>

> The trouble is that I'm not _officially_ hypothyroid - my TSH is

> currently " normal " . So my GP and the CFS specialist will see no need

> for thyroid treatment.

>

> If anyone knows a sympathetic GP in the Epsom area, please feel free

> to email me.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

......i noticed that you are on serenity now, does it work for

you ?

Jane

I think so....problem is I'm still feeling grotty with everything else,

so it's hard to tell,which probably isn't of any help to you at

all...Sorry!

I was on the synthetic progesterol previously as the consultant figured

out I was oestrogen dominant, so either way the natural stuff must be

better.

But, I have a very good friend who has suffered terribly with

endometriosis for years. Her GP told her that her only option now was

a hysterectomy, which even then may not solve her problem. She been

trying my Serenity for a week now and has just phoned me to say that

for the first time in ages she's feeling really well and she's about to

order a bucket load for herself.

Pen x

[Guest guest]

Hi Joni,

Well done on getting the prescription and thanks for the phrase

" euthyroid hypometabolism " : I shall remember that for future use.

> I have as of yesterday managed to get T3 and HC. prescibed by my GP

....and get an exemption cert !!!!!

>  

> I think they  must know that people are going undiagnosed because

of the lousy TSH test because I have seen three different GPs in the

practice since being diagnosed with euthyroid hypometabolism

(hypothyroidism not due to low T4 as in Hashimotos, but low T3 as in

thyroid hormone resistance. ) None of them  showed any surprise , or

gave  an

> apology for the decade plus I've been suffering with undiagnosed

Hypothyroidism, but I suppose that would be expecting too much !

[Guest guest]

Hi Alice,

I think most GPs are profoundly ignorant about thyroid disease and

many of them are content to stay that way. Thanks for the help on

where to go if I have sick note problems - let's hope I don't.

>

> Hi ,

>

> When I was recently off work for nearly three weeks due to an

> overdosage of thyroxine the first GP said she did not know what to

> write on the sick note as there was no diagnosis.

>

> Of course she would not admit that it was due to my thryoid not being

> treated properly and I think she wanted to put deppression, but knew

> that would be a sore point. I said put what you like, she put

> Fatigue.

>

> The second GP admitted that my thyroid was not being treated properly

> by putting Fatigue/ Hypothyroid on the sick note!

>

> I hope you do not have any problems with getting a sick note. However

> if you do try contacting your local Patient Advice & Liaision (PALS)

> at the Hospital. Also your locaL MP/Councillor they have details of

> these on my local Council Website.

>

> Take care,

>

> Love Alice xxx

[Guest guest]

Yes, exactly. We could do without all that stress. Also if my brain

is still scrambled I won't be able to recall information and present

my case. So it will have to wait until I am better.

Miriam

> This is what I'd like to do once I feel better. At the moment I know

> I'd just burst into tears at even the hint of a negative reaction and

> I really can't face that.

>

[Guest guest]

......This is what I'd like to do once I feel better. At the moment I

know I'd just burst into tears at even the hint of a negative reaction

and I really can't face that.

It's all part of it. Befuddled, bewildered and over emotional....which

then proves that they were right and we are depressive after all! You

will get there in time. Have you tried taking someone with you? I know

it sounds a bit pathetic, but can help and GPs are less likely to give

you a hard time if there's an audience!

Good luck

Pen x

[Guest guest]

Hi Pen,

[[...GPs are less likely to give you a hard time if there's an

audience!...]] = witness to malpractice !

best wishes

Bob

> .....This is what I'd like to do once I feel better. At the moment I

>know I'd just burst into tears at even the hint of a negative reaction

[Guest guest]

I really do wish more and more of us would take somebody

with us when we see either our GP or our endocrinologists. I know from first

hand experience that this makes. You are spot on Bob, and it also makes such a

difference if the person you take with you has a notepad with pencil poised,

even if they are not actually writing verbatim and just jotting down little

notes. Doctors are always very much more likely to do what they can to answer

your questions and less likely to be rude and dismissive - as many are, unfortunately.

Luv - Sheila

Hi Pen,

[[...GPs are less likely to give you a hard time if there's an

audience!...]] = witness to malpractice !

best wishes

Bob

I thought that

this paper/article might interest you as it mentions the thyroid along with

insulin resistance.

Cheers

Darryl

http://pcos.insulitelabs.com/pcos-and-fatigue.php

_,_._,___

[Guest guest]

/lsHave you tried taking someone with you? I know

> it sounds a bit pathetic, but can help and GPs are less likely to give

> you a hard time if there's an audience!

Hi Pen,

Thanks! Maybe I can get my son's fiancée to come with me next time.

But I really think that I'll try and avoid seeing my GP until I feel

better.