This Morning BBC One programme

[McPammy]

This morning I was watching tv BBC one This Morning programme. They had an actress on their show who had recently been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease. Her symptoms she said is mainly fatigue and weight gain. Her Dr told her to change her diet even though her TSH was raised abnormally high. Her Dr has not put her on any medication either. She was promoting eating less sugar and gluten. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Surely her Dr should have prescribed a starter dose of levothyroxine as well as testing her for coeliac and the normal vitamins. No wonder people are suffering out there.

[bantam12]

I watched her and she did say her TSH was only slightly over and she implied it was her choice to go down the diet route rather than Levo and she’s very happy with the results of cutting things out, if only it was that easy for everyone!

I did laugh when the TV Drs advice to viewers was to “see your GP if you have any symptoms” 🤦🏻‍♀️

[arTistapple in reply to bantam12]

Yes. How long should doctors be given to work it out? I laughed when he said age 30 - 50 was the parameters for getting the condition (never mind diagnosis). I started properly complaining in 1986 (age 34), although looking back the signs were there way before that. Finally diagnosed 2021, or at least that was when I was informed. The results from years before were languishing in my file.

[Zephyrbear in reply to bantam12]

Sounds a bit like Mick Hucknall of Simply Red saying he’d been ‘cured’ of hypothyroidism after a few months of T4 treatment…

[arTistapple in reply to Zephyrbear]

ooh that’s interesting. I heard he was ill but never heard any more. Just checked. Photographs show ‘not well’ I think. Wishful thinking on his part maybe. This is all part of the mixed ‘ethos’s’ I see flying around. Sarah Myhill talks about beauty and attractiveness as being part of health and I think she is correct. Actors and performers are at this cheerful upbeat sh1t all the time. It’s just what they do. I find it wearying and boring these days. I am sure that actress is a perfectly nice person but personally I find all that faux ‘cheerfulness’ particularly galling around this illness. Like it’s no bother. I understand how this makes doctors react to us ‘moaning minis’ but they need to get over that ‘natural’ reaction and get us better. It’s their job.

[Zephyrbear in reply to arTistapple]

Totally agree with you. I know they have a certain "image" to uphold, but I just wish they'd be honest and not play these things down, especially when they can afford to get whatever treatment they need whilst the rest of us live in purgatory!

[shaws Administrator in reply to bantam12]

I laughed along with you on your statement with regard to the advice i.e. "“see your GP if you have any symptoms” . The TV doctor probably would not find "it" as my GP could not diagnose me - my TSH was 100 - I felt awful but GP stated that I had no problems. If you want to read my 'thyroid history' you can click on my name.

I have also had a couple of ridiculous comments from another GP and I told him 'I'm sorry but that's incorrect'.

[arTistapple]

Don’t you think there are a lot of mixed ‘ethos’ flying about at the moment about thyroid issues? I can’t say they are all helpful. I dare say there was not enough detail to make any decision about what you heard but the message does not feel right, another wrong impression about hypothyroidism. It’s a bit like Professor Pierce (Thyroid Trust interview) who should be more responsible, putting it out there that lots of people do not need to be on thyroxine (never mind his stilted view on T3). All so conflicting. If I was a conspiracy nut, I could be suspicious. OR is it all along the lines of ‘fake news’ re: the missing quality of deep digging journalism research. It’s all ‘bites’, no time to discuss anything in any depth and lousy ‘editing’ does the rest of the job. Was it an aside - even less info? An opinion piece based on ??

All this has maybe has been going on for a while, hence our forum coming into being. I am still relatively new to it all.

Anyway after all that I have not seen it! I will try catch up TV!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I think you are referring to:

Hayley Tamaddon

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayle...

Morning Live on BBC iPlayer:

It looks like the original link has expired but where is should be says not currently available:

bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001lv7r

Keep trying the link above. It might well be a case of it being removed from "Live" but there being a delay in appearing in the general archive.

For reference, this was the original link I posted:

bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m...

Sorry - don't know where in the program she appears.

Wiki image of Hayley Tamaddon

[arTistapple in reply to helvella]

Thanks for that. I was having trouble pinning it down (I was looking at Breakfast TV). God I hate those jolly pieces. But I guess it’s a way of getting the info out there. Plus there is only so much information to get into a short space of time. It really grated on me though, I have to say.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to arTistapple]

Coming from so very long ago, as I do, television doesn't exist before 17:00 most of the time for me! (Obviously, there was Grandstand all bloomin' Saturday afternoon. But that was not real television.)

