I was diagnosed about 10 years ago.
For years my thyroxine dose was 100mcg but this has crept up and I'm now on 150mcg
Is there a theoretical limit to the thyroxine dose before different treatments are looked at?
OrangeSpyderMissus does (and has for as long as I've known her - not far off 20 yrs now). Not sure about limits, I think as much as anything it dépends how stable it is. OrangeSpyderMissus' has had dosing changed up and down at various points in time. Life events (pregnancy) has changed it a lot in one go (maybe you're pregnant 🙂 ), otherwise she doesn't seem to fret. She changed doctors a few times over the years and I get the feeling that prescribed doses do change a bit from one to the other (some seem to try as little as possible as long as it keeps you in or close to the norm and there are no other ill effects, some seem to try and keep you well in the "norm".
I'm sure there's more science to it all than that (at least I hope there is), and someone will probably be around soon with better advice. On related note, did I ever tell you about my friend in A-level biology who got knocked a point for his diagnosis of hypothyriodism in cats? Just had another little 😆 at that memory - thanks.
Some folk take 400mcg of Thyroxine. NHS considers that Thyroxine works for everyone and completely ignores the evidence that says otherwise. Some folk take a combination therapy that includes Thyroxine. I've been forced to self medicate.
i know someone close to me whos been on 3x that for years.
However in answer to your question i dont know im afraid.
450mcg?? Blimey!
On a serious note the best thing you can do is to educate yourself. e-mail in profile and happy to answer any q's.
I get the feeling that prescribed doses do change a bit from one to the other (some seem to try as little as possible as long as it keeps you in or close to the norm and there are no other ill effects, some seem to try and keep you well in the "norm".
Some folk find they need to slightly increase their dose in the Winter.
I take 125mcg... had a part of the thyroid removed, I do have regular blood tests to check the dosage.
On a serious note the best thing you can do is to educate yourself. e-mail in profile and happy to answer any q's.
If you have a spare 10 years, if not speak to a doctor.
yes, found out about 4 years ago (41 now). i'm on 150mcg per day too, up from 125 from just after diagnosis. not sure if there is a limit, have you asked your doc?
as an added bonus i found out i'm type 1 diabetic last year, so much fun 🙂
after a quick google i found this:
An inadequate response to oral daily doses of 300 mcg/day or greater is rare and may indicate poor compliance, malabsorption, and/or drug interactions
from here:
[url= https://www.drugs.com/dosage/levothyroxine.html ]linky[/url]
If you have a spare 10 years, if not speak to a doctor.
FunkyDunc - I believe GPs only spend half a day on the endocrine system when training.
I believe GPs only spend half a day on the endocrine system when training.
I find that [i]extremely [/i]hard to believe.
I find that extremely hard to believe.
Many of us are dissatisfied with NHS care that seems to consist of our thyroid health being dependent on using a test that was never designed as a stand alone test. It's really not that simple.
[b]OP[/b] You may not get much medical input on this thread from Drs - There are people on STW who persistently paint GPs in an extremely bad light and seem to have a perpetual grudge, and some even say they think the NHS would rather some people died. This is one of the topics where such people might post.
150 is not a very high dose. Usually in the UK monitored by your TSH level and keeping that in the lower half of the normal range.
http://www.british-thyroid-association.org/Guidelines/ is where the current UK expert guidelines can be found and downloaded. Knock yourself out!
A statement of interest in the guidelines - which might also be applied to other conditions - is "It is acknowledged that a proportion of individuals on L-T4 are not satisfied with therapy and have persistent symptoms despite a normal serum TSH. Such symptoms should be given due consideration and patients should be thoroughly evaluated
for other potentially modifiable conditions. In some cases, a retrospective review of the original diagnosis of hypothyroidism may be necessary."
Patients with relatively mildly raised TSHs are often found to be biochemicaly hypothyroid during the investigation of fatigue and depression, with thyroxine prescribed to a level where TSH becomes normal leading to no improvement... because the patient had fatigue or depression, not symptomatic hypothyroidism. But receiving the physical disease label of hypothyroidism can get in the way of acceptng that the situation might be more complex.
Said my bit. I'm out.
In support of cinnamon_girl we've found it's very dependent on what doctor you get. Mrs Handsomedog has Hashimotos Hypothyroiditis (somewhat different to regular hypothyroidism but treated in the same way) and it took 5 years and at least 4 different doctors to obtain any kind of diagnosis and that includes several hospital consultants.
