re GP/ junior doctor training

Dear All,

Would anyone be interested in helping to set up some GP/ Junior doctor training? I live in the Bristol area and am wanting to set something up that can be used in different parts of the country. I think we need to get more junior doctors/ GP questioning the guidelines and providing a better service.

[shaws Administrator]

I think you are on the right track and 'yes' training junior doctors in how to 'really know' how to diagnose and treat patients rather than the reliance on blood tests only would be a great idea.

Hospitals could invite people who have hypothyroidism and had problems with replacement hormones or remaining undiagnosed based upon the blood test alone (if test is taken at all) to speak to student doctors whilst they are training to give personal stories and hints to how symptoms can lead to a proper diagnosis instead of relying wholly upon a blood test result - a combination of the two would be ideal.

Before the blood tests and levothyroxine were invented it superseded the personal touch and knowledge of doctors, (could be used in conjunction) we were all diagnosed upon clinical symptoms alone and given a trial of NDT which if we didn't improve we weren't hypo and if we did we continued taking NDT.

If doctors/hospitals knew clinical symptoms and make them the priority I'd have been diagnosed long before I was and it was due to a first aider suggesting hypo - no doctors/specialists/A&E cardiac did so but diagnosed me with other wrong diagnosis.

Big pharma made it sound so simple and easy as they could see a brilliant way to make profits and slowly nudge out NDT. A blood test superseded a personal diagnosis by GP, who, instead of knowing symptoms, will draw blood and based upon that alone the patient will be diagnosed or not and still have disabling symptoms.

When TSH reached a certain number then levothyroxine would be prescribed. The fact that in the UK TSH has to reach 10 with no reference at all to symptoms. 10 is an extreme number and other countries diagnose at 3+.

As we know on this forum, levothyroxine doesn't always help all patients and we aren't offered a choice by the NHS and it is not a 'fashion' to plead for a trial of either NDT or T3 added to T4 or T3 only.

NDT was at one time the only hormone replacement but now this is forbidden by the NHS and, NO, the medical profession don't realise how disabling symptoms can be. A blood test shouldn't replace clinical symptoms which should be a priority. A test tube cannot reveal clinical symptoms.

Knowledge is power. Knowledge will maybe prevent so many sufferers searching for help/advice outwith the medical profession as well as recovering their health much more quickly. Also authorities should permit NDT(and T3 )to be prescribed as it used to be and ignore the False Statements made about it as it has been in use since 1892 and suits many more than levo.

Good idea.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Yes. I am thinking that when we go info a consultations doctors dont have the time to listen to our side of the story. If we could get them to come and listen to some 'teaching' We would be making a space for them to hear us out.

Drug companys lay on some catering on a lunch time for junior doctors who come for a free lunch and then sit and listen to the speaker the drug companys have paid to speak. I would like to aim for the same kind of set up.

I would like to try to get some one with DR infront of name, as it does impress them, who supports us to do more theory and then 2 or 3 of us talking about our journey to get good treatment, the symptoms, reasons for choosing to self treat etc

[nightingale-56]

I would love to help with this Hidden . As my son has hormonal problems too we would both be a good learning curve. I have knowledge and experience of both our cases over the past 35 years plus.