My endo didn't see me because he doesn't believe in T3

[CristinaS]

So after patiently waiting since August for my check up with a endo at Basingstoke Hospital. I get there to be soooo disappointed. First my endo referred me to someone else because he doesn't believe in T3. The doctor I did get refused to believe that I might have an absorpition issue. Why? Because my TSH is fine....WTF??? Then I get told that I could not have felt better when I was taking T3...how would the doctor know? There were my last two test results.

Reference Ranges:

TSH (0.35-4.5)

T3 (3.5-6.5)

T4 (9.0-19.0)

August 2017

(TSH 1.42) (T3 3.90) (T4 9.40) (50mcg levo, 20mcg T3) - I didn't take the T3 for 48 hours before the blood test.

November 2017

(TSH 0.27) (T3 3.70) (125mcg levo) Doc wanted to trial me coming off the T3 and increasing T4.

I have never in my life felt so let down and disappointed and just really defeated. I am doing everything I possible can from my side. Gluten, Dairy and sugar free. Stress relief exercises. Various supplements.

End result was doc is writing to the GP for prescribe T3 but doubts I will get it. Referring me to a gut specialist and I have to the doc in 3 months time. Not sure I want though....

[Clutter]

CristinaS,

Leaving 48 hours between last T3 dose and blood test will give you a low FT3 result. You didn't need to leave more than 12 hours to see whether 50mcg T4 and 20mcg T3 was adequate dose.

What was FT4 on 125mcg Levothyroxine in November?

Are you saying the endocrinologist will be recommending your GP prescribes T3 but you doubt GP will agree?

[CristinaS in reply to Clutter]

Okay. Good to know about the T3 dosage blood testing timing. Yes the blood test result was based on 125mcg of levo since the August appointment. And yes the last question is right. I don't think the GP will agree. The doc said that if the GP is happy to the budget hit then it fine but up to the GP to decide if she wants to take a budget hit.

[Clutter in reply to CristinaS]

CristinaS,

No, if a NHS endocrinologist recommends patient has a clinical need for Liothyronine (T3) the GP should prescribe it whether or not GP wants to take a budget hit.

If a GP doesn't prescribe the treatment a patient has been told she needs the GP can be reported for being in breach of the GMS contract.

[CristinaS in reply to Clutter]

So good to know. Thank you.

[shaws in reply to CristinaS]

Take action if you are not prescribed.

Our diogenes and his Research Team have already proven that many need the addition of T3 to T4.

Re the Endo who said he didn't believe in T3. Ask him what thyroid hormones activates his brain - maybe he needs a prescription himself, i.e. Brain and heart need T3 in order for both to function optimally as do all of T3 receptor cells. Maybe Endo isn't aware that levothyroxine is an inactive hormone which should convert to T3, so the patient should be prescribed an optimum of T4 and if not converting to sufficient T3, the addition of which (even on a trial basis) would be kind.

It's not our fault that the pharma companies have increased the price astronomically. We shouldn't have to suffer. Most endocrinologists and doctors appear to be completely unaware what is the purpose of the thyroid gland.

As the saying goes "ignorance is bliss" and the fact that most of the medical profession are poorly trained in the function of the thyroid gland, they are ignorant and incapable of assisting the patient to good health.

[greygoose in reply to shaws]

For 'believe in', read 'understand'! That's the problem, they just don't learn about T3 in med school.

[shaws in reply to greygoose]

I doubt they know where the thyroid gland is situated either.

[greygoose in reply to shaws]

I read one endo blog where he said that the thyroid is also sometimes called 'the Adam's apple'! lol

[CristinaS in reply to greygoose]

OH my word!!! Don’t endos need to study extra years to be endos?

[greygoose in reply to CristinaS]

Yes. But they don't study thyroid. 99% of endos study diabetes in depth and become diabetes specialists. And, because they did their afternoon on the thyroid, during their general studies, they think they know all there is to know about thyroid, and that they can muddle through treating it. The result is they just make people worse - as we see every day, on here!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to greygoose]

OMG, with doctors like that I think we're all doomed

[Spareribs in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yup - despite Dad's Army re-runs

[Spareribs in reply to Spareribs]

and I googled Endo.. training ...

"4 years of medical school resulting in a medical degree from an osteopathic (D.O.) or allopathic (M.D.) program. 3 years of residency training in internal medicine. 2-3 years of required fellowship training in endocrinology (and nutrition if a 3-year fellowship).5 Dec 2017"

can't handle the real world (IMHO)

should've said "if you don't know blaming the patient usually works well & bides time"

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to greygoose]

It always annoys me when people say they "don't believe in" something that is a scientific fact. You can't not believe in T3 as it is scientifically proven to exist. It's not like not believing in fairies or santa claus ... You might not agree with using it, but you have to "believe in" it, as it exists Grrrr!!

[greygoose in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Exactly! lol

[trelemorele]

To cheer you up

I just been told today I'm not getting referral to my local Endo or rather proton pump inhibitor specialist calling herself an Endo, because that "Proton Pump" doesn't think I need t3. She probably doesn't even know what t3 is.

Now, where do you go from there?

Best one yet, that "proton pump" is in charge of the whole endocrinology unit!!!

I feel like they hired, on position on medical consultants, all local village idiots and gave them important sounding titles.

[shaws in reply to trelemorele]

Is it too much to ask when we are feeling so dreadful and our hopes are built sky high as we are now going to see an 'Endocrinologist' to be so deflated afterwards as we come out of the consultation - sometimes worse off and are treated like idiots and maybe prescribed anti-d's or anything but more thyroid hormones.

[CristinaS in reply to shaws]

I actually told this doctor that if we sort this out sooner I would be saving more money for the nhs because I wouldn’t need to keep coming back with symptoms that mimick anxiety or depression etc etc and at least I would be giving other people a chance to get treated sooner as I would need to be there less frequently. So it’s in everyone interest to sort this out. But yeah I was so disappointed today

[Spareribs in reply to CristinaS]

We all want to save our beloved NHS for everyone, but when 'buyers' hike the real price of T3 up by 4000% - why wouldn't we ask what is going on? (even Dr Toft agrees!)

Of course GP surgeries can't afford T3 at those ridiculous prices, but it's the patient that suffers!

Endo doesn't believe in T3? - bet he believes in Santa then!

Have a look at the "quality framework" and what GPs actually get paid for - depression is SO much more lucrative that Thyroid problems (££) sorry bit cynical tonight... humbug over & out x

[marigold22]

May I please ask you why you are dairy free? I've recently discovered that cholesterol (dairy) is a vital building block in our body. I've also recently cut out all grains, as much carbohydrates and sugar as possible, and added cholesterol (fats, dairy etc). I feel so much better for it. Our brains are apparently 80% fat, so we need fats for our brains to function, also a lot of other body functions use fats. The government peddled out the Low Fat diet or you will have heart problems so that Pharma Co's could sell more anti-depressants. Watched a video with Dr Malcolm Kendrick where they talked about testing 300,000+ heart attack patients and they showed they were low in the bad fats! Who could make that up!

[CristinaS in reply to marigold22]

I also have Lipoedema on my legs and for pain control I found that being dairy free helps a lot as well as the swelling. I eats avocados and have coconut oil in my diet just about everyday. So hopefully that will be sufficient. Thanks for the info. I’m going to check out that video.

[serenfach]

One good question for GPs or Endos who spout this nonsence is to ask them to name one other hormone that the body produces that it does not need. There are none of course, but it may make them think.