Guest guest Posted September 22, 2010 Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 …and I would beg, borrow or steal to get the money to see Dr Peatfield. Every penny is well worth spending. He has given back normal health to literally hundreds of NHS failures. And, for those who would like to meet him, come to our dinner and meeting in Birmingham on 2nd October, and meet also Dr Skinner and Dr Mantzourani - as well as a lot of our members, of course ) Luv - Sheila I don't know if it would be of any help, but Dr Peatfield runs a clinic in Totnes every few months, the next one being 15, 16 and 17 October - see http://www.tpa-uk.org.uk/drpeatfield_clinics.php BW. Hazel. www.oneagleswings.me.uk http://oneagleswingsme.blogspot.com/ > > Hello everyone I'm Sandie,I will post my story in due course (i.e when I have the time and energy and a clear head, hmmm that might be a while! lol) in the meantime I wanted to know if anyone has experience with endocrinologists at Royal Devon and Exeter hospital and/or Torbay hospital? I've checked the " good docs list " and they're not on there, I'm hoping that's not indicating instant doom for me! > Many Thanks > Sandie > No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.445 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3146 - Release Date: 09/21/10 22:15:00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2010 Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 Thankyou to all who have responded. I have checked out that website and none of the endo's at RD & E specialise in thyroid disease there is one at Torbay, but I've had bad experiences before at Torbay so that's not my hospital of choice. The endos at RD & E are mostly diabetes specialists. Totnes isn't far from me but my concern is money, how much is a consult? and what about subsequent testing? Will he be able to figure out ALL that's going on? because I don't think my problems are just thyroid, I'm afraid I may have a myriad of problems (although I don't yet know that for certain) My GP just referred me straight to a consultant because he admitted he's not knowledgeable enough to help me in the thyroid area, but he is willing to try and do what he can, and he does listen to me, which is more than some I've seen. So do I go back to my GP and request more testing for the other areas that I hear talked about on here? i.e mineral and vitamin deficiency, coeliac, candida etc. My GP wouldn't do the extended thyroid blood tests i.e FT3 FT4 both antibodies,he's leaving that up to the consultant, but I don't have that appointment till beginning of November!! which feels like ages away when I feel so ill. I feel like so much time is being wasted, even if something thyroid shows up in the blood work if I have other things going on then thyroid meds wouldn't work efficiently, and then we'd be back to square one finding out the other diagnosis's. Help, where do I start? if I go back to my GP what other testing do I need to request and how do I put it to him to stand a good chance of getting it, i.e reasoning and explaining which tests are needed for which possible condition, and what the best test is for that, too many times docs will only do the cheapest tests when it's clearly not the best test. Feeling pretty scared and overwhelmed at the moment, all I want to do is bury my head in the sand and forget all this is happening, but I know that won't help. It's just so frustrating at a time when I need to be most proactive, I feel completely incapable of doing so, my cognitive impairement really affects me and it's takes so much more effort and energy to even type this email. I need to be able to educate myself so I can get what I need from the docs, and I need to be able to understand, digest and retain information so I can fight my corner on an equal ground, once again I feel sadly lacking. Obviously here is where I will get the info but I need be able to process it and use it to my advantage, why does it have to be such a battle? I was so naive to believe you go to the docs and they know what to do to fix you and the best way to do that, how wrong was I? Sorry I'll stop being so negative now, look forward to your replies and I'll use them as my own suit of "Armour" (see still got a sense of humour Luv Sandie >> Hello everyone I'm Sandie,I will post my story in due course (i.e when I have the time and energy and a clear head, hmmm that might be a while! lol) in the meantime I wanted to know if anyone has experience with endocrinologists at Royal Devon and Exeter hospital and/or Torbay hospital? I've checked the "good docs list" and they're not on there, I'm hoping that's not indicating instant doom for me! > Many Thanks> Sandie> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2010 Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 Hi Sandie - yes, you go back to your GP and get him to check your minerals and vitamins as mentioned previously as these are essential and again, as mentioned before if low in the reference range, will stop your thyroid hormone from being utilised in the cells. These tests are REALLY important. Get the results and post them here. Instead of paying to see a private consultant, I would use the money instead to pay to go and see Dr Peatfield, who is wonderful. He has a clinic in Totnes (see Dr Peatfield's clinics in my web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk to see when he is next there. His fee is £150 for a first consultation which lasts an hour and a half and covers up to three telephone follow up conversations. I know of nobody who is more thorough and I would trust his recommendations. I have no idea why your GP is refusing you the full thyroid function tests, there is absolutely nothing that should be stopping him. Even if he wants you to wait until you see the consultant, you will still have to wait to get the test results and if you see one privately, you will have