Endo

[mummytina]

I have been reading alot of questions on here and I was just wondering if it would be better to see a Private Endo because the one I see in Chelmsford, Essex is more a diabetic doctor but does deal with Thyroid, it just seems that he is more interested in whether I am diabetic than my thyroid and I'm not sure if I am getting the best possible treatment. He is saying now that I am borderline diabetic what does that even mean, I have got it or I haven't.

Any ideas

Tina

[nightingale-56]

Hi Tina, I think my son is also under the endo that you see and has been for the past 20 years. In all that time nothing much has changed except that he wanted my son on more and more tablets, the endo wasn't much interested in his thyroid problems. I have only seen this endo for myself as and when needed and he hasn't been of any help whatsoever. Just recently we have seen different endos (Diabetic specialists) every other appointment (6 monthly) and the last one we saw was a little more helpful, but very neatly side-stepped the T3 being very low in my son (3.5 in range of 3.1 - 6.8). The main endo did not much seem to like that I had my son's vitamin D3 level checked with the result that this has improved his diabetes level and he does not now need the extra diabetes tablets. Can't, for the life of me, see why they do not want to treat the thyroid problems optimally and wonder why they became doctors in the first place - maybe the large salaries for life? Maybe if your thyroid was treated optimally you would not be 'borderline diabetic', or you could look into your Vitamin D3 status, or go on a low GI diet, which might also take you under borderline. Good luck, Janet.

[shaws Administrator]

If you email [e-mail] she has a list of sympathetic NHS endos who may be quite near.

Dr Lowe has said in his articles that if you are kept on replacement doses of thyroid gland hormone that you may get diabetes, cancer or heart problems. Thyroid cancer patients get suppressive does of hormone and Dr Toft ex BTA has also said some need suppressive doses or even the additon of T3 to feel well.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

[valerie in reply to shaws]

Dont' you mean "that if you are NOT kept on replacement doses of thyroid gland hormone.....".............Val

[shaws Administrator in reply to valerie]

Hi Val, No. A Replacement dose is one that many GP's insist on - dosing by the TSH alone and not symptoms. They will not increase your dose, especially if you still have symptoms or adjust your meds up or down according to your TSH to keep you with the range. They believe you may have heart problems or osteoporosis but that isn't the case. if you still have symptoms they should increase even if it takes your TSH below range, i.e. suppressed. or add some T3. I doubt they will prescribe a trial of NDT.

If your TSH is within range and you still have troubling symptoms, they say it is 'not due to your thyroid gland' and may prescribe other meds or refer you to someone else. I was referred to a neurologist/cardiologist but problems disappeared when medicated properly.

The aim of thyroid gland hormone is to make you better. I and many others do not respond well to levothyroxine and have to switch to another product, i.e. T3 or NDT. The pity is that most GP's will not entertain anythng other than levo.

[valerie in reply to shaws]

Hi Shaws, then it's me misinterpreting the word "replacement". I get what you mean whereas I was thinking along the lines of replacement meaning making up for the total of missing thyroid hormone and not the amount the GP prescribes to make him happy about the TSH level.....Val

[Jackie]

Hi Some endo`s do specialise ,although all had the proper training. A large hospital diabetes and thyroid are separate departments! Best to see a general endo but make sure they are good!

Best wishes,

Jackie