Re: Hi, My first (long!) post with lab results - any ideas?

[Guest guest]

Hi gina, A lot of your fatigue is probably related to your very very low iron- orange juice to helps with absorption as you have already found- keep up the good work! Candida should also be addressed with diet as well as anitbiotics- have you seen the forum files- there's a lot of very relevant info there for you. You will also find where to get adrenals checked privately as you are unlikely to get much help for your GP unless your are ian ( total failure) My daughter also suffered long term fatigue from glandualar fever, but with decent vits and minerals and gently increasing excercise went on to make a fullish recovery- took her about 9 years too- last year she did a 'race for life' and is a qualified life guard- the timed swims are really tough! She found that swimming was less stressful than other forms of excercise as the water took the weight off her sore joints.- I'm not saying this is the route that you should go, but what suited her. your TSH at 1.9 isn't ideal and needs watching- did doc do Ft4 and FT3 ( bet the last one wasn't done- they're fixated on TSH which isn't always helpful) ?> > Hi everyone! > I am new to this forum. I suspect I may be suffering with Hypothyroisdism. > I have been suffering with terrible chronic fatigue & reduced immunity for the past 9 years.> My dentist (clever man!) mentioned Dr Peatfield & recommended I get my thyroid & adrenals checked.> Since then I have purchased Dr Peatfields book. I'm slowing working my way through it and hope to make an appointment to see Dr Peatfield soon.> > My long term symptoms are:> Delibilitating fatigue> Terrible aching all over> Frequent chest & ENT infections> Candida (thrush)> Chronic low white bloods count> Chronic low ferritin & anemia> Gluten & wheat intolerance (maybe coeliac?)> Intolerance to any stress> > I've had various blood tests & other tests over the years & the following have been positive:> > Tissue transglutaminase, (tTG) positive - diagnosed with coeliac disease but this was over turned after a negative endescopy biospy!> > Smooth muscle antibody (SMA) - GP & Gastro told me don't worry it doesn't mean anything???> > Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) postitive test for this at the beginning of my ill health 9 years ago following a severe virus that knocked me out & I never really recovered.> > Heart murmur & angina pains (especially when anemic)> > Chronic anemia & low ferritin. Despite taking high doses of iron orally I struggle to get my iron up. I've had 3 iron infusions over the past 3 years at my local hospital, this has improved my levels to "normal" but this slowly goes down till my ferritin is at rock bottom (lowest has been 3!) the haematology dept are now reluctant to let me have another iron infusion due to possible allergic reactions. > > Chronic low white blood count - a combination of low neutrophils & lymphocytes usually.> > > Here are my current bloods taken last week:> > FBC:> WBC's 3.05 LOW 10*9/L (4.00-10.00)> RBC's 4.70 10*12/L (3.80-4.80)> HB 14.1g/dL (12.0-15.0)> Haematocrit HIGH 0.46 1/1 (0.37-0.45)> Serum ferritin LOW 15 ug/L (30-400g)> > Serum TSH level: 1.90 mIU/L (0.27-4.20)> > > > Haematology basically told me keep taking the iron tablets & maybe you are just one of those people that has a low WBC?? :/> > I have completed the adrenal questionaire and my score was 174 indicating severe adrenal fatigue. This makes sense due to past stressful incidents & work.> > Interestingly, I started taking approx 9 grammes of vitamin C daily since December 2010 and this blood test is the first time EVER that my ferritin & HB have gone up (only by a few points!) but this has never happened ever even when I was taking lower doses of vitamin C.> Normally my ferritin & WBC are much lower than my recent results.> > > Sorry again for the long post!> x> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------> > TPA is not medically qualified. Consult with a qualified medical practitioner before changing medication.> >

[Guest guest]

Hello and welcome J

Well done for already reading Dr. P's book – he is brilliant, and hopefully you will go and see him soon.

I guess the first job is to get my adrenals boosted & my iron levels up (easiersaid than done!) & maybe some proper lab tests done?

Yep – I would agree with that wholeheartedly ... and perhaps this time with Hypothyroidism in question. All the indications that you might suffer low thyroid are there and your TSH is high-ish within the ref range. WBC means low immunity – most hypothyroid people have low WBC. Your very low ferritin could be another marker for low thyroid – please read...

