Received copy of info on which NHS Gp based decision not prescribe ndt

It's about 12 pages, and as expected, the 'evidence' does not support use of NDT. It came from the PCT's Medicines Management Team

[shaws Administrator]

Well, Bluedaffodil that is not in the least surprising.

You can always send them back a copy of Dr Lowe's Rebuttal of which this is an extract and the whole article is in the link below. I also enclose a copy of Dr Lowe's CV as some may think that he has not had the education/experience to actually compose such a great article, as we, the patients know. Also dessicated thyroid hormone has been in use since 1891.

Abstract. In 2007, an Executive Committee (the Committee) of the British Thyroid Association (BTA) published a document in which it concluded that levothyroxine is safer, more stable, and more effective than Armour Thyroid. By extension, the conclusion also applies to other desiccated thyroid products, such as Erfa Thyroid. Enough evidence is available, however, to conclude that T4/T3 therapies with either synthetic hormones or desiccated thyroid are safer and more effective than T4 replacement, and that desiccated thyroid is more stable than levothyroxine products. The Committee mentioned clinical trials that directly bear on its conclusions, but it did not include any of these in the reference section of its document. Instead, it referenced a review of the clinical trials by Escobar-Morreale et al. and a meta-analysis of the trials by Grozinsky-Glasberg et al. These two publications, however, deal with synthetic T4/T3 therapies, not desiccated thyroid. Both publications contain factual errors and unbalanced presentations of data, excluding or limiting data favorable to T4/T3 therapies. Specific examples from the publications are included in this rebuttal. The unbalanced data presentations and factual errors of Escobar-Morreale et al. and Grozinsky-Glasberg et al. may have influenced the Committee’s conclusions. Nonetheless, the Committee’s document contains false statements and unbalanced presentations of data independent from those in the other authors’ publications. Specific examples are included in this rebuttal. The Committee, the BTA, Escobar-Morreale et al., and Grozinsky-Glasberg et al. are all called upon to correct their false statements of fact as well as their unbalanced presentations of data relevant to their conclusions.

thyroidscience.com/Criticis...

web.archive.org/web/2010121...

[Hidden]

I've already provided all this info to my GP, but clearly she is only taking into account the establishment's 'evidence'

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Even the BTA and the Royal College of Physicians ignored his Rebuttal and his two follow-up requests.

They abide by the guidelines otherwise they may lose their posts, I assume.

[shaws Administrator]

This was not printed in his CV - he was a scientist and a logistician too. Extract

In December 2005, Dr. Lowe became a member of Index Copernicus Scientists upon invitation from its CEO Mark R. Graczynski, MD, PhD. Index Copernicus Scientists is a global information networking system for scientists, designed by and for scientists.

[nobodysdriving]

I understand all this BUT, if NO OTHER medication gets rid of your symptoms then they have the 'proof' that you need that and nothing else, and besides, NDT is prescribable on a 'named patient basis' therefore to me it seems they are just making excuses.

If you the strength not to give up try not to give up.

Are you going to see and endo? if so try and get him/her to back you up if you can.

[Hidden]

You can see why most people give up fighting with the NHS, you need enormous stamina and most of us don't have that

[Hidden]

Not just the NHS, I don't think doctors in any country are keen to prescribe NDT.

I don't understand it myself because you'd have thought they'd just want to help people get well and prescribe NDT for those who feel better on it.

[Hidden]

My GP won't prescribe it either so I went to my MSP (member Scottish Parliament) and said 'here's the situation - the medical establishment removed a vital organ or mine with the promise they would replace the hormones I could no longer make. They have not done this and left me severely ill. Either they lied and I want them done for fraud or they are unaware that I am in this position. I need you to take this further for me'. He agreed and is about to raise this with the Glasgow Health authority. If that yields nothing, he will take it to parliament.

I am constantly worried about Dr Skinner losing his fitness to practice, selfishly, as it's he who prescibes my NDT. I am well now no thanks to the medical establishment and if I don't get satisfaction here I am going legal. If I can't afford to hire legal rep I shall self rep. It's war.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Good for you laladrew. I admire your strength x

[Zephyrbear in reply to Hidden]

Keep us posted on this one! If you're successful, every single one of us out here have an MP we can similarly make a complaint to and, if enough of us do it, it might just become the snowball that they cannot ignore!

[NBob]

English Case law (Bolitho v City and Hackney Health Authority [1997]) states that a doctors decision must be logical. The BTA statement that my old PCT based its anti MDT decision on is full of errors and inaccuracies and therefore is not logical. Dr Lowe's rebuttal provided by shaws provides the evidence and logic to support prescribing NDT. I would show my doctor Dr Lowes article, remind him of the above case law and tell him that it is not logical to withhold NDT. Put it in writing.

[Hidden]

Aw bless you for that pettals x

[Hidden]

I bet you feel heaps better for that

I tried a slightly different tack with my msp, thinking I'd appeal to his sense of ego and vanity. I said if anyone can help here, you can! I'd checked his twitter feed and gen'd up on the causes he was related to and love bombed him. It's sickening to have to do this but I mean to get somewhere with this. I can afford to see Dr Skiinner and buy meds and supplements, loads can't. The situation we are in is diabolical. How endos can sleep at night I'll never know. Where do they get professional pride and satisfaction if they keep us ill? You especially pettals have had an dreadful time of it. We need to gather up strength and keep pushing. xx

[parafluie]

Shaws, thanks for your links. I've been looking for Lowe info because I failed to save all his writings. These archived pages are terrific. Thanks again!

[parafluie]

BTW, ain't it a shame that doctors are supposedly educated and knowledgable, but we need to be more educated and knowledgable than they are. We must teach them, and yell and scream so we can pay them to do right by us. It's almost like they make life more difficult for us and damage more than help so much of the time.

I cannot imagine taking my car to a mechanic and teaching him how to change my oil or fix my engine. If that were necessary, I'd go to a different mechanic.

I wish my medical caregivers were able to make my life easier, as does the mechanic. Pity it ain't so!