"A large number of hypothyroid patients, receiving adequate doses of thyroxine supplementation, continue to complain of dissatisfaction and varied symptoms. This review discuses the concept of tissue hypothyroidism and suggests methods of measuring it, while calling for improvements in the medical management of hypothyroidism."
Every so often there is some mention of a percentage of thyroid patients who are not happy with their treatment. It is known. It is sort-of recognised. But there is rarely any form of an answer from the medical establishment.
We read lots of stories. Of people who have been fine for years, then deteriorate. And those who can't remember when they were last well but who then improve. That is, there is an ongoing transition between well and not-well.
I suspect that if, say, the medics recognise that 5% don't feel well right now, you could immediately suggest 10% of people were or will be in the not-well. Add in those who have other issues who don't associate their not-wellness with thyroid. Perhaps most obviously, the elderly. And those who think they feel quite well but, if they are really, brutally honest, are not. Throw in a few more who are well for, maybe, days or weeks at a time then have a bad time for a while. You are rapidly heading towards a very sizeable percentage who might not be obvious to medics or researchers. And I don't think I have been exaggerating.
Rod, I agree, I think it is another black hole as far as any accurate numbers. I think that a lot of this stems from the fact that the conventional allopathic medical organizations don't really want to discuss those who don't do well. I also think that a lot of doctors don't really 'see' the person standing in front of them very well. PR
And then there are the 'borderline' patients who maybe never go to the doctor. And if they do either never get tested or their tests fall within those delightful 'acceptable parameters'
I think many people with various symptoms are not even aware that these may be linked to their thyroid disease, so won't even think of visiting their GPs, let alone be unhappy enough to complain and, of course, their GPs are not going to start asking questions about how their patients feel.
I know someone who feels that his hypothyroidism is perfectly managed by his GP, because the doctor tells him so. He thinks that I look for symptoms, and then decide it is related to my Hashimoto's. He is unable to accept that the other health issues he has could possibly be anything other than general ageing, because his blood tests are "in range" and the doctor is happy.
It makes me so sad that people can be so neglected.
Exactly. I would never have gone to my docs to say I was tired, I would just have pushed myself harder. Unfortunately that's just the way my mind works. My first visit was because I could feel a lump in my throat, which I had no idea was where my thyroid is. Now of course I am so knackered I can barely move.
I didn't think I had any symptoms - I only went to the GP as I had a small lump on my lower neck (nowhere near my thyroid), had a blood test, and was diagnosed with Hashimoto's within days. It was much later on that I realised all my "old lady" problems were related to the Hashi's - and, of course, it's been a downhill ride from then on!
Notwithstanding anything else, I love that the authors ask Why are our hypothyroid patients unhappy? When, rarely, UK and USA discuss px ongoing symptoms it reads as if the patients have deliberately and wilfully refused to respond to treatment.
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