Agreement required by endo before he'll see you.

[Helsan]

I asked to see an endo at Addenbrooke's but the GP received a letter with points he and i had to agree to before I could have an appointment

here's his letter

[humanbean]

The endo clearly doesn't want to treat thyroid patients - or alternatively doesn't care if they feel well or not, once they get any treatment.

I wouldn't accept treatment under the stipulated conditions. Very, very few people with optimal Free T3 levels taking liothyronine (T3) for treatment will have a TSH within the reference range I would think.

[Clutter]

Helsan,

No patient-doctor-partnership there then. I would prefer to self medicate than submit to his dictats. Email [e-mail] for a list of member recommended endos if you still want to see an endocrinologist.

[Hennerton]

This endocrinologist sounds as arrogant and unpleasant as all the others I have had the misfortune to meet. You are better out of that situation, as there is obviously no understanding of how different your situation is compared with someone with a thyroid, even if it is not fully functioning. I have had a thyroidectomy and take T4/3 combo, luckily via my GP. I was half a person on Levothyroxine only, went to a private endocrinologist and got my first prescription of T3. I paid for the first month but then asked my GP practice to continue it, which they have done.

I see your CCG is refusing to fund it. If you post your latest blood results here, members can give advice on the way to go next, possibly buying your own T3. Ask your GP for a copy of results. You need to give reference ranges for each test. It will be useful if you have tests for TSH, free T3 and free T4 and any others such as serum iron, ferritin, B12, folate and Vit D. I was very low in iron after years on Levo only. I suspect you will be low in others too, if it is some time since your thyroidectomy.

[LindaC]

My goodness! Are you Type 1 (sometimes T2D wind up on insulin too)?

What has your GP said about this??

[Helsan]

This is for hypothyroidism he is endo for Thyroid. I do happen to be type 1 but never seen an endocrinologist. I have been prescribed T3 by private endo as I can’t convert T4 to T3 I asked for nhs referral to try and get trial and hopefully nhs T3. I didn’t take up appointment as I am only well with suppressed tsh. I have list of T3 friendly endo sand that is how I got T3 privately.. GP was insisting only NHS endo trial would let him prescribe because of CCG. Turned out that my threat of complaint to GMC was enough to persuade him that he should act on private endo information and request. I got nhs script a month ago. Don’t go to Addenbrookes if you have suppressed TSH. He even says Monotherapy Levo is his favoured choice!!

[Aurealis]

Perhaps there’s a better endo in the area?

[Helsan]

He is supposed to be best and decides how Addenbrookes clinic works. I am travelling to London to see excellent private one but having to borrow to fund.

[Hidden]

If you goggle Cambridgeshire clinical commissioning group Liothyronine T3 you should find interesting reading, nearly all the counties refer to the same information. Some worse than others. It Reads as follows:-

Combination treatment with T4 and T3 is NOT RECOMMENDED.

Commence all new patients requiring thyroid replacement on Levothyroxine

Switch all suitable patients to Levothyroxine. Combination therapy is no longer recommended (CKS 2011) Dated December 2015

It's certainly sad for thyroid patients on T3.

So far I have Surrey, East Sussex, Oxfordshire, Telford and Wrekin, and Mid Essex. There are all about the same. It's clear that this is not new news but old news.

[Helsan]

Yes I have that from CCG but I also have a comment from them

Now saying there is room for gp to prescribe if clinical need. I threatened a complaint to GMV and was prescribed named patient Thybon Henning just one script so far. Hoping it continues.