Help needed to find a private endocrinologist or gynaecologist in Devon possibly Somerset, please pm me. Thank you!

[sarahstevenson]

I am supporting a PCOS friend who would like to conceive a second baby and has many autoimmune family issues e g coeliac, anaphylactic shock syndrome, Hashis, asthma etc as well as her own strongly hypo adrenal / symptoms. NHS has refused appointments as TSH is "in range" haha - despite other hormones being well out of range - NHS has not even consented to T3/T4 tests as it seems testing is governed by the TSH lab work. She knows this is the wrong approach but needs someone who can lead the way without too much travelling. Help / recommendation appreciated Thank you!

[shaws Administrator]

If you email [e-mail] she may have someone on her list too.

For your friends information (I don't have a link to this but I think it is very important:-

Multiple Ovarian Cysts as

a Major Symptom of Hypothyroidism

The case I describe below is of importance to women with polycystic ovaries. If

they have evidence, such as a high TSH, that conventional clinicians accept as evidence of hypothyroidism, they may fair well. But the TSH is not a valid gauge of a woman's tissue thyroid status. Because of this, she may fair best by adopting self-directed care. At any rate, for women with ovarian cysts, this case is one of extreme importance.

In 2008, doctors at the gynecology department in Gunma, Japan reported the case

of a 21-year-old women with primary hypothyroidism. Her doctor referred her to the

gynecology department because she had abdominal pain and her abdomen was distended up to the level of her navel.

At the gynecology clinic she underwent an abdominal ultrasound and CT scan. These

imaging procedures showed multiple cysts on both her right and her left ovary.

The woman's cholesterol level and liver function were increased. She also had a

high level of the muscle enzyme (creatine phosphokinase) that's often high in hypothyroidism.

Blood testing also showed that the woman had primary hypothyroidism from autoimmune thyroiditis.

It is noteworthy that the young woman's ovarian cysts completely disappeared soon

after she began thyroid hormone therapy. Other researchers have reported girls with

primary hypothyroidism whose main health problems were ovarian cysts or precocious puberty. But this appears to be the first case in which a young adult female had ovarian cysts that resulted from autoimmune-induced hypothyroidism.

The researchers cautioned clinicians: "To avoid inadvertent surgery to remove an

ovarian tumor, it is essential that a patient with multiple ovarian cysts and hypothyroidism be properly managed, as the simple replacement of a thyroid hormone could resolve the ovarian cysts."[1]

Reference:

1. Kubota, K., Itho, M., Kishi, H., et al.: Primary hypothyroidism presenting as

multiple ovarian cysts in an adult woman: a case report. Gynecol. Endocrinol.,

24(10):586-589, 2008.

[sarahstevenson in reply to shaws]

Many thanks Shaw helpful as always much appreciated

[sarahstevenson]

Hi reallyfedup - know it's a hard path we have written our family story and we are passing it to all the doctors and health professionals, we can as the more we can educate the more we can work through this disease - it has been very helpful to look at it as the thorny part of life's journey and as primarily autoimmune . I am sure the above patient will think of this too. Thanks for your thoughts.

[faith63]

If she has not have ft3/ft4, how do you know that they are out of range? I think your friend should reconsider having more children, mine deserved a better mom and i would not wish this on any kid! Apparently, she is not well already!