b) It highlights the lack of information about medicine shortages which affects HRT, thyroid and, probably, every other area of medicine;
c) Hopefully it raises awareness among those who might be affected.
It is not meant to start disucssions about individual HRT products, specific item avaialability, etc. There are more appropriate places for those discussions.
Menopausal women in the UK facing severe HRT shortage
Half of common treatments out of stock, but suppliers not honest about reason, GPs say
A national shortage of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) could affect almost all menopausal women in the UK.
Around half of the most commonly prescribed HRT products, which replace hormones including oestrogen that naturally decline during menopause, are out of stock.
The high street pharmacies Boots and Lloyds are among those said to be experiencing shortages.
I've been on hrt patches for 8 years. GP won't even give me prescription as says it s out of stock. However, I managed to buy some easily online. Not cheap though. My pet theory is that the NHS is trying to cut budgets by scrapping more expensive, non life saving medication. They just offer you a cheaper less effective alternative.
On the basis that people have their prescriptions, I'd have thought the pharmacies would make the most by supplying that. Rather than saying they can't supply?
Maybe the profit margins are greater on the medicines that are needed for conditions caused by too-low female hormones: Statins, Bisphosphonate, blood pressure meds, etc.
its the manufactures that have caused the shortage, I did here that Brussels had told other countries in EU to hold back supplies so we end up with shortages, the way they are treating the UK this wouldnt suprise me as they are trying to punish us in lots of ways for wanting to leave,, childish and dangerous.. Your Drs can prescribe something form USA if shortage in uk
Hi Helvella I saw this and also wondered about thyroid meds. On the weekend news "manufacturing difficulties" were mentioned. My immediate thought was Oh yes so they will have to put the price up in a big way once they are able to manufacture again!!!Sounds like the T3 debacle to me and Concordia et al, but then I am just a cynic!
I was offered an alternative different brand same strength- same HRT pharmaceutical name - I accepted it - after all I will buy any paracetamols! I have been on HRT a long time and I know how ill I am without it.
Very interesting. I wonder what is really at the bottom of the reported shortages in various drug lines over recent years. There must be a common theme to the supply problem with such different classes of pharmaceutical. Of course, money will in some way be at the root of it, but that's a bit simplistic as an explanation. I'm curious...
"Plant based hormone creams" are HRT. So why on the one hand are you saying you "wouldn't touch it with a barge pole" and on the other advocating plant based HRT?
All modern HRT is derived from a yam base. Only the old style tablets called Premarin were based on horse urine, if that's what's confusing you. Some women are still on Premarin because it suits them and they have been on it for years. But new prescriptions are most likely to be the modern plant derived oestrogen.
We now have body identical oestrogen and progesterone available on the NHS. It comes in tablets, patch or gel for the oestrogen and capsules for the progesterone. These HRT products are tested, regulated and licensed for use by the NHS. No need to buy "plant based creams" online etc. Those are claimed to be bioidentical half the time, but they are not tested to the same regime and not regulated or licensed for use in the UK.
For those of us who suffer badly during peri and menopause, HRT is literally a life saver. Given the option of killing yourself or using HRT gel or example, I wonder what your view would be then.
All the supplements in the world, all the soy foods, all the exercise and clean eating, will not replace the missing oestrogen that we need to keep our hearts, bones and brains fit and healthy for the next 30 years of life. Please don't be so negative about a form of hormone replacement that is vital for many. It is no different to replacing missing thyroid hormone to help us live a long and fulfilling life.
All the NHS synthetic ones are all prodrugs I have just found out so again like T4 it has to get through a whole load of enzymes to get to the active drug,, I think thats why I got such bad water retention on them , horse urine active drug and worked so much better on me, never tried Yam ones and I see they dont come without side affects similar to the Synthetic ones
Sadly, I didn't find that any of the herbal treatments worked and I tried every one for at least 3 months each over a period of 7 years (only agnus castus was not completely useless). Only bioidentical hormones worked for me. I think it depends how low your hormones are and how severe your symptoms
Isn't that the truth!!😊 (But, in this world and to our collective detriment, male virility trumps most other ills:/) The commercials are omnipresent. I would venture to say that, in the US, if manufacturing capabilities were impacted for all other medically necessary drugs across the board, Viagra production wouldn't even skip a beat.....Viagra.....The world will fall down around us, before our erections will. See them rising through the rubble as the dust settles.....And you can use them as rebar in the new foundations.😆
I could not get my normal HRT a couple of months ago, saw the GP who gave me one that gave me periods. At nearly 70, it is the last thing I wanted! My lovely chemist managed to find my normal brand (and got a big box of choccie biccies for their trouble).
