GP refusing to increase Armour

[quiet-hawk-5989]

The GP is not happy to up my dose of Armour despite the private endo recommending it. She is calling tomorrow. I understand the legal situation is that she isn't forced to comply with the private Endo, particularly if she feels inadequately trained to deal with the drug. My recourse to this is that I've been only 3 grains for 9 years. When it was dropped (incorrectly) by the GP to 21/2 grains six months ago, I have been ill ever since. It isn't as though I'm asking for something very different and the blood test results speak for themselves as TSH has been steadily increasing and T3 dropping each time so it is plain to see what is happening. What (kind) persuasive arguments can I prepare for the call tomorrow?

[Hidden]

I'd say exactly what you've said on here; It was dropped incorrectly and you've been ill since, with a rise in TSH and drop in T3 to correlate with your ill health.

Then I'd ask, "So do you suggest we go back to the original dose that controlled my symptoms and perhaps do bloods in 3 months? I think that sounds like a decent plan to get me out of my current hypothyroid state."

I would put everything you want in such a way that it is her suggestion.

Just a query but why can't you just take the extra 1/2 grain and just get a prescription earlier?

[Clutter]

Healthunlocked5989, If Heirloom's suggestion doesn't sway her, perhaps she could speak to your endo and discuss her reluctance to increase dose.

[faith63]

Then, just get the meds yourself and don't deal with this crappola!

[quiet-hawk-5989 in reply to faith63]

Good point really faith63! I've dealt with crappola about it over the years and in the end it gets sickening. If I was richer, I would definitely be going down that route.

[faith63 in reply to quiet-hawk-5989]

the meds are cheap..t3 is anyway, you don't need to be rich. In the US we are used to paying for our own medical expenses, so it isn't that much of a stretch anymore. I figured i wasted money on things and buying my own thyroid meds, gives me piece of mind. No more worrying about it being taken away, no more blood tests..i hate needles.

[quiet-hawk-5989 in reply to faith63]

Unfortunately we pay twice in the UK if we buy our own meds since we have National Insurance and Tax which funds the NHS but we can't use it because the powers that be pick and choose their favorite things to fund. Thyroid, and especially Hashimotos definitely isn't one of them! So we pay into the system to give free health care for all, then pay again when we buy our own consultations and treatments. Not fair! : (

[faith63 in reply to quiet-hawk-5989]

i meant, you buy the meds online and they are sent to your home.

[quiet-hawk-5989]

I agree with all your advice. Understandably I guess, she is asking for written confirmation from the private endo (I'm not sure if this can be obtained and if it can, what the cost will be) so that she has shared responsibility for upping the dose back to the original. She is worried that I have had tachycardia, hypertension and palpitations since June and doesn't understand that's because the Hashimotos has kicked in (you get little bursts of hyper when the autoimmune system goes into self destruct mode) and that because I'm so hypo my adrenals are shot, which also causes all those symptoms as you get little shots of adrenalin coursing around the system. She has done the typical thing and blamed too high a dose of NDT instead (its the lowest I've had in years). So I'm going to try and get that as a first instance. Otherwise I'll just have to either a) find and NHS endo that is sympathetic to NDT (does such a thing exist)? or b) buy the extra but I'm not able to work so the cost of private endos and all the supplements means it won't be an easy route since I'll need this for the rest of my life I guess and it will push us financially to afford it all.

[quiet-hawk-5989]

It cost me a further £25 to get a letter from the private Endo to tell the NHS GP to supply the tablets she has been doing for 9 years. Let's hope she is willing to accept this letter...