Dr G Skinner

[bennion666568]

I have an appointment with Dr G Skinner tomorrow I have been taking levothytoxine for 30 years and the last five I have felt so ill and I was diagnosed with CFS as the levothytoxine has not been converting. I was given levothytoxine and t3 together by a local endocrinologist 12 months ago there has been only the tiniest of improvement I still feel awfull. So I have made an appointment to see Dr Skinner and u am praying he can help me I have read such good reviews . Has anyone else been under Dr Skinner and what has been the outcome ?

[Clarebear]

Hi - I haven't seen Dr Skinner myself as I have managed to get my endo to treat me with Armour, but I have heard really great things about him on here.

Here is a link to other people's questions/blogs where they have put "Skinner" as a tag:

thyroiduk.healthunlocked.co...

Good luck tomorrow - I'm sure it will go really well. It maybe that you need to go onto T3 only or NDT such as Armour or Erfa.

I'm sure lots of people will answer your question who actually have seen him xx

[bennion666568 in reply to Clarebear]

I have read that long term use of levothytoxine can cause reverse T3 which stops the body converting the Levothyroxine and the . It says that you have to come off levothytoxine altogether and take higher dosage of T3 only and rid the body of the reverse T3

I wonder then if this is what maybe suggested tomorrow we shall see

[Clarebear in reply to bennion666568]

I suspect the rT4 thing happened to me last year. I seem to have managed to clear it with NDT though, although I have heard that T3 only would be better/quicker for doing this.

What are your latest thyroid test results and T3 and T4 dosages?

[bennion666568 in reply to Clarebear]

My last one in July was Tsh 0.22 and T4 10.4 I am on 50mcg Levothyroxine and 20mcg liothyronine . When I first visited the endocrinologist in November 2011 my Tsh was 0.018. And then in

May 2012 Tsh 0.22 T3 6.7 and T4 8.6

[bennion666568 in reply to Clarebear]

What is NDT ?

[Clarebear in reply to bennion666568]

Natural desiccated thyroid - basically from pigs Quite a few of us are on it and feeling better , although it doesn't suit everyone Xx

[bennion666568 in reply to Clarebear]

Aaarh ok it that armour or is that totally different thing ?

How much does it cost you to buy or does your go prescribe it ? X

[bennion666568 in reply to bennion666568]

Oh I see your previous comment NDT is armour or erfa X

[Clarebear in reply to bennion666568]

Hi - I'm very lucky that my GP is prescribing it for me. Prior to that I was getting it on private prescription and I can't remember exactly how much it cost me but I think it was in the region of £0.50 a day. xx

[shaws Administrator]

Dr S is a very down-to-earth no airs and graces and will do his best for you.

Sometimes he believes that we are not given enough thyroxine by GP's and sometimes initially tries to see if an increase will do the job. This makes it better for patients as GP's will then not be reluctant to prescribe for them and we don't have to purchase ourselves. He will prescribe others if necessary

[bennion666568 in reply to shaws]

It's so nice to hear Dr Skinner is such a lovely guy really looking forward to meeting him. It will be a long journey though from Falmouth to Birminghan think I will be a little bedraggled by the time u arrive lol

[Hidden]

If you get time, try and take a typed history he can refer to. Good luck tomorrow. XXX

[bennion666568 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I will do that later thank you X

[ritz]

i went to see him 3 years ago, i was on levo for 4 years and getting worse and worse, he added in t3 which helped a bit and then swapped the levo for armour which made an enormous difference and i am now back at work full time

i think i could say he saved my job & home and life, if i had remained on levo i would certainly have lost the first 2 by now

[bennion666568 in reply to ritz]

That is so encouraging to hear u also cannot work before I got sick I used to work go to college look after my home children and still have energy to socialise I just about get out if bed at the minute and dress myself and drag this poor excuse of a body around the house like a snail lol x

[ritz in reply to bennion666568]

very best luck, i hope it works for you

i am not 100% still cant run, but i am awake and functioning

[bennion666568 in reply to ritz]

Running was the first time I knew something really wasn't right as I collapsed when I got home and it was all down hill from there, not to bothered about running again . Really happy to hear that you are feeling much better than you did though, do you cope well with working etc or is it a struggle?

