London Doctors?

Hello. I've received the Thyroid UK list of doctors, but am a little overwhelmed... I have Hashimotos, Hypothyroidism, Pernicious Anemia and M.E. - does anyone have any experience of the listed London doctors? Thanks

[Hidden]

PS - I have to add that I don't believe I have M.E., but rather still suffering with thyroid issues, despite being treated

[shaws Administrator]

Re ME - this is an excerpt and many doctors who trained in the '60's were aware of the clinical symptoms:-

If you remember it was a long time before the medical profession admitted that there were two new diseases to appear in the world that were not there before. Chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia were non-existent before 1980. This is seven years after the 1973 consensus meeting. So where did these two new diseases come from? The symptoms and signs of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia were described in the literature in the 1930's as one way that low thyroid could be expressed. Treated early it was easily fixed with thyroid in adequate doses. But even then the clinicians had noticed that if a patient has low thyroid (chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia) for too long then it became more difficult to reverse all signs and symptoms regardless of what they were.

thyroid.about.com/od/thyroi...

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Interesting! I've been on Levothyroxine for about 15yrs, but I still have all the symptoms, only much worse - mimicking M.E..

It feels like a rubbish bin diagnoses though and it seems like anything they can't diagnose, they just say its M.E.

[Marz]

....I am pleased to report that the way I was when the FM was diagnosed is a million mils away from where I am now ! FM diagnosis in 2000 after years and years of pain and Hashimotos Thyroiditis in 2005. It has been a bumpy journey but thanks to the many things I have learnt on this forum I am improving all the time. It is important to keep an open mind - stay positive - and keep on reading.....

Sorry I do not have any experience of London doctors as I live in Crete. Maybe we need a little more information about your present status so that we are able to support more positively. Apologies have not read your other posts ! Do hope you will soon feel stronger.....

[Hidden in reply to Marz]

Thanks! So, do you think the FM was actually down to your Hashi's? Or do you think/know you have two separate issues?

My medical history is basically (dates aren't exact):

- 2002 diagnosed with PCOS and put on Dianette

- 2004/5 diagnosed with Hypothyroid and put on Levothyroxine

- 2006/7 diagnosed with Depression put on Prozac

- 2006/7 diagnosed with Pernicious Anemia started B12 injections

- 2008/9 diagnosed with depression (again) and put on Sertraline

- 2009/10 diagnosed with Hashimotos

- 2009/10 diagnosed with severe vitamin D deficiency

- 2012/13 diagnosed with M.E./CFS

I'm currently only on Levothyroxine, Sertraline and B12

I suffer with physical & mental exhaustion and can be housebound for days/weeks, have joint pain (esp hands, wrists, feet and ankles), dry & itchy eyes, brain fog and memory loss, I feel nauseated mostly in the mornings, I have muscle weakness and numbness (esp my hands), dry skin, night sweats, weight gain, low blood pressure, high cholesterol, acne... the list goes on.

I've seen several natural health professionals, two endocrinologists, nutritionists, various GPs, a Psychiatrist, did meditation, therapy, etc, etc. Yet, I'm still feeling like complete crap. I know it isn't depression - I'm interested in life and want to participate in things and all or most of my symptoms are so like hypothyroid.

I'm thinking maybe the T3 drug (can't think of the name) could help... any input would be fab x

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

...will reply later when I have more time - we are two hours ahead in Crete and tiz time for lunch. Think I may have some ideas ! FM definitely improved once I started T4 - then improved with T4/T3 combination and better still on just T3. Am thinking of having the Gene Test done - see Thyroid UK website - about D102 testing. HUGE doses of VitD have also helped along with loads of B12..... M x

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

Dr John Lowe wrote about FM being a metabolic illness and wrote a huge book about the treatment thereof. Sadly he has passed away and left a huge gap in the information for sufferers. Shaws - click onto her name in the Directory and you will find the links she has to his site - which is currently in protracted probate. I am not sure about FM being a separate issue to the Thyroid - but would like to put my head above the parapet and be shot down - and say yes I think it is ! Possibly limited to Auto-Immune Thyroiditis - Hashimotos - and therefore quite understandable that yet another Auto-Immune illness can sneak into the mix.

Looking at all the things you have suffered or are suffering - links into low Thyroid. What is your dose ? - are you converting T4 into the ACTIVE hormone T3 ? Hashimotos people often suffer with poor conversion. Also people with low thyroid hormones do suffer with VitD deficiency along with B12. How is your gut health ? Gut problems can be the beginning of Auto-immune issues - check out gut dysbiosis and leaky gut syndrome. I am a Crohns sufferer - so have studied guts reasonably well !

Have you read Dr Anthony Tofts Book - Understanding the Thyroid - written under the BMA umbrella so will be accepted by your Doc. He says that T3 should be introduced if patients are not improving on just T4. The book is less than 5 GBP's. Your GP cannot reject it as they are in the same club !

Depression has a whole chapter in Dr Barry Durrant-Peatfields Book - The Thyroid and How to Keep it Healthy....and your PCOS is yet another condition linked to Thyroid.

I'm really sorry to be the bearer of gloomy news - but I feel you have the ability and an enquiring mind which should guide you to wellness and optimal health. I wish you good health soon - and do ask questions if you would like to know more..... M x

[Hidden in reply to Marz]

To answer your questions:

- I'm on 150 to 175mg daily

- I have no idea if I convert T4 to T3 (I didn't even hear of T3 until recently)

- my gut health is ok (ish) - I don't have leaky gut syndrome

The reason I want to see a Thyroid specialist is to see about taking T3 and whether it will help me feel human again... Thanks x