Iv read many posts on here about people self medicating which i can fully understand when people feel so unwell. And as we all know normal range blood tests can be missleading and doctors dont always identify when there is a thyroid problem.
Someone i know is self medicating with nutri-thyroid, nutri adrenal and t3, all blood tests in the past have showed normal ranges and i know thats nothing new. My worry is that the person i know is no longer having thyroid blood tests and does not not know what her ranges are, despite self medicating she feels very bad most of the time.
When does self-medicating become a problem when the symptoms could be caused from something else rather than adrenal and thyroid and taking these products could be harmful.
I am all for people finding the best treatment for their conditions and being proactive and searching for solutions as i am doing but i feel we medical advice is needed in situations when symtpms are not getting better and only worse when using long term supplements.
I just wondered how i could support the person i know as she proceeds ahead with taking things that could be harmful with no medical back up.
Thanks
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yorkshiregirl44
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We always suggest that people are monitored by some sort of healthcare practitioner. If that is TOTALLY out of the question, we would expect people to at least be having private blood testing done to keep an eye on things.
If you are feeling well, all well and good, but if, as in this case, things are still not ok, people still need to be looking at why not!
I know shes seen Dr. P but didnt have blood test and shes reading a book on someone who cured himselff on t3 alone....i think its really good shes learning about thyroid and diet and other supplements but she has no medical support in terms of blood tests to monitor her progress. She also said she went on t3 becasue she not converting t4, how would she know that without any blood tests.
I too see Dr P and mostly self-medicate, but I regard the blood tests as absolutely essential and totally invaluable. Unlike doctors I can take the time to research their meaning and spot changes.
For example. Recently I had the feeling that I needed to increase thyroid meds as I was getting itchy ears and elbows again. I wondered if I'd been spending time working on my adrenals and forgotten about my thyroid. Before changing anything I went for a blood test. I got the results a couple of days ago and could see my TSH (the only thyroid test I asked for) had risen from 0.2 last summer to 2.5.
That told me I was right and could raise my thyroid meds a little. I intend emailing my doctor to tell him what I'm doing although, unsurprisingly, the surgery's only comment was that the tests were "normal, no action".
I would say - encourage her to get the blood tests and ask for print-outs. As I do, she can then use them to inform her decisions about what to take. I keep my GP in the loop and he knows what I take.
I agree with what you have said. Without blood tests its going it blind....some of her symptoms could be due to under or over medicating which could easily be resolved.
It is always preferable to have medical support but, as we know, sometimes it's not forthcoming.
If she has seen Dr P, he would point her in the right direction but we know that situation at present.
Before the thyroid gland blood tests were introduced, people were dosed according to their clinical symptoms until they felt better. Of course, that was NDT, which is more synergistic that synthetic.
I would tell your friend that if she feels in any way over-stimulated i.e. faster heart rate, too hot, etc. to miss her next dose immediately. It wont be pleasant but the good thing about T3 is that you can miss the next day or two's dose and things settle down quite quickly and I doubt she would take too much in future.
It's good that you are supportive to her and can understand why she is self-medicating although it is a worry for you.
Im struggling to offer her advice because she is focussed on the fact that its her adrenals that causing the problem and at this moment cant look further than this.
She wont include her gp in any of her treatment now, nor does she have private blood tests.
Iv got mine own issues going on which does include seeking help from outside the nhs and if i was taking meds from any doctor i would want to know how the treatment was reflected in my bloods of only to put my mind at rest and also to make nessassary changes to my meds as time went on.
What an awful situation you find yourself in - watching a friend behaving in such an irrational manner. I understand your concerns as medical input is essential no matter what illness you have. Yes we all moan about the bad treatment we sometimes receive from the NHS but they are a safety net and blood tests will give you a guide as to your condition and if it is being managed properly.
Is she a member of this site - if she is could you direct her to this question or would she take offence, if not could you get her to join and ask for advice herself.
I know she comes on the site but i dont think she posts. Im still learning about Hashimotos and how it affects me but i dont want her to think i know it all and that shes got it wrong, Like all of us we are learning all the time and we make mistakes. I think it could be dangerous to keep pumping drugs into the body when still feeling ill and not knowing the,short and long term damage they could cause, and having no thyroid blood tests to monitor it.
It is desperation that is causing your friend to act in this way - she is desperate to get her health and her life back, which is totally understandable, but she seems to be going about it in a very dangerous manner if she is having no profession medical input at all.
Yes we know whats right for out bodies to a certain extent but we also need the medical input to make sure we, and the doctors, are doing the right thing.
I wish you, and your friend, the best of luck and your caring nature does you credit.
i too am having to rely on Dr P as nhs say thyroid blood tests ok so i too take nutri thyroid and adrenals as told i am too low.Not getting any more blood tests. Didnt know you can get these private and would they not be the same results?I feel the same as your friend. You feel absolutely terrible and just want your life back.Very scary.
As she has read Paul Robinsons book - Recovering with T3 - then maybe suggest she contacts him by PM on this forum. You mentioned she had read a book about someone who became well taking T3. Am thinking it could be him and he is a member here. In the past I have asked him for advice by PM and it has been forthcoming and helpful.... It could also be why she is focusing on her adrenals - T3 has a positive effect on the adrenals when you dose Paul's way - the Circadian method.
Hi I so agree. If self medicating or not, vital to have tSH, T4 and FT3 done before any alteration to dose and then again ( if not altering) 6 weeks after the alteration. It was without believing in bloods, why private doc overdosed me and made me very ill indeed.At that time, my hypo and hyper symptoms were identical.I think people forget how potent thyroid meds can be.
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