RE: Millions Given Wrong Treatment for the Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila,

May I have your permission to cut and paste the body of this e mail to send to No.10 via the e mail system - asking them to forward to Lansley.

Of course you may wish to do this yourself but it is something I feel needs to go to him as well.

Great letter

Best wishes

Mandy

From: thyroid treatment [mailto:thyroid treatment ] On Behalf Of SheilaTSent: 26 February 2011 13:46thyroid treatment Subject: Millions Given Wrong Treatment for the Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

The following is a 'Letter to the Editor' which I have sent to every National and Local Newspaper. As I am not sure I have covered everybody (

Sheila

Chair : Thyroid Patient Advocacy

www.tpa-uk.org.uk

[Ed]

[Guest guest]

Yes, most definitely Mandy. For the majority, I changed the

subject heading to 'Millions Given Wrong Hormone for Symptoms of

Hypothyroidism' as this is what our Register of Counterexamples is all about.

We have over 720 counterexamples so far that have participated in our survey.

Send also a copy to your local newspaper in case that one was missing from my

list.

Luv - Sheila

From: thyroid treatment

[mailto:thyroid treatment ] On Behalf Of Mandy

Jennings

Sent: 26 February 2011 18:04

thyroid treatment

Subject: RE: Millions Given Wrong Treatment for

the Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

Hi Sheila,

May I have your permission to cut and paste the body of this e mail

to send to No.10 via the e mail system - asking them to forward to

Lansley.

Of course you may wish to do this yourself but it is something I

feel needs to go to him as well.

Great letter

Best wishes

Mandy

From:

thyroid treatment

[mailto:thyroid treatment ] On Behalf Of SheilaT

Sent: 26 February 2011 13:46

thyroid treatment

Subject: Millions Given Wrong Treatment for the

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

The following is a

'Letter to the Editor' which I have sent to every National and Local Newspaper.

As I am not sure I have covered everybody (

Sheila

Chair : Thyroid

Patient Advocacy

www.tpa-uk.org.uk

[Ed]

[Guest guest]

So, do only people with Type 2 Thyroid have a problem? I thought ALL hypothyroid people could do with additional T3, or going onto Armour

I'm quite confused about all the different types of hypothyroidism. I know I have hashimotos, what other forms are there?

Thanks!

P.S Have sent letter to Bucks Free Press and Elle magazine (as I know someone who works there!)

[Guest guest]

Hi Suzanne

For those people with the symptoms of hypothyroidism whose

thyroid gland is not secreting sufficient levels of thyroid hormone (mainly T4)

- they are the ONLY people who are likely to benefit from the standard

synthetic levothyroxine-only. Even then, they could still find they have a

problem in converting this mainly INACTIVE thyroid hormone to the ACTIVE

hormone T3. It is T3 that every cell in our body and brain needs. Those who

cannot convert T4 to T3 will need the addition of some T3, either synthetic or

through taking the natural thyroid extract.

For those of us who have normal thyroid function tests showing

that our thyroid gland is secreting a normal level of thyroid hormone, yet who suffer

with the symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism, they are the ones who should be

treated with some form of T3. Synthetic T4 will not work for them.

Luv - Sheila

So, do only people with Type 2 Thyroid have a problem? I

thought ALL hypothyroid people could do with additional T3, or going onto

Armour

I'm quite confused about all the different types of hypothyroidism. I

know I have hashimotos, what other forms are there?

_,_._,___

[Guest guest]

Thanks Sheila for taking the time to write this. I am only too happy to do my

part and send this to a newspaper. I hope many run this story and that the cause

gets a lot of publicity.

Overall the situation is a scandal. The assumption that Levothyroxine will work,

being told to give it more time, 'you should be feeling better by now' etc etc.

The reluctance to test for and treat with T3. Then you get on T3 and the

suppressed TSH is an issue. Then you get labs who disobay instructions to test

T3 and GP surgery has to phone 10 times to make sure it's done. Then the

biochemist disagrees with how your doctor is treating it and would rather reduce

dose... Once you get diagnosis (if that is possible) it seems that the only

thing you are guaranteed is Levothyroxine, then doctors telling you that you

still have symptoms but won't treat those symptoms. Then GP thinks T3 meds are a

temporary solution and you shouldn't be on them in the long run.

Basically there are blocks at every step of the way and there is certainly a

very deep reluctance to admit that people need anything other than

Levothyroxine. The problems are at every level, GPs, labs, consultants. Even

chemist shops have to order in the T3 as they don't stock much because they

don't expect people to be prescribed it.

All these problems are a snapshot of what I have experienced and in a situation

that isn't the worst either.

Really the system is deciding which groups of patients are worth saving and

treating and who to sweep under the carpet. Of course campaigns like this, show

that we do not want to be swept under the carpet.

[Guest guest]

HI SHEILA

I will send a copy of this letter to THE ALDERSHOT NEWS and I think another

local one is THE FARNHAM HERALD.

I presume that you want the heading to be at the top of the first letter, but

should our address be at the top of the first letter or where you have marked

that it should be or in both places.

What about those that do not have a computer, how will they sign the register.

Kathleen

>

>

> The following is a 'Letter to the Editor' which I have sent to every

> National and Local Newspaper. As I am not sure I have covered everybody

> (I sent to 381 local and 39 Nationals), to ensure your local Newspaper

[Guest guest]

Sheila thank you for writing this letter and for all you do on our behalf. I

will certainly do my bit

Han

>

> Dear TPA Member

>

[Guest guest]

Keep the subject heading at the top of the second letter - the

one that is to be published. I would also put it at the top too as there is an

explanation to the Editor why we want that heading to remain as is. You put

your name and address at the bottom of the letter to be published - but that

doesn't really matter so long as the editor knows who it has come from.

If people haven't a computer, they won't be able to sign it as

the whole petition is collated online. They will have to get a friend to do it

for them or go to the local library and a member of staff would help them.

Luv - Sheila

I will send a copy of this letter to THE ALDERSHOT NEWS and I think another

local one is THE FARNHAM HERALD.

I presume that you want the heading to be at the top of the first letter, but

should our address be at the top of the first letter or where you have marked

that it should be or in both places.

What about those that do not have a computer, how will they sign the register.

Kathleen

_._,___