She's now with a doctor who is more concerned with her symptoms than her 'normal' blood levels and is ok with some experimentation of dosage.
OP You may not get much medical input on this thread from Drs - There are people on STW who persistently paint GPs in an extremely bad light and seem to have a perpetual grudge, and some even say they think the NHS would rather some people died. This is one of the topics where such people might post.
Stoatsbrother - assuming some/all of these comments are aimed at me? I'm sorry that you've interpreted my comments in that way but I certainly stand by my comment that the NHS would rather some people die. My experience with the NHS has been shocking and I shall be writing a blog in due course.
Moving on to those guidelines, these were updated last year I believe where it's now acknowledged that some patients aren't satisfied with Thyroxine. The NHS places patients in a little box where clinical signs and symptoms are ignored in favour of a one size fits all approach. One of the biggest problems is the guidelines stating that a TSH of 10 is needed before thyroid meds are offered. That is frankly sadistic as many patients, including myself, have been left unable to function and lead a normal life.
Only basic tests are done due to cost cutting therefore less information for diagnosis. Why leave a patient with a barely working thyroid without meds until such time as it fails completely? Does quality of life not come into this?
I would draw attention to a Petition that's currently before the Scottish Parliament, amongst the submissions are those from scientists that are worth reading:
http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01463
As an example here's one from a scientist:
Patients are being failed and a UK thyroid forum with 50,000 members would testify to that. Don't get me started on the regular proferring of anti depressants together with blatant sexism as the overwhelming majority of sufferers are female.
So how many symptoms of hypothyroidism do I need to exhibit before asking to be tested?
I just check the list and think I hit pretty much all of them apart from weight loss(!)
Extreme senstivity to heat, excessive sweating, palpitations, mood swings, trouble sleeping, lack of energy/weakness.. plus sore 'glands' when I press around the underside of my jaw.
If I have it, can I upgrade to the weight loss version?
Two of my sisters have hypothyroidism. They saw the doctor, were diagnosed pretty quickly and are now doing well.
This BTA document has more detail:
If you have a spare 10 years, if not speak to a doctor.
🙂
CG is to medical issues what TJ is to helmets....
CG is to medical issues what TJ is to helmets....
Hey footflaps, have only been commenting due to personal experience and knowledge gained. 🙂
Girlfriend has Hashimotos hypothyroidism. She changed her diet and was able too reduce her dosage to 1/2 of 25mg tablet every 3 days. This is the diet: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-3139/13-Ways-to-Treat-Hypothyroidism-Naturally.html
She has a lot of frustration with doctors not taking her seriously.
Slimjim78...
Your collection of symptoms include those from both hypo AND hyperthyroidism....
It's rather challenging to have a simultaneously over and underactive thyroid tbh.
DrP
Got to back up CG on this.
My wifes experience with hypothyroidism and trying to get treatment that would actually make her feel well rather than just surviving has been stressful, sad, upsetting and eye opening.
She's had to fight and fight and continue fighting every six months as they insist on periodic reviews with a consultant in order to be allowed a combination therapy with both T4 & T3 medications and I suspect we're only allowed to keep her on that because we lived abroad for a while and she was on it when we came back. Most doctors seem to have an apoplectic fit at the idea of using T3 (possibly because of the MASSIVE cost to the NHS, although why it costs £100s for the tablets here and a few euros elsewhere in Europe is beyond me).
Our experience has been that with hypothyroid treatment how you actually feel (lethargy, weight gain, low libido etc.) is all secondary to getting your blood results "in range". If you feel like crap and your bloods are in range that's fine, if you feel ok and your bloods are even just towards the top end of the range it's a full on my hairs on fire panic panic, you're going to die from a heart attack or your bones will crumble to dust because of osteoporosis.
Was diagnosed with an over active thyroid in my teenage years, cannot remember the dosage they popped me on but it seems to work and get it under control within a few years. Still have to have blood tests every 6 months to check my levels are stable, its swung either way a few times but not since reoccurred.
Both my sister, mum and auntie all diagnosed with an under active thyroid. Guess I was lucky...
Now that the initial rush is over, it seems to me to be worth asking if anyone else has comb-over eyebrows.
Only basic tests are done due to cost cutting therefore less information for diagnosis. Why leave a patient with a barely working thyroid without meds until such time as it fails completely? Does quality of life not come into this?
In this post and lots of previous ones, you have consistently that doctors have failed you/they are not educated.
