Fellow thyroid patient in dire need: Admin I'm... - Thyroid UK

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Fellow thyroid patient in dire need

lorrainecleaver profile image
34 Replies

Admin I'm unsure if I am allowed to share this here and if not, please remove and accept my apologies.

Tess is very ill, the post attached explains but essentially her health has nosedived since thyroidectomy a few years ago and she almost lost her eyesight last week, still might.

gofundme.com/bu7mq3fg

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lorrainecleaver profile image
lorrainecleaver
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34 Replies
shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

We read awful stories in many thyroid sites and this one, at present, tops the lot.

Her diagnoses and treatment have been abominations in this day and age.

Words fail me.

lorrainecleaver profile image
lorrainecleaver in reply to shaws

Shaws if you could see this woman now, and the videos of her before, you would die. She has had her very lifeblood drained from her, all thanks to an arrogant and idiotic Endo who removed her thyroid when, if anything, she was hypothyroid. The constant refusal to treat her bowel blockage is beyond cruel. She exists on 4 litres of Klean Prep daily, has done for months.

I have no idea when our Health Service got so cruel. I saw her discharged from a Glasgow hospital two months ago barely able to breath or stand.

galathea profile image
galathea in reply to lorrainecleaver

I met up with Tess a few years ago, we dont see each other much, due to being at opposite ends of the country but we email.

Throughout all of the getting worse and the rubbish treatment she has retained a sense of humor and a brave spirit. Please help if you possibly can by donating,

Thank you

G xx

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to lorrainecleaver

It's so scary - and many of us could be in the same situation which is a disgrace in a supposed to be 'modern' country.

Ruining a life due to inept guidelines, no knowledge of clinical symptoms or how some patients cannot get well on levo only, if they should be fortunate enough to be prescribed. Incapable of doing everything possible to relieve patients' symptoms, not like Dr S, by diagnosing on sight and symptoms not just by blood tests.

hi there may i say that i'm thinking about your health problems as well as all others are, i don't suffer from thyroid i'm diabetic but my thoughts are with you all take care Alan xx

knackersyard profile image
knackersyard

Tess is an absolute legend. When my wife was struck down with Graves, she was fantastic. It enabled us to ask for all the right things & control the treatment properly. The treatment prescribed had her like a zombie. Tess' advice was a life saver. And all this while she was in & out of hospital herself! Let's hope this clinic can give her some relief.

greygoose profile image
greygoose

Donated and shared. Please give her my best wishes that all goes well. :)

Girlscout2 profile image
Girlscout2 in reply to greygoose

Hey, she's well enough to log in there this morning so I think, once she's stopped crying in shock, she'll be sending a few thank yous out personally. Thank you so much, we had no idea it'd take off like this!!

xx

waveylines profile image
waveylines

Oh poor poor Tess. I remember reading a Book called Tears behind Walls? Sorry forgotten the precise title as lent it out and have never had it back. This was an account of another patient who suffered ludicrously appalling disgraceful treatment who had classic hypothyroidism.

Am deeply deeply sadden to hear of Tess's shocking plight. I had hoped that the medical fraternity had moved on a little but clearly not. I am so so so sorry to hear what has happened to Tess. Her bravery shines through and her fighting spirit is truly amazing. This all goes to prove how many doctors do not LOOK at patients but just go either on the word of so called experts or tests which are often mis-interpreted or taken too literally! How could anyone on the amount/type of laxative that she is on think this is due to mental illness never mind the rest of her appalling incompetent treatment? Shocking. Words fail me.

My heart goes out for this brave brave woman. And everyone else - please, please double check EVRYTHING that you are told. I for one got better not because of the NHS re my thyroid but because I went elsewhere. I was lucky....and only had three years of incapacity being unable to work and not on Tess's level.....and once on the right treatment for me at the correct dose I recovered. I have no obvious long term damage.

The other day I saw a surgeon re another condition not related to this. His attitude shocked me and he actually told me that it was up to him to decide what op he would do and was nothing to do with me! I needed to know nothing about it as that was for surgeons only! I was asking for information at a surgical level (I wasn't! I asked for Pros and cons of each op alongside their long term implications) My body my life is what I thought!!! Go jump. Needless to say have gone elsewhere. It is this sort of extremely arrogant disrespectful attitude that has led us down such terrible appalling outcomes in the world of Hypothyroidism.

cold comfor for poor Tess but sending her my biggest biggest hugs.....and am circulating this link to all my friends and family.

