I am campaigning for a change in clinical practice
re interpretation of thyroid blood tests results and the treatment
of thyroid conditions.
Over a period of 23 years I was misdiagnosed 6 times with serious
diseases and treated for them all. The diseases, epilepsy, coeliac
disease (allergy to the protein in wheat and rye). I was on the coeliac
diet for 11 years, polymyalgia rheumatica (muscle disease), treated
with high doses of steroids, depression, ME, (myalgicencephalomyelitis)
and myasthenia gravis ( a very grave muscle disease) and again treated
with high doses of steroids ), I was treated for the latter disease
for nearly 3 years.
Eventually I was directed to Dr Durrant-Peatfield, Surrey. He diagnosed
a low thyroid condition. Previous blood tests for low thyroid function
were in the 'normal range'. Dr Peatfