Self Treating

November 20, 2008

Just curious to know how many people on this group are self treating? I

would really rather not but I don't think I can afford to go to my

doctor much longer. Truth be told he is not doing enough for me. I can

buy armour online no problem but my thing is my adrenals are very poor

so I am gonna need HC. I crashed badly on 1/2 grain of armour (hands

shaking, crawling out of my skin, increased heartbeat etc.) without

adrenal support so I NEED HC but I am scared of starting it on my own.

I was on adrenal glandulars since August but obviously this is not

enough for me.

November 20, 2008

I know how you feel, I am a bit scared of self treating as well in case

I get some kind of adverse reaction and the NHS won't treat me or

chastise me for it or something.

But I'm fast getting fed up of walking about looking like I'm about to

drop a baby and forgetting what I am talking about half way through a

sentance!

I read this list with great interest when I get the time and am able to

concentrate. Thank you Sheila for sharing your knowledge with fellow

sufferers.

kj

In thyroid treatment , " lynnhopes "

<lynndunning@...> wrote:

> Just curious to know how many people on this group are self treating?

I

> would really rather not but I don't think I can afford to go to my

> doctor much longer. Truth be told he is not doing enough for me. I

can

> buy armour online no problem but my thing is my adrenals are very

poor

> so I am gonna need HC. I crashed badly on 1/2 grain of armour (hands

> shaking, crawling out of my skin, increased heartbeat etc.) without

> adrenal support so I NEED HC but I am scared of starting it on my own.

>

> I was on adrenal glandulars since August but obviously this is not

> enough for me.

>

November 20, 2008

HI

Lynn - that is something we will never know. We are just two members short of

800 - I reckon about a dozen or so are on the forum debating different things

at any one time, even though it is an extremely busy forum - but believe me,

there are many, many in the background who are reading all of the messages. I

got the shock of my life about a month ago when I received a personal email

from one of our members who had never even introduced herself to the forum or

written any messages whatsoever. However, she had been reading, and reading and

reading apparently, and she wrote to thank TPA-UK for making her better again.

She told me she was now back at work (after a 3 year break) where she became

emobilised and was, at that time, on levothyroxine alone. She told me she had

followed everything we had recommended and bought all of her supplements and

was now happy on 3 grains of Armour. I just love to think this is happening

over and over again and that people use TPA-UK as a 'waiting room' while they

get themselves well again and then trot off to enjoy their lives and regained

health.

Lynn

- I would go to our website www.tpa-uk.org.uk

and click on 'Hypothyroidism' in the Menu and then click on 'Associated

Conditions' and then click on 'Adrenals'. Read everything there - especially

the adrenal/thyroid connection that Dr Peatfield wrote. He explains everything

there, and if there is anything you don't understand, then just shout. You

could have a telephone consultation with him if you are unable to get over to

see him from Ireland, but I do believe in such a scenario, he would need to

know your thyroid function test results and reference ranges, your 24 hour

salivary adrenal profile and a list of symptoms. If this is something that

might interest you, you should go to our website and look for 'Dr Peatfield's

Clinic Update' in the right hand column under TPA-UK News. At the top of his

schedule, click on Dr Peatfield's Questionnaire. You would need to complete

that first and send it to Dr Peatfield so he gets an idea before a telephone

consultation takes place. These cost £60. He would then write you out what he

recommends he feels would be the best treatment regime and you follow this up

with him every 6 weeks.

Luv -

Sheila

Just curious to know how many people on this group are

self treating? I

would really rather not but I don't think I can afford to go to my

doctor much longer. Truth be told he is not doing enough for me. I can

buy armour online no problem but my thing is my adrenals are very poor

so I am gonna need HC. I crashed badly on 1/2 grain of armour (hands

shaking, crawling out of my skin, increased heartbeat etc.) without

adrenal support so I NEED HC but I am scared of starting it on my own.

I was on adrenal glandulars since August but obviously this is not

enough for me.

November 20, 2008

Hi

I am self treating with HC and thats all right now, I too was scared of doing this and yes it didnt go down well with the endo I saw and he made me feel like I shouldnt be doing it.

I am now gradually bringing my dose of thyroxine back up and when my levels are better than they are now and I still feel unwell I will consider self treating with armour, but I feel for the time being I will give it chance now I have sorted the adrenal problems

I know how you feel, I am a bit scared of self treating as well in case I get some kind of adverse reaction and the NHS won't treat me or chastise me for it or something.But I'm fast getting fed up of walking about looking like I'm about to drop a baby and forgetting what I am talking about half way through a sentance!I read this list with great interest when I get the time and am able to concentrate. Thank you Sheila for sharing your knowledge with fellow sufferers.kjIn thyroidpatientadvoc acygroups (DOT) com, "lynnhopes" <lynndunning@ ...> wrote:> Just curious to know how many people on this group are self treating? I > would really rather not but I don't think I can afford to go to my > doctor much longer. Truth be told he is not doing enough for me. I can

> buy armour online no problem but my thing is my adrenals are very poor > so I am gonna need HC. I crashed badly on 1/2 grain of armour (hands > shaking, crawling out of my skin, increased heartbeat etc.) without > adrenal support so I NEED HC but I am scared of starting it on my own.> > I was on adrenal glandulars since August but obviously this is not > enough for me.>

November 21, 2008

,

have you any recent thyroid function tests you could post here, together with

the reference ranges. Also, can you remind me what you are taking right now and

when did you last increase please?

