Re: Hello from Northern Ireland

[Guest guest]

Hi Jill

I have already sent you our list of doctors privately. We only

use doctors initials on the forum, so if anybody knows of a good doctor in

either Southern or Northern Ireland, then please let Jill know privately.

I would however, start to be more proactive about your health by

writing a letter to your doctor. Doctors will pay more attention to the written

word, and usually, it makes them take a different look at your situation -

let's hope it works.

First, list all of your symptoms and signs (check these out on

our web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk. Take

your temperature for 4 or 5 mornings before you get out of bed and list these

if they are less than 98.6. Low temperature means you likely have low adrenal

reserve and/or low thyroid function that is not being treated adequately.

Next, ask for your last serum thyroid function test results

together with the reference range for each test done and the results of other recent

tests. A doctor cannot withhold such information under the Data Protection Act.

These belong to you, as does any other information in your medical records.

Next, ask specifically for the following blood tests. Ferritin,

vitamin B12, vitamin D3, magnesium, folate, copper and zinc. You need these

because if any are low in the reference range, no amount of thyroid hormone is

able to be properly utilised at cellular level. If any are found to be low, they

need supplementing for the thyroid hormone to work. Ask for the results of

these with the reference range and post them on the forum so we can help with

interpretation. If they appear anywhere within the reference range, doctors

will tell you that you don't have a problem and leave you to suffer.

Next, ask for a referral to a thyroid specialist of your choice.

You do not have to see the doctor in your area or the one your GP might refer

you to.

Next, ask for your letter of requests to be placed into your

medical notes.

Good luck - and let us know the outcome.

On another note, you need to be taking 200mcgs Selenium daily

with food and zinc. You should also go to our FILES SECTION and scroll down to

'Medical Questionnaires' and complete those. Tell us how you score. You can get

the 24 hour salivary adrenal profile done through Genova Diagnostics at a

discounted price for TPA members. Check out the FOLDER 'Discounts on Tests and

Supplements' and follow the instructions there.

Luv - Sheila

I have decided this will be the year I am more proactive towards my health. I

feel I am going downhill faster as I get older and I do not want to feel like

such an invalid so early in life. I am going to be 43 in two weeks time and

can't imagine spending the next 20 or so years feeling like I do now or worse.

I would like to know if anyone here has a good experience to report about docs

in Northern Ire. I would like to say for routine appointments my doc is

fine...however just does not listen or believe in symptoms out of normal range

test results. Or adrenal fatigue or even Fibro/CFS/ etc..

So I am a bit stuck there. I am pretty sure I have a level of adrenal fatigue

which I am keen to get sorted.

I have started supplements which I have seen recommended on several sites

relating to AF...

I take

450mg magnesium

2-3gms Vit C

B-complex

Multi-vit

Omega-3

My last Iron levels were according to my doc normal so haven't been taking any

supplements for that .

If I could find a doc who would at least test me for whatever it is I need

tested for...mine looks at me like I'm one of those internet medical nuts who

hasn't a clue what she is talking about...and on more than one occasion

suggested anti-depressants and counselling to help me with my

" problems " . Even the only problems I have is a doctor who won't

listen and help.

Any advice or a list of docs in Northern Ire..or maybe even the South of Ire..I

have no problems travelling...England and Scotland are a bit to far..:-)

Thanks.

[Guest guest]

I'm doing a spreadsheet, so I can keep this straight in my mind (yes, I'm a data geek). For my own information, what are the optimum ranges for:

 

Ferritin,

vitamin B12,

vitamin D3,

magnesium,

folate,

copper

zinc

and their recommended daily doses?

 

I didn't seem to find that in the files section, so sorry if this is a repost...

 

LH*

 

[Guest guest]

They vary in different laboratories depending on the specific

'kits' they use, but generally - you

can check these out on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reference_ranges_for_blood_tests

Scroll down to the table.

Luv - Sheila

Ferritin,

vitamin B12,

vitamin D3,

magnesium,

folate,

copper

zinc

and their recommended daily doses?

I didn't seem to find that in the files section, so sorry if

this is a repost...

LH*

[Guest guest]

Let me rephrase, are there targets we should shoot for that are different then the ranges? For those of us with thyroid issues?

On Thu, Feb 3, 2011 at 12:20 PM, Sheila <sheila@...> wrote:

 

They vary in different laboratories depending on the specific 'kits' they use, but generally - you can check these out on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reference_ranges_for_blood_tests Scroll down to the table.

Luv - Sheila

Ferritin,          

vitamin B12,  

vitamin D3,    

magnesium,    

folate,             

copper                        

zinc                

and their recommended daily doses?