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to helvella]

Its thanks to Grandstand that I started a lifelong love of cooking and baking as a kid. Thanks to my older brother hogging the tv all afternoon to watch it ( he was a big sports fan) and back in the days when we only had 3 tv channels, and we didn't have a second tv set at the time, I started making cakes, breads, sweets etc as something to do to fill the long Saturday afternoons. My mum was an excellent cook and worked in catering at the time and passed on a lot of tips and advice. I have very fond memories of that time 😄 although my own kids laugh at the idea of just 3 tv channels lol. Like the Dark Ages.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Even when BBC2 arrived, we didn't have a UHF (625-line) TV. And when we got one of those, we didn't have a UHF aerial! So, two channels well after there were theoretically three.

[McPammy in reply to helvella]

I rarely put the tv on in the morning. I was interested in the Eurovision as we are going to Liverpool tomorrow. I’m glad I did to see this actress think dropping sugar from her diet will help her Hashimotos. I think not myself. Probably the Dr is a diabetes trained Dr and dropping sugar for a diabetic is definitely a help.

[FancyPants54 in reply to helvella]

I've only ever had a TV for 7 years of my life, from age 22 - 29. I was married then and my nan had just died so we had her TV. When I left the marriage I left the TV and neither me or my second husband have ever wanted one. We can stream anything we might want to watch.

Like you, TV was never on in the day but I dreaded the Grand Prix, was that Saturday or Sunday afternoons? Can't remember now. I would usually either go shopping or mow the lawn while the first hubby vegetated. Such a waste of time, TV.

[Hidden in reply to FancyPants54]

So if you don't have a physical TV, what do you stream it to? I can't bear to watch things on tiny phone or tablet screens for more than a few minutes!

[FancyPants54 in reply to Hidden]

My iPad or laptop. I can't be doing with this huge flat screen TVs filling walls. TV is a last resort for me. For when I'm too tired to focus my eyes to do something else. The older I get the less interest TV has for me and it was never high. Sometimes I think I will watch a film, but I rarely find one to take my fancy despite having lots of choice. I still haven't watched Maverick yet and I was really looking forward to that coming out!

[Hidden in reply to FancyPants54]

Haha, I know what you mean. But it doesn't have to be a huge flatscreen that fills the wall. I can't be doing with those either. Time someone invented an adjustable screen size, so that I can shrink it down out of the way when I don't need it, then enlarge it when I want to see something at real life size.

[waveylines in reply to Hidden]

Wow.... You should sell that concept to the manufacturers..... It would be a massive hit with most customers I reckon! I hate the big screens too. However I have to give in a bit to a larger screen as age has brought me the dubious addition of poorer eyesight despite glasses. Defo buy a shrinking screen though!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

You can achieve that to some extent with projector TVs.

But you pay for it - cost of purchase, relative awkwardness of setting up, cost of electricity for running it. And (usually) less bright than a decent standard screen TV.

[Cavapoochonowner in reply to FancyPants54]

Talking of Maverick, I watched Top Gun at the pictures with my boyfriend(now husband).It was cheap night Thursday, £1 each.My son 22 went to the pictures with his friends to watch Maverick but I told him to watch Top Gun first which he did.Maverick is a sequel of sorts so he's glad he watched the first one.Since then we have watched Maverick together.He thinks it's one of his favourite films now.I must admit I enjoyed it.

[FancyPants54 in reply to Cavapoochonowner]

I loved Top Gun. I've seen it quite a few times. I really need to set aside the time to watch Maverick properly. Popcorn, fizzy drink etc.

[Zephyrbear in reply to Hidden]

I stream it to my large iMac... I haven't watched mainstream TV for years now!

[FancyPants54 in reply to Zephyrbear]

I'd love one of those, but my office is tiny and therefore so is my desk and I don't need one. I just want one!

[Zephyrbear in reply to FancyPants54]

I wouldn’t be without it now!

[waveylines in reply to helvella]

🤣😂 Ditto! But then ill health hit me and at my worst laying on a settee watching daytime TV gave me the illusion that I was being entertained.... My brain absorbed so little that content didn't really matter!

[FancyPants54 in reply to waveylines]

That's how I feel about TV. It's push entertainment and takes no brain power to absorb and forget it. I love books, but with my thyroid numbers very obviously still off, I can't settle to read again, or sleep properly, or focus in the evenings to do close work. I'm very pissed off with this roller-coaster.

[waveylines in reply to FancyPants54]

Sorry to hear that Fancy Pants. Hopefully things will improve for you in time.There are some fascinating programmes on TV though too.... But you do need to hunt them down.

I used to be an avid reader of books too & though I read now it's never been the same. I don't enjoy audio books as I'm a visual person.... Am not sure if I've just got out of the habit of reading from being ill for a long time. Time to retrain the brain!!