It looks more like the truth is that you unfortunately need tests/treatment that isn't available on the NHS, which is a very different narrative from where you start.
It is very unfortunate for those affected, and your insight may be able to point them in the direction of treatment, but don't bash the NHS doctors who can only work within a system
Given up with my doctor as she clearly has no interest at all and just fobs me off. Been on 150mcg for years, everything is fine apparently despite numerous other symptons/issues. Moving surgery as I have moved house so perhaps the next one will pay more attention. If not I will just have to continue to suffer multiple issues I guess and spend my free time finding a way to stop paying NI
@FunkyDunc : Tests are available, we've had a number of instances of tests being requested by the Dr but the lab then refusing to run them and doing only the basic TSH test - which has been at least partly discredited. Who's treating the patient? The lab or the Doctor?
My wife's logic is (put simply) that the thyroid in the body of a normally functioning individual produces both T3 & T4 (besides many other things), for some reason the medical industry believes they can resolve thyroid malfunction with the addition of just T4, the endocrine system is massively more complicated than that!
Medically everyone in the industry will point at the recorded blood results and say "You're all fine, look! everything is in range". Anecdotally it's a very very different story. Many people are treated quite adequately with just T4. However, if you don't fit into that pigeonhole where it works for you, good luck it's a crap shoot.
As it happens I have also lost most of my eyebrows over the course of the last year or two. I put it down to them being sympathetic towards my scalp
Girlfriend has Hashimotos hypothyroidism. She changed her diet and was able too reduce her dosage to 1/2 of 25mg tablet every 3 days. This is the diet: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-3139/13-Ways-to-Treat-Hypothyroidism-Naturally.html
She has a lot of frustration with doctors not taking her seriously.
mudmonster - did she have a very high number of antibodies? Don't understand how half a tablet of Thyroxine (?) every 3 days can work but presumably due to very low antibodies now? I've not heard of such a low dosage before so very curious. 🙂
baldiebenty - excellent posts, you're spot on so thank you. The NHS only has one supplier of T3, you may have read about this:
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/extortionate-prices-add-260m-to-nhs-drug-bill-8mwtttwdk
CCG's are refusing to allow this to be prescribed on cost grounds so patients either have to purchase online from abroad or they switch to Thyroxine and feel worse.
Another option is NDT which is made from dessicated pig thyroid. This mimics a human thyroid gland and was used from the 1900's up until Thyroxine was manufactured in the 70's I think. Many patients successfully use this, again buying from overseas.
https://www.verywell.com/natural-desiccated-thyroid-drug-treatments-editorial-3233256
In this post and lots of previous ones, you have consistently that doctors have failed you/they are not educated.It looks more like the truth is that you unfortunately need tests/treatment that isn't available on the NHS, which is a very different narrative from where you start.
It is very unfortunate for those affected, and your insight may be able to point them in the direction of treatment, but don't bash the NHS doctors who can only work within a system
FunkyDunc - yes to your first paragraph. I have found doctors' knowledge on thyroid matters to be highly variable and, yes, I have been failed. Was left very ill, sleeping 18 hours per day, freezing cold, housebound, unable to talk due to not remembering words, unable to operate an oven or microwave etc etc. Could barely wash myself. I became suicidal, was repeatedly told that I wasn't hypothyroid.
The NHS doesn't test for FT3 nor for thyroglobulin antibodies nor does it routinely test for ferritin, vitamin D, vitamin B12 etc. Apparently the TSH test is the 'gold standard' but really all it's doing is making life easier for the doctor.
GP's are free to treat as they see fit following a clinical diagnosis, yes they have guidelines but those are not set in stone. From the General Medical Council Guidelines for Doctors "doctors must treat patients as individuals".
I understand that GPs have a challenging job and consider they've been treated very badly with regard to consultants being able to dump patients back into General Practice for GPs to treat. In other words consultants with highly specialised skills are having their work load lightened. This is not good news for the patient nor their GP who won't have this specialised knowledge. This includes thyroid disease plus other conditions which shocked me.
At the end of the day it's simplifying a sometimes complex health condition despite thyroid charities repeatedly saying and providing evidence that only using the TSH test and offering Thyroxine is failing patients.
Hoping the above makes sense.
Edit: here's a link to NICE:
http://cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroidism#!topicsummary
Will ask her when she gets in. Think it's the diet that has allowed her to reduce the dose.
