Anyone from UK with hypothyroidism?

[mkb29]

Hi, I have been on Levothyroxine for 7 yrs, my last tsh test was 2.  I am due to see an endo next week as I still feel really bad - tired all the time (even with 12 hours sleep every night!) I have aches and pains in my neck, knees and hips, dry skin with eczema and feel very low most of the time with no 'get up and go'.  I have seen 3 doctors who said my symptoms were due to depression and I have tried 2 different anti-depressants and a course of counselling none of which made me feel any better.  I would like to try Amour Thyroid but I have heard that Drs and Endos in the UK won't prescribe it.  I would like to attend my appointment as clued up as possible to try and present a good argument to be able to try Amour, can anyone offer any advise on what to say to the endo?

[mkb29]

Hi,
Thanks for your reply.  I have read the letter in the link you attached and it is very informative.  However, if I was able to find a patient in the UK who has been successfully diagnosed and treated with Amour Thyroid or something from the British Medical Journal of Medicine it would maybe help me to persuade the endo next week to listen to me and by providing some research based material I may stand a better chance.  Do you know of anyone or any research papers that I can present at my appointment?  Many thanks.

[gimel]

Sorry, didn't mean to post that yet.  Meant to provide some additional info.

One of our UK members that has been successful in finally getting the right tests and treatment, posted this some time ago.

"I then found a pharmacy called Springfield Pharmacy on the outskirts of London, in Richmond, by reading forums.  They prescribe Erfa and the pharmacist called Mr Springfield there is very, very supportive.  It is expensive, though.  A month's worth of medication is £35.

And yes, in the UK, it is so hard to find a Dr to prescribe it to you because it's not one of the recognised medications in the British medicine book (I don't know what it's called).  They have to choose their medications that they prescribe from a book which allows the use of certain medications.

What I have learned from my experience is that you have to go to the Dr's office and TELL THEM WHAT YOU WANT and to go backed up with knowledge.  You have to tell them that you have done your reading and looked into your condition and care about the long-term treatment of your health and thyroid.  If you fight for what you want, you will eventually find someone that is happy to go along with your wishes.  But we all have to take charge of our own health, right?"

A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with from a distance, after tests and evaluation.  The letter is then sent to the participating PCP of the patient to help guide treatment.

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

[gimel]

From the experience of our UK members we know that it is far more difficult to get proper testing and treatment there.  First, TSH is a pituitary hormone that is totally inadequate as the sole diagnostic for thyroid issues.  At best it is only an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones,  Free T3 and Free T4 (not the same as Total T3 and T4). Many members, myself included, say that symptom relief for them required that Free T3 adjustment into the upper third of its range and Free T4 adjustment to around the middle of its range.   Other tests that are very important for hypo patients are Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin.  Similar to the Frees, midpoint of the range or above is better.