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ferritin-levels.html

.... this article also confirms that high dosages of Vit C will help elevating ferritin levels, as you have already found out. All of your symptoms shout `low thyroid', so I think it is time to do a proper thyroid check. You need:

TSH, FT4, FT3 (very important), TgAB and TPO - those are thyroid autoantibodies –make sure that all the parameters are listed on the blood form and that he puts TgAB & TPO in writing (not just `thyroid antibodies' – the lab would not do the TgAB in such a case) - if needed ask him to write it on the form by hand. Many GPs don't know which boxes they need to tick (antibodies are usually listed under "Serology").

Most of the minerals & Vitamins have already been checked, but you need to get the figures and ref ranges out of your GP.... what looks "normal" to him and what is "normal" for a hypo person are two different things. For `us' all the figures have to be at the upper norm of their respective ref range to ensure that thyroid hormones reaches the inside of the cells – `anywhere' within the ref range is not good enough.

I hope you'll get all this done, and those results will tell us more. Meanwhile I would start taking 1 tabl. NAX (Nutri Adrenal Extra) with your breakfast, and carry on with Vit C and all the other supplements. You need them all. You can up the NAX every 2 weeks if needed (with breakfast and lunch) - but never take them after 1 pm or it might interfere with your sleep.

with best wishes,

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thank you so much for your reply.

I have now booked to see Dr P on the 21st June which is the first appointment I

could get.

I think I will have to get my full thyroid tests done privately as getting

anything other than my full blood count & iron ferritin is hard work at my GPs!

I just dont have the energy to battle with them. My GP was really puzzled why I

wanted print-outs of my blood test when they were " normal " . I tried explaining

that I wanted to know if I near the bottom or top of the ranges, but she still

looked at me as though I had two heads!

I've had a look at the Nutri Adrenal Extra, but being vegetarian I'm going to

try & use herbal adrenal support as much as possible.

I see Nutri sell " AdrenoMax " , (an adrenal support formula of vitamins, minerals,

herbs and amino acids) so I might give these a try & see how I get on?

Do you think I should get the adrenal AND the thyroid tests done before I see Dr

P? Or Just the adrenal tests? I know its going to take me a long time to get my

ferritin up to a decent level so I am presuming that I wouldn't be able to take

any thyroid meds for a while yet?

Being unable to work, money is an issue, so I need to make sure I only get tests

done when necessary.

Thanks again for your help,

x

>

>

>

>

> Hello and welcome J

>

> Well done for already reading Dr. P's book – he is brilliant,

> and hopefully you will go and see him soon.

>

> I guess the first job is to get my adrenals boosted & my iron levels up

> (easier

> said than done!) & maybe some proper lab tests done?

>

> Yep – I would agree with that wholeheartedly ... and perhaps this

> time with Hypothyroidism in question. All the indications that you might

> suffer low thyroid are there and your TSH is high-ish within the ref

> range. WBC means low immunity – most hypothyroid people have low

> WBC. Your very low ferritin could be another marker for low thyroid

> – please read...

>

> http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ferritin-levels.html

> <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ferritin-levels.html>

>

> ... this article also confirms that high dosages of Vit C will help

> elevating ferritin levels, as you have already found out. All of your

> symptoms shout `low thyroid', so I think it is time to do a

> proper thyroid check. You need:

>

>

[Guest guest]

MODERATED TO REMOVE PREVIOUS MESSAGES ALREADY READ. PLEASE CHECK THAT YOU HAVE

DONE THIS BEFORE CLICKING 'SEND' AS IT IS FRUSTRATING FOR OTHER MEMBERS WHO READ

DIRECT FROM THE FORUM WEB SITE IN HAVING TO SCROLL THROUGH SO MUCH BEFORE THEY

GET TO THE NEXT MESSAGE. LUV - SHEILA

_____________________________________________________________

Hi ,

Thank you so much for your reply. I am so pleased to hear that your daughter has

had such a positive recovery. It's cases like this that give me hope!

I used to love swimming. I have double scoliosis of my spine, and swimming

really helped my back. Unfortunately, I now keep getting prolonged ear, nose,

throat infections when I use a swimming pool, probably due to my low immunity.

Yes, my low iron ferritin definately makes me severely fatigued, but even when I

have had an IV infusion and my levels are " normal " I still feel really weak &

achey... though I am then able to climb the stairs without having to stop to

catch my breath like I do now!

So I have always felt that there was more going on than simple iron deficent

anemia.

I have followed an anti-candida diet previously, but being too ill to work, I

couldn't afford any supplements to go alongside the diet. I have been saving

like mad this past year so that I can get some private tests & advice and afford

to buy supplements.