LindaC profile image
LindaC in reply to waveylines

I think it is Diane Holmes? Tears Behind Closed Doors, I think the book was titled. Yes, it is indeed the arrogance [ignorance] of some, as my father [who suffered dreadfully at their hands, as did many of my family members] used to say, "Dumb ***** who just scraped through".

We all know how we've suffered but when you read something like this, and a post last week [where someone's mum almost died]... something has to be done about it. It is unfathomable... how dreadful for Tess.

waveylines profile image
waveylines in reply to LindaC

Thankyou Linda -that's the book I was thinking of!! Lol... And written sometime ago but oh so currently applicable.

waveylines profile image
waveylines in reply to waveylines

And I agree with you Linda about something has to be done. Thyroid UK and others have been trying for years sadly to no avail to date despite valine T and persistent ongoing efforts. Doctors have lost their licences for not following the directives of Endocrinology powers that be. Look at poor Dr Skinner he battled so bravely for years and was hounded by the GMC BUT still nothing changes.

What I just don't get is the stubborn refusal to change -there is plenty of scientific literature out there now to show their ways are wrong BUT still it goes on defying all logic.

I just feel so desperately sorry for Tess -who is tragically paying the price for the ignorance and arrogance of others. I really hope that life improves for her....

LindaC profile image
LindaC in reply to waveylines

waveylines, they are appalling... system too big and unaccountable. Yes, Gordon Skinner [and more] was hounded for getting people well, for standing up to their crap, that was his problem [been there in mental health field]... 'they' literally come after people and destroy them.

I cannot comprehend how dreadful Tess must be feeling but have some understanding re gut/thyroid connection and such appalling treatment at the hand of sneering incompetents. [At a UK hospital a Professor has just anonymously blew the whistle on two incompetent docs who had given 55+ patients gruelling chemo when it was the wrong treatment for their needs!] I find it difficult to see stuff like this going on and be unable to do anything [advocacy role coming out]; can't even for myself now.

At least take heart that so many not only have some clue what you're going through Tess but that we're all behind you in spirit!

Trixie64 profile image
Trixie64

Have donated and will share the link.

Utterly shocking and appalling, but not surprising in light of my own experiences at the hands of an ignorant, arrogant GP (and the nurse practitioner who made a very nasty and untrue accusation against me in my medical notes) - then after many years of being told my symptoms were 'all psychological' and made to take a concoction of psychotropic drugs, and finally finding that I had thyroid disease, I was treated wrongly by ignorant, arrogant endos. I completely lost 6 years of my life as I was nothing more than a zombie, doing only what I was told or what was suggested to me.

I send Tess all good wishes that she will get the treatment she needs and deserves and that she will make a good recovery.

knackersyard profile image
knackersyard

Absolutely!!!

Let's hope they can sort her out.

Is there any prospect of a legal case against the Endo & the Health Authority? Negligence is bad enough, but covering up is serious criminal behaviour.

Please keep us posted.

Brubru profile image
Brubru

Donated and shared. Couldn't read the whole story, too much to take in right now. She will be on my prayers.

princess20 profile image
princess20

Absolutely appalling and disgusting. This is the standard? of medical care we and everyone else is lumbered with. Blinkered, uncaring system that focuses more on targets and profits than on the desperately ill. How many more lives will be destroyed by these incompetent people. Words fail me....Dear dear Tess, please take heart there are many many people fighting in your corner

knackersyard profile image
knackersyard

Would be good if this could be flagged up to Celtic FC. Tess is Celtic daft.

I'm guessing she'll need a lot more, depending what these tests find.

Jefner profile image
Jefner

I don't know Tess but OMG I have to donate to help a fellow sufferer. Surely her local MP could get involved due to the NHS's negligence?

Trixie64 profile image
Trixie64 in reply to Jefner

Jefner, I asked my MP to help after the GMC defended the smarmy little GP who ruined my life for many years by refusing to take my many symptoms seriously, telling me they were 'all psychological' and putting me on a cocktail of mind-bending drugs. She did write to the GMC but got the same bland reply as I'd received and didn't bother any more.

So what's the use?

