What can I say to this???

[Simplyred57]

I recently had a DEXA scan arranged by my Endo , it’s been 5 years since my last one when I was told I was I had osteopenia my calcium and vitamin D we’re good so I refused Adcal .

This one came back with Spine (L1-L4) -34 osteoporosis and there has been a 13.5 % loss , hip and femoral still showing ( osteopenia).

I received a letter from him saying he had prescribed Alendronic acid and to make an appointment with my GP. I had this appointment yesterday and despite my reluctance he persuaded me to try it for 4 weeks and then review.

Im furious despite reducing my Thyroxine to play the game my TSH has never moved since I started T3 levels are;

TSH 0.05 (0.35 - 5.5 )

FT4 20 ( 12- 23)

FT3 5.1. ( 3-6.8 )

I have already agreed to further reduce my thyroxine as long as this doesn’t make me unwell, Im on 75mcg 4 days and 100 3 days and 10mcg of T3 daily.

The letter I received which he also sent to My GP says( see above) he has been treating me for the last 5 years and only recently been banging on about TSH it was 0.19 before I started T3 so what is he saying here ? My GP doesn’t want to get involved so I’ve put out a call to his secretary and awaiting a reply. My last conversation with him was let’s get the scan done and have a face to face appointment.

Any advice would be gratefully received 🙏

EDITED *****

Just got a message on my NHS app I have a face to face appointment with my Endo on 24th February, now to think what to say ?

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

Alendronic acid is effective but their very narrow view of how to keep bones healthy isn't helpful, it looks like you have keep your thyroid hormones well within range, has your GP checked your magnesium and sex hormone levels?

[Simplyred57 in reply to TiggerMe]

Hi TiggerMe I had a surgical menopause at 43 and HRT never really agreed with me so stopped taking after 2 years as there was very little choice back then ( I’m 65 now ) and no advice about bone health. I’m sure my sex hormones are non existent but too old for HRT now sadly ☹️ magnesium levels never been checked but I’m due a haematology appointment early February as my white cell has been low since 2011 and the same GP I saw yesterday referred me as he was concerned so will see if they are checked then or might do a medichecks vitamin test.

[FancyPants54 in reply to Simplyred57]

You are not too old for HRT! Times and knowledge has changed. You can, and probably should, be started on it now to help your bones.

I send everyone to the balance-menopause.com web site for the most comprehensive menopause data to be found in one place. There are articles, fact sheets, podcasts and videos. When I last saw Dr Louise Newson her oldest patient starting HRT had treated herself to a consultation for her 80th birthday (or it might have been 90th, one or there other). There is no age limit and no time limit. Only a lot of GPs and gynaecologists are way behind on the learning curve. Oestrogen helps bone growth.

Go to the site and read/listen to the lot. So worth it. Modern HRT is very different to the older types and the strengths are much more varied too, allowing for fine-tuning.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Simplyred57]

Never too late for HRT... that's a bit like saying I'll stay anaemic now I'm older 😕 oestrogen plays a big roll in bone, heart, brain health and all the bits in between, good body identical forms available now... as for magnesium the general suggestion is that most people aren't getting enough due to soil depletion and the tests aren't necessarily accurate so unless you take a lot of antacids or laxatives adding a little would also help with Vit D uptake

I've an 82 year old friend who would never give up her HRT and I struggle to keep up with her!

Edit... well said FancyPants54 👏

[sparkly in reply to Simplyred57]

FancyPants and TiggerMe are absolutely spot on. Louise Newson, her website, App, podcasts are something everything woman on this forum should take a look at. Low estrogen is not good for our future health as we age. I'm on hrt till I die.. and testosterone!

I'm concerned about this situation for myself. I will be having my first DEXA scan soon as I'm high risk. My absolute fear is them stopping my T3 only or even reducing it. I'd have no any quality of life and be bedridden like before.

Quality over quantity is what I've always told medics. I'd rather take my risks living a normal life than be bedridden, in pain, depressed being totally useless to my family.

If lowering your dose to make Endo happy but lessens your quality of life, then insist you go back to original dose.

[Simplyred57 in reply to sparkly]

Good luck with your DEXA scan sparkly🙏I’m sure my early menapause has caused this , and like you refuse to live a half life without T3. Did you do private bloods for your sex hormones or did you go through your GP?

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Simplyred57]

randoxhealth.com/en-GB/at-h...

[Simplyred57 in reply to TiggerMe]

Thank you 🙏☺️

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Simplyred57]

Your GP might test some but this tests all 🙂

[sparkly in reply to Simplyred57]

This was 7 years ago so they weren't as knowledgeable. I didn't know I was in perimenopause. My gp didn't, my endo didn't. Ended up seeing a private endocrinologist thinking it was down to my thyroid. Unbeknown to me she was a menopause specialist and she knew straightaway I was perimenopause and started me on hrt and get me back on track with thyroid meds.

3 years ago asked my gp for testosterone blood test, yes and referred me back to nhs meno clinic who said yes off symptoms alone and then just glanced at results to check not high already.

Testosterone is like t3, postcode lottery but it is easier to get hold of

The last 2 years, more knowledge is available to gp's and it's harder for them to bury their head in the sand.

Get genned up and armed.