 

I didn't seem to find that in the files section, so sorry if this is a repost...

 

LH*

 

[Guest guest]

Yes, you need to be around 70 to 90 for Ferritin. You need to be

at the top of the range for B12. Copper, zinc, magnesium and folate, you need

to be around the middle of the range. If you are low in ferritin, you need some

form of elemental iron such as ferrous sulphate 200mgs daily, if very low,

twice a day. B12 you need 1000mcgs sublingual B12 - if VERY low, you need 2

tablets daily, or very, very low you need B12 injections. Zinc being low you

need 15mcgs daily and Magnesium, between 250 and 500mgs daily. Not sure of the

copper or folate daily needs.

Luv - Sheila

Let me rephrase, are there targets we should

shoot for that are different then the ranges? For those of us with thyroid

issues?

On Thu, Feb 3, 2011 at 12:20 PM, Sheila <sheila@...> wrote:

They vary in

different laboratories depending on the specific 'kits' they use, but generally - you can check these out on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reference_ranges_for_blood_tests

Scroll down to the table.

Luv - Sheila

Ferritin,

vitamin B12,

vitamin D3,

magnesium,

folate,

copper

zinc

and their recommended daily doses?

I didn't seem to find that in the files section, so sorry if

this is a repost...

LH*

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

i live in England . all i can say is dont stop till you find an endocrinologist who specialises in the endocrine and pituitary system. thes nhs consultants do exist. you just need to find who and they will take your symptoms seriously and help you to get your life back.i do hope somenoe on here can point you in the right dirction of where to find that kind of consultant.

never give up. take care.

kindest regards, Bernie

From: jtweed15 <jtweed15@...>thyroid treatment Sent: Thu, 3 February, 2011 12:33:23Subject: Hello from Northern Ireland

Hello. I've been a member of this group for some time, however have never really given it a good look. I suppose the volume of posts and information have put me off. My concentration is minimal at best :-) so trying to read through it all seems a bit daunting.I have decided this will be the year I am more proactive towards my health. -->

[Ed]

[Guest guest]

>> I would however, start to be more proactive about your health by writing a> letter to your doctor. Doctors will pay more attention to the written word,> and usually, it makes them take a different look at your situation - let's> hope it works.I plan to make an appointment with my GP in the next couple of weeks. I will try to write a letter which makes sense. (Maybe could use a wee bit of help with that one..) > > Next, ask for your last serum thyroid function test results together with> the reference range for each test done and the results of other recent> tests. A doctor cannot withhold such information under the Data Protection> Act. These belong to you, as does any other information in your medical> records.It has been awhile since I've had any tests done....To be honest until recently I have been avoiding taking any medications. They only made me feel worse and since the doc didn't listen to me I stopped taking them....I felt bad when I didn't take them...but not terrible like when I did.(if that makes sense) I have been taking the armour for about 4 weeks (1gr) I haven't increased because I am still wanting to test for AF and if I take something for it I'll have to reduce anyway....So if I do get tested the results WILL be way off. And he will no doubt blame me for not taking the meds.> Next, ask specifically for the following blood tests. Ferritin, vitamin B12,> vitamin D3, magnesium, folate, copper and zinc. You need these because if> any are low in the reference range, no amount of thyroid hormone is able to> be properly utilised at cellular level. DO I need to come of any supplements I am currently taking prior to these sorts of tests?.....what do I say to the GP if he refuses or says if I take the meds he wants me to take I'll have no need for them as not taking the Thyroxine is what is causing my problems...He is the one who said they only allow T3 for people who have had the thyroid removed so I am sure he won't approve...For ages I have been resisting what they tell me to do....only because I tried it their way and it made me feel worse...I am basically starting as a new thyroid patient .....I will be asking loads of questions in the next few weeks I am sure ...but this time I want to get it right.....Cheers

[Guest guest]

Hi

I plan to

make an appointment with my GP in the next couple of weeks. I will try to write

a letter which makes sense. (Maybe could use a wee bit of help with that one..)

Let

us know roughly what you want to discuss with your GP and we will help you

compose a suitable letter.

DO I need

to come of any supplements I am currently taking prior to these sorts of

tests?.....what do I say to the GP if he refuses or says if I take the meds he

wants me to take I'll have no need for them as not taking the Thyroxine is what

is causing my problems...He is the one who said they only allow T3 for people

who have had the thyroid removed so I am sure he won't approve...

