Glasgow Scotland Endocrinology experience
Hi to those looking for a good endocrinologist in Scotland. Glasgow in particular, there is none, well maybe Paisley, but this is not Glasgow. We had a brilliant, inspired man in Glasgow , I seen privately back in 2003, who was ostracised by the whole medical profession called Dr Gordon Skinner, I strongly recommend his book to all thyroid patients. Unfortunately he sadly passed away and remains a great loss. I was truly lucky, without him I would have been left untreated.
I am now Polyendocrine patient with Addison's (Primary Adrenal Insufficiency) and Hashimoto's (Autoimmune hypothyroidism) and currently under testing for Primary Immunodeficiency, Happy days. I wont bother to mention the other 16 autoimmune conditions I have acquired along the way.
Exacerbated, in 2015, I wrote to Dr John Wass, the top endocrinologist at the Royal Collage of Physicians in Oxford. He did a telly program on 'you are your hormones', so I copied down his name and used the web. He is lovely, responded immediately, warmly and empathetically and informed me of Newcastle as they are a specialist centre. My GP could not or would not refer me but my consultant endo in Glasgow did, to which I will be forever thankful. See not all bad.
It took me 8 years in Glasgow (Ayr was as bad) to finally get a diagnoses of this life threatening condition even though I had adrenal antibodies from 2007, classic signs and could interpret a test better than they could. The problem was they did not do the test correctly and the half they did do they did not understand, as its rare you 'couldn't have it'. Arrogant and ignorance are the champions of the day. Welcome to Glasgow's post code lottery of care.
Fyi the diagnostic tests range for thyroid was set over 50 years ago based on a relatively small sample of the population. They did not know if they had or did not have endocrinology problems at the time, cause they couldn't. Disappointing eh! Even more disappointing when they 'moved the goal posts' to exclude the border liners.
To the underactive border liners I recommend coconut oil, cold pressed organic. Coconut is a natural source of thyroxine, that why you are eating bounty bars! I recommend it for cooking oil and if nothing else instead of toothpaste (don't swallow it). You will absorb it through the lining of your mouth and it is a natural anti bacterial, reduces stains, your teeth will shine and you will feel a little better. Win,Win!
Borderliner's
What made Dr Skinner different and my current consultant is there use of observational diagnosis and being guided by the patient over the clinical tests for the answer. You/ we need a campaign I suggest:
BRING BACK OBSERVATIONAL DIAGNOSIS, A VET CAN DO IT!
On the thyroid point. I had a underactive thyroid test back in Jan 1997. At the time I was painfully thin and based on my lack of fat (which is classic hypothyroid) although the test was positive I did not get treatment. My lack of thyroxine had made me so exhausted I did not have the energy to eat plus the Addison's was unknowingly smouldering away. Thyroid symptoms are interchangeable. That ignorance, cost me my marriage as I was constantly 'wired but tired'. Ok, more tired.
Having met other Addison's patients with better experiences the endocrinology Scottish expertise seems to be in Paisley and Dundee, the latter has a great department and lead the field in Scotland on Diabetic type 1 insulin pump testing some 20 years ago, which patients all over Scotland are starting to enjoy. Makes me want to move.
I ask, have any of you border liners/ atypical presenters looked at the adrenal gland? What about the pituitary? There is an axis between these three.
My Addison's caused my thyroid problem, treated since 2003. Thyroid treatment made my adrenals worse, but it was the first time in my life I had put on weight, that made me more tired. I was left fighting for life for 15 years and that was very grim, so is the raft of other auto immune problems lack of treatment gave me.
What do you do? Go to endocrinology and print out the diagnostic criteria and symptom list, tick off all that applies and when they tell you, your wrong, ask them what is the next step of investigation for a differential diagnosis to explain your symptoms and hope.
FYI hypos are the unrecognised joy of Addison's, but not the thyroid gland. That's the joy of palpitations.
Good Luck hope some of this helps.
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