Comments on: Sock it to ‘em, Sheila of TPA-UK! She has asked some STRONG questions!

By: Miss Anon

Miss Anon — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 23:00:40 +0000

Thankyou so much for all the work you have put into this site I only found it recently,for the past several years I thought I was going mad being treated like the most stupid person on the planet every time I approached a Gp with my thyroid problems,(my father had the same which my mother told me about 30years ago were what caused his heart disease)The weight gain and tiredness are heartbreaking when previously I had always been fit, but another one is when you can’t put anything into relationships anymore the love is there just no enthusiasm. My sister tells me that when she was working as a gps receptionist the pharma reps would go in with presents such as gold watches to get the gps on their side, so even if they were educated in thyroid the £ signs were trebling before their eyes and ringing in their ears. I think we need to get out and march down downing street before the next election.I will muster up the energy if I have to stay in bed for a week after it, is their anyone else in the UK up for it? Thanks for Sheila Turners blog about self medication I have’nt done it so far but as days go by I get more desperate, especially knowing that I am not the only one anymore Thanks again so very much for letting me know this I can’t tell you how indebted I am you have let me hold out for hope. Good Luck to you and all those poor suffers out there.

By: Theresa Roberts

Theresa Roberts — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 12:16:10 +0000

Carole (and others),

CBC Radio One (across Canada) will be airing a story tonight at 6:00 Eastern about desiccated thyroid. You can listen live on your local station, stream it live on the CBC website http://www.cbc.ca/worldthisweekend/, or download the podcast (you may have to subscribe, which is free, to download). I am one of the Canadian patients who had a chance to talk to Pauline while she was preparing her research for the piece, and I was very impressed with her understanding of the issue. I hope it is available outside of Canada, and I hope it helps spread the word about the efficacy of desiccated thyroid and the difficulty many patients have while on synthetic thyroid.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 10:57:48 +0000

The Royal College of Physicians is a joke organisation.

They set guidelines but don’t provide references until the issue is forced.

They fail to conduct a complete literature review.

They ignore any evidence that doesn’t comply with their pre-assigned agenda.

They don’t keep up to date with international advances in thyroid care.

The only thyroid specialist in the RCP is this guy:
http://thyroid.about.com/od/weetman/AP_Tony_Weetmans_Controversy_over_Thyroid_Disease_as_Mental_Illness.htm

So what hope do British thyroid patients have?

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:43:55 +0000

The healthcare reform itself isn’t the big issue, it’s efforts like John McCain’s Dietary Supplement Bill – which panders to big pharma through thinly disguised “consumer protective” acts.

Thankfully this bill died, however, Washington is full of special interests and one of the most gigantic and fearsome (to our health) is the pharma (& ag) lobbys. Anything that squashes our easy access to natural supplements, natural foods, or historically proven healing resources, is at risk.

By: Karina

Karina — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:27:04 +0000

British docs were never known for their abilities. As a British citizen living in the US, I’m glad I have options…If they ban dessicated here, I will get it from Thailand if I have to fly there myself to get it!
T4 only NEVER AGAIN!

By: Siobhan

Siobhan — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:41:53 +0000

I really really worry that with the way our health care is going with this new “reform”, we’ll be facing similar challenges here in the US soon.

By: Dwayne

Dwayne — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:30:47 +0000

I agree with Eric. It’s all about the ego and not about what treatment is good for patients with thyroid disease. However, I do think more and more people are catching on more rapidly now to this mess and eventually they may not have a choice since people are so pissed they have been treated so badly for so long especially when you throw some good old adrenal fatigue in there- it’s only a matter of time before the whole T4 therapy comes crumbling down- it will take time but in the end they will have to do something. Especially since more and more people will do what they have to for themselves and side track the whole know it all doctor path. I still say holistic doctors are the best doctors to go to- they truly understand.

By: L. Morgan

L. Morgan — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:26:31 +0000

I fear that one day the FDA will strip us of the right and access to Natural Thyroid Hormone, too. With all of the issues we’re having right now with trying to find meds, it’s not that far fetched.

There needs to be a revolution. We talk amongst ourselves on these wonderful sites including STTM–Thank God for them.

But, I keep saying that it’s time that we take it to the streets (i.e.Congress, The AMA, etc.) in an effort to educate and make it better and easier to obtain NTH and knowledgable physicians.

If we don’t, upcoming Endocrinologist and other doctors will continue to be misinformed about NTH and veteran Endocrinologists will continue their arrogant practices of ignoring harmful symptoms and results that many people experience from taking Synthetic Thyroid Hormone.

I don’t know how we can come together and fight, but I know that I’m willing and wanting to share my story about Synthetic with med students, medical review boards, etc. And, I think there are tons of people who are willing to do the same thing.

In fact, it’s not a question as to if we should fight. It’s a necessity. If we don’t, we could very well be dealing with the same issues–doctors who don’t get it, etc.–twenty years from now.

By: Carole Hayes

Carole Hayes — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:38:04 +0000

Janie, have you tried using HARO (Help a Reporter Out) (http://helpareporter.com/) to find a reporter interested in taking this on? You can sign up as a source, and interested reporters will contact you.

By: Anita Buchanan

Anita Buchanan — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:38:15 +0000

THANKS SHEILA for putting together all these questions and links. It’s absolutely brilliant! The NHS ‘treatment’ for thyroid problems is a total disgrace, not only in the UK but all over the world. Thanks to Janie too for ‘Stop The Thyroid Madness’. It gives hope to many of us that someone is fighting for us and that there is a light in the end of the tunnel and not to give up.