Luv -

Sheila

I have done really well up until a couple of weeks back, where I'm not

feeling quite as well again. I've made a decision now to seek

professional advice from Dr P, based on the experiment working well, my

health has improved, but need some support tweaking.

Thank goodness for the good folk of tpa, I don't know what state I'd be

in now without their support.

Good luck, only you can make that leap, it has to be your decision. I

would say if it's going to make you anxious, perhaps wait.

Take care, good health,

xx

> Just

,_._,___

November 21, 2008

Where

will you be hoping to see Dr P in January Lynn?

Luv -

Sheila

Thanks everyone!!!

I feel like I can do it now. And I think a visit to Dr.P. might be in

order in January

November 21, 2008

I guess I am also self treating. I originally was put on armour by a alternative doctor (only at low levels as this was the beginning of me taking thyroid), also on 25mcg thyroxine a little later & a naturally compounded hc by him, but he & his methods were far too expensive for me, so I stopped seeing him.

Anyway my GP assumed I was still seeing him & so allowed all the blood tests I requested (ones I had been told on various forums that I needed) for some years. Then I got advice on the same forums on the results of the blood tests - the GP would not understand them anyway. I had told the GPs at times that I was self treating & not seeing the altdoc anymore as I could not afford him, but I felt that they closed their ears to that information.

Recently I have seen an endo twice, with the result that he has "rubber stamped" exactly what I am doing. He has written to the GP asking him to prescribe the hc for me (one expense less), agreed with the 50mcg thyroxine I had been taking on prescription for some time - I had changed to this & proved to the GP that this level did not put my bloods "wrong". He also agreed with my level of armour, but unfortunately the GP was advised locally not to go down the route of an unlicensed drug although he supports what I am doing.

So the endo tells me that I can now see him every 6 months only if I like as I am balanced, although I can phone anytime if I have any concerns. He also says it is dangerous to not get this regular check-up - well I am not totally convinced here, but for some people I am sure he is right. But really he has not changed anything at all, he has just rubber stamped what I was already doing, but then I have as a result got my hc on the NHS and this is not to be sneezed at.

I should add that I had been looking for some years to find an endo which I knew treated adrenals too, and so would not want to take me off of hc, and the GP seems impressed at my knowledge on the thyroid & adrenal issues, which must also be a comfort to him. It is so important to really take the time to read everything available & learn what you are doing if going down the self-treat route - and also take bloods regularly etc, and also to really know our own bodies well.

Val

November 21, 2008

HI Sheila,

Thanks for your concern, as usual. tsh was 1.72 (.4-4), ft4 10.9 (9-26)

and free t3 3.8 (2.2-6.8)After treating adrenals first, I got up to 1

grain of armour slowly, feeling brighter. My system wouldn't let me

increase, after a few days, got hot, shaky, tight chest. Tried a few

times, last time a couple of weeks back, just tried another 1/4 only.

However, have many hypo symtpoms again, feeling quite weak, start the

day low, although I do hit a better patch during the day before

crashing in the evening. I don't feel as ill as earlier in the year

though.

Completely unable to exercise at all again. My asi did show low

cotisol, I do wonder if adrenals is still at the root. I have arranged

to see Dr P on 11th December at Crawley. Very long journey for me, but

based on feeback on tpa, well worth the effort.

Thanks,

x

> , have you any recent thyroid function tests you could post here,

November 21, 2008

Hi there Lnn, It sounds like you have more adrenal problems than thyroid, can you afford to see a private doctor?, at least to get you started with the cortisol.

many of us are self treating including myself. it would be a bit dounting to treat without a

doctor as backup . i was first diagnosed by Dr P.back in 1990. but my adrenals are not to bad then so no real problems, but as you get older and on thyroid meds for some time

the adrenals do get a bit weak. regards angel.

November 21, 2008

Hi Anglel

Yeah I have been seeing a doc here in Ireland. I got my free T3 and

free T4 tested and I got a 24 hour salivatory cortisol function test.

My thyroid levels are very low and my cortisol levels are very low

also. I had a bad experience taking my armour without adrenal support.

And the fact that the doc gave m armour without HC for my adrenals

makes me think he's not really that good at all. However I don't think

my doctor will give me HC plus I can't affored the 180 euro it costs

to see him every visit.

If I was seeing Dr.P I would see him in a clinic in Birtley or round

about there in January.

November 21, 2008

Oh, what a

shame - I was hoping you were going to see him in Yorkshire - like my cottage.

I love meeting our members when they come up to our lovely county.

Luv -

Sheila

If I was seeing Dr.P I would see him in a clinic in Birtley or round

about there in January.

_,___

November 21, 2008

And it is truely pretty up there Sheila! I was wondering if I should see Dr P again?

Oh, what a shame - I was hoping you were going to see him in Yorkshire - like my cottage. I love meeting our members when they come up to our lovely county.

Luv - SheilaIf I was seeing Dr.P I would see him in a clinic in Birtley or roundabout there in January.

_,___

November 21, 2008

Oh

dear , I am so sorry to hear you are feeling so bad and that it appears

impossible to increase your Armour. Have you had your ferritin level (stored

iron) tested and your Vitamin D level. If not, your GP will do these. Also,

have you been tested to see if you have Candida antibodies. All of these will

stop you being able to increase your Armour because your body cannot absorb

thyroid hormone replacement until these are corrected. Have you considered

stopping your Armour completely and just using your NAE until you see Dr

Peatfield. Trying to persevere if your adrenals need HC will cause more

problems than stopping altogether. Give your adrenals less strain and more

chance to help them repair. You might find this would help.Perhaps you should

try Nutri Thyroid for a while instead of the Armour.