A other appointment to nhs endocrinologist🙄 - Thyroid UK

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A other appointment to nhs endocrinologist🙄

birkie profile image
33 Replies

Hi everyone ❤️

So I spoke to gp today in regards to the endocrinologist report from June 21st in which the endocrinologist as recommended I see an endo who will pescribe ndt 😡 this appointment is at Newcastle RIV, does anyone know if they have a good endocrinologist at Newcastle RIV??,I have no idea who she as recommended because she said she can't say who it will be.

Quite frankly I think this will be another wasted journey for me, I've seen 4 endocrinologists now within the nhs and each have refused ndt saying the nhs are not licensed to supply it, so how's this appointment going to be any different 🤦‍♀️ I can see me struggling to travel there to be told the same crap....we don't pescribe it..😡😡

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33 Replies
Jazzw profile image
Jazzw

I have a feeling that if you are “lucky” enough to see the head honcho, that’s gonna be Prof Simon Pearce.

Pretty sure I’ve seen his name crop up here before…

Jazzw profile image
Jazzw

Yup. This may not cheer you… healthunlocked.com/search/p...

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to Jazzw

Nothing surprises me anymore with endocrinologists, but I suppose if I get nowhere my next move is to make a complain to PALs👍

Jazzw profile image
Jazzw in reply to birkie

You’ve been sooo badly let down, it’s just appalling.

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to Jazzw

You just can't believe it's 2024, feels more like 1824 with these specialists...mind you I'd probably have been given ndt back then😂

Jazzw profile image
Jazzw in reply to birkie

There may have been a better chance!

I’ve given up on my GP. Well, I would if I had one, which I don’t. I guess I mean, “I’ve given up on my GP surgery”. You just get who you get if you phone, and recently that’s been someone who doesn’t give a flying fig, doesn’t listen to what you say, writes notes that pretend things were said when they weren’t (and vice versa). Oh, and speaks such garbage it’s hard to take anything they say seriously.

Heaven help us, really.

Zephyrbear profile image
Zephyrbear in reply to Jazzw

Of course, chances these day are you may not even be seeing a fully qualified doctor but one of these PA (physician associates) instead… thankfully, I’m able to avoid my GP surgery like the plague at the moment, but were I to be in need of their services I would be checking to see who and what I’m seeing! 😠

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Zephyrbear

Yes….these days never assume the person is actually a doctor

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to SlowDragon

Or human with a heart slowDragon 👍

Sparklingsunshine profile image
Sparklingsunshine in reply to Zephyrbear

Could even be a cleaner, mind you would they be any less knowledgeable about thyroid than your average GP? Who knows, they might even be an improvement 😆

hormonaljunkie profile image
hormonaljunkie in reply to Sparklingsunshine

I keep saying I’m against AI, except in the case of medicine, I’m sure a lot of AI’s will do a better job than most dr’s.

It’s difficult to be a good professional in any domain when you’re not actually interested in your role and don’t seem to have much common sense!

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to hormonaljunkie

I've recently spoken to a number of specialist within the nhs , 2 parathyroid surgeons and 4 endocrinologists , although at least 3 endocrinologists were the most awful and obnoxious people I've ever met, the last one I saw just recently at least had the backbone to actually admit her hands were tied by nhs restrictions and rules due to nhs policy.

Although she apologised for not being able to help me it really didn't cut it, i still left her clinic as worse off health wise as before 😡

If we are going to have AI in the medical profession , I don't think they should be programmed by inferior endos 😂 that would be defeating the object ..self learning bots would probably be a better choice ...ho and maybe they could learn some bedside manner 😄

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to birkie

If we are going to have AI in the medical profession , I don't think they should be programmed by inferior endos 😂 that would be defeating the object ..self learning bots would probably be a better choice ...ho and maybe they could learn some bedside manner

Yes that’s the risk

But …….if AI could learn on the job and assimilate knowledge we might finally make progress

arTistapple profile image
arTistapple

birkie, I would phone or preferably email so-said ‘head honcho’, or at least his secretary, with a short description of your health history. Especially concentrating on your difficulties taking Levo and to ask the question directly about NDT, well before considering coming all the way to the RVI in Newcastle.

This could work out as your basis for a complaint, wasting minimum time and effort - when you get a reply.

This guy, head of department, is the guy responsible for very much of the National Guidelines and we know how biased and destructive they are. To my knowledge the department (ICB and local GPs) is hardline ruled by him. The statistics of T3 prescriptions in the area are plain to see.

If you get a reply you could use this to make a concrete complaint, rather than waiting around for another ‘painful’ consultation with him or one of his sidekicks.

The ICB and each GP practice within Newcastle do not pay even for T3. The published statistics also back this up. It’s been written in my GP letters referring me to endocrinologists both private and NHS.

