Letter from GP

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone

Firstly, I'm sorry if this seems a bit trivial.

How can I tactfully explain to my GP that I am taking NDT, actually Thyroid-S,

when he prescribed me thyroxin in 2006 and I didn't take it, but ordered Armour

(as it was then) instead and been taking it ever since.

I've just been called in for an appointment to discuss my hypo or alternatively

have a blood test.

Just wondered if anyone has any ideas.

Love

Jan M

[Guest guest]

It's likely your name got flagged up on the computer, as GPs get paid bonus

money to keep a list of patients diagnosed with thyroid disease and are also

paid bonus money to review these patients' treatment with blood tests once every

18 months.

Have you been filling the thyroxine prescriptions or did you decide not to go

back?

I would just be honest and explain to the GP what you are taking and the reasons

for your decision. They can either accept the facts and perhaps help with

monitoring or if they refuse then you will just carry on as you are.

If you have to get a blood test, then be sure not to take your NDT on the day of

the test.

[Guest guest]

If this was me, for the moment, I would wait and see what your

next thyroid function tests show. However, please remember that you should not

take any thyroid hormone replacement for at least 24 hours before you have your

blood drawn, otherwise the results may be flawed as T3 peaks in the blood a

couple of hours after taking it so would show your T3 was very high, and the

doctor would want to reduce your dosage immediately. Being on thyroid extract

for so long though will show your TSH is very suppressed - but with NDT, this

is normal. if your body is getting the other thyroid hormones it should be (which

it is when taking NDT) then your pituitary gland recognises this, and therefore

has no need to secrete any thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) to tell the

thyroid to start putting out more thyroid hormone - so it stays suppressed.

However, NHS doctors are not even aware of how the greater thyroid system works

so will start to fret about this.

It might be a good time, if this happens, to explain to your GP

what you have been doing, but let him know you did try the levothyroxine when

he prescribed it for you, but that you found it didn't take away your symptoms,

so you put yourself on a trial of thyroid extract to see if that would help,

which it did. Follow this up by telling him you did this because you had done

some research and found that ALL those suffering with the symptoms of

hypothyroidism were treated with natural desiccated porcine thyroid extract

within the NHS for over 50 years, and this therapy had been found to be safe

and effective, and patients did not have the problems that they have with

synthetic levothyroxine today. Tell him also that you do appreciate that the

majority of folk do OK on T4-only, and that you wish you were one of them, but

you are not, and you are not prepared to back to using a product that didn't

work or to stop taking the product that does.

You could ask him if he will be prepared to prescribe your NDT

for you, because the MHRA have written to say NHS doctors can prescribe it if

they are happy to take responsibility for this, because it remains an

unlicensed preparation. It remains unlicensed because it never required a

license in the first place. It was 'grandfathered' in because there had never

been a problem with its safety or efficacy in its 100 years of use - unlike

levothyroxine, which has had numerous potency problems, and therefore, was forced

to go through the new drugs licensing procedure.

Any problems, let us know. You will probably be surprised at the

relief you will feel once you have spoken to him and told him what you are

doing. If he is angry, and say he will refuse to treat you unless you start

levothyroxine again - then remind him that you have done very well on your own

so far, and if he feels he cannot continue to monitor you, that he is putting

you in a position where you will have to continue to monitor yourself. But, you

will not be alone. The NHS are driving thousands of sufferers of the symptoms

of hypothyroidism into self diagnosing, self treating and self monitoring -

because of the lack of education given in medical school.

Professor Weetman (head of all Medical Schools in the

UK) has a lot to answer.

Luv - Sheila

From: thyroid treatment

[mailto:thyroid treatment ] On Behalf Of healthyjan89

Sent: 29 March 2010 12:42

thyroid treatment

Subject: Letter from GP

Hi everyone

Firstly, I'm sorry if this seems a bit trivial.

How can I tactfully explain to my GP that I am taking NDT, actually Thyroid-S,

when he prescribed me thyroxin in 2006 and I didn't take it, but ordered Armour

(as it was then) instead and been taking it ever since.

I've just been called in for an appointment to discuss my hypo or alternatively

have a blood test.

Just wondered if anyone has any ideas.

