This story made me growl

[vocalEK]

Tired? Always Cold? Think it’s hypothyroidism? Think again

endocrineweb.com/news/thyro...

[humanbean]

An appalling article. I would like to punch everyone involved in the writing or the "research" in the face - repeatedly.

[Gingernut44 in reply to humanbean]

I'd like to remove all their thyroids, give them 6 months without replacement and then see what they have to say!

[Wetsuiter]

its as if they believe we sit there with no symptoms, get our bloods checked for no reason at all, then decide we're ill

[BadHare]

Swearing loudly...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

From the linked article:

However, guidelines from experts found no benefit in treating individuals whose TSH falls between 5-10 mlU/L,1,2 unless you are planning a pregnancy or are pregnant and have confirmed subclinical hypothyroidism.

But guidelines don't find information. They simply interpret and re-distribute information. It is the research that might find benefits - or not - depending on numerous factors including design.

[vocalEK in reply to helvella]

And if the researchers were basing treatment on keeping TSH within range, than I am not surprised that the participants did not report beneficial results.

[silverfox7]

From the widow of a thyroid researcher why did my husband frog march me to the surgery when results continually showed I was borderline? One of the doctors was hypo and he put me on medication. QED

[MissGrace]

So why do you need it when planning pregnancy or pregnant if it isn’t needed? You either need it or you don’t. You need it when planning pregnancy because you need it! In fact you might be unable to get pregnant or stay pregnant without it and they know it. Not sure about the equal opps in that guideline either. It’s all so nit picky and pedantic. You can’t have it when you are ill - we wait until you are REALLY ill. FFS. 🤸🏿‍♀️🥛

[silverfox7 in reply to MissGrace]

It’s also been shown that sufferers who miscarry have high TSH so usually kept under 2.5 but I think that’s ofter the same as saying that T4 and T3 should be optimal. But it’s cheaper to test just TSH than the other two so I suspect that sadly it’s a penny pinching issue! Plus so many doctors have been brainwashed into relying on TSH as the norm. I had my children before I was diagnosed so wasn’t told this myself but lots of concern about it on the Thyroid Uk site over the years.

[Celestialbeing]

What a crock of crap!!! They did not even factor in Free T4, Free T3, nor how the body assimilates T4 and/or T3, inadequate conversion, high FT4 can cause many issues mentioned, as does low FT3. Sad that this occurs and these clinicians waste money on these inferior studies.

[Hidden]

This article totally shreds their "TSH is gold!" argument, doesn't it? Because, as we all know, dosing by TSH alone does not allow for any "apparent benefit" from treatment.

Circular reasoning makes me so mad! "Treating by TSH is all that's necessary for you to feel better, but you don't feel better treating by TSH only so you don't really need ANY thyroid meds - surprise!" Grrrr! 😤

[Ginny52]

That is pathetic-and the language is beyond insulting!

[Ginny52]

Apparently Mary Samuels MD managed to con her patients too! Taking her money under false pretences, that one!

[vocalEK]

I also find appalling their insistence that those over 60 don't need to be made well. People should feel just hunky-dory with a TSH of 6 when they are old because statistically speaking, TSH levels go up as folks age.

It wasn't that long ago that high blood pressure wasn't being treated in the elderly because BP also goes up as folks age. Then somebody woke up and realized that hypertension is hypertension, regardless of how old you are.

I guess it never occurred to them that TSH might be going up because the thyroid gland gets old and weak as we get old. As the Beatles once said, "I'll get by with a little help from my friends". My friends are levo and lio.

[Lora7again in reply to vocalEK]

My Dad is 78 and is on Levothyroxine 100mcg ... he looks younger than his years but has health problems because of smoking. His Doctor once said "You might look young for your age but your organs are ageing" my Dad felt a little down after his comments and I think Doctors sometimes need to think what they say to patients!

[vocalEK in reply to Lora7again]

That's sad.

[Lora7again in reply to vocalEK]

Exactly ... my Dad has COPD and is struggling and to have his Doctor say that to him is horrible.

[LMor]

There’s no hope for anyone with such ignorant reports from so called professionals. They would not be writing such articles if their Tsh was 6/7/8 etc....I can’t function when mine is so high. Scary 😏

[Redlester]

The only way my feet ever feel warm is if I have them planted on top of a hot water bottle. wonder how 'normal' that would feel to one of those doctors who did the "research". Am wondering, have they maybe copped on that so many of us have given up on slavishly following their advice and are self-treating that they are putting this about to scare others from treating themselves after waiting years for doctors to do their jobs properly [try waiting 2 decades and still not getting treatment LOL]