to pay for these tests to be done - AND THESE ARE FREE ON THE NHS. I would write to your GP and tell him that you would like these tests done NOW, together with the two tests to check to see whether or not you have thyroid antibodies. If you went to see Dr Peatfield - (you would not need a GP referral btw) then he would want to know what these results are, but he doesn't order the tests himself - he would recommend you get this tested privately through the 24 hour urine test via Genova Diagnostics. Send a copy of your letter to the Head of Practice as you have a right to know why their practice would refuse you these tests. It is BECAUSE of thyroid function test results that GP's usually refer their patient to an endocrinologist. I would get the 24 hour salivary adrenal profile done through Genova to see where your cortisol and DHEA levels lie at four specific times during the day. If these show you have low adrenal reserve, you would need to start treating them with adrenal glandulars BEFORE you start thyroid hormone replacement, so this is something you could be doing right now, together with the min. and vit. blood tests with your GP. Don't bury your head in the sand - even if your name is Sandie ) - you will learn that those with the symptoms of hypothyroidism need to learn to look after themselves, because if you leave your thyroid and adrenal health in the hands of the NHS, you will continue to remain feeling so poorly. The more you read and the more you ask questions, the more information you will find you will be able to retain, and you will feel that you are taking charge of your own health - many of us here now know a lot more about thyroid and related conditions than any of our doctors - including the majority of NHS endocrinologists. You will be doing more than fighting your corner on " equal grounds " - you will be teaching your doctor. All of this knowledge will be your 2suit of Armour " Sandie - believe me, there is light at the end of the tunnel, but it won't happen overnight and it won't happen if you leave it in the hands of doctors who have little training in thyroid matters, and now do not have the time to do the necessary research. See Dr Peatfield, and you will realise that it is the best thing you could have done for yourself. Luv - Sheila Feeling pretty scared and overwhelmed at the moment, all I want to do is bury my head in the sand and forget all this is happening, but I know that won't help. It's just so frustrating at a time when I need to be most proactive, I feel completely incapable of doing so, my cognitive impairement really affects me and it's takes so much more effort and energy to even type this email. I need to be able to educate myself so I can get what I need from the docs, and I need to be able to understand, digest and retain information so I can fight my corner on an equal ground, once again I feel sadly lacking. Obviously here is where I will get the info but I need be able to process it and use it to my advantage, why does it have to be such a battle? I was so naive to believe you go to the docs and they know what to do to fix you and the best way to do that, how wrong was I? Sorry I'll stop being so negative now, look forward to your replies and I'll use them as my own suit of " Armour " (see still got a sense of humour Luv Sandie From: hazel132 <hazel@...> Subject: Re: Any experiences of endos at RD & E and/or Torbay hospital? thyroid treatment Date: Wednesday, 22 September, 2010, 9:51 I don't know if it would be of any help, but Dr Peatfield runs a clinic in Totnes every few months, the next one being 15, 16 and 17 October - see http://www.tpa-uk.org.uk/drpeatfield_clinics.php BW. Hazel. www.oneagleswings.me.uk http://oneagleswingsme.blogspot.com/ > > Hello everyone I'm Sandie,I will post my story in due course (i.e when I have the time and energy and a clear head, hmmm that might be a while! lol) in the meantime I wanted to know if anyone has experience with endocrinologists at Royal Devon and Exeter hospital and/or Torbay hospital? I've checked the " good docs list " and they're not on there, I'm hoping that's not indicating instant doom for me! > Many Thanks > Sandie > No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.445 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3146 - Release Date: 09/21/10 22:15:00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2010 Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 Ok, so can you remind me specifically what tests I need to request from my GP, so far I remember: Ferritin Magnesium Copper Zinc B12 are there any more? are there only one type of blood tests for these? so they won't do the wrong test. How do you test for Candida? What about food intolerances and coeliac disease? should I get those tested, what are the best tests to ask for? My GP didn't actually refuse per se, but he was just going to wait for the consultant (NHS) to do it, as I don't think he'd know how to deal with the results, he already has 2 patients on T4 and can't control their symptoms or lab results, I bit my tongue at this point screaming inside " ever thought about T3 or NDT?". He only referred me to an Endo beause that's what I wanted. I have had my TSH done and it was 1.9, so not anything out of the ordinary, not that that means anything, which is what I told him. I had my THS done in 2006 when my infertility was being investigated and it was 0.9, is this significant that it has risen? when I told my GP of my previous result he was not phased and said it will fluctuate. Just want to clarify the process of seeing Dr P. It's my responsibility to get the blood/saliva/urine tests done (NHS if possible if not then private) then we meet and talk, he makes he's diagnosis and recommendation for treatment, but I then have to go back to my GP to initiate/access treatment/prescriptions, is that right?You talked about a urine test, what is that for? antibodies or FT3? do I need to get bloods aswell as urine or is urine only if I can't get the bloods of antibodies and FT3? Okey doke, will try and write my story now, so you can get the full picture, it might take a while and it's going to be loooong. Luv Sandie Whoever said you can't buy hapiness has forgotten about little puppies! >> .and I would beg, borrow or steal to get the money to see Dr Peatfield.