I was advised to come off it when a breast lump was found (luckily just a cyst) and was seriously ill with heart palps, temp all over the place, and a soaking wet bed from the sweats. They advised me to go back on the HRT straight away!
It made me giggle at the thought of a GP surgery full of women in need of HRT - the rage, the puce faces, the BO! Surely no GP wants that!
Yes....I am on 112 mg of levothyroxine...I can't tell the difference between that dose and any other the doctor has put me on, so I just don't bother saying anything to him anymore. I take estradiol/norethindrone combo for my HRT prescription. Smallest dose possible....
I have recently stopped the Evorel Patch and think i am yet again going through change of life,,
I was put on HRT for a list of my symptoms which I now know are all hypothyroid, where I wasnt wasn't treated properly as now see my TSH was over 4 ....I think I would of eaten a dog poop tablet at that time if it had made me feel better , I had finished my period 15 years before in a very early menopause which also no one took notice of....
I think the menopause 2nd time round caused by synthetic HRT is ten times worse than the real menopause...
I had the marina coil and Level Patch but come of it as got to have a synacthen test for adrenal insufficiency,, the patch was ok but I wouldnt recommend the coil as was causing me bladder problems which has eased up since having it removed.....
I was 1st put on Premise which is the horse urine one and I did so much better on that than the synthetic HRT,, so If I ever go back on it I would get the horse urine ones as not a synthetic prodrug like all the estradiol are the NHS give you or synthetic progesterone,, I am not good at converting the synthetics to that active drug... where horse urine is an active drug
I think it is a plant Yam I think but not sure doubt you will get that on NHS most are synthetic or and 1 or 2 horse urine oestrogen's,, I was good on the horse urine ones but kept blowing up water retention NHS synthetic estrodials I tried about 4 the patch being the least of the evil, the patch wont interfere with thyroid meds as much as tablets... My Tsh at that time which found out much later no GP told me even though was on Levo so TSH was really high T4 quite low me very hypo so when i was given the horse urine tablets I actually felt a bit better and muscles got better, probably if I had been on correct amount of thyroid meds which worked I wouldnt of lost muscle like i did.. I was put on HRT 15 years to late as finished 15 years before getting it,, I gave GP a list of symptoms which he stupidly said I needed Hat I would of taken a dog poo tablet at that time to feel better I should of been put on Hot 15 years ago as I had went through the change when I was 40 which is premature ovarian failure,, no one told me it was that, the drs in my past have been a couple bunch of idiots ,, I have a decent one now thank god x
I've been on a lonesome struggle for 15 yrs without anything and just offered antidepressents which made me think I'm fruitcake and had to put a face on for the world every single day - lonely existence as I lived alone well my son was still around but also put a face on for him. Still do in fact and for my daughters as they do t want their mum to worry about but my once e read buoyant bubbly spirit is very much compromised
if your TSH is 4 you will feel crap your TSH should be 1 or less so you definitly need to be on higher dose, god the Drs are ignorant on Thyroid,, if they got it they would soon learn TSH of 4 is too high and would feel ill with it like that.. heres a link on different HRT.. telegraph.co.uk/health-fitn...
You may have to copy it paste it to use it....
I would ask you GP to test TSH, T4, T3 (seeing he left you hypo he probably wont test
that but just tell him you feel unwell You have looked on Thyroid.uk and see that if he has not made you well on T4 that he should refer you to an endocrinologist)
I would get SHGB, Estradiol, Testerone, androgen well just ask for sex hormones all to be done
also ask full blood count
Vit D Ferritin, Folate ,B12 and magnesium, you could try asking for selenium ( but doubt they will test that but try )
if he wont test selenium get your self a pot of BioCare selenium 100mcgs take one per day as that will help you convert the levothyroxine, it helped me a huge amount,,
Vit D3 taken with K2 will keep bones strong but get it tested 1st so you need what you need to buy,, be free to message me if I miss your future posts as not on here that often these days, but someone will help you with your blood results if they dont message me I will help you xx
I am off out for the day Jeppy but will check in to see if you have asked anything else,, take care... by the way a thyroid is going hypo when the TSH level is 2.5 and your dr is just looking at that your TSH is fine as just in range, it all changes when on meds which shame on him not knowing that it should be anything from 2 or below but most feel best when TSH is 1 or less and some need to have it suppressed to feel well.. good luck you need an increase and when you get it you will need a further Thyroid blood test 6 weeks to see where levels are then..
