has anyone been allowed to take thier own self prescribed thyroid hormones whilst being an inpatient. I am in need of a knee replacement.

I am really poorly and unsteady on my feet if I miss a dose of thyroid hormones.I take thyroid gold and t3, Gp offering to refer for knee replacement but I am concerned that taking my own thyroid hormones will not be allowed and they might be removed from me and also that it might cause hostility.

[Hennerton]

I think you will have a problem unless they have been prescribed at any time Why are you self medicating? Has your GP refused to prescribe?

When I was in hospital I told them I had my thyroid meds (T3/4) with me and they originally wanted to take them from me and dole them out when they did the general drugs round. I explained this would be hopeless, as I needed to take them at times they would not be administering them. In the end they gave in and reluctantly allowed me to do it myself and keep them in my bedside cupboard.

I am not sure you should do it secretly, as they need to know what meds you are on when they operate.

[Hidden in reply to Hennerton]

I would not get a prescription on NHS as TSH within range. My GP is aware of my self treatment and we discussed it today. He is fine about my self treatment and if he was the doctor responsible for my care in hospital it would be fine but he agreed that I am unlikely to be allowed to take in hospital. He said it would be up to the aneathetist but the operation would not be the problem. It would be the after care and I am very poorly with out them with breathing problems and inability to stand.

[SmallBlueThing]

I assume your GP knows nothing about what you're taking? Time to "come clean"? It took me ages, but I managed it.

During a brief hospital stay I flummoxed the pharmacist by stating I took Levo at night. I asked her opinion of dessicated porcine extract, but I suppose she was too young to have heard of it.

One wonders about the possibility of smuggling in contraband in a washbag or pair of socks Best of luck!

[Hidden in reply to SmallBlueThing]

Yes I think that a smuggle might be the only option. At one time hospitals used to go through all the belongings but I doubt they bother anymore.

[Greybeard]

Just keep them out of sight and take them when nobody is watching. You would be amazed how uninterested they really are.

[Hidden in reply to Greybeard]

yes thanks.Maybe I could put them in a multivitamin bottle, something from Boots and pretend they are vits.

[Hennerton in reply to Hidden]

If your GP knows and condones your self treatment, I cannot see a problem. You do not have to mention that he did not prescribe them, although why he doesn’t is a good question. Why not?

Frankly I would definitely tell them, as you are having an anaesthetic and they need to know but then do as I did and insist on taking them when you need them yourself. Different hospitals have different rules and they may make no fuss at all.

[Aurealis]

What a dilemma. This is the problem with thyroid treatment being so inadequate, we end up having to do things secretly at our own risk because we can’t trust them or rely on them.

[penny]

I have the odd worry about this; what if I had to go into hospital and I couldn’t take my thyroid medication. I’m on 200mcg of T3 per day and the accepted dose is 60mcg. I know that I would be unable to talk or function if I didn’t have my full dose but I could not see that anyone would let me have them all as very few medics know about thyroid hormone resistance. Let’s hope that I don’t need to be in hospital in the first place. Good luck.

[silverfox7]

I wasallowed to take my own meds in but when I went home was given a packet to take home so I said no but apparently it was common practice to be sent home with a weeks meds incase not got any at home I presume. Don't know if this is still normal practise but despite saying I onlyvtake one brand etc and I had some at home I still had to take them asrulesxare there for a reason etc. Complete waste of NHS money!

[Hidden in reply to silverfox7]

It sounds like the meds you took in were prescribed though by medic, mine arent.

[silverfox7 in reply to Hidden]

How would they know if taking a packet in? I've recently taken in NDT not prescribed that I've sourced myself. I did have a note if all else failed from Endo saying I was on correct dose.

[Hidden in reply to silverfox7]

Thanks that reasurring as long as they let me keep the tablets on me.I take thyogold mainly.

[Hidden]

Put them into your wash bag and don't say anything. Every will be a problem if you tell anyone.

[2pence]

I took my T3 (self medicating) along with my Levo (prescribed) when I had my knee replacement. I had a long conversation with my surgeon prior to going in and he was very happy that my thyroid was stable and I understood what I was doing. My problem was getting my thyroid meds at the right time so I think if I was in hospital again I'd keep them with me not hand them over. My surgeon had said I could do this but it was only agreed by the time I was going home! The registrar looked very curiously at the packaging of my Tiromel all in Turkish.