I am gradually working my way though all the files here, there's a lot of great

inforamtion.

I feel like I have spent years trying to do a jig-saw blindfolded, but finally I

am starting to see clearly & things are fitting in place!

My GP only tested my TSH, and I don't think my GP will helps me with further

testing as she considers my result " normal " . (groan!) I hope to get this done

privately after my appointment with Dr P.

Thanks again for all your help. I so wish I had found you all years ago!

x

>

>

> Hi gina,

> A lot of your fatigue is probably related to your very very low

iron- orange juice to helps with absorption as you have already found- keep up

the good work! Candida should also be addressed with diet as well as

anitbiotics- have you seen the forum files- there's a lot of very relevant info

there for you. You will also find where to get adrenals checked privately as you

are unlikely to get much help for your GP unless your are ian ( total

failure)

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

I have now booked to see Dr P on the 21st June which is the first appointment Icould get.Fantastic J - you'll be in for a treat. Dr. P. is unlike any doctor you may have come across so far.

I think I will have to get my full thyroid tests done privately as gettinganything other than my full blood count & iron ferritin is hard work at my GPs! I just dont have the energy to battle with them.

OK – I understand. I appreciate it can be difficult to make our doctors understand. Just email or phone Genova and ask for a kit for a full thyroid screen (which includes the thyroid antibody test) .....- here is a sample report of this test http://www.iwdl.net/files/profile_assets/sample_report/end06_totalthyroidsr.pdf

and below are the instructions:

Genova Diagnostics have been kind enough to arrange a discount for members of Thyroid Patient Advocacy- UK for the following Thyroid and Adrenal Tests:

In order to receive your discount, please DO NOT order direct from their web site. Instead, order direct from kitorders@... or telephone 020 8336 7754

When you complete your order, please remember to quote `Thyroid Patient Advocacy UK as `PRACTITIONER', or you will not be given the discount.

Please be assured that Genova will send your results direct to you and not to TPA as we have a special arrangement with them.

DISCOUNTS ON THE FOLLOWING TESTS

Test RRP Members Price

Thyroid Screen £99.00 £74.25

Thyroid Hormones - T3 & T4 £104.00 £88.40

Adrenal Stress Profile £75.00 £64.29

Candida Antibody Profile £73.00 £62.57

Reverse T3 £62.00 £51.57

You will be sent the full kit you need to have blood drawn. You just have to find someone to draw the blood. Any nurse can do it (perhaps for a small fee). The blood does not need to be spun. Genova offers a courier service (for,I think, £13) or you can send the sample back via Royal Mail .... all instructions are with the kit.

I've had a look at the Nutri Adrenal Extra, but being vegetarian I'm going totry & use herbal adrenal support as much as possible.I see Nutri sell "AdrenoMax", (an adrenal support formula of vitamins, minerals,herbs and amino acids) so I might give these a try & see how I get on?Sounds ok to me J

Do you think I should get the adrenal AND the thyroid tests done before I see DrP? Or Just the adrenal tests?

Both would be ideal, but of the two to my mind the thyroid test is of more importance.... You already know that your adrenals are knackered and you need to treat. It certainly would be helpful to see how bad your adrenal exhaustion is, but if money were tight then to my mind the thyroid test is more important right now. Whatever your adrenal profile would show, you would treat in the same way and since your score on the questionnaire was high, you are bound to have exhausted adrenals.

I know its going to take me a long time to get myferritin up to a decent level so I am presuming that I wouldn't be able to takeany thyroid meds for a while yet?Dr. Peatfield will advise you on that. I think it can be done simultaneously. Only the adrenals need to be treated before you start on any thyroid hormones. Everything else can run concurrently.

Good luck,

[Guest guest]

Thanks ,

I was a bit confused which tests to order as there are so many...

So I need the Full thyroid screen @ £74.25

and maybe the Adrenal Stress Profile @ £64.29 ?

That's manageable for me... I was thinking that I needed to do the

Thyroid Hormones - T3 & T4 and Reverse T3 on top of the Thyroid screen that

added up to a few hundred pounds!

I also saw there was a thyroid urine test aswell?

I guess it would make sense to get the Thyroid Screen & Adrenal Stress Profile

tested before I see Dr P.

Thanks again for you help,

x

---

[Guest guest]

Hi

I don't think my GP will test me for anything other than D3 & B12. She told

me " that's all they do " , but I'm sure I had more comprehensive vit

& mineral tests done by a gastroenterologist at my local hospital a few

years ago? I know my folic acid was low a few years back.

You need to write a letter to your GP and send a copy to the

head of practice and ask for your letter of requests to be placed into your

medical notes. Write that you wish the following specific minerals and vitamins

to be tested, because if they are low in the range, no amount of thyroid

hormone can be supplemented at the cellular level. There is a big association

between these mins/vits. and hypothyroidism and if she tries to deny this, then

copy out the attached references for each of these tests to show the

connection. Ask her that when the test results have been received, to let you

have a copy of each test done together with the reference range for all the

tests. These are yours by law and no doctor can withhold them from their

patients.

The supplements that I was looking at a few

years ago were things like " threelac " and good quality probiotics.

At that time money was really tight and I was struggling to pay my heating

bills let alone buy supplements, much as I wanted them.

I have taken plenty of anti-fungal drugs from my GP which toned down the

thrush, but never completely got rid of it? I do my best to avoid refined

sugars (though I have my moments of craving chocolate!!) and this has

definately helped. Since having my IUD removed & watching my diet its not

as bad as it was, but I know it will come back if I let my diet slip.

You can buy tablets (you need about 3 of fluconazole very

cheaply at this Internet Pharmacy, so I would get started on these, and follow

the Candida treatment protocol from the Files Section under 'Candida'. You must

stick with this protocol to clear any remnant of candida completely.http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/thrush-oral-capsule-containing-fluconazole_1_10278.html

I have had a brief look at some of the

supplements and its great that you have such good discounts for members. I will

definitely be making an order once I have worked out what's the best thing to

buy. There are so many products on the market I sometimes get overwhelmed by it

all!

I know and there is a lot on the market they push you into

taking which are quite unnecessary. Stick to what is recommended on this forum

and you shouldn't go far wrong.

I know my GP should be helping me more, but I have had to really battle to even

get referred to hameatology & gastroenterology. After years of tests, the

gastro basically said, we don't know whats wrong with you, go see the Chronic

Fatigue Service at Frenchay hospital for CBT... which I already did years

ago... arghhh!! So depressing.

In your letter to the GP ask for a referral to an endocrinologist

of your choice. I will send you a list of recommended doctors privately. You

can be referred outside of your area. She will probably only refer you to the

endocrinology department of the hospital where your chosen endocrinologist

works, so when she has sent the letter of referral, contact the outpatient

clinic nurse and tell her that you ONLY want to be seen by Dr ******* (whoever

you chose in the first place) and that you will not see anybody else. Ask for

his/her name to be palced into your medical notes so you will never be sent an

appointment to see somebody else. This is what I do and it works well. Chronic

Fatigue Syndrome is not treated, but it has been found that many people who

have been given a diagnosis of CFS, FM or even ME have found the active thyroid

hormone T3 successfully treats their condition.

I do feel angry as looking back, everytime I

have been in hospital having an iron infusion, the nurses monitoring me

throughout the day have commented how low my temperature was.

Don't they even know that the number one cause for having a very

low temperature is hypothermia - and the number two cause is hypothyroidism.

One wonders what they teach them these days.

I have mentioned this to the consultant

haematologist and gastroenterologist and they have both just shrugged their

shoulders at me and said, " Oh some people just have a low temperature!!

Nothing to worry about! "

Yes, and those " some people " are those people

suffering symptoms of hypothyroidism or low adrenal reserve. Is it any wonder

so many of our members are being forced into self diagnosing, self treating and

self monitoring their condition in order to regain normal health - which they

ARE doing - and quite outside of the NHS.

I do feel that people labelled with CFS are

just expected to crawl away & suffer quietly but I have always had a

feeling that there must be something going on with me that could be treated, if

only I could find a doctor willing to do some proper investigation.

Hopefully, you will

now find one from my list. You can be referred outside of your area, so don't

allow your GP to tell you otherwise, especially when there are no THYROID

specialists in your area. Most endocrinologists have diabetes as their specialty,

but some of these have a special interested in thyroid disease, as the one's on

my list do

I do my best to educate myself about medical

matters, but have had Dr's scoff in my face and say " Don't believe

everything you read on the internet! " but if we don't educated ourselves

we end up getting well & truely shafted! We can't win!