If its hot flushing you are having I used very high juice ACIA berry 5000mcg x 2 a day and it stopped the hot flushing in about 3 months I also lost a bit of weight on it,, Im back on it again now as going through change again coming off HRT grr Dr never told me that would happen butt then Dr thought I was menopausal stupid man,, anyway easing symptoms with The Acai berry high dose again and seems to help xx
I don't k kw what to do as when I went up to 100 levo I felt so ill I could to cope then I was almost persuaded to try t3 but I wanted to see what the HRT does first so I know what's what
I've lost bone probably by being ignored as looking back my tsh went over 2.5 in 2005 and then in 2008 I put 3 stones on so quickly
I've worked on adrenals and gut health so now need to do another blood run, no my doctor really really won't test anything for me to do with this. Except t4 and tsh that is, she doesn't know,about vitamins and had to beg for a dexa scan after breaking wrist
I'm done as I'm sure it's on their screen In red letters that I'm a tricky customer! 😘
I don't know what I'm doing as much as bouldering along
T3 did much more for me than the HRT ever did coming off the HRT the only thing I have noticed is the hot flushing no aches or pains .and not so much water retention that I had on HRT
Haha dog poop tablet I needed a laugh 😂 Well I'm so pleased to see this post,,, I was searching and chuffed to see it's so recent
Please advise if can, I've started HRT yam as bones are lower and want to build them up and hopefully get some life back in stiffening legs, and personality !
He gave me privately the ostregen gel and will have the progesterone to protect womb for a few days but the down side a scanty whatsit will reappear,,,,,,,aaaagh
Immediate changes in mood, felt liberating at first but two weeks in the thick depression is here, can relate it to me trying higher levo, thick peasouper!
Know il have to persevere a few more weeks, but now reading and scaring myself that esteogen is harmful to the thyroid gland. And is a no no,?
Has anyone else studied this please and also read to take just progesterone for the thyroid
So, confused don't want to get perplexed, the plus side is I'm already cognitively much better and not silly weepy as before
Any one also had this shoulder pain, unsure if connected but sense it is!?
So as tsh still nearly a four and t three low range, is it ok to take levo and t three too?
Any tips and thoughts so appreciated
Hugs and to all who have felt so rubbish and feel like a werewolf most of the times and yes, could eat a doggie tablet, I bet it. Xxx
shoulder pain I had a lot before having T3 liothyronine,, I had fibromyalgia type pains as well, Maybe you could get your GP to refer you to an endocrinologist see if they will add T3 to your T4, it helped me a lot, but research your Endo 1st, they have a list of sympathetic Endos on here if you ask in separate post, you could also ask if anyone has seen sympathetic Endo in areas you are able to travel to for them to PM the name.. they also have the same list in files on Thyroid hub UK you could also ask same question on there, some people use here and others prefer to use facebook, I use both but you maybe barking up wrong tree looking for HRT when it could be you need T3 liothyronine added to your T4 levothyroxine,, I was almost disabled before well bed ridden till I had that added, most of my aches and pains went within half hour taking T3... .. where do you live, If you are near devon I can recommend an Endo but if not you will have to do research,,, dont just go to any one the GP sends you to as most are diabetic and haven't a clue about thyroid and wont prescribe you T3.. good luck let me know how you get on xx
Hot I think converts T4 into T3 quicker although I maybe wrong on that, I felt better as said I was under medicated but trusted doctors back the,, I dont trust them anymore xx
Thanks for reply, And tips, Well the endo I see or rather hear as it's by phone now, wants me to take higher levo and I've asked about t3 and he said I'd need to see a private endo for that ..... grr with respect I can't understand accents often and as it's an accent on the phone I miss much of what he is saying anyway (I'm tone deaf)
What is Hot?
