Having been to see the GP today I have finally convinced him to give me an endocrinology referral, with the understanding that I want to trial T3 medication. I am booked in for bloods on the 24th Feb, vitamin levels, TSH & T4.
Oh and he did try and convince me to try weight loss injections or that I have PCOS and that my thyroid is not to blame for my symptoms of hair loss, weight gain, fatigue, headaches & irregular periods.
He didn't want to do the referral to start with saying he doesn't think am endo will take me on but when I said I'd go private he was happy to write me a letter for a private practitioner so I said well that letter you speak of put that to the NHS endocrinology and if they say no then we will look at the private route for endocrinology and obtaining T3 medication.
I told him if he didn't refer me I'd buy the T3 abroad.
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jodes86baldwin
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Well done for being such a good advocate for your own health jodes86baldwin! 🤞The referral is to a sympathetic thyroid specialist. Do keep us posted! 🦋
It has taken me 10 years to get this brave and I'm almost nearly 18 stone, I can not carry on like this. So I simply said refer me if you won't refer me write it in my record and list why you won't refer me
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
Monitor My Health (NHS private test service) offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 5-7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12 if last test result serum B12 was below 500 or active B12 (private test) under 70
NHS referral often refused if Ft4 and TSH are within range
Most endocrinologists are diabetes specialists, not thyroid
Here’s link for how to request Thyroid U.K.list of private Doctors emailed to you, but within the email a link to download list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologists who will prescribe T3 assuming you are deemed to have clinical need
Ideally choose an endocrinologist to see privately initially and who also does NHS consultations so that might eventually transfer to getting T3 on NHS
The GP suggesting a weight loss jab does not know enough about either weight loss jab and thyroid issues. Anyone suffering with a thyroid condition cannot take a weight loss jab as it can cause thyroid cancer, I’ve been advised that by my private only endocrinologist. So please do not take a weight loss jab if you have a thyroid condition. If I was you I’d go private.
I am fully aware of this and explained this to him. I was less then impressed with his suggestion. He tried everyday to argue his way out of giving me an endocrinology referral all he wanted to do was focus on weight loss and pcos. Which I've never had a diagnosis for.
I was prescribed Propranolol early on when I started getting migraines. I knew from the forum it was not advised for hypos due to impairing conversion from T4 to FT3. Also I knew its contraindicated for asthmatics, which I am. I took the prescription but never collected it. Its quite scary when you know more than the GP.
Well the weight loss drugs are contraindicated for thyroid cancer as one of the black box flags they carry. But I've not seen anything to say those with hypothyroidism not are at more risk than anyone else. Especially if we have not had thyroid cancer. Have you found something to indicate we are at higher risk than the rest of the population?
I am about to ask my GP for the jabs because I have struggled endlessly for many years with thyroid meds that never make me feel better and during that time depression and failing meds have driven my weight ever higher. I potentially need some surgery and to prepare for that, I want this weight reduced. I used Victoza injections for a couple of years (same thing, less potent) until they disappeared off the market. It helped me quite a lot but it's not strong and my appetite returned, but then the product vanished anyway. My private endo is keen for me to use them and he's my main thyroid doctor.
Well I don't even vaccinate so I am not likely to use injections for weight loss. The focus of my appointment was to have a referral and more bloods taken not offered weight loss medicines that are extremely toxic. There will be a pandemic of poorly people from them in the near future. But hey each to their own. There is lots of research out there and more coming out by the day you've just got to do your own research and make those informed choices for yourself. Without anyone's bias opinion to influence you. Look at both sides of the argument and weigh up if its the right thing for you. For me they are a no!
If you go on line to purchase a weight loss drug and answer their questions fully. When they ask what if any health issues you have, if you put in thyroid you’re immediately rejected. You can also google lots of research on the topic connected with it and thyroid cancer. I wouldn’t chance it but I don’t need to lose weight myself
Yes there is lots about the thyroid cancer risk, which is very small. But nothing I've found to indicate those who are hypo without thyroid cancer have anything more to worry about than those who are not hypothyroid.
Well let's just say for arguments sake it isn't something I would do with my thyroid health already compromise I wouldn't want to add any more issues to it
I was ansering McPammy there. You won't vaccinate, which I think is crazy, so we can't discuss weight loss injections here! But do remember, these drugs are in regular use at lower doses for diabetics and they work very well for them. And my endo only advocates low doses even for weight loss.