@ c-g: reading how bad you were, I think you were lucky to escape a diagnosis of CFS/ME. Apropos of which...
http://www.virology.ws/2016/09/21/no-recovery-in-pace-trial-new-analysis-finds/
... the PACE trial may be heading for a re-think.
slowoldgit - thank you for those links and, yes, the second was definitely an easier read! There were several things that stood out such as meeting the required criteria, I don't understand how these can be 'measured' and it doesn't appear that a thorough medical examination was carried out. Yes, certain conditions were excluded but was comprehensive blood testing for vitamins and minerals done? Or was CRP checked? Etc etc.
If thyroid testing was done it would have meant that anyone with a TSH of less than 10 could have been included in the trial. There are numerous members of thyroid forums who've been diagnosed with CFS, ME, fibromyalgia but had obvious hypothyroid symptoms. Subsequently forced to self medicate resulting in improved health.
Another point was that the study did not include housebound participants. 'Results can not be extrapolated to those who are severely affected'. OK.
Finally amongst organisations involved were the Medical Research Council and on their Board are members with direct financial interests to the pharmaceutical industry including being employed by them. Hmmm.
Yes, you're right in that I was lucky to escape that diagnosis. Instead was repeatedly diagnosed with depression that I repeatedly disputed. Eventually I blew their stupid depression diagnosis right out of the water, that'll learn 'em.
Defending PACE trials from yesterday's Guardian:
Interesting that some requests for data were refused and Freedom of Information requests were needed to access this. Hmmm.
Have to admit that I struggled with interpretation but do wonder whether an opportunity was missed with regard to blood testing and in depth physical analysis. This is an incredibly complex health condition that surely would have benefited from a more thorough approach.
It's interesting, to me, that the Grauniad article mentions the blog [i](not peer reviewed)[/i] but not the item it's based on, two of the authors of which being from Berkeley and Columbia, respectively.
I feel desperately sorry for GPs who have to deal with crazy expectations and people spouting nonsense.
Just in defence of GPS (I don't say that too often as a hospital doctor 😀 ), the following is just completely incorrect. I'm sure a lot of the other stuff posted in this thread is too, but sifting through is depressing.
The NHS doesn't test for FT3 nor for thyroglobulin antibodies nor does it routinely test for ferritin, vitamin D, vitamin B12 etc. Apparently the TSH test is the 'gold standard' but really all it's doing is making life easier for the doctor.
Interested parties may wish to read up on the physiology of thyroid disease, T3/T4 production / conversion before commenting further and appearing dim. I learnt it all in my half day* of endocrine teaching 🙄
*sarcasm
Sorry Superficial, you're obviously lucky enough that you don't have to deal with this crap (or maybe the by-the-numbers approach has worked for you or yours, I'm not denying it works for some) as I'm not sure what nonsense or crazy expectations you're talking about. Feeling well? perhaps that's a "crazy" expectation.
I've seen the difference it can make when an attempt is made to help someone feel well. Using a balanced approach where there is an appreciation of all the human variation and nuances involved in the way that the human body works isn't crazy or nonsense.
I've also conversely seen the shit that can arise when an attempt is made to go by the book and get all those precious numbers within range and sod the effects, that way leads straight to hell, getting anti-depressants chucked at you like smarties. If you're on T4, you're TSH numbers are in range but you still feel like warmed over crap then you must be depressed seems to be the accepted approach. It's an ever downward spiral from there.
I can tell you as the spouse of a recipient of treatment that the Dr might order a FT3 test but that does not mean it will get run, we've experienced this on a number of occasions. It'll be interesting to see what happens this time around with the consultant as it clearly states on our current form that it's requesting for TSH, FT3 & FT4 to be run. Normally if TSH comes back within "range", they won't bother with FT3 & FT4.
Also ferritin, Vitamin D and B12 are not routinely performed tests, they'll only get done on a timetable, regardless of circumstances.
History of pernicious anemia in the family - check
Numbers showing steadily descending B12 & D values from the last 3 tests done - check
Last set of results (6 months ago) showing the numbers barely above the bottom of the allegedly acceptable range - check
Symptoms present possibly attributable to above - check.
Request to have re-tests - refused, "we'll only test every 12 months"
GPs (and indeed the whole NHS) are over-worked, under resourced and plainly unable to deal with this sort of situation in their proscribed 10 minute consultation. Even if they want to the system then lands on them like a ton of bricks if they try going outside the box to help a patient. Unfortunately because of our crazy system we have to go to them as a first port of call, every time for everything which only serves to add to their work load.