The answer to ANY doctor who is so patronising as to tell you

not to believe everything you read on the internet is " I don't, because I

only go to the top medical journals where all the latest scientific evidence is

published and this is what the researchers and medical practitioners use and

doctor, I am surprised that you don't go there and read such great information

yourself to keep your knowledge and skills updated. They soon shut up.

Anyhow, I've just realised I'm ranting lol...

thank you for all you help. I am off to read more files & carry on reading

Dr P's book.

Rant away and if you ever need questions you can't find

answers to, just shout and somebody will be along to help you.

With your letter to your GP, ask for a written response within

10 working days so you can start to prepared to do whatever is necessary to

regain your normal health again, after all this time. Always be assertive with

such doctors as you appear to have - some of them think they are god and try to

walk all over us.

Luv - Sheila

1 of 1 File(s)

LOW MINERALS AND VITAMINS AND THE THYROID CONNECTION.doc

[Guest guest]

have you tried humaworm? they do a general parasite cleanse and a specific

candida one www.humaworm.com

there's also a curzone forum for them

http://curezone.com/forums/f.asp?f=757

> I have followed an anti-candida diet previously, but being too ill to work, I

couldn't afford any supplements to go alongside the diet. I have been saving

like mad this past year so that I can get some private tests & advice and afford

to buy supplements.

>

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

I was a bit confused which tests to order as there are so many...So I need the Full thyroid screen @ £74.25and maybe the Adrenal Stress Profile @ £64.29 ?That's manageable for me... I was thinking that I needed to do theThyroid Hormones - T3 & T4 and Reverse T3 on top of the Thyroid screen thatadded up to a few hundred pounds!

I also saw there was a thyroid urine test aswell?

If it were manageable, then yes, a full thyroid screen (blood test) and a salivary adrenal stress profile would be very useful to have at hand before you see Dr. P. It really is a toss-up between the blood TFT and the urinary TFT. The urinary thyroid test is actually the most accurate thyroid test there is, because they measure the amount of thyroid hormone that has been utilized by your cells over the past 24 hours. It would show you exactly what is going on and it will detect early low thyroid levels (earlier than the blood results would show up positive for HT)... but it has two major disadvantages – it does not include the thyroid antibodies (which would be important to identify whether the thyroid condition is of autoimmune origin or not) and no doctor other than Dr. Peatfield or Dr. Skinner will accept its validity. Every doctor of the medical establishment in the UK will ignore those results on the (stupid) grounds that this test is not recognized by the NHS. With a blood TFT, however, you will have a good chance that your doctor will at least look at the results (and, no doubt, repeat them <g>) and you have a good leg to stand on when either demanding treatment from your GP or justifying self treatment if and when necessary. If money were no object, I would say, do both, but that would be a bit OTT <g>, and since you are not yet on any thyroid medication, the blood TFT ought to suffice without adding the rT3 test.

Reverse T3 can become a problem mostly when people are on T4 therapy only (that's Levothyroxine only) because if there were either a conversion problem or a problem with the cell receptors in the body which results in more T4 in the blood stream than the system can cope with, then the body might protect itself by producing more rT3 in order to prevent thyrotoxicosis... and that backfires, because rT3 prevents FT3 from entering the cells... the blood result, however, would only show a high FT3 count when this happens, because rT3 and FT3 have the same chemical formula – only rT3 is the mirror image. – Anyway, it's unlikely that you would need this test at this point.

I guess it would make sense to get the Thyroid Screen & Adrenal Stress Profiletested before I see Dr P.

Yes, please J - it saves time.

The supplements that I was looking at a few years ago were things like"threelac" and good quality probiotics.At that time money was really tight and I was struggling to pay my heating billslet alone buy supplements, much as I wanted them.I have taken plenty of anti-fungal drugs from my GP which toned down the thrush,but never completely got rid of it? I do my best to avoid refined sugars (thoughI have my moments of craving chocolate!!) and this has definately helped. Sincehaving my IUD removed & watching my diet its not as bad as it was, but I know itwill come back if I let my diet slip.

