An Endocrinologist who doesn’t believe in T3 helping

[sidneymark70]

I was diagnosed with Hashimotos a long time ago and have been treated with Levo in various amounts ever since. I have felt so exhausted with brain fog for so long I have recently seen a private endocrinologist but he said in his experience T3 has no effect. After reading so many good things about T3 on here I was very disappointed. I am today having blood tests and seeing him in two weeks. I think I may have chosen the wrong endocrinologist. I have read since that diabetes is his speciality. I feel I may have seen a consultant who isn’t much more of an expert than my own GP

[NWA6]

😞 You have indeed chosen the wrong Endo. That’s such a waste of money, I’m so sorry to say that 😞 Did you get a list of recommended Endo from ThyriodUK? This list is private so can’t be sourced here but it is a list of endos that our community has said have had a postive interaction with and they are open (or more open) to the prescribing of T3.

I’ve been on T3 for just over 2yrs now and I can categorically say that it saved my life. That’s a hell of a placebo if that’s what this Endo thinks. A hormone that has no effect? That’s laughable and just so disheartening that it came out of the mouth of a medical professional 😩

[m7-cola in reply to NWA6]

T3 has helped me greatly. What a shame that you have seen someone so ignorant. Cut your losses. Move on.

[humanbean]

I would cancel any appointments and tests with this endo. No point in throwing good money after bad.

You can email Thyroid UK and ask for the lists of NHS and private endos who have helped at least one person. There is never any guarantee that they will help anyone else, but it's better than not knowing anything about an endo before seeing them.

The email address for Thyroid UK is : [e-mail]

Always check research databases or research news to see if you can find out what research papers they have been involved in writing. You need to know as much as possible about their research interests. Avoid endos who research diabetes. Many of those endos know nothing about the thyroid.

scholar.google.co.uk/schhp?...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

medscape.com/today

[humanbean in reply to humanbean]

Oh, just remembered...

Look up info on endos at the hospitals they work at to see what position they hold, and anything else you can find out.

[diogenes Remembering]

Anyone who says that "T3 has no effect" has no right to be an endocrinologist however specialised he/she might be. Some points you can make to any further nonsense of this kind.

1) T3 is THE hormone that maintains our health as human beings. All others though important are not as central to need, as is sufficient and appropriate T3.

2) If someone is prescribed T4 only, an important but untested assumption (for the individual) is that the T4 oral dose will be sufficiently converted to T3 by the body. This assumption is only that. The assumption must be tested by measuring FT3 and guidance then given from the outcome. Otherwise a doctor is lacking the key knowledge as how to proceed further. How can a logical person reject a measurement direct as opposed to merely assuming things?

[shaws Administrator in reply to diogenes]

That's a great statement diogenes i.e. "Anyone who says that "T3 has no effect" has no right to be an endocrinologist however specialised he/she might be. Some points you can make to any further nonsense of this kind."

Thank goodness for this forum and our specialists and advisors who know far more than those with a "certificate" but unfortunately they cannot restore a hypo patient's health.Therefore the patient becomes very much more unwell, may lose their livelihood and have nowhere to turn if they don't have access to the internet.

[DippyDame in reply to diogenes]

Wish I was brave enough!

Text

[sidneymark70]

Oh dear I’m actually using a private health membership - I only get a minimum choice because I only pay a minimum monthly premium. I was given 3 consultants to chose from and I did look them up - they were all fairly the same so I chose the most empathetic sounding and he is a very kind man. Very easy to talk to.I will ask him more about T3 armed with the information you have kindly supplied me with on here.

Thank you

[humanbean in reply to sidneymark70]

You don't need a doctor in order to get blood tests done. You can organise them yourself in most cases.

See this link and note the discount codes :

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

and once you've decided what you want to get tested check with us which is the best company to use for those tests.

[NWA6 in reply to sidneymark70]

Oh no 🙈 As others have said, please don’t waste your time. Do your own private blood tests (Medichecks often have ‘thyroid Thursday’ where thyroid test are discounted)

Email Thyroiduk for their list of Endos and start again.

[abirose311]

I think your endocrinologist sounds either ignorant or inexperienced. Perhaps both! I applaud the suggestion that you see someone else!

[humanbean]

If you ever have the urge to read research papers where T3 was investigated and measured you'll find that many older papers are very poorly designed.

Diogenes (who has answered you already) is a researcher into the thyroid and he is part of a research group which has investigated the thyroid extensively, and his work will hopefully help to change the belief that TSH is all endos need to know, and that T3 is not just important but is essential to life.

You can find diogenes' work by looking at his past posts :

healthunlocked.com/user/dio...

[shaws Administrator]

Ask for your money back if you paid for a consultation. Thyroiduk.org.uk has a list of consultants who may be better qualified with regard to dysfunctional thyroid glands than the person you consulted.

We go with great hopes that the Endo is knowledgeable and helpful but can be very disappointed as you are.

We waste our money if the consultation isn't helpful.

The majority of us on this forum source our own thyroid hormones and due to helpful members can return to good health.