Interesting about shoulder pain! What causes this I wonder ? Why shoulder? Yes I take point about HRT for sure but because I broke my wrist (it was nasty fall ) I've had my bone tested and I'm penia, not porosis but it scared me a bit although my physio is same and she's 40, so the HRT does rebuild bone. I work with elderly who are stooped eats and this is another reason I want to fix my bones so I may have to stick with the HRT a while to gain this - I may not live but who knows, my elderly female relatives were all in their nineties, depressing subject haha
So, I don't know wether to again try and increase levo but I'm so fed up now I just want results, Yes I've asked before re endos in area but had no response, and our surgery will not let you go anywhere for sure
Il end up paying for private I guess if I know where to go
Yes, you are weary of going it alone. And like you I've lost faith
I got itchy rashes a while ago and one doc said it was because I was itching,, I ask you?
So I went to another doc and all she said was Let's zap it with a steroid cream, so I left, I explained I preferred root causes as the body is trying to tell you something
I just copied this from web page,, funny as I felt better when taking HRT,, but it was only short lived so maybe I did get worse on it,,, I was a bit brain fogged back then so cant remember but I never suspected at any point anything was thyroid related as they had told me my thyroid was good now I have read my medical records i know it has not been good for 35 years 20 untreated then 15 under treated with a drug I couldnt convert properly,, I also have genetic problems in DI1 Dio2 genes which means I needed T3 to feel well, I discovered this all out on here , this group is very good anyway heres the clip out the article
According to Baha M. Arafah, MD, the study's author, the problem can arise when estrogen therapy interferes with thyroid medication and reduces the amount of available thyroid hormone, or thyroxine, in the blood.
"People who have been on thyroid medication for years would assume that whatever problems they are having [when starting estrogen therapy] have nothing to do with the thyroid medication," says Arafah, associate professor of medicine and endocrinology at University Hospitals of Cleveland. "But that's not necessarily going to be true."
No they wouldn't I'm so sorry, we have been so let down. My,anxiety is screaming today and made decision to drop HRT and get thyroid euthroyd I messed up there I was desperate to feel better and protect bone as it is a shock to be osteopenia but, il work in it with exercise and supplements, firstly I need to get thyroid maximised
Can we rebuild muscle do you know? I feel a wreck physically emotionally and spiritually
....My t3 always low in range but t4 could be higher although not bad. Tsh at four
it's just that it makes me feel in thick fog and depression. when I try and increase and I cease to a holt on the settee depressed
I want to try t3 but now thinking il have to recheck all bloods and saliva 'again' 🤷♀️ ...... actually I just took a quarter of t3 as felt so desperately anxious and can it be so miraculous as I felt okmfor a while after, it was like a switch and brought down the height of the anxiety for sure
I know, Iv seen it on the news. I decided I was on wrong Rd before it was on news, I can't believe I was so daft but that's brain fog and anxiety for you, I justified it as the meno came first before the hypo but I couldn't get bloods back before 2005 and I'm guessing I've always been pretty border, (true border! At 2.5 NOT 4.6) I had brain fog on and off and especially,after babies
I remember being asked on two ocassions if I was an athlete haha. But of course it was because my pulse was so low,, but no dots were connected when I laughed and said definitely not
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well if your TSh is 4 if you add T3 you wont need to lower meds if your T3 is low you will feel bad, j My friend used to have really high anxiety before adding t3 she was always crying as well all that stopped she was like a different person after taking t3, , it helps the brain fog as well , I could hardly walk as was in so much pain and just about bed wound on T4 mono, not long after taking the pill it was like someone put the colour back into life, i felt like skipping as i could walk again, I could move again with out crying in pain,, I really needed the t3, I decorated 3 bedrooms back to back, before I didnt have enough strength to hold the roller for more than two rollers up the wall as arms hurt so much... ,, the endo said that some come in say they have decorated the house since starting it, others might rather take 4 months to show an improvement and others it does nothing for.. i was lucky it changed me back to having a bit of life back x
Is really worrying cos my girlfriend is having problems getting Evorel patches. No good NHS saying there's some things u can buy that slightly replace. Cos gf had a hysterectomy in 30's,she needs it,not excuses. Have heard that a lot of it is untrue about Epilepsy meds and that some meds are stockpiled!
If it's cos from Europe-why don't they make the meds here!
I think if anxious thinker type, and you got a cancer, then you would blame the HRT, it depends on personality
If lucky enough to be type to weigh all up properly before and make informed decisions I think you are fortunate as won't beat yourself up if you are unfortunate to get it 🤷♀️ I waver between the two hahaha
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I should of been put on Hot 15 years ago as I had went through the change when I was 40 which is premature ovarian failure,, no one told me it was that, the drs in my past have been a couple bunch of idiots ,, I have a decent one now thank god x