No,

you can stay on your present supplements but if you are having thyroid function

tests done, don't take your Armour for24 hours before your blood draw, because

the T3 in Armour peaks between 2 to 4 hours after taking it and this would make

your free T3 level look very high, and your GP will panic and tell you to

reduce your dose substantially, probably tell you to stop taking it. Again,

they don't understand what happens to your levels when taking natural thyroid

extract. He's not very knowledgeable about how the thyroid system works,

telling you that T3 is only prescribed for people who have had their thyroid

removed. T3 is given for those people too who are not converting the inactive

thyroid hormone T4 into the active thyroid hormone T3, T3 is needed by every

cell in your body and brain. Without T3, we die!

Luv

- Sheila

_._,___

[Guest guest]

>> > Let us know roughly what you want to discuss with your GP and we will help> you compose a suitable letter.I would roughly like to discuss testing for the the things you suggested in the other post. ( the different vitamins and minerals and why I need them done)And also full thyroid testing. I will be honest with him and tell him what I have been taking instead and that I want to have a reference range so I know exactly what I am aiming for. I will tell him myself I haven't been feeling better and I want to try things a more natural way for a while...After all armour is natural and so is the Iscort and the supplements. As I say he will look up and see I have not been taking Thyroxine as prescribed and I would like to tell him why in an intelligent way. I know in my head what he needs to know...but coming out of my mouth so it doesn't sound like I am surfing the internet and latching on to some fantastical ideas which he thinks are wrong. Also if I quote notable doctors as well as medical articles he could look up if he wished to support my requests. And last but not least to try and broach the subject of adrenal fatigue....again with notable doctor/medical evidence that does not sound like quackery from the internet.Not too much to ask...lolBy the way I KNOW it is a lot to ask....but I do appreciate the help and advice...I would never even know where to begin with out it...Cheers > No, you can stay on your present supplements but if you are having thyroid> function tests done, don't take your Armour for24 hours before your blood> draw, because the T3 in Armour peaks between 2 to 4 hours after taking it> and this would make your free T3 level look very high, and your GP will> panic and tell you to reduce your dose substantially,> > Luv - Sheila> > > > _._,___>

[Guest guest]

OK

here goes

Dear

Dr *******

I

am writing this letter to you in the hope that it will enable both of us to get

a better understanding of what might be happening to me and the reason why I am

now determined to do something about my continuing ill health as I am no longer

prepared to put up with this. To this end, I have been doing quite a bit of

research, which has been an eye opener for me.

I

had need to do this because I was experiencing continuing symptoms and signs of

hypothyroidism when on levothyroxine-only treatment e.g. (here, list every one of your

symptoms and signs (check against those in our web site under hypothyroidism).

I

was unusually cold and took my basal temperature for 4 mornings before getting

out of bed and before having anything to drink. I know that normal temperature

is 98.6 degrees F, but mine were (list them here). These temperatures and symptoms and signs told

me that the synthetic T4 didn't appear to be doing the job it was supposed to.

I

did further research and found that thyroxine is a prohormone, and that it must

convert to the active thyroid hormone Tertroxin (T3) and found that there are

many reasons why this conversion doesn't/cannot take place for some sufferers,

so they need some form of T3, either adding to their T4, T3 alone, or natural

thyroid extract.

Further

research showed me that natural thyroid extract was the ONLY medication used by

all doctors for all their hypothyroid patients and that it had been used safely

and effectively for well over 50 years until the synthetic thyroxine came into

full use, and natural thyroid extract fell out of favour - but it was at that

time that lots of patients started suffering - these would be one's who could

not convert it to T3, which every cell in the body and brain needs.

I

joined a Thyroid Patient Support Group that has over 2000 members. many of whom

joined because they were suffering in the same way as me and had continuing

symptoms of hypothyroidism when taking their thyroid hormone replacement and

had normal thyroid function results. I learned through this group that there

are vast numbers of counterexamples to T4-only therapy, who got well when their

doctors prescribed them T3 or natural thyroid extract. I read also the British

Thyroid Association's Statement on synthetic T4/T3 replacement therapy v

T4-only therapy http://www.tpa-uk.org.uk/resp_bta_t4t3.pdf and

their Statement on Natural thyroid extract v T4-only therapy http://www.tpa-uk.org.uk/resp_bta_armour.pdf

and the response to these from the Charity Thyroid Patient Advocacy and decided

to look further into this with a view to trying the natural thyroid extract.

after learning a great deal from those responses.