(The fact that I was driven to try and take my own life because of the effects on my brain of my illness plus the suicide ideation side-effects of the drugs seemed to count for nothing with anyone)

LindaC profile image
LindaC in reply to Jefner

Sadly Jefner, it would take an exceptional person these days to become involved in anything of this nature... people who stand up get destroyed. Besides they all p*ss in the same pot and their own agenda seems to come before anything else... its all £$£$£. It is more scary today than ever... :-(

Girlscout2 profile image
Girlscout2

We've now raised £1,000!!! You guys are amazing!!! This means she has enough for any immediate investigations, blood tests, scans, IV drugs or whatever is decided she needs initially whilst Tess and the doctors work out a game plan.

I'm sure Tess will thank you all herself as soon as she's able, but in the meantime, a HUGE thank you!!

xx

knackersyard profile image
knackersyard in reply to Girlscout2

Fantastic!

You couldn't put a price on the help that Tess has given. I can't think of a more deserving case.

Well done to you for helping her!!!!

Trixie64 profile image
Trixie64 in reply to Girlscout2

Wonderful!

knackersyard profile image
knackersyard

Yes, you're absolutely right!

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56

Donated and shared. Tess is one brave lady and I wish her well. Am following her story avidly as I have just been diagnosed with 'suspected' divertisulosis and been in hospital with a blockage. While being x-rayed while I was in there they found an ovarian cyst which is to be operated on this coming Tuesday. Needless to say, I am terrified. My previous stay in hospital was at the beginning of November and I am still waiting for an appointment for a Colonoscopy, which they said would be 8 weeks from discharge, which was 14 November.

LindaC profile image
LindaC in reply to nightingale-56

Very best wishes to you j_bee - hope everything goes well - you take care xox

maro profile image
maro

I dont know tess butbi am apalled at her treatment by our so called "world class" health service. When some junior docs went on strike many people and the media said it was irresponsible of them and it may contribute to the death of patients...im afraid the cynic in me thought lives would be saved!! My thoughts are with tess. Will donate asap.

Mary

faith63 profile image
faith63

i read it and am wondering what thyroid meds she is on now? I think she needs high doses of t3 only. It is absorbed in the stomach, not bowels. I too have had my food not digest, yet gained 28 lbs in 3 months, when my thyroid stopped working. T3 got my bowels up and moving. My stomach only shuts down occasionally now. I also got diverticula from being constipated for 1 year, again, t3 cleared that up, for the most part.

Diverticula become infected and it is called Diverticulitis. If it is severe, you would run fevers and have intense cramping, diarrhea. This only mentions that her bowels are frozen. She needs in my opinion, functional medicine advise, which focuses on healing the gut and thus immune system and again the t3.

My doctor also, spread around that i had somatoform disorder and the hospitals only sent me to psychiatrists.

LindaC profile image
LindaC in reply to faith63

Some doctors within our health system do not want to deal with many issues... seek to blame patients for their [docs] own inadequacies and show great overreliance on 'psychobabble', yet where they seem barely competent in their own disciplines, let alone delving into others which they barely understand ;-)

Challenge your records: we are back in the Middle Ages with the ducking stool mentality being used [in particular] against women by inadequates [with female docs apparently having to 'knuckle under' to their male superiors to the point where they become just like them]. I would go so far as to say that their obsessiveness towards further damaging ill hypothyroid patients [and sometimes the unnecessary destruction/removal of thyroids] displays highly disturbing traits in some of these doctors.

Be afraid... be very afraid; alternatively join together and stop their hysteria!

humanbean profile image
humanbean

I followed the link but get a "Campaign not found" message.

lorrainecleaver profile image
lorrainecleaver

Hi Everyone, the target was reached, more than! It was going to remain open with updates but not for donations but because some of the content had the word legal, it kept being queried by the gofundme (they jump on the word 'legal' as no fundraising is allowed for legal costs which a lot of folk try to do) so Tess asked for the page to be closed and will update on her treatment and battle for redress on her webpage and my Petition page. She is at hospital now so when I know more I will post an update. Thanks for getting behind her. x

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to lorrainecleaver

Sadly, only people with Facebook accounts can see your Facebook petition page.

And I don't know the address of Tess's webpage.

lorrainecleaver profile image
lorrainecleaver

Just been sent this by Tess's daughter

docs.google.com/document/d/...

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