How many of you self medicate - and why?

[sip1]

Just out of curiosity

[HarryE]

Me - couldn't get treated on the NHS, even though I work for them & was too ill to go to work for 4 months!

[humanbean]

I'd been ill for years, and was a whisker away from being completely bedridden. My TSH was just under 6 and my doctor thought this meant I was only mildly hypothyroid and didn't need treating.

[jammidodger3]

Hi, ill for years, then told had M.E. Then met Dr. Skinner. Since his sad loss I have been self medicating N.D.T. Feel much better- not perfect but much better. Dr. and Endo will not treat me so what choice do I have. Start on low dose and increase gradually-I hope it works for .you

[sip1 in reply to jammidodger3]

I have my first endo appointment on the 3rd of next month, but not expecting much - but who knows. Perhaps I'll be pleasantly surprised! If it comes to it, I'll self medicate with the help of Dr Peatfields book and info I've picked up along the way

[sheenah]

Yes Doc Peatfields book is the best!! xx

[sip1 in reply to sheenah]

Am 60% the way through the book now, and it's very helpful so far

[Clutter]

I did, because Levothyroxine made me so ill I was suicidal and almost bedridden. Endo wasn't listening and sent me off with FT3 below range and said come back in 6 months. It took me 5 months of experimentation, including coming off meds for 4 weeks, to find a solution, T3+T4. Endo couldn't deny the improvement and agreed to prescribe T3 in addition to Levo.

[missdove]

Because Drs only treat blood tests results and no longer listen to the patient and their actual symptoms, hence becoming very unwell over a period of 4 years...I now self medicate and use how I feel to monitor my needs T3 wise, and am also self treating my gut health by what I put into my body...It makes a big difference!

[helenbones]

I do too .....as GP was fixated on TSH, even though original tests showed I had raised antibodies . Taking armour was a revelation for me. I order online

[traceytired]

Me. Total thyroidectomy 3 and a half years ago. T4 only has made me I'll, but GP won't refer me to an endo because my bloods T4 and TSH are "normal". Wouldn't try T3/T4 combo, just referred me to a rheumatologist and prescribed Amitryptoline for pain relief.

I self medicate with T3 in addition to my prescribed T4, and am about to embark on self medicating with NDT instead. I just want to "feel" normal rather than be told I am normal!

[sip1 in reply to traceytired]

Did you tell your gp/endo you were adding in the T3? Is the T3 helping? x

[traceytired in reply to sip1]

Yes, I've told him and told him how much better I feel. Asked him to prescribe, but he says T4 Is the only hormone he can prescribe. I gave him the papers showing T3/T4 combo details, and he said I should keep buying it but he won't prescribe it.

My health was about 50% on T4 only. Probably about 80% on T3/T4 combo, but I really would like to feel 100%, which is why I'm going to try NDT.

[mandy72]

i was diagosed last june, no symptoms other than weight gain TSH 10.8, a few weeks later pounding heart, palps, shortness of breath increased levo to 50mcg, regular visits to dr and A/E chest x rays ecg and 24 hour heart tape all came back fine, novmeber dr too me off levo TSH 5.2 saying treatment no longer needed, seen endo in december who iagnosed me as an overweight anxious depressant, bloods taken on request of endo in january TSH 6 no treatment even though i had many symptoms, i got worse and worse until i decided to try NDT things improved but now racing heart, palps and shortness of breath have come back so thinking of trying something else, now trying to treat low cortisol, dr now knows im self medicating as i told a locum dr who told me it was very dangerous but if they wont treat me what option do i have

[sip1 in reply to mandy72]

Sounds awful Mandy. I can totally understand why you have self medicated though. How long did you take the NDT for before you started getting palpitations? Have you cut down/out the NDT whilst treating your adrenal problems? x

[mandy72 in reply to sip1]

Hi Sip1 i was on NDT about 6 weeks before the palps 1/2 grain (was about the same with levo), i stopped taking them 2 weeks ago and started thorne cortex yesterday, not sure if its the fillers or what but thinking trying nature throid but the cost is getting too much at moment

[susymac]

Me too.

I was as good as left to die by a health board that did not allow prescribing of T3 or NDT, and doctors that think hypo is just a number on a piece of paper. Self medicated 2 years then moved. Doctors here agree I need the ndt but only the endo at the local hospital is allowed to prescribe (on the say so of the health trust) he prescribes Erfa only, which I got once, totally crashed and had no option but to go back to self medicating.

[penny]

According to my GP I am not and never have been hypothyroid - so he stopped my T3 with immediate effect. As I take 120mcg T3 per day it is a wonder that I've not expired on such a high dose if I'm not hypo.. As I am well on this dose of T3 I have no option but to buy on the internet as I am not prepared to spend the rest of my life virtually bedridden and in pain.