Historical Context of Thyroid Treatment in the UK

[helvella]

Even in the years I have been involved with thyroid issues, things have changed. Quite often, I find myself suddenly realising what used to appear a permanent feature has entirely altered. For example, Alpharma, APS, and Goldshield brands have vanished in the ever-continuing, ever-confusing game of pharma company acquisitions and disposals . New liothyronine products have been launched. Taking levothyroxine at bed-time has been validated. Desiccated thyroid brands have appeared - and disappeared.

Quite often, I have both needed to be reminded of how things were, and wanted to know what else has changed over the years, especially before I had any awareness.

One particular publication, The Chemist and Druggist, has been published throughout. From before the earliest use of fresh thyroids, right up to now. It has reported and advertised thyroid treatment in a way that neither scientific and medical papers, nor more general media have. It covers the whole range of pharmacy so finding the items of interest to the thyroid-obsessed - and ignoring all the other things - takes time and effort. For that reason, I have tried to distil the bits that have caught my eye into digests.

Because the documents got so large, I have been forced to break them down - and did so by years of publication. I hope that four digests is sufficient to make them manageable but not too spread out. Even now, they are probably larger than many would wish to access from their phones! (About five to twenty megabytes each.)

Just a warning, some things contained might be dangerous or unpleasant in numerous ways including emotionally. Be prepared if you decide to browse through.

helvella – Historical Context of Thyroid Treatment in the UK - Pre-1900

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helvella – Historical Context of Thyroid Treatment in the UK - 1900-1949

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helvella – Historical Context of Thyroid Treatment in the UK - 1950-1999

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helvella – Historical Context of Thyroid Treatment in the UK - 2000 on

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These are still in development! I am still adding to them, correcting mistakes, adjusting formatting, etc. Overall, they have reached a stage where they might be interesting and usable. Please, though, don't think of them as finished documents.

[Oatcake]

Totally awesome and fascinating. I took a quick glance through the first one but on my phone. Will definitely need to transfer to laptop. Thanks for the time and energy you have invested this.

[Shusky]

Wow! Thank you helvella. Will have a look through these. ❤️

[LindaC]

Thank you so much, helvella - fascinating, eh? 👀👍

[Thyb]

helvella 'Taking levothyroxine at Bedtime has been validated'.

I have been taking levothyroxine at bedtime for a while now. I sleep better and wake earlier without feeling as tired.

Moreover, my last blood results 'this Month' were the best they've ever been!

However, a long long way to go yet before they become 'optimal'.

Frustratingly, although ft3 was on blood test form, lab refused to check it, reasoning behind their decision 'not relevant when TSH and Ft4 are in range'!!!!!!!!!!!! I rang the lab to question their crazy comment', answer 'TSH and ft4 in range so unnecessary'!!!!!!

Very annoying that I will have to purchase private blood tests from Blue Horizon Medicals or Medichecks just to get A ft3 result!!!!!

Next blood test from 'Endo' also requests ft3, but, now I know they won't test ft3 when TSH, FT4 are 'in range' (due to have it end of April/1st week in May.....Sigh!

Onwards and Upwards

🙂👀

[HungryHungryHypo in reply to Thyb]

Interesting what you say about taking Levo at night and sleeping better... How long after dinner do you take it? I’m actually tempted to try...

[Thyb in reply to HungryHungryHypo]

HungryHungryHypo I take it between 21:30-22:30, bit of fluctuation because I wait at least 2hrs after a snack or cup ot tea/coffee. I have dinner between 5-6 PM.

[helvella Administrator in reply to HungryHungryHypo]

I take mine as I go to bed - as I always have done. Usually have dinner just before 19:00. But do regularly have something else later (e.g. chocolate) - though there will always be some gap.

[jgelliss in reply to helvella]

Helvella Thank you so much for a Great Job Well Done. Your on going work for our inbetterment is Amazing. Forever Grateful.

[HungryHungryHypo]

That’s amazing, thanks Helvella!!

[linda96]

Exceptional!! Thank you so much for all the hard work involved!

[Levo50]

Looks fascinating, I must save and remember to pick away through this when time allows.

This must take literally hours and hours of your dedicated time... I wondered if I may, whether this is in any way a requirement to qualify as part of the admin role? Or more serving the subject fascination and desire to learn and share 😊

Either way it’s enormously impressive and appreciated.

[RedApple in reply to Levo50]

Levo50, " I wondered if I may, whether this is in any way a requirement to qualify as part of the admin role? "

No, definitely NOT a requirement for the admin role

helvella is excellent at researching and does, as you suggest, have a continuing desire to learn and share for the benefit of all here. His contribution is amazing and nothing to do with his admin badge!

[jgelliss]

Helvella I would love to know your thoughts and ensights on adding low dose T3 to the T4 dose ? I know that you are on T4 only. And I also know that you do a lot of research with our thyroid meds both T4 and T3.

Thank you in advance.

[helvella Administrator in reply to jgelliss]

I am quite convinced that at least some people need to take a proportion of T3, and improve by having some.

Other than than the more obvious examples of people with definitely low T3, I am not at all clear how we can decide who needs T3. Nor do I see how we can, in advance, determine how much.

Sorry to give such a disappointingly thin answer. I think those who do take T3, especially those who have been able to adjust their doses up and down, are probably the best positioned to provide answers.

[LindaC]

THANK YOU, helvella - saw this last week - insufficient time to explore - WHAT A GREAT JOB you've done of this! Saved for long-term further reading. 🎶🥃🌈

[helvella Administrator in reply to LindaC]

I feel that there are some historical things which might sometimes be forgotten or where we get the wrong end of the stick.

For example, that, when eventually standards were set, UK desiccated thyroid was required to have an iodine content approximately half that of USA products. But that the USA product did not the same requirement for hormone content!

And that myxoedema was considered a fatal disease (as was pernicious anaemia). Despite untold numbers of herbal and homeopathic practitioners.

[LindaC in reply to helvella]

Thank you helvella - fascinating. Yes indeed, my G'Grandmother, who'd been a normal weight, filled up to fit a two-seater sofa and was treated for senile dementia, dying in 1951 - fatal for her, when NDT was surely available? (Sure the quote below came from something diogenes posted?? - I make use of well )

"The universities do not teach all things, so a doctor must seek out old wives, gipsies, sorcerers, wandering tribes, old robbers, and such outlaws and take lessons from them." - Paracelsus

[helvella Administrator in reply to LindaC]

Sadly, there were various preparations of thyroid gland available before 1900, let alone 1951. All depends on what we include in the term "NDT".

Admittedly, there were still questions over potency and consistency, but they were getting somewhere.

[LindaC in reply to helvella]

Just know how 'brain fog' ++ feels and can't help feeling so terrible about the poor woman... dying like that - so many have - many of us aren't treated much better even today, but we can help ourselves. 🌷

[tattybogle in reply to LindaC]

"The universities do not teach all things, so a doctor must seek out old wives, gipsies, sorcerers, wandering tribes, old robbers, and such outlaws and take lessons from them." - Paracelsus

My favourite kind of people

[LindaC in reply to tattybogle]

Research is vital, providing it's in the 'right' [corrigble] hands - but doctors must learn to open their eyes/ears and 'minds', get off their [often wonky] high-horse and listen.