Positive Metal Attitude.

My (amazing) Partner were told during her only endocrinologist appointment to grieve for the life she had before her Thyroid were partly surgically removed 14 years ago, and a recent scan showed is not longer viable to produce any T4.

She had been refused T3 or to try LDN, and had I got been present at the appointments, I would of wondered if she had misheard.

Her TSH results have been proven to have been misdiagnosed in the past, and we feel we are the end of how the NHS can help.

Other options are available away from the NHS, but my question is.. how do I tell her repeatedly she is amazing, priceless and a good person and if we need to explore private healthcare we should, without the worrying about the cost. Yes, a holiday is great, the new car would be good for the environment, but she need to focus on her and then we can hopefully prove the NHS need to look at some of their treatment policies.

We have paid for the first Thyroid tests to find out more about her T4, T3, TSH and more data, so hopefully the feedback from that will help provide answers.

Has anyone else been offer anti-depressants instead of T3?

[Nanaedake]

It's common for doctors to offer thyroid patients anti-ds but if possible avoid them and try to get thyroid balanced instead. If you post results here when they come through, along with lab ranges people on this forum will help. You will get better help and advice here than spending lots on private care. T3 has become a bit of a political battle ground but hopefully things will change.

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum and I am sorry your partner is suffering and has been since part of her thyroid gland was removed and now no longer works.

If she isn't feeling well, you will (and are) doing the groundwork for her.

Most on this forum treat themselves by sourcing their own thyroid hormones i.e. NDT (natural dessicated thyroid hormones) which were the original thyroid replacements or T3 (liothyronine).

Some add T3 to T4 and those who have a source will respond if you put up a new post asking where to source T3 (or NDT) and your post will be closed for answers on the forum as it is prohibited on the open forum for prescription medications.

Many people have been offered anything else, other than a decent dose, or alternative thyroid hormones.

Natural dessicated thyroid hormones contain all of the hormones our healthy gland would produce. T3 (liothyronine) is the only active thyroid hormone and it is this hormone which is needed in our T3 receptor cells . Levothyroxine (T4) is an inactive hormone and has to convert to T3 but we need sufficient dose to do so. Some cannot convert it efficiently.

A private blood test can be done (a home pin-prick test) and we have two recommended labs. If doing so she should be well-hydrated for a few days before drawing blood (finger-prick) to make it easier.

She needs TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. GP should test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

All blood tests for thyroid hormones have to be at the earliest possible (TSH is highest then and drops throughout the day).

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Blue Horizone and Medicheck do the above tests. On Thursday's Medichecks has some sort of an offer but both are able to do all.

Many people remain unwell on levothyroxine when it isn't at an optimum or their body doesn't feel an improvement on it so that's why alternatives are needed. Unfortunately, if in the UK, no doctor will prescribe other than levothyroxine.

When you get the results of the tests advised, put them on a new post for comments.

[Blue_Bee in reply to shaws]

HyposPartner, I can’t add anything more to the excellent advice above except to say that as a Hashimoto’s sufferer, my partner, his love, support, patience and encouragement means EVERYTHING to me. Being there in the tough times... well you will be forever adored.

Antidepressants seem to be the stock answer to so many “women’s issues”. If a person is at risk and they are prescribed and monitored and counselled by a psychiatrist well and good, but GPs seem to hand these very heavy-duty drugs out to women like candy.

Once you’re on them, it can be very hard to come off. My GP prescribed ADs for me about 4 years ago, and my endo is very glad now that I got off them. He seemed to imply that ADs interfere with hormonal treatments (...?) Looking back, I was showing strong indications of Hypothyroidism 4 years ago and instead of further investigations and proper treatment, I got ADs instead. What a waste of time and my health.

Good luck with it all!

[Hidden]

Thanks to you all. As sad as it is, it’s good to know that we are not alone.