[waveylines in reply to arTistapple]

Have to say I can't abide Breakfast TV...... What it presents generally is so inaccurate or banal that it irritates me intensely. So I'm not at all surprised about what was reported (didn't see it). The focus is always on the sensational to the detriment of accuracy or truly informative. I think the consequence is inevitable of mi's information.Sorry..... Am irritated just thinking about that programme. 😂🤣

[FancyPants54 in reply to waveylines]

If I've tuned in to watch a specific report (usually when my HRT doctor is on) I'm always amazed at how little time they give the experts and at the banal questions they ask. I know, from experience, that my HRT doctor could give very helpful advice to people uninterrupted for an hour straight. So that's too long for us now, we are deemed to have the attention spans of gnats these days. But at least give them a good 15 minutes uninterrupted. I could not watch that stuff every morning. How do people get ready and on with the day?

[waveylines in reply to FancyPants54]

Yes it's great shame that when they do get a genuine expert on they don't give that person the space or time. I'm so glad that these days there are more articles and u tube films from these people online. Much better source.

[FancyPants54 in reply to waveylines]

Yes, we now have many avenues of access to these people. But some will still not realise that and be stuck with the TV only and then short-changed. It always feels dumbed down to me.

[Ellie-Louise in reply to helvella]

Expired.

After searching the iPlayer it seems that the morning programmes expire after a day.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Ellie-Louise]

I've updated the link with where it should be. Not there yet, but hopefully it will appear sometime soon.

[Lottyplum]

I do think GPS are ignorant and drs generally. I have learned more here than from any dr at any level. Diagnosed with Hashimotos after 2 yrs of hell over 40 years ago and GP saying it was all in my head until seeing Consultant privately, removal of thyroid gland and diagnosis of Hashimotos. Given no medication after op. Finally GP started me on Levo! Back then no internet. No one said I needed to go gf. No test for coeliac. I’m tired of fighting new GP surgery after house move. They don’t have a clue and neither do endos at hospital. Gp rang Endo with question: do I go by numbers or symptoms. Endo response: numbers! Is it any wonder that tearing our hair out is just par for the course!! So grateful for all I learn here.

[waveylines in reply to Lottyplum]

Sadly you are on the button so to speak. As people on this forum have learnt to actively seek the info out and ways forward so become more knowlegeable/aware it just high lights the ignorance and frankly incompetence of the vast majority of medical professionals. I swear there is a warning sign on my medical file now warning not to mess with me over thyroid..... Maybe it says "Warning Patient bites!" 🤣 I don't care so long as they leave me and my thyroid meds alone. I know what I'm doing, they don't!!

[Yellup1]

Yes unfortunately so many doctors are completely clueless , it’s dreadful 😡

[Anthea55]

Less sugar - good. Less gluten - should be NO gluten.

Maybe her doctor is waiting to see how it progresses and will prescribe levo when she next goes back - as I'm sure she will.

Can someone send her a link to ThyroidUK and HealthUnlocked?

[tattybogle]

The Doctor names ThyroidUK (and BTF) as support Organisations

   lynmynott

it's at 15.40   helvella

Also mentions the fT4 AND fT3 test.

Also says levothyroxine .."usually works for most people" .. tacit acknowledgement that it doesn't work so well for everyone.

[waveylines in reply to tattybogle]

Dare we think it's progress or would that be a tadge optomistic!! 🤞🤞

[tattybogle in reply to waveylines]

definitely better than "we test TSH , and the treatment is a simple daily tablet "

[waveylines in reply to tattybogle]

Whoopppeee!! It's a start... Hurray!! 🎊

[Mostew]

as hashimoto is an autoimmune disease and sugar is inflammatory it’s beneficial to cut it down .as we tend to have high inflammation in our body.

[Lilian15]

They always pick someone who has recently been diagnosed with something, when nothing has yet got hold of them. As with diabetes 2, they are trying first not to have to take pills and keep it in remission before it gets worse. If she has Hashimoto's, in the early stage, it could be possible that flare ups are caused by certain foods and it is the flare ups that make the thyroid less active. Gluten is thought to be a great trigger for a flare up. Hashimoto's is an auto immune condition, so it stands to reason if you do not allow a flare up, it is less likely for your thyroid not to be working properly. In diabetes, the more carbohydrates you have the harder the pancreas has to work. So a newly diagnosed diabetic type 2 is first told to change his/her diet and whilst the pancreas is not then being overworked, it can cope without recourse to medication. They always show people who are at the beginning of the illness when nothing serious has happened yet, giving people the impression that these illnesses are not so bad. The one that annoys me the most is when they are showing people with Alzheimers, how they are managing very well, and making out it is just a question of a bit of memory loss. They interview people who have it in the early stages, and tell everyone they are coping so don't be frightened of it. I think in her case it would actually be better for her to start with diet changes.

[Flecmac]

I saw it too, it was on Morning live. I am not on Instagram or Twitter as she is but she seems open to learn more about Hashimotos, which I also have. She had viral Meningitis about 3 years ago too.

Yes very annoying that TV doctors tell you to go to see your GP when they are sat there on all these programmes being paid a fortune being celebrities!! Didn’t know about Mick Hucknall.