I have been on T3 for nearly 20 years. Firstly through private doctor then buying NDT myself, then about 4 years ago an NHS endo, having done many tests to prove to me that I do not need it, found that in fact I do. So he arranged for my GP to prescribe it.
Because of the recent business with stopping T3, my GP sent me to an endocrinologist. I saw her about two months ago. She told me that she sympathises with my plight, but she has been told that she has to wean all patients off T3 and that is what she is going to do (I presume only doing tests that where the results are so ambiguous you can reach any conclusion) and that there is no more need for me to see her and I am therefore discharged. When I went to get repeat prescription at GP's it was denied me. I wrote to GP with a copy of the BTA's Q and A to GP's.
I saw my GP yesterday. I asked if she had read my letter, which she had, but told me there was no point to me discussing it with her because the NHS have stipulated that GP's cannot write prescriptions for liothyronine and only the hospital can. Even though I tried to point out that she could, she would not listen to me and said she cannot go against the NHS ruling and that I must take it up with the hospital.
However, the hospital has discharged me. I told her this but she just shrugged and moved on to discussing my recent blood test (iron low so she is prescribing that).
So where do I go from here? I have copies of what Thyroid UK say, what Dr.Toft has said and other useful papers but if nobody is going to read them who do I go to?
I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. I feel a bit like a ping pong ball.
Who actually is in charge if my well being? Whose responsibility is it?
I also question the knowledge of endocrinologists if one says I do need it (after extensive tests I might add) and the other (although she didn't say I do not need it) has discharged me without a prescription. She did tell me there was a test to show whether I need it but the NHS do not do it and she did not tell me the name of the test. I went and had a private DNA test done but that was inconclusive as it was very contradictory. One bit said I possibly do and another bit said I possibly don't. However, my body tells me I do, and in fact, blood tests when they do T3 show either below range (when I haven't taken any) and when I had a blood test when I had taken some it was only 0.5 over the range. In fact because my appointment was her last one, near lunch, the endo more or less gave me the bums rush. Again, although she did not say it in so many words, it felt as if she was saying no point in discussing it with you because I have been told what to do so I must do it, so that's the end of it.
So what is meant by discussing it with patient. In practice it means you sit there whilst patient rants on about how ill they are without it, then tell them they are not getting it anyway. End of discussion.
Where do I go from here? Some advice please!
Where do I go from here?
Where do I go from here?
Where do I go from here?
Wondering Where To Go From Here