But I'm not discussing this further here. There's no point. You do you. And I will do me in whatever way I think best at the time. There is a significant possibility I will need some kind of spinal surgery soon because the problem I have is seriously impinging on my ability to walk, stand and move. That is a vicious circle where weight gain/loss is concerned and I may not be allowed the surgery at this weight. If that proves to be the case you would have to fight me off the weight loss drugs because I need to be able to walk, exercise, stand and move again to live. And that will be my choice. I choose the injections as a tool to facilitate the possible surgical solution to my failing mobility.
I'm not sure why you are being rude. I haven't been rude to you. I answered your question and explained my reasons for not wanting them I also said to ensure you are fully informed. These things are personal choice and I would never attack or judge some for their choice so insinuating I am crazy for not using vaccines is really unkind and uncalled for. I haven't direct a personal attack toward you. I just suggested that you research as new evidence is developing with regards to these weight loss aids. So thank you I will do me like you tell me!
I look forward to your future updates on your health both post op and post injections
It's not particularly a personal attack. I think everyone who rejects vaccinations are crazy. And also really detrimental to those around them. Vaccinations work if the majority use them and the virus is squeezed out of existence. They are not so good if half the population or more reject them.
I'm old enough to really appreciate the effort and science that went into stopping us dying of diphtheria, small pox, scarlet fever, measles, all those awful jungle/African viruses, polio etc. There is even still a woman in my village who is crippled from polio. Old now and totally reliant on carers for everything. And thanks to the bullhorn of social media vaccine hesitancy is rising in the western world, whilst the poorer countries are desperately happy to finally be getting some. It's ridiculous to think the medicine that gave us the edge over the third world might, through it's lack of uptake, turn us into the third world.
I'm not wishing to turn this into a pro or anti vaxx discussion. I'm generally pro vax and have had all my jabs, that said I dont think that we should underplay the numbers of people who have either died or suffered life changing consequences after having a jab, especially the AZ covid jab, including strokes, heart attacks or post vaccination syndrome, akin to ME.
There were a number of deaths due to blood clots and the jab wasnt recommended for under 30's and then it was withdrawn altogether. The other covid jabs were linked with myocarditis, especially in young men.
Jabs maybe safe and effective, but that is precious little consolation if one ruins your life or kills you. There is a vaccine damages payment scheme for a reason. You are taking a risk whether you jab or dont jab.
I didn't intend for my thread to become a vax debate. I was just giving a clear picture of how my appointment went. I personally believe it is personal choice and no one should try and argue other wise or berate someone because of their choices. I fully agree with your comments. I never had any covid jabs as I was pregnant and it had taken me a long time to catch so there was no way on God's green earth I was rising anything towards my baby.
As you say we need to respect other people's autonomy. I've opted out of cancer screening after making an informed choice. I wouldn't seek cancer treatment if found so there is no point screening for it. In the same way I decline cholesterol testing as I have no intention of taking statins.
I don’t need to lose weight myself as I lost 4st when I started with T3. It did take about a year though. I wasn’t expecting that and it was a nice surprise. I’ve managed to keep weight off for 5 years now and I’m full of energy and exercise daily thanks to T3. Hope you get sorted soon one way or another.
How did you get the t3 ? I had to beg just for a referral to an endocrinology. Was told they don't deal with thyroid but then he told me he couldn't give me t3 that's a an endo. I was like what!!!
I got a referral from my GP without any issues to a private only endocrinologist who is on the TUK list. He is pro T3 if your bloods indicate and symptoms show you need it. My T3 level at that point was only 8%, now with adding the t3 it’s 85% at its highest point. I could barely walk prior and piled on loads of weight as I had no energy and my metabolic rate was on the floor. Now I’m like a spring chicken full of energy which means I can now exercise. T3 isn’t a weight loss drug, it gives you bags of energy if on the correct dose which enables exercise.
I'm not hoping for a miracle just want to feel more normal for my age and with a young family I want to have the energy to be present with them. The constant fatigue and brain fog is horrendous. Not to mention the weight gain. Do you pay for your private Endo and medication?
Yes, I paid for the private only Endo. Initially I was worried how much it would cost. I was very surprised how cheap it actually is. About £250 first consultation. He’s happy to do remote consultations so no need to travel if you live far away. I do phone consultations. Much cheaper at £100. T3 medication is £60 for 6 months supply from a pharmacy in London.
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Asking friend to bring T3 medication from Pakistan for me
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Any advice greatly appreciated 
