Re: Who would you rather see (options below) for help with your thyroid

[Guest guest]

I would prefer to get proper treatment from my GP - sorry that's not one of your

options. So far I have not managed to get a referral to an endocrinologist,

even though there is one who is well informed at a local hospital. GPs are too

busy saving the NHS money to provide an effective service. However, if the GP

was well informed then that would do instead.

It isn't the case that GPs have to follow strict guidelines and prescribe

according to the blood tests. Sheila is often quoting regulations to the

contrary. There is no reason why a GP shouldn't become well informed about

thyroid illness. It is a very common problem, so well worth their while to get

genned up on it.

Supposing you got the right treatment from a naturopath - you would have to pay

for your treatment, when we have all paid our taxes and are entitled to the

correct treatment from the NHS. Also, very likely the GP and/or endocrinologist

might " rubbish " the naturopath, trying to undermine your confidence in them,

maybe even insisting that you give up the treatment.

As has been said in another recent thread, the answer is that it is high time

the NHS was providing the right treatment for everyone.

Miriam

> So would you rather get help with your thyroid and thyroid related conditions

from an NHS endocrinologist or from an nutritionist/naturopath who has

experience with thyroid and metabolic disorders.

>

> NHS can prescibe but have to follow strict guidelines and " follow " blood

tests. They have had over 10 years training.

>

> The naturopath is more free to do what they want but they can only " advise " on

treatment and cannont prescibe. They would of had around 5 years training?

>

> Just wondering what peoples views are on this ?

>

> Thanks

> Steve

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your input miriam, may i ask why you have not been able to get a

referal from your gp ?

I myself was unable to get a referal the very first time i suspected i had

thyroid problems as my labs were in range even tho i had alot of symptoms i

didnt know much back then either to argue.

Since then i have been refered to 4 different endos 2 NHS and 2 private by 2 or

3 different gp's at my local practice. As now i am armed with 10x more

information and knowledge that i always argue my case and ask my gp to be

refered to an endocrinologist of my choice.

I find this is pretty much 100% guarnteed (sorry i do not know your story tho)

if you say that you have been seeing a specialist privately but that you cannont

afford it and would like to see an NHS endo of your choice instead.

Back to my original post, im thinking about a career choice and the future.

My original plan was to be an endo this is 10 YEARS before i am able to be a

consultant and help people, thats too long. Even then in 10 years there is alot

of contraversy about what i will and wont be able to do. On the NHS you seem to

have to strict towards blood tests, going away from this can lead to problems.

The point about paying for medication is a really big point, that being said the

amount of people dr peatfield is able to help and he is unable to prescribe them

meds only offer were to buy from. My local NHS can prescribe meds but he only

seems to want to prescribe T4 so i am pretty sure most people would rather pay

for there meds and gain health than not pay for there meds but see little

improvement. (of course some people are unable to pay for there meds regardless)

Another point when i spoke with dr peatfield about becoming an endo he actually

said to me if you want to help people sooner rather than later then why not look

at some shorter course such as " nutritional/natural medicine " which run 3-5

years and then at the end you are able to work in a practice/clinic.

Im just unsure what to do at the minute and im trying to weigh up my options and

decided beteween, what im going to be able to cope with regarding my health, how

fast i would like to help people, how i would make a career out of it also.

Steve

>

> I would prefer to get proper treatment from my GP - sorry that's not one of

your options. So far I have not managed to get a referral to an

endocrinologist, even though there is one who is well informed at a local

hospital.

[Guest guest]

I think, basically, the GP thinks it is very easy to treat hypothyroidism. So

far as she is concerned, the blood tests are the definition of whether you are

hypothyroid or not. She has said that they are severely restricted as to the

number of referrals they make to consultants, so basically she is worrying about

her budget. Also, because I have a " diagnosis " of ME, she is happy to ascribe

my symptoms to that.

You are very fortunate if you have managed to get referrals. It just shows how

much this varies from one GP to another, and in different parts of the country.

My doctors tend to react very badly if you show that you know anything which

they don't, so I'm not sure they would be prepared to read any information I

brought in, though I am going to give that a try.

I guessed you were asking your question with regard to career choices.

Obviously Dr Peatfield is right about the shortest and easiest route for

treating people, but then you are only able to help the relatively well off.

Many of my friends with ME are in dire poverty because they have been unable to

work for many years.

There is absolutely no reason why a GP should not be able to prescribe Armour or

T3. You don't need to be a consultant to be well informed about

endocrinological matters. Sheila's GP prescribes Armour for her.

Becoming a GP might be more effective and more secure in the long term than

training as some complementary practitioner. Who knows whether naturopaths etc

will eventually be subject to the kind of hounding they suffer in the States?

However, as a GP you might find yourself part of a system which you felt

compromised your ethics. The way the NHS treats quite a few long-term

conditions is not optimal, to put it mildly.

The advantage of being a naturopath or nutritionist is that you would be

addressing lifestyle issues too, which often have a big impact on people's

health.

It will be interesting to see what other pros and cons people can come up with .

.. .

Miriam

> Thanks for your input miriam, may i ask why you have not been able to get a

referal from your gp ?

>

> Back to my original post, im thinking about a career choice and the future.

[Guest guest]

Hi Steve, the natural route for me every time. but not all of us have this option if no money for private care and medicines. lucky for me i have pushed myself to keep working no matter how many symptoms i had. 10/20. so only mild, but any health problems that cause youto feel unwell is not acceptable. angel.