Join the club L Candida is a curse, and as you already know, to kill it off you need to cut out all refined sugars not just for months but to make it a way of life. I suffer from Candida albicans, which I contracted as a baby, when the doctors saved my life with antibiotics and glucose drips (together!) for weeks on end.... guess, I ought to be grateful, else I wouldn't be here, but it would have been useful if someone had told my mother about the aftercare to antibiotics.... anyway, here I am, fighting systemic Candida with ThreeLac – marvellous stuff, but a bottomless financial pit. Still, I have priorities, and feeling well is top of the list – so I shut up and pay L I also take wild oregano oil, which is equally good for killing off Candida http://www.iherb.com/North-American-Herb-Spice-Co-Oreganol-P73-Super-Strength-60-Softgels/7712?at=0

One tip though... if you happen to have amalgam fillings, please do consider having them removed.... which might mean battling with your dentist over the necessity of replacing the fillings with composite fillings (he might say no and you will have to insist – been there, bought the T shirt) and sometimes it means caps, because the amalgam has so damaged the tooth that it just crumbles when the fillings come out L - dreadful stuff, amalgam! Amalgam fillings contain 50% mercury which is highly toxic and wrecks the thyroid function. Apart from that mercury is a heavy metal.... and heavy metal & moist, warm saliva = acid environment in which Candida thrives. For as long as there are amalgam fillings in the mouth it will be near impossible to get Candida properly under control in the long run.

Another tip.... many hypos who have Candida also have too little stomach acid. Often they think it's the opposite – too much stomach acid – and they make matters worse by taking antacids. Trouble is – the symptoms for too little and too much stomach acid are the same and it is automatically assumed that heartburn, burping etc must be too much acid – well, in most cases it's too little and people battle for years on end with intestinal problems because the Candida bacteria is playing havoc.

Picture this – acidic environment in the mouth due to amalgams = Candida thrives in it. Then the Candida gets into a stomach devoid of a low enough ph. Instead of a ph of 1-2, as it should be, the ph is much higher and there is not enough of the acid. The Candida would have been killed off by a ph of 1-2, but it will survive a higher ph..... so it gets through into the intestines and there it's moist and warm and anaerobic...and now the Candida has a real field day!... the yeast thrives some more, we get IBS... it's a perpetual cycle, which needs to be cut. And the way to do that is to first check yourself if you might have hypochloridia and if so, keep taking Betaine HCl with each main meal to increase your stomach acid. – please read –http://dshedu.com/HowTo/Betaine/

I know... by now you have lost the will to live <g>... it just seems there is no end to it all. Hang in there and take one step at a time. You will get through it and there is light at the end of the tunnel – promise J

With best wishes,

[Guest guest]

> You need to write a letter to your GP and send a copy to the head of

> practice and ask for your letter of requests to be placed into your

medical

> notes. Write that you wish the following specific minerals and

vitamins to

> be tested, because if they are low in the range, no amount of thyroid

> hormone can be supplemented at the cellular level. There is a big

> association between these mins/vits. and hypothyroidism and if she

tries to

> deny this, then copy out the attached references for each of these

tests to

> show the connection. Ask her that when the test results have been

received,

> to let you have a copy of each test done together with the reference

range

> for all the tests. These are yours by law and no doctor can withhold

them

> from their patients.

Thanks Sheila. I have an appointment at the Gastroenterologists on the

21st May. I might ask him to test my vits & minerals again.

>

> You can buy tablets (you need about 3 of fluconazole very cheaply at

this

> Internet Pharmacy, so I would get started on these, and follow the

Candida

> treatment protocol from the Files Section under 'Candida'. You must

stick

> with this protocol to clear any remnant of candida

>

completely.http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/thrush-oral-capsule-containing\

-flu

> conazole_1_10278.html

>

Thanks Sheila. I need to get strict with my diet again as I have been

slack. Being veggie & gluten free is restrictive enough, but I know it's

got to be done!

>

> I know and there is a lot on the market they push you into taking

which are

> quite unnecessary. Stick to what is recommended on this forum and you

> shouldn't go far wrong.

>

Thanks.

>

>

> In your letter to the GP ask for a referral to an endocrinologist of

your

> choice. I will send you a list of recommended doctors privately. You

can be

> referred outside of your area. She will probably only refer you to the

> endocrinology department of the hospital where your chosen

endocrinologist

> works, so when she has sent the letter of referral, contact the

outpatient

> clinic nurse and tell her that you ONLY want to be seen by Dr *******

> (whoever you chose in the first place) and that you will not see

anybody

> else. Ask for his/her name to be palced into your medical notes so you

will

> never be sent an appointment to see somebody else. This is what I do

and it

> works well. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is not treated, but it has been

found

> that many people who have been given a diagnosis of CFS, FM or even ME

have

> found the active thyroid hormone T3 successfully treats their

condition.