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to arTistapple

I'm planning on doing this now as I really don't think Newcastle can help me 👍

crystalcat10 profile image
crystalcat10

OMG this is the worst region for thyroid treatment , and this is the last hospital anyone with thyroid issues should attend , the Prof in charge has a serious problem with .

1 - Thyroid patents

2-Female thyroid patents

i know this sound dramatic but i cant put it any other way .

i have been following your journey as i am in a similar situation myself and yesterday received another blow . I'm sorry i cant offer any solutions .

living in the NE with thyroid issues sucks .

arTistapple profile image
arTistapple in reply to crystalcat10

I have no idea whether it’s the worst area but I do strongly suspect it’s the case. Extremely bad luck for us living here! Originally I am Scottish and went privately back to Scotland only to find that endo was trained by the ‘head honcho’ we are talking about. Dare I say £500 wasted!

We have ‘a man on a mission here in charge’. I always find people like that extremely dangerous. They are either incapable of looking left or right or have made that decision themselves. It makes life easier to have no conscience. It’s more influenced by politics (small and large P) than being medical or patient oriented. It’s just a similar set up of any modern ‘business’. Pure self interest.

Similar to many others on the Forum, we are in charge of our own cases here - as best we can.

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to crystalcat10

I actually turned down Newcastle RIV this year simply because I have been travelling back and forth to Liverpool [ diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism] and I just had an appointment at Liverpool then my appointment for Newcastle was the very next day..[ on appointment letter] so I cancelled it , and endo sent me to Carlisle which was another wast of time, as the endo refused to help saying the nhs are not licensed to pescribe ndt she then put me back to the gp.This gp as now referred me to an endo at Newcastle RIV...again ..and I mentioned the travelling was getting to me , I also mentioned Liverpool, would there be anyone in Liverpool who may help? Crickets....but truthfully I asked my parathyroid surgeon the same question when I last spoke to her, and she was in the same mind frame...nhs endocrinologists don't pescribe ndt😒

So what the hell can I do?

I can't keep asking my son to pay for thyroid medication for me, his looking to buy a house soon , and anyway why the hell should we as thyroid patients rely on family members to buy our medication 🤷‍♀️

I do fear that there will be no one within Newcastle RIV that can help me , and I will be sent away again 😡 and what's annoying is my TSH is 45.6 and will just keep increasing if I don't get the correct medication...sickening really😡

When my TSH went to 0.5 on t3 the gp nearly had a fit..[ I obviously couldn't stay on it to long due to side effects but in the short time I was on it it did raise my t3 level and decrease my TSH....gp wanted me off t3...and so did the endocrinologist they won I was taken off it😡😡😡😡😡

crystalcat10 profile image
crystalcat10 in reply to birkie

TSH 40.5 here you are not alone , and what's more nobody seems to give a s**t .

may be you should go to the appointment just to confirm . Take one for the team , so to speak . you are certainly more pro-active i manage to be .

ThyroidieGriaffe profile image
ThyroidieGriaffe

I'm so sorry. You will be told it's all in your head that you are unwell, in fact you are probably not hypothyroid... if you can invoke your patient choice to see someone in a different area. Others on here will have experience of how to do this.

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to ThyroidieGriaffe

Like to see then try your not hypothyroid...my TSH is 45.6 ...and rising...mind you not one endo is bothered about my high TSH level...all 4 I've seen were not in the least bit bothered 😡.

But by God..let your TSH be low or be under range and the endocrinologists and GPS will have a fit😡...are these so called specialists just dumb or thick🤦‍♀️ because surely a high TSH level is just as bad as a low one.

I guarantee if I were taken into hospital today and my bloods were taken the first thing to be mentioned would be my high TSH.....cretins😡😡😡😡

Sparklingsunshine profile image
Sparklingsunshine in reply to ThyroidieGriaffe

It seems to me that if Newcastle is actively hostile to T3 and NDT then why bother referring any patient there who cant tolerate Levo or who remains unwell on it and is looking for alternatives. It makes you wonder if doctors are setting up their patients to fail.

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to Sparklingsunshine

They have set me up to fail 4 times now😡 Firstly knowing I cannot tolerate synthetic thyroid hormone and secondly knowing my TSH is way out of range at 66.9 and 45.6...wouldn't you think they'd be concerned about a patients health before dismissing them because the flipping nhs don't pescribe ndt .

Honestly... it's like a monty python sketch....sorry I know your bloods are awful but we're the endo police....we do not pescribe the medication you need👮‍♂️

It's the dead parrot sketch 🦜 only it's not a parrot....its a human being 🤦‍♀️

TaraJR profile image
TaraJR

I wouldn't go to a Newcastle endo if you paid me! Head person is vehemently against T3, let alone NDT. I suspect his team are told to act the same.