> Every penny is well worth spending. He has given back normal health to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2010 Report Share Posted September 23, 2010 You need a FULL thyroid function test to include TSH, free T3, free T4 and a test to see if you have thyroid antibodies. The NHS can test for all of these. You also need serum ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin D3, magnesium, folate, copper and zinc. If any of these are low in the range, no amount of thyroid hormone can be properly utilised by the cells in your body and brain. You can get tested to see if you have Candida Antibodies through Genova Diagnostics. Go to our FILES SECTION and scroll down to the FOLDER 'DISCOUNTS' and open the one 'Genova Diagnostics' and you will see that TPA members are allowed a discount for the cost of these private tests, which the NHS do not do. Have you been tested to see whether you have food intolerances or coeliac disease. Talk to your GP about getting these tests done if there is a genuine reason for these tests to be carried out. When your results are back with your GP, ask him for the results and the reference range for each of the tests done and post them here on the forum, and we can help you with the interpretation. Your TSH rising from 2004 from 0.9 to now 1.9 could be significant, but we need to know what your Free T3 and free T4 results are before we could comment. I would seriously worry about a GP admitting to having only 2 patients on levothyroxine and him being unable to control their symptoms or lab results. Is there any chance you can change your GP to one who is, at least, willing to learn WHY this is the case. I cannot believe that there is a surgery anywhere in the world that has only 2 patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I only mentioned about getting the thyroid function tests done before seeing Dr Peatfield to give him an idea of where your levels lie, and similarly, getting the 24 hour salivary adrenal profile done will save you time and you will be given a diagnosis earlier if these tests are done first so you can take them with you. Otherwise, Dr P may need you to get these tests done and then report back to him after you receive the results, which will only delay your treatment. However, I would first go to our FILES section, scroll down and open the FILE entitled 'Medical Questionnaires' and do the three questionnaire there on Adrenals, Candida and Magnesium. You should get an idea after you have added up the score, whether you do, or do not have any of these problems. If you score low for the adrenals and candida, then there is naturally no need to take this matter further. Whether your GP will take on board any of the recommendations made by Dr Peatfield is up to him. Dr Peatfield does recommend either natural thyroid extract or synthetic T3 for many of his patients, and as the RCP and BTA tell doctors that ALL patients do well on levothyroxine (T4)-only, he may be reluctant to prescribe these, so you may find that you have no other option but to buy these privately. The 24 hour urine test which again, is done privately through Genova, is to test the amount of T4 and T3 that is actually being used by your body, rather than finding out the levels of T4 and T3 that are in the blood. This is the test we recommend as the best test done to see your true thyroid status. The NHS should do the blood thyroid function tests for you, and also the test to see whether you have thyroid antibodies. It might be best to write a letter to your GP asking for these to be done, and ask for your letter to be placed into your medical notes. Luv - Sheila What about food intolerances and coeliac disease? should I get those tested, what are the best tests to ask for? My GP didn't actually refuse per se, but he was just going to wait for the consultant (NHS) to do it, as I don't think he'd know how to deal with the results, he already has 2 patients on T4 and can't control their symptoms or lab results, I bit my tongue at this point screaming inside " ever thought about T3 or NDT? " . He only referred me to an Endo beause that's what I wanted. I have had my TSH done and it was 1.9, so not anything out of the ordinary, not that that means anything, which is what I told him. I had my THS done in 2006 when my infertility was being investigated and it was 0.9, is this significant that it has risen? when I told my GP of my previous result he was not phased and said it will fluctuate. Just want to clarify the process of seeing Dr P. It's my responsibility to get the blood/saliva/urine tests done (NHS if possible if not then private) then we meet and talk, he makes he's diagnosis and recommendation for treatment, but I then have to go back to my GP to initiate/access treatment/prescriptions, is that right? You talked about a urine test, what is that for? antibodies or FT3? do I need to get bloods aswell as urine or is urine only if I can't get the bloods of antibodies and FT3? No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.445 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3146 - Release Date: 09/21/10 22:15:00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest thyroquester Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Devon hospitals tests...any updates on the tests they are willing to carry out and their current expertise. Is Dr. Peatfield still there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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