>

I'm not sure my GP will refer me to an endo at the moment as she regards

my thyroid results as " normal " . I think I will wait for the results of

my Genova tests and ask her again then, when I feel more confident with

my argument. I'm still taking everything in at the moment. Usually I

have to write down what I want to ask as my mind goes blank after half

an hour sat in the waiting room!

> The answer to ANY doctor who is so patronising as to tell you not to

believe

> everything you read on the internet is " I don't, because I only go to

the

> top medical journals where all the latest scientific evidence is

published

> and this is what the researchers and medical practitioners use and

doctor, I

> am surprised that you don't go there and read such great information

> yourself to keep your knowledge and skills updated. They soon shut up.

>

Great answer. I'll have to remember that!

I have lost count of the times I have left a doctors appointment in

tears as they have been so rude - consultants seem to be the worst!.

It's awful to have to deal with that when you feel so flipping ill

anyway.

> Rant away and if you ever need questions you can't find answers

to,

> just shout and somebody will be along to help you.

>

Thank you so much.

[Guest guest]

Thansk this looks interesting though their website says they can no

longer supply people in the UK?

As its looks like a herbal formula, I guess I could ask my local herbalist to

make up a mix of the same herbs? I have used some of the herbs before.

>

> > I have followed an anti-candida diet previously, but being too ill to work,

I couldn't afford any supplements to go alongside the diet. I have been saving

like mad this past year so that I can get some private tests & advice and afford

to buy supplements.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks , your explanation of the different tests is really helpful. I

will be on the phone to Genova on Monda to order the tests.

Do you happen to know roughly how much private Hospitals charge for Phlebotomy?

I've looked on the lists in the files section and see that the private Nuffield

Health Bristol Hospital offers the service but there is no indication of prices

on their website?

> Join the club L Candida is a curse, and as you already know, to kill

> it off you need to cut out all refined sugars not just for months but to

> make it a way of life. I suffer from Candida albicans, which I

> contracted as a baby, when the doctors saved my life with antibiotics

> and glucose drips (together!) for weeks on end.... guess, I ought to be

> grateful, else I wouldn't be here, but it would have been useful if

> someone had told my mother about the aftercare to antibiotics....

> anyway, here I am, fighting systemic Candida with ThreeLac –

> marvellous stuff, but a bottomless financial pit. Still, I have

> priorities, and feeling well is top of the list – so I shut up and

> pay L I also take wild oregano oil, which is equally good for killing

> off Candida

> http://www.iherb.com/North-American-Herb-Spice-Co-Oreganol-P73-Super-Str\

> ength-60-Softgels/7712?at=0

> <http://www.iherb.com/North-American-Herb-Spice-Co-Oreganol-P73-Super-St\

> rength-60-Softgels/7712?at=0>

>

Thank you. I did buy one bottle of oregano oil years ago, but couldn't afford it

long term. I'll take at look at the capsules you have recommended.

Sorry to hear you have been fighting this since you were a baby!

I was given lots of anti-biotics as a young child and had an allergic reaction

to penicillin.

>

>

> One tip though... if you happen to have amalgam fillings, please do

> consider having them removed....

Thankfully I only have 2 fillings & neither are mercury! I am so lucky that my

dentist operates a mercury free practice and is very well educated - so I don't

need to battle with him on this issue.

Infact it was my dentist who mentioned Dr P as someone who has been fighting for

" people like me! "

My dentist also recommended that I got my adrenals tested with a saliva test. I

asked my gastro and he laughed in my face! (nice!)

My GP did a 9am cortisol test (?) which she said was normal.

I am so grateful to my dentist as without his help I would never have found Dr

P's book or this forum.

>

> Another tip.... many hypos who have Candida also have too little stomach

> acid...

Thanks, yes I have heard this before and I have been using organic apple cider

vinegar before & on meals for the past few years.

I will have a look at the supplements you mention.

>

> I know... by now you have lost the will to live <g>... it just seems

> there is no end to it all. Hang in there and take one step at a time.

> You will get through it and there is light at the end of the tunnel

> – promise J

>

> With best wishes,

>

>

>

I cannot thank you enough for your reply. I really appreciate you taking the

time to reply.

I feel I have had more support & knowledge here in the past few days than I have

over the past 9 years from gawd knows how many Drs!

Take care,

x

[Guest guest]

it looks like that was only changed a few weeks ago :-(

that is bad. i found their product good

chris

>

> Thansk this looks interesting though their website says they can no

longer supply people in the UK?

