Toft U turn!

[t3rcam]

Please see attached. Might be with printing off & taking to our GP's.

thyroid-info.com/articles/t...

[shaws Administrator]

That was in 2002 and things have moved on so much so that they have now removed T3 from being prescribed just recently.

They had also believed the publicity from the pharmaceutical companies who produced levothyroxine as a replacement for the natural dessicated thyroid hormones we used to get prescribed - even on a trial if we had symptoms.

They appear to believe that keeping people unwell and who are getting prescribed more medications for the 'symptom' is up-to-date and modern.

Never mind that there are more and more people searching for answers as to why they are :- undiagnosed despite clear symptoms: undiagnosed as TSH has to reach 10: undermedicated: dose is too low: believe anywhere in range is fine for TSH.

We could go on and on.

[t3rcam in reply to shaws]

Yes but I think Mary Sholon was highlighting it again as Prof Toft has reiterated his views. He is apparently speaking at an event in Edinburgh next week to re iterate this as mentioned in the Scottish Parliament Link.

[t3rcam in reply to t3rcam]

Sorry meant to say that I get Armour prescribed, not sure that it is working yet as my adrenals are struggling but time will tell. There seems to be disparity between Scotland & England regarding many health issues.

[Phoenix605 in reply to t3rcam]

You may want to do some research as I am sure I have read on here (a while ago) that if adrenals are struggling then NDT cant work properly. I was considering trying NDT and think it mentioned sorting adrenal problems before trying to switch or people struggled to tolerate the needed amount of NDT. Im afraid I didnt save it as I dont have adrenal issues.

Might be worth doing another post though as it may be adrenals affecting NDT rather than the other way around.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Phoenix605]

I know of two doctors both who dealt with hypothyroidism. One stated that the adrenals should be sorted out first but the other stated that the adrenals would fix themselves when the patient was given medication.

I myself was worse when I tried to fix adrenals so stopped and eventually I recovered when I switched from levo.

[t3rcam in reply to shaws]

I saw both of these doctors myself a few years ago and one this month in London with my daughter! I was the opposite I tried T3 but no joy and was better with adrenal support but still not right. I know a lot more now than I did then so back to basics & trying again with NDT but if no joy I might need to try T3 and perhaps physiological doses of hydrocortisone.

[shaws Administrator in reply to t3rcam]

Sometimes we have to try more than one brand.

Re NDT this might be helpful and I am going to post it now from STTM

tinyurl.com/y8amqfhd

[t3rcam in reply to Phoenix605]

Yeah I have done lots of research and discovered that anything with T4 can be a problem for struggling adrenals and the opposite so thought I'd give it a try. I am definitely better than I was when I took T4.

[shaws Administrator in reply to t3rcam]

I assume it is because Scotland is now Independent that the medical profession work differently. It is good that you get Armour prescribed because the BTA has made errors about it and Dr Lowe responded to their disingenuous statements. The BTA were successful in getting doctors/endos to not prescribe NDT any more just as they've succeeded with liothryonine (T3) recently.

The BTA have members too but these people are well on levothyroxine whilst those of us on this forum mainly do NOT get well on levo and are denied options, which I think is very wrong. Even a trial would give patients some encouragement to try something other than levo.

When members' doctors don't listen to them and refuse to prescribe, particularly if they have antibodies in their blood we advise them to contact Louise at Thyroiduk.org.uk who has a copy of the Pulse Online article by Dr Toft as it has a few sentences that work in our favour but that doesn't mean doctors will respond to it. I am quite amazed also that many doctors think that once the TSH is 'in range' even at the top, that they stop prescribing levo as they are 'normal'.

[t3rcam in reply to shaws]

Scotland isn't fully independent just has devolved powers including health. I totally agree with you regarding the denial of options etc. In the words of a renowned supporter of options 'it's a scandal'! Lovely doc!

[Clutter]

T3rcam,

Dr. Toft is renowned for flip flopping about whether Levothyroxine or T4+T3 are the 'best therapies". I doubt it would be helpful to present that article to GPs as it was written in 2002 and he's probably changed his mind again since. Most GPs are guided by the BTA who consistently say "Levothyroxine is the preferred therapy" for hypothyroidism. T3 isn't yet nationally banned from NHS prescribing but has been in a number of CCGs and health authorities.

[t3rcam in reply to Clutter]

The article was forwarded to me by a friend who saw it on FB and apparently Prof Toft had reiterated his views. The said friend is going to try and see him privately so it will be interesting to see how she gets on. The Scottish Parliament petition process coupled with the Nice guidelines developments will hopefully see change.

[shaws Administrator in reply to t3rcam]

I believe Dr Toft spoke on behalf of the BTA at the previous hearing.