Hypothyroid, NDT and health insurance.

[sergeyarl]

Hi Everyone!

I'm hypothyroid (Hashimoto's) and I've been on NDT (Erfa) for several years already. And currently doing quite well. My dosage is 2 grains of Erfa per day and my TSH is significantly below reference range. it is 0,0000somthing .

I buy Erfa myself and check my hormone levels myself. No doctors involved.

Recently I started having several (not related to thyroid gland) health issues. So I need to go to a clinic to check and fix my health.

I'm currently living in Singapore and I have a corporate health insurance. It will be the first time I'm going to use it.

So I'm a bit concerned about what to say when they ask me if I have any chronic diseases and if i'm taking any medications. As it is quite a usual question.

Should I say the truth about my treatment?

Or should I tell that i don't have any chronic diseases and I'm not taking any meds?

Or probably an ok answer would be that I have Hashimotos , and I'm taking t4 ?

Will any of these answers void my insurance?

I guess here are a lot of people with similar problem. How do you usually act?

Thanks!

[shaws Administrator]

I think there's nothing wrong with telling he truth. If they say anything about NDT you can tell them it has been prescribed since 1892 and was the only replacement for many years and it saved people's lives from then on.

You can tell them you are well and that those who take levothyroxine alone might not be able to relieve all of their symptoms and may have to take additional medication to try to relieve their clinical symptoms. You can also say NDT is more 'natural' being made from pigs' thyroid glands and contains T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin whereas levo is T4 alone and an inactive hormone - supposed to convert to T3.

Best of all you can tell them you feel well. Regarding low TSH that refers to levothyroxine alone as blood tests were introduced for levothyroxine which is T4 only. Therefore as NDT contains T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin you are getting more 'natural' hormones than one synthetic one.

NDT is a 'natural' thyroid hormone replacement whereas levo is a synthetic replacement.

[sergeyarl in reply to shaws]

Thanks for the reply, Shaws!

I agree with you, but my main concern is the dosage and my TSH levels. If I tell them about the amount of t3/t4 hormones I take and that my TSH is almost 0, what is going to happen next?

I mean even if i tell them all that you wrote about they will still see my abnormal blood tests, and make decisions on the basis of these blood tests, won't they?

For me it seems safer for now just to forget to mention this fact.

[cbraffe in reply to sergeyarl]

If you withhold information that you are aware of, your health insurance might be cancelled. As with all insurance, you must sign to confirm that all information provided is accurate to the best of your knowledge.

[shaws Administrator in reply to sergeyarl]

All I can say is that NDT has a proven record of relieving symptoms, being prescribed to patients since 1892 (worldwide) and it saved millions of lives. It is still prescribed today.

People prescribed levothyroxine which is a synthetic T4 and is supposed to convert to T3.

You can also say that with synthetic levothyroxine (T4 alone) you remain unwell/ill but with a 'natural' thyroid hormone replacement prescribed since 1892 and which has restored your health and you're symptom-free.

[Hidden in reply to sergeyarl]

You would have the same low/suppressed TSH with synthetic T3 added to T4 (some doctors may be more familiar with synthetic T3; brand names include Cytomel, Cynomel, and Tertroxin, generic name Liothyronine).

It's really crazy that a patient is afraid to tell the truth because her TSH is low...! But I do understand what you mean and your concerns.

I can only agree with others; be honest, provide accurate information, and tell them about your condition and how Erfa has led to better symptom-relief than levo. It's not like you are doing anything illegal!!!