[ritz in reply to bennion666568]

well it's just about ok and better in the summer than it is now and i am very prone to catching colds that go round the office, so i would say its an effort rather than a struggle

[waveylines]

i have seen Dr Skinner over a number of years and i have a very high regard for him. he is a down to earth humorous astute, clever physician who always believes in doing the best for his patients.

he has been brilliant and really helpful for me -i was extremely poorly when i first saw him -on levothyroxine but not thriving at all! I took a little potted history with a list of all my symptoms and felt too ill to talk so just handed them to him. he was so sweet and kind to me. And yes he wrote to my GP and supported me very step of the way. My GP's have listened and responded to his advice. Having tried levo and then levo and T3 I found the NDT ,Erfa the best for me...but we are all different!

Good luck tomorrow - xx

[bennion666568 in reply to waveylines]

Thank you I have also typed a letter with my history for Dr Skinner to read thank you to everyone for your support and kind words X

[Clarebear in reply to bennion666568]

Don't forget to let us know how it went x

[bennion666568 in reply to Clarebear]

I have had my consultation with Dr Skinner what a lovely fella he listened and understood all of my symptoms, he took a look at photographs before and even explained how my facial features had changed i wasnt imagining it apparently it's called the face of thyroid . He also detected that my skin was yellowish and has for full blood count at my G.Ps . He has increased my thyroxine to from 50mcg Levo and 20mcg T3 to 100mcg Levo and 20mcg T3 for the first three weeks and then upped to 150mcg Levo and 20mcg T3 for the following 6 weeks so I don't know how long it will be before I feel improvement I sure hope that I do though . We will just have to see

Once again fingers crossed

[nobodysdriving in reply to bennion666568]

am really happy you got to see this 'clever man' (dr skinner)

I am a patient of him, diagnosed hypothyroid january this year and FULLY FIXED by August (7 months later) by this wonderful man!

He is VERY patient focused and will always do what he can to make you happy and healthy.

In my case we worked very much 'together', he took my thoughts/opinions in consideration and led my therapy the way I preferred it to be, so long that I asked for something which was 'reasonable' and 'indicated' he was happy to help me.

He listens and looks at you and your symptoms.

When I saw him in August and declared me 'fully healed' he gave me a big hug and I could see how happy he was for me

[bennion666568 in reply to nobodysdriving]

Oh that is such good news I am so happy for you. I really feel I can trust him to help me fingers and toes crossed . Could I please ask did your GP continue to prescribe for you or did you end up having to pay for your own private prescription ? X

[JillBailie in reply to bennion666568]

Hi have just been reading your posts re. Dr.Skinner. I am considering making an appointment to go to see him as I have been feeling terrible for a while on Levothyroxine. I will have to travel quite a distance but if I thought he could help me it would be worth it. Have you been back to see him and have you seen an improvement? thanks

[bennion666568 in reply to JillBailie]

Hi I also travelled a long distance to see Dr Skinner from Falmouth to Birmingham. I have seen Dr Skinner three times now and will be due to see him in July again . Each time I have visited my medication has been increased gradually and I touch wood and pray I am starting to feel much better now. I am even contemplating taking steps back into work . This clever kind gentleman has saved me and I could never thank him enough . Everyone is different but I would recommend that you see him if possible . X

[JillBailie in reply to bennion666568]

Thank you for sharing this info. with me. I would be travelling from Northern Ireland. I was diagnosed with M.E./ CFS 20 years ago and then finally managed to get a diagnosis of an under active thyroid about 8 years ago. My Dr. thinks I have both....I'm not so sure. I think I have just been poorly managed. I also think my adrenals are not functioning correctly. Had the usual bad experience of an endo who was patronising and unhelpful and recommended antidepressants. I would like to try T3 or Armour. I would actually just be grateful to talk to a Dr who knows what he is talking about and listens to me! I wasn't sure if Dr.Peatfield or Dr. Skinner would be better for me to see. Flying to Birmingham will be expensive on top of the Dr's fees but if I thought it would help me sort out my health it would be worth it! This web site has been very helpful. I will let you know how I get on, thanks again,Jill

[flow]

Glad it went well

How HAS your face changed, if you don't mind me asking? I've been wondering about changes in my own face...

[Hidden in reply to flow]

See reply below...

x

[bennion666568]

Sometimes it's puffy and my eyes look like slits and other times u just look like I have a sad face all the time strange but it's the truth x

[Hidden in reply to bennion666568]

Hi

Just a pointer, if you want to reply to someone in particular, you have to make sure to click on 'reply to this' otherwise they will not get an email letting them know you have responded.

Louise

x