Your gp should happily do all your sex hormone bloods, especially as oestrogen is an important factor in bone health

[Simplyred57 in reply to sparkly]

Thank you so much for this I’m definitely going to read up and make an appointment 😊

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to sparkly]

I asked about testosterone on NHS and got a lecture about how they dont know if its safe long term blah blah. And yet I see members who say they got it prescribed on NHS. So who to believe. Is that a postcode lottery like T3?

[sparkly in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Yes, you need to check your area formulary just like you do for T3. It's crazy I know, considering a very well known high street store are allowed to prescribe it online for women. Understand if this has to be deleted but it is available and considering the store in question it is obviously legal.. if not exploiting women because due to cost differences between what men are charged vs women

[greygoose]

TSH has nothing to do with bones. And it will stay low/suppressed while you're taking T3, but you have nothing to gain by trying to raise it. It will not help anything and will probably make you ill because your thyroid hormone levels will be too low - which will have a negative effect on your bones.

You were right to refuse adcal. Calcium is neither a cure nor a treatment for osteoporosis. And it can make things worse. Excess calcium - which is easily arrived at - can make bones brittle.

But vit D itself is essential for bones. Do you take that? With vit K2-MK7 and magnesium? All good for bones.

If I were you I would strongly resist any attempt to lower my thyroid hormone doses. That can only make things worse. You are not over-replaced.

[Simplyred57 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you greygoose yes I take all 3 , Im going to stand my ground but my GP who already admitted he knows very little about thyroid is clearly reading the letter and agreeing with him, I said to him my TSH will always be suppressed while I’m taking T3 and he just looked at me blankly, I did get him to write my private prescription yesterday , it’s just so frustrating I’ve just reordered my T3 from Roseway but Im really scared he’s going to stop it , I’ve requested a face to face appointment so I’m not doing anything till then .

By reducing my thyroxine an extra 2 days from 100mcg to 75mcg all it did was bring my T4 down from 21 to 20 but my T3 dropped from 6 to 5.1 and my TSH never moved.

[greygoose in reply to Simplyred57]

Well, it wouldn't, would it, because you're still taking T3. Reducing levo is never going to affect the TSH. I don't understand why they don't understand this but they keep on trying.

I didn't think it was possible for your doctor to stop your T3 if Roseway is prescribing it. Aren't they two entirely different bodies?

[Simplyred57 in reply to greygoose]

My Endo asked my GP to write my private prescription , as he could not prescribe on the NHS back then through the hospital and I’m happy to pay the £60 every 6 months , he has been doing this for 2 years , Im worried if he asks my GP to monitor me he might panic , maybe I’m overthinking it but it’s spooked me as my Endo has been so good up till now .

[greygoose in reply to Simplyred57]

I think over-thinking might very well be a hypo symptom.

[FancyPants54 in reply to Simplyred57]

I'm puzzled. Do you pay Roseway for your T3 out of your own pocket? If so, fear not, if your GP refuses to write you a prescription, you can pay for a consultation over the phone with Roseway's own prescribing doctor and she will issue your prescription for you. But that only applies if you are paying for your T3.

[Simplyred57 in reply to FancyPants54]

Hi Fancypants thank you so much for the information on HRT I’m going to check it out . We have a new female GP who specialises in women’s health I’m going to make an appointment to discuss once I’ve read all the information. Yes I pay £60 every six months as I have a private prescription, that really eases my mind that I could do that, I ABSOLUTELY refuse to live a half life without T3.

I really want some HRT so I better get reading 😂

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Simplyred57]

As an existing Roseway T3 customer they would be able to continue the prescription for you if you consulted with them

[Simplyred57 in reply to greygoose]

Just got a message on my NHS app that I have a face to face appointment with my Endo on 24th February, now just need to work out what I’m going to say?

[Hidden]

ignore ignore ignore. They are clueless!

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

You might what to clarify who 'they' are 😬

[Hidden in reply to TiggerMe]

Doctors when it comes to TSH and what exactly it means when someone is taking either NDT or Synthroid. Sorry I am in a rush to get to my shift 😀

[humanbean]

Doctors tell patients on T3 that it is okay to take T3 as long as they keep their TSH in range. But that is practically impossible for the vast majority of patients taking T3.

T3 has a much bigger effect on TSH than T4. I think this gives the doctor the excuse to remove T3 treatment from the patient because their TSH drops under range.

[Hidden]

You have no chance if you are taking NDT because that lowers the TSH. The TSH should never be used as a diagnostic tool by doctors. Whoever decided to use that in blood tests needs shooting!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyro...

thyroid.org/about-american-...

[bandicoot66]

Hi, i have the same problem but my gp isn't the problem. I moved and my endo is against t3 and comments all the time but my results are within normal.

[Simplyred57 in reply to bandicoot66]

Hi it’s so frustrating when your results are normal but your TSH is suppressed , I had RAI so I’ve not even got a functioning thyroid and they still bang on about it. Do you take T3 ?

[serenfach]

Do GPs know about male hormones or is it just females who are not supposed to have any hormones?

[Simplyred57]

I’ve just edited my post after my follow up appointment with my endocrinologist on Monday, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m just going to go with the advice on the forum from now on 😊will retest myself in 8-12 weeks and see where my levels are.