Moving to Ireland

[RustyMary]

I'm moving to Ireland (Co Mayo) in September and I'm wondering if anyone on here is from Ireland (the Republic rather than Northern Ireland). I live in Slovenia at the moment and I've had Hashimoto's hypothyroidism for 4 years here. I've been very well treated medically here although I've made diet adjustments myself based on what I've learned on this forum (no gluten or dairy, various supplements). I'm generally very well although I have had two spells of poor conversion when vits/minerals get out of balance, which corrected themselves when my vit D got back up. Just wondering what GPs are like in Ireland and if they are better than the ones in the UK seem to be?

[Maggimai]

hello RustyMary I am from southern Ireland but I live in England, I was first diagnosed with hashimotos in Ireland when I became ill after been exposed to crop pesticides there while on a visit to family, I wasn't treated for the autoimmune disease then but treated for the effects of pesticides, so I have no further experience of how they treat thyroid disorders there but I have a friend there who has a thyroid disorder I will enquire from her and let you know. good luck on your move to Ireland.

[RustyMary in reply to Maggimai]

Oh thank you for the swift reply. Crop pesticides!!!! How did you get exposed to a high enough dose to give you Hashimoto's? I'd really appreciate any information from your friend. As I said, I am generally very well but that means my TSH is less than 0.1 - lots of doctors freak out about this (though I now have a nice spreadsheet of 4 years' blood tests to prove my point) so I'm really wondering how receptive Irish GPs are to people who take responsibility for their own diseases!

[mcooper in reply to Maggimai]

Hello I too am from Southern Ireland but live in uk want to move back to Ireland in the next 5 years but worry about how I will manage my hashimotos there , have managed to get t3/t4 combo here and doing ok after a long struggle. I don’t want to have problems getting the medication I need there so would welcome any advice you come across. I know even to visit a doctor there is about 40 Euro, I think there is a limit to the amount we would pay for our medication each month, but doubt if it would be free as it is here, the worry about healthcare in Ireland is my main worry about moving back home .

[Maggimai in reply to mcooper]

Hi mcooper, there are several private health insurance companies operating in Ireland, most working people pay health insurance, ( like in america) so if you getting work there you could join one of them, if you are not working you could apply to the health board wherever you move to, for a medical card, this card affords you free health care. however it may be limited health care, and as it is not customary for the NHS here to offer thyroid disease sufferers T3 medication because it is so expensive, I doubt if local medical boards would want the local GPs to write out prescriptions for their paitents. thats about the extent of my knowledge of thyroid treatment in Ireland, my friend has overactive thyroid

[mcooper in reply to Maggimai]

Thanks Maggimai, I am aware of VHI as my sisters as in that but not sure if it would cover pre existing conditions, I must look into that. Thanks moira

[RustyMary in reply to mcooper]

Hi, I understand where you are coming from. It's also a worry for me - here in Slovenia we pay around €100 per person for healthcare but after that everything is free including tests and prescriptions. I take Euthyrox, a very good German form of levothyroxine, and I'm worried that the change to whatever they use in Ireland will affect me, as well as being concerned about getting tests when I need one (every few months). At least levo is not an expensive drug. I take 125mcg and the endo recommended I drop it to 100mcg (which would probably put me in hospital) - thankfully here I have a very understanding doctor who listens to me and how I actually feel. I wonder what I will get in Ireland...

[mcooper in reply to RustyMary]

Hi Rusty Mary, I know Eltroxin is what is prescribe for underactive thyroid in Co Kerry but I don't know elsewhere. 100 euro a month is not bad as it covers everything. I would be happy to pay that and be under medical supervision. What worries me is that I might have to go down the self medicating route and I don't want to do that . Best wishes and hope you enjoy living in Ireland.

[RustyMary in reply to mcooper]

Yes, the healthcare system here is very good and affordable for most. Ireland has other attractions, though! I'll try to remember to post my experience in a few months time.

[Maggimai]

hi RustyMary

Stuck in a field of cereal crop for over an hour, which had just been sprayed, farmer forgot to put up notice to say when it would happen.

The after effects (symptoms) were diagnosed by GP as something that he often sees, it resulted in severe breathing problem and fungal infections which I was told would require treatment for months, a blood test a week later gave results as antibodies all over the place etc etc.

[RustyMary in reply to Maggimai]

Heavens, that's appalling. And then they think it would be a good idea for us all to eat it! Do they think that it actually caused your Hashimoto's, or that your antibodies were all over the place anyway and this experience just drew attention to it?

[Maggimai in reply to RustyMary]

I have explained to you,a qualified experienced GP

informed me of what he believed, in his experience, caused the hashimotos condition. If you want to look into the side effects pesticides have on animals and humans, you can always Google it, good luck on your return to Ireland.

[Maggimai]

ps, I'm getting you mixed up with another person planning on going to Ireland, anyway, if you are already paying private medical insurance and you can continue to do so in Ireland you should have no problem finding a GP who will prescribe whatever meds you want to treat Thyroid condition.

Good Luck

[RustyMary]

Thank you for your help, Maggimai.

[Shar0n]

I wish I could tell you that the medical system is good here. Unfortunately after years of austerity, it has been starved of funding. If you have small means you can apply for a medical card which if you get it would entitle you to free GP, prescriptions and emergency care. The waiting lists are incredibly long for elective treatments in many cases.

Many GP's have left for Canada etc. and the remaining ones are overloaded with patients. None of the GP,s in my town are taking new patients due to capacity. The medical card only covers emergency dental treatment and private treatment runs around 100€ for a filling. I pay for a basic health insurance policy which is around 103 euros per month for me and hubby. It covers us for tests and inpatient hospital charges. We can't afford a more expensive policy which would pay for G.P. and consultant fees so have to pay as we go.

I have lymphoma so have to keep that policy going for tests etc. as not qualified for medical card.

Here are some links so you can do your own research:

citizensinformation.ie/en/s...

hia.ie/ci/health-insurance-...

G.P.s are similar to UK - some good some not so good.

Sorry I can't be more positive.

[Strongshell3]

Hi Rusty Mary...

I have lots of family in Mayo. Honestly from what my family tells me I don’t get the best impression of the health care system.

For example lots have to travel to Galway or Dublin to have treatment or see a specialist. Some of my family have come to the UK for treatment or second opinions for various conditions.

They do not have a state funded system so most working people have private health care which is more helpful. However like someone else explained you can obtain a medical card which allows to have some medical treatments.

That’s said the small population and slow pace of life in Ireland allows medical staff to spend more quality time with you. The care in hospitals is much better than the UK.

I think on going treatment shouldn’t be an issue but maybe be prepared for travelling if you need to see a specialist at any point.

Hope it is helpful xxx

[RustyMary]

Thank you everyone for the helpful comments, even though they aren't particularly encouraging! We are committed to going (I have dual nationality) so I will have to take my chance. At least I am starting with four years worth of comprehensive testing and a lot of accumulated knowledge thanks to this forum! I will post my experience after we have been there a few months in case it helps anyone else. Good luck to all and stay well xx