I think it's a fair way for you to go to Leighton & Macclesfield hospitals Cheshire? But there's someone who definitely agrees and prescribes NDT there. Pm me if you want to

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to TaraJR

Yes I'm interested...how do I private message you🙈🙈

TaraJR profile image
TaraJR in reply to birkie

I'll private message you!

Wua13262348 profile image
Wua13262348 in reply to birkie

Think you need to follow TaraJr's advice and ask to be seen at the Cheshire hospital she mentions and definately DON'T accept the Newcastle appointment , where NHS referrals are concerned. Other members have made clear that in Newcastle, NDT and T3 is outlawed, and the anti thyroid medication of even T4- Head Honcho is there, and rules with an iron fist.

At the moment you do not know if NDT is going to suit you either. The only alternative would appear to be injections, if NDT does not suit. OR, which T3 tablet or capsule did you try that did not agree with you? TSH came down to 0.5 and raised T3 level, which was progress. Is your Roseway NDT compounded for you with olive oil or something you may not react to, or is it Armour NDT? If the Roseway NDT doesn't suit, you could ask Roseway to trial you on Thybon Henning T3 which is £60 for 100 tablets of 20 mcg strength , which can be quartered. Roseway dispense it on a private prescription. Because they have maize or corn in them I felt they would upset my stomach, but they appear to be fine for me. If your son ends up having to finance your thyroid prescription , this is the cheapest option, and Thybon does need the Roseway private prescription, as it is off license as far as the NHS is concerned. I have a feeling you may have had Roma T3 capsules in the past which do not agree with a lot of forum members.

Good Luck, Birkie.

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to Wua13262348

I think I had the thybon, teva also roma just tried vecemile unfortunately none I've tried both t4 t3 have worked for me, there aren't many options for lactose free and I'm very sure it's other fillers also that cause me gastric issues. I fully take on board the honcho at Newcastle😡 and are going to again refuse to see anyone there, I'm going to draft a letter to the practice manager stating.." although the gp I saw on Monday July 15th as made a referral to a endocrinologists at Newcastle RVI , after looking into the likelihood of being pescribed ndt at this hospital ,it appears there is no one who can say with certainty I will be prescribed it, this journey to Newcastle will be very hard for me , but to go and get sent home without the proper8 thyroid medication because the nhs don't pescribe it would be detrimental to my already fragile health.

I will then mention Tara's advise going to Cheshire to see the specialist there and explaining why...this nhs I'm under [ Cumbria] have played about with my health in both thyroid and parathyroid for to long now 😡 I truly fear something is going to happen to me...be it a heart attack, or stroke😔

Wua13262348 profile image
Wua13262348 in reply to birkie

You won't have tried the Thybon Henning T3 as it is private prescription from Roseway , usually. It isn't licensed for NHS to prescribe. It does have corn or maize in it, though.The Roma T3 you tried isn't well tolerated by some. Vencamil is T4, and Teva T4 has mannitol, not well tolerated by many. Teva T3 has maize starch and is provided by NHS and would likely be the best of a bad bunch of NHS T3, but likely to be chopped and changed to other brands, frequently on NHS.

I would avoid maize/corn normally, but although in Thybon Henning T3, I seem to tolerate it. If NDT doesn't end up suiting, you could try the Thybon T3 on private prescription from Roseway.

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to Wua13262348

I can only have one private prescription ..the ndt by rosway, my sons paid for it and I can't ask him to folk out for another prescription 😔 he is buying a house soon, entering into a mortgage, I can't ask that of him ..I'm thankful he as paid for this❤️ so 1, if the ndt works I've to try to persuade the nhs to pescribe it..2, it doesn't work and I'm back to square one 😔 not good for my physical and mental health😔

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to Wua13262348

I know wheat and corn effect my gut to ,I can't stomach cereal I stopped all breakfast cereal when I noticed I had bad stomach and gut pain after eating it, and I tried whetabix, musilie, everything I just decided it was best to eliminate it, when I did I had no stomach/gut problems [ this was way before I lost my thyroid] I was diagnosed in 2015 with reactive colitis and lactose intolerance went dairy free and eliminate a lot from my diet🤦‍♀️ lost my thyroid in 2019😔

Judithdalston profile image
Judithdalston

I wouldn’t hold out on Newcastle endos… I saw an NHS endo their privately years ago who totally ignore my FT3 was 0.06% in range and suggested many other things were keeping me ill. Since then I have noticed this man still holds sway in thyroid research and ‘replacement’ consultants are very anti T3 never mind other hormone replacements. Earlier this year went to a Gateshead/Newcastle Falls specialist and before I had even sat down to discuss fainting she had laid into my TSH levels despite the fact a non- local endo had been happy with them as FT3/4 in midrange.

crystalcat10 profile image
crystalcat10 in reply to Judithdalston

Oh dear ,after a disastrous appointment with an Endo at Durham & Darlington NHS i was wondering about Gateshead being an option . Guess i can scratch that idea .

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