There

is information within the thyroid group that tells you the best way to change

from using synthetic T4 to the thyroid extract which contains T4, T3 and

calcitonin for the bones. Basically, I had to start with a very low dose

of 30mgs, which I stayed on for 7 days and increased by another half dose every

3 weeks. I am now taking ****mgs

twice daily and have felt so much better (write here the benefits you have felt, what symptoms have

disappeared and what signs have disappeared etc)

I

have been taking thyroid extract for approx (write how long) but think it would be wise to have

some thyroid function tests done to check my level of TSH, free T4 and free T3.

I have learned that those patients taking natural thyroid extract have

different results for their TFTs to those taking T4 only. They have a

suppressed TSH (because when the body is being given all the thyroid hormones

it needs, there is no need for the pituitary to secrete TSH to tell the thyroid

to secrete more thyroid hormone. The free T4 is usually in the upper third of

the reference range, and the free T3 is near to the top of the reference range.

I

have also learned that there are certain mineral and vitamin levels that must

be checked for those suffering the symptoms of hypothyroidism, because if any

of these are low in the range, this will stop the thyroid hormone from being

properly utilised at the cellular level, Please would you test these for me please?

These are ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin D3, magnesium, folate, copper and

zinc.

I

never before realised just how complex the functioning of the thyroid system

is, but I feel at last, I am really getting somewhere and can now see light at

the end of the tunnel.

I

have attached information received by TPA from the MHRA to say that NHS doctors

can prescribe natural thyroid extract for their patients who don't do well on

synthetic thyroxine but that they must take full responsibility for this

because it remains unlicensed in the UK. It is unlicensed because it has never

required a license as it had been used safely and effectively for over 100 years,

and was 'grandfathered' in, unlike synthetic thyroxine which had potency

problems in the past and had to go through the New Drugs Licensing procedure. From

the members, I have also learned that there are many NHS endocrinologists and

GP's who are prescribing it too.

Please

will you consider prescribing me the (Erfa 'Thyroid' or Armour Thyroid ???which???) as this is

expensive when having to take thyroid hormone replacement for the rest of your

life. I do not want the synthetics now that I have experienced the natural,

which I now know is what my body requires.

If

you feel unsure about this, please would you refer me to Dr ********* (choose the doctor you would like to

see within the NHS from the list I sent you as you don't have to be seen by the

one in your area - you can go where there is such a specialist who doesn't specialise

in diabetes alone).

Last, and I do apologise

for such a long letter - you may be interested in the following paper written

by UK Researcher Pritchard, which explains a lot http://www.tpa-uk.org.uk/customary_vs_prudent2.pdf

and certainly, gave me a much better understanding of how the thyroid system

works and why some people need T3, either synthetic or natural.

If you would like me

to come to see you so that we could discuss this further, I will be happy to do

so as I know that doctors and patients must make such decisions together.

If you would like to

know more, please visit the Charity's web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk

Kind regards

*******

I would roughly like to

discuss testing for the things you suggested in the other post. (

the different vitamins and minerals and why I need them done)

And also full thyroid testing. I

will be honest with him and tell him what I have been taking instead and that I

want to have a reference range so I know exactly what I am aiming for. I will

tell him myself I haven't been feeling better and I want to try things a more

natural way for a while...After all armour is natural and so is the Iscort and

the supplements.

As I say he will look up and see

I have not been taking Thyroxine as prescribed and I would like to tell him why

in an intelligent way. I know in my head what he needs to know...but coming out

of my mouth so it doesn't sound like I am surfing the internet and latching on

to some fantastical ideas which he thinks are wrong. Also if I quote notable

doctors as well as medical articles he could look up if he wished to support my

requests.

And last but not least to try

and broach the subject of adrenal fatigue....again with notable doctor/medical

evidence that does not sound like quackery from the internet.

Not too much to ask...lol

By the way I KNOW it is a lot to

ask....but I do appreciate the help and advice...I would never even know where

to begin with out it...

Cheers

> No, you can stay on your present supplements but if you are having thyroid

> function tests done, don't take your Armour for24 hours before your blood

> draw, because the T3 in Armour peaks between 2 to 4 hours after taking it

> and this would make your free T3 level look very high, and your GP will

> panic and tell you to reduce your dose substantially,

>

> Luv - Sheila

>

>

>

> _._,___

>

1 of 1 File(s)

MHRA confirmation re Natur1.doc

[Guest guest]

Sorry for butting in on this thread but I just wanted to say what a great letter

Sheila you help us all so much. Thank you for all you do.

Han

>

> Dear Dr *******

>

>

>

> I am writing this letter to you in the hope that it will enable both of us

> to get a better understanding of what might be happening to me and the

> reason why I am now determined to do something