Love

Jan M

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18:32:00

[Guest guest]

Jan,

He's not exactly on the ball is he.. 4 years and no follow up. I would just

listen to what he has to say and if he asks you how you feel, thank him for his

interest, tell him you've been self managing for the past few years, and ask if

he is prepared to prescribe what you're taking anyway, and if not, is he

prepared to monitor you.

Don't take any interference in your dose or medication, not if you feel well on

it. He hasn't bothered for 4 years.

Of course, if he just gets you in there to rant at you, you don't have to tell

him anything. Play it by ear but stand up for yourself. It is YOUR body and

YOUR health.

x

>

> Hi everyone

>

> Firstly, I'm sorry if this seems a bit trivial.

>

> How can I tactfully explain to my GP that I am taking NDT, actually Thyroid-S,

when he prescribed me thyroxin in 2006 and I didn't take it, but ordered Armour

(as it was then) instead and been taking it ever since.

>

> I've just been called in for an appointment to discuss my hypo or

alternatively have a blood test.

>

> Just wondered if anyone has any ideas.

>

> Love

>

> Jan M

>

[Guest guest]

" How can I tactfully explain to my GP that I am taking NDT, actually Thyroid-S,

when he prescribed me thyroxin in 2006 and I didn't take it, but ordered Armour

(as it was then) instead and been taking it ever since. "

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your replies. What a lovely, helpful lot you all are, I don't

need help very often, but I really appreciate this.

I rang the doctor in 2006 and told him I was coming off thyroxin, and never

heard from him after that, till now. Yes, four years is a heck of a long time,

I hadn't realised they were supposed to check up on you every 18 months.

I think I'll go to see him before the blood test, otherwise he will probably

freak at the results. Thank you, Sheila, for the information, I've printed it

out so I don't forget what to say. I will ask if he'll monitor me, although I

don't really think I even need that, I've been doing fine up till now with the

help of TPA.

I've never met this doctor so I've no idea how he'll react.

I'll let you know how I get on. Thanks again.

Jan M xx

[Guest guest]

Hi Jan, You will probably have a sky high T3 as well as zero TSH. the T3 result will be about double what it would be if you have not taken that day's dose when blood was drawn. Next time remember not to take thyroid meds for 24 hours before blood draw. > Subject: Re: Letter from GP> > Hi everyone, > > I just thought I'd update you. A couple of weeks ago I got a letter from my GP calling me in for a thyroid blood test after 4 years.> > I saw him this morning, and he was really nice. I explained what I was doing, and he said he had no problem with people taking responsibility for their own health as I'd obviously been fine all this time, and was quite happy to monitor me. Wouldn't actually prescribe Armour because I think he genuinely didn't know enough about it, but at least be didn't go ballistic. > > He took a blood test there and then to get some sort of baseline, but I'd taken Armour at 3am, and it was then quarter to 12. Hopefully, it will be OK. I did warn him that the TSH will be zero, but he said, 'let's see'.> > Thanks guys, for all your help.> > Jan M> > > > > > >> > "How can I tactfully explain to my GP that I am taking NDT, actually Thyroid-S, when he prescribed me thyroxin in 2006 and I didn't take it, but ordered Armour (as it was then) instead and been taking it ever since."> > > > > >> > > > ------------------------------------> > TPA is not medically qualified. Consult with a qualified medical practitioner before changing medication.> >

[Guest guest]

Let us know the result of your blood test Jan, and what reaction

your doctor gives if your FT3 is raised and your TSH suppressed. Glad you are

still doing well.

luv - Sheila

Hi everyone,

I just thought I'd update you. A couple of weeks ago I got a letter from my GP

calling me in for a thyroid blood test after 4 years.

I saw him this morning, and he was really nice. I explained what I was doing,

and he said he had no problem with people taking responsibility for their own

health as I'd obviously been fine all this time, and was quite happy to monitor

me. Wouldn't actually prescribe Armour because I think he genuinely didn't know

enough about it, but at least be didn't go ballistic.

He took a blood test there and then to get some sort of baseline, but I'd taken

Armour at 3am, and it was then quarter to 12. Hopefully, it will be OK. I did

warn him that the TSH will be zero, but he said, 'let's see'.

Thanks guys, for all your help.

Jan M

>

> "