No help from GP's

[eckist]

Does anyone know of a specialist/consultant in Wiltshire or surrounding areas? I was diagnosed with hypothyroid by dear Dr Peatfield around 12 years ago but Sussex is too far for me to go. I'm not getting any help from my GP surgery, my TSH is 6.58 and I feel a complete wreck, fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, aches and pains and glaucoma (which I am sure is related - GP's disagree) I'm taking Thyroid Complex together with vitamins and minerals, Nature's Way Alive and I have just stopped taking Adrenal supplements because I think they should only be short term, I may be wrong. Really need some help. I am so appreciative of this site.

[Arabella33]

Thyroid U.K. have a list of private Thyroid doctors They can send you. Some of them do online only consultations.

[eckist in reply to Arabella33]

Many thanks, much appreciated. Take care

[eckist in reply to Arabella33]

I have sent off for the current one, many thanks

[Marz]

A year ago SeasideSusie gave you a link for suggested testing in your post ( have tried to link it - but failed ! ) So wondering if you were able to follow-up and have them done ... ? Having all the testing done privately and posting here with the results may save you lots of money !

[eckist in reply to Marz]

I've just sent off for the test, many thanks.

[Marz in reply to eckist]

Oh good ! Which tests are you having done ? When you have the results you can post them here in a new post - so more people will see them. Members can then comment and advise ...

[eckist in reply to Marz]

It's the Thyroid Check UltraVit Blood Test, there is 25% off on the website, which is useful.

[Marz in reply to eckist]

Great bargain !

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

eckist

Is your Thyroid Complex by Viridian? If so it contains 200mcg iodine and we shouldn't take iodine unless tested and found to be deficient, then it should only be taken under the guidance of an experienced practioner. If it isn't Viridian, please check to see if it contains iodine. Iodine solution used to be used to treat overactive thyroid before the current radioactive iodine treatment and can make hypothyroidism worse, and it's certainly not recommended when Hashi's is present.

Natures Way Alive is another supplement not recommended. It's a multivitamin and they tend to contain the cheapest and least absorbable of ingredients, for example it contains magnesium oxide which is not recommended and generally only used for constipation, it contains zinc oxide which again isn't the best form, it's the form used in nappy rash cream, it contains folic acid and the recommended form is methylfolate, the B12 is cyanocobalamin and the recommended form is methylcobalamin, it contains vitamin K1 which is the blood clotting form of Vit K, it contains 150mcg iodine (which gives you a total of 350mcg iodine which is very high if you aren't deficient), and it contains iron which affects the absorption of everything else.

So all in all your two supplements aren't doing you any favours at all.

I have just stopped taking Adrenal supplements because I think they should only be short term, I may be wrong

Did you do a 24 hour saliva cortisol plus DHEA test before supplementing to know if you needed adrenal support?

Are you taking any thyroid meds? If so, what?

What are your current thyroid test results?

You may get more help here for free than seeing a thyroid specialist but you can send for the list of thyroid friendly endos from Dionne at ThyroidUK

[e-mail]

[eckist in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thyroid Complex (Supplements You) which I take contains Iodine Kelp, I stopped taking Nutri thyroid as it contains bovine. As you rightly say Nature's Way Alive contains iodine too so I have stopped taking both of them. Gp advised me to take iodine! A year ago I was tested for Cortisol and DHEA and started taking ABD 5 plus on the advice of a nutritionist in Reading but recently stopped taking them, maybe I should start again........she also had GI-Map tests carried out which indicated High SigA and raised Anti-gliadin so I don't have gluten. I take Biotics Beta Plus and Symprove also.

I'm not on any medication. Current thyroid test results are TSH 6.8 mlU/L (0.3-5.0) and T4 15.4 pmo/L (12.0-22.0)

I have sent off for Medichecks Thyroid Check UltraVit Blood Test so will post the results when I receive them.

Thank you so much for your help.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to eckist]

eckist

A year ago I was tested for Cortisol and DHEA and started taking ABD 5 plus on the advice of a nutritionist in Reading but recently stopped taking them, maybe I should start again........

You'd need to test again, which should be done regularly when taking an adrenal support anyway.

ABD5 contains rhodiola rosea which is for reducing cortisol levels. Did your original test show high cortisol?

And if bovine is a problem for you then ABD5 contains bovine parotid tissue.

When doing thyroid tests, we advise:

* Book the first appointment of the morning, or with private tests at home no later than 9am. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If we are looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, or looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction then we need TSH to be as high as possible.

* Fast overnight - have your evening meal/supper as normal the night before but delay breakfast on the day of the test and drink water only until after the blood draw. Eating may lower TSH, caffeine containing drinks affect TSH.

[* If taking thyroid hormone replacement, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then last dose should be 8-12 hours before blood draw. Adjust timing the day before if necessary. This avoids measuring hormone levels at their peak after ingestion of hormone replacement. Take your thyroid meds after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results. ]

* If you take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin (B7), leave this off for 7 days before any blood test. This is because if Biotin is used in the testing procedure it can give false results (most labs use biotin).

These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with doctors or phlebotomists.

If your new test comes back with over range TSH plus raised antibodies, an enlightened doctor should start you on Levo. If no raised antibodies you will probably have to wait until TSH reaches 10 before diagnosis unless FT4 goes below range.

[eckist in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you so much, this is very helpful.

Comments regarding cortisol on the lab test read "cortisol level appears adequate although the suboptimal diumal cortisol pattern is suggestive of early (Phase 1) HPA axis (adrenal gland) dysfunction" The nutritionist (CB in Reading) therefore suggested ABD 5 and I haven't been tested since then which was approx a year ago.

I will wait now for the thyroid test to be completed before doing/taking anything

[greygoose]

Sorry to have to say this, but the mult-vits you are taking are probably making your condition worse, rather than better. They all contain things you don't need - like iodine - and probably don't need - like copper. More is never better, and can be dangerous - like excess vit D or calcium. Or, at least make you ill, like excess copper. Mult-vits are never, ever a good idea.

[eckist in reply to greygoose]

Thank you, I was initially taking them because I have a leaky gut, something the medical profession doesn't acknowledge apparently. GP advised I should take iodine! I have stopped taking them now.

[greygoose in reply to eckist]

Yes, I know, but even with leaky gut, these multis would not have done you much good, because the iron would have prevented you from absorbing most of the nutrients. Iron should be taken on its own - apart from vit C - two hours away from everything else. These multis are just a huge con.

[eckist in reply to greygoose]

Luckily I was taking a supplement with no added iron. I can't tolerate iron, really makes me feel ill. Isn't the world of thyroid complicated!

[greygoose in reply to eckist]

Yes, it is. Far more complicated than any doctor understands.

[humanbean]

Just to let you know...

Dr Peatfield has retired and is no longer seeing patients.

[eckist in reply to humanbean]

Thank you for letting me know. He will be greatly missed.