>

> As its looks like a herbal formula, I guess I could ask my local herbalist to

make up a mix of the same herbs? I have used some of the herbs before.

>

> --- In thyroid treatment

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure my GP will refer me to an endo at the moment as she regards

my thyroid results as " normal " . I think I will wait for the results

of

my Genova tests and ask her again then, when I feel more confident with

my argument. I'm still taking everything in at the moment. Usually I

have to write down what I want to ask as my mind goes blank after half

an hour sat in the waiting room!

You must remember that your GP IS NOT THE SPECIALIST. There are

doctors out there who are specialists in the workings of the endocrine system

and you are entitled to a second opinion from such a specialist. If you results

come back from Genova showing there is a problem, then INSIST she refers you.

It is a good thing to write down everything (so long as you remember where you

put it to keep it safe LOL!) and there are a lot of us out here who have had to

do exactly the same. Once you get properly treated, you will find you get

possession back of your brain. It's always a good idea too to write down all

the questions you need to ask your doctor and take it in with you when you next

have a consultation with her.

Luv - Sheila

_._,___

[Guest guest]

I think it is around £15  - but probably each place is different

Luv - Sheila

Do you happen to know roughly how much private Hospitals

charge for Phlebotomy? I've looked on the lists in the files section and see

that the private Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital offers the service but there

is no indication of prices on their website?

_,_._,___

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Do you happen to know roughly how much private Hospitals charge for Phlebotomy?I've looked on the lists in the files section and see that the private NuffieldHealth Bristol Hospital offers the service but there is no indication of priceson their website?

Well, I have a feeling that depends on where you live. It should not cost more than a tenner (some people have reported), but when I went to my local phlebotomy dept in the hospital I was told they charge £ 29! – but – (hint, hint) if the blood draw were for taking part in a study for example, they would do it for free. At the time silly me was too embarrassed to take the hint and honestly told them that it was a private test, but since the blood draw was for my husband and myself, this would have been almost £ 60 and I left the hospital in disgust. Luckily I have a neighbour who is a doctor, so I phoned her and asked if she would do the honours and she agreed... so it cost me a good bottle of wine instead. It's up to you how you want to play it; any nurse or doctor should be able to take blood and all the instructions come with the kit - or perhaps you prefer to be part of a Thyroid study ? (just pick one of the big UK University hospitals like Cambridge for instance)Thank you. I did buy one bottle of oregano oil years ago, but couldn't afford itlong term. I'll take at look at the capsules you have recommended.Sorry to hear you have been fighting this since you were a baby! :(I was given lots of anti-biotics as a young child and had an allergic reactionto penicillin.I know, it's expensive stuff, this is why I gave you an American site (i-herb)... much cheaper buying supplements from the US, as long as it's under £ 18 worth and you don't have to pay customs & royal Mail charges. I buy 1 bottle at a time, and that has always come through without extra charge. It takes about 2 weeks to arrive.

Thankfully I only have 2 fillings & neither are mercury! I am so lucky that mydentist operates a mercury free practice and is very well educated - so I don'tneed to battle with him on this issue.Lucky you J. That's a huge relief and a huge saving too – I had to spent 5 figure sums to pay for the sins of past dentistry. May I ask who this dentist-gem is? A friend of mine lives near Bristol and she is looking for a good mercury free dentist and good hygienist more locally. So far she has made the 6 hour round trip to my own dentist http://www.holisticdentalcentre.co.uk/ because she could not find a good one where she lives.

My GP did a 9am cortisol test (?) which she said was normal.Aaah –good J But as you may have gathered by now, the word "normal" is a rubber band... do you know the actual result? Perhaps the receptionist will enlighten you if you phone the surgery – and remember to ask for the ref range... but even without it we'd have a pretty good idea. A `good' early morning cortisol level should be 450 – 500.... but very few hypos show that amount of cortisol. Most of us have between 250 – 350, which is "normal" but not good enough, and if you had less than 250, the figures are slipping into `alert' areas – but it is only when you have levels of less than 150 that most doctors might be getting concerned... less than 100 would be critical.

Good luck with the blood draw J

[Guest guest]

i'vu been charged 15, but as much as 30 (by a different hospital).

i know a couple of poeple just went to their local hospital or even gp to get

the bloods taken, with success. i never tried that tho

chris

>

> I think it is around £15 - but probably each place is different

>

> Luv - Sheila

>

>

>

> Do you happen to know roughly how much private Hospitals charge for

> Phlebotomy?