If I could get from the NHS a reliable source of T3 and pay for it to keep my wife feeling well and stop what will happen if they force her back to just T4 treatment(because of the cost of T3), I would. Fortunately other sources exist but we're not meant to go anywhere near these online pharmacies are we because they'll kill us apparently.
Superficial - I reckon baldiebenty has been far more eloquent than I could ever be and is spot on.
Am well versed on the physiology of thyroid disease as that applies to me and around 15% of hypothyroid patients. Whenever GPs have spoken to me about thyroid matters and I explain that I've been forced to self-medicate, I take xyz and start to explain the reason why. Without exception I've been shut down.
My bimbo tech skills have failed me with uploading this so shall just give the link. Where do I start???
If it wasn't for those pesky patients......with their:
crazy expectations and ......spouting nonsense
Why don't they go away and read up on their condition so that they don't appear dim when talking to me?
[Hmmmm, if they did that though, I'd then label them as 'anxious'.......]
But in the hospital, anxious takes on an entirely new meaning. Rather than a mere descriptor of a patient’s affect it fast becomes the prism through which the whole patient is viewed, and alas, often dismissed. An anxious patient can have a host of visible problems but the term anxious overshadows them all, detracting from better care of the ailments that may well have created the invisible anguish.I am speaking about the average patient in hospital who is vulnerable, usually ill-informed, steeped in well-intentioned but fragmented medical care, who sheds a disconsolate tear or looks upset and is quick to be labelled anxious. And before you know it, the label is tossed from doctor to nurse (or the other way around), from one handover to the next, until the occupant of Bed 17 becomes “that anxious man” instead of the human being whose hip is broken, whose pain is mounting, who doesn’t speak English and whose family is out of sight.
Lesson to patients:
You can't win, you can't draw, but you've got to play!!!!
Some Drs didn't get the 'Patient Involvement' email.
Am well versed on the physiology of thyroid disease as that applies to me and around 15% of hypothyroid patients. Whenever GPs have spoken to me about thyroid matters and I explain that I've been forced to self-medicate, I take xyz and start to explain the reason why. Without exception I've been shut down.
So you're [b]not[/b] well versed in the physiology of the other 85% of hypothyroid patients, i.e. the majority. Are they the ones that speak nicely to their GP and follow the suggestions?
Can't see why you would be "shut down"*
I'm pretty much familiar with GPs thatns to being diabetic, I don't always see why the things that are recommended are like they are, but I listen and work with them. My last A1C was 46, before that 52, so I'd say that following GP Practice and NHS advice has worked for me.
It's not all been perfect, had the odd blood test have missing results and had a shed load of problems with statins, but they all got sorted in the end.
Even given the limited appointment times and stretched resources my GP and Practice Nurse have been brilliant.
Stop knocking the NHS every five minutes, it's far better than Doctor Google.
(*Sarcasm)
Any of you suffers tried ashwagandha?
Chuckles at whimbrel's post. 😀
allan23 - with respect, this thread was started by a user asking if anyone here was hypothyroid and some have expressed dissatisfaction with their treatment. I am always polite with GP's, I didn't follow their suggestions as I knew they were wrong but managed to persuade them to let me have a trial of Thyroxine. I was given 25mcg of Thyroxine for one month and felt worse, was told I couldn't be hypothyroid as it would have made me feel better. My suggestion that I needed a higher dose for a longer period of time fell on deaf ears.
Strongly suspect that there is an acronym on my medical records, the only thing I'm guilty of is trying to improve my health so as I can ride my bike. So that has meant that I've read, read and read some more to educate myself. I've encountered too many who've shut me down cos they don't like informed patients and their inability to have an adult discussion. Shall continue to plough my own furrow, confident that I'm the only person truly concerned with my health.
allan23 - For many years my wife DID follow the advice of doctors, including at one point being put up to a dose of thyroxin that 6 months later had the same doctor in a panic that she was od'ing on T4. Only to bare-faced deny she had then prescribed that amount when questioned. We found the details of the prescription on her medical records when we had them output to take abroad.
That all resulted in the eventual prescription of anti-depressants and dismissal as a hypochondriac because she was constantly at the doctors complaining of exhaustion, muscle pain, difficulty concentrating etc.
It looks like cinnamon-girl like my wife has spent many many hours and days poring over reports, documents, anecdotal & pharmaceutical evidence & details of how the endocrine system operates as well as many websites and forums detailing the problems with Thyroid treatment both here in the UK and in other countries. This research has involved discarding a fair amount of nonsense and/or irrelevance along the way.
I cannot deny that T4 treatment does work for many, quite possibly the vast majority. Personally I have known a few people whose lives have been positively benefited by the prescription of T4. This approach did not work for my wife. Trust me on this, it REALLY did not work.
Tonight (Wednesday 8th February) 8.00 pm on BBC2 "Trust me I'm a Doctor" with Michael Mosley.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38895877
Article:
Facebook comments, over 250 so far:
https://en-gb.facebook.com/BBCLifestyleHealth/
Saw the BBC article earlier. Having recently moved doctors I am due a routine check on mine. I have never asked for the actual results before, just been told I am fine on current level, will make sure I get the figures this time.
just been told I am fine on current level, will make sure I get the figures this time.
Ideally you'd want the FT3 test carried out but it's normally an Endo who would authorise this. Private testing is available and not as expensive as you may think, I can supply links for finger prick ones as well as those done at private hospitals/private phlebotomists. Do ensure you ask for the ranges too, this link will help with understanding.
the info in this link is 90% complete bollocks #fakescience
I would say the title is misleading but in your opinion what isn't bollocks?
There are some basic facts that are correct, but there are so many mistaken concepts or jumps of twisted logic e.g. protein transports thyroxin in the blood (true), eat more protein and so transport more thyroxin (bollocks).
I have two daughters who are low and a now ex wife who is high. You don't have to have it to suffer from it! 🙂
There are some basic facts that are correct, but there are so many mistaken concepts or jumps of twisted logic e.g. protein transports thyroxin in the blood (true), eat more protein and so transport more thyroxin (bollocks).
OK, the Western diet is far too high in carbs with gluten being a particular problem for many including those with Hashi and high antibodies. Without wishing to generalise women often eat insufficient protein.
Would be interested to hear any further comments. 🙂
I have two daughters who are low and a now ex wife who is high. You don't have to have it to suffer from it!
Rubbish when inherited! Sorry that you're up against it. 🙁
This entire thread has horiffic parallels of GP ignorance and disinterest that my wife and I experienced over 4 years prior to getting a simple blood test to diagnose her primary hyperparathyroidism.
It's a slightly different condition, but the same unthinking dogma in how we were treated. We eventually sought advice from an American surgery on the topic who were streets ahead of current UK thinking, which, allowed us to successfully challenge gaps in her investigation and push for the correct tests.
When we finally got through to the consultant, they were totally upfront about GP endocrine knowledge being under developed.
We have the BTA to thank for that. A gentlemen's club, previously accompanied by the RCP, who refuse to stay up to date with research and dismiss patients with an arrogant air. There are however little signs that they are shifting, at tortoise speed, from their draconian position. However I doubt very much that patients will receive better treatment in my lifetime.
Just to add that the cost of buying my own thyroid meds has increased to £240 for the year.
Rubbish when inherited! Sorry that you're up against it.
Fortunately the youngest has responded extremely well to medication and everything is within normal limits. The ex wife is now in the process of trying to decide whether to go down the route of surgery or radioactive iodine. My elder daughter has only just being diagnosed but before she starts on thyroxine they need to get her iron levels up as she was also found to be anemic. Hopefully she will also respond well once she is on thyroxine. It does seem to be something that has for many years been missed in many people but awareness and testing do now seem to be slowly catching up with just how common a condition this is especially in women.
[b]avdave2[/b] hopefully your elder daughter will be prescribed iron, worth keeping an eye on the youngest too to ensure her levels are good. Your ex has a big decision to make and could be worth her joining UK thyroid forums to read/learn of the experiences of others. Need to sign up to read and post.
www.healthunlocked.com/thyroiduk (NHS Choices link to this) and home page
www.thyroiduk.org
www.tpauk.com (Thyroid Patient Advocacy)
Bump!
[b]For anyone taking Liothyronine and some other medications the NHS is consulting on items which should not routinely be prescribed in primary care. This will be used as guidance for CCG's.[/b]
It's a bit wordy and you do need to read the consultation document here:
Online Survey:
https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/consultation/items-routinely-prescribed/consultation/intro/
For anyone who isn't aware there has been a supply problem overseas for those of us who have to purchase our own Liothyronine. There has basically been a clampdown and many many thyroid patients have paid for medication that they're unlikely to receive. The supplier has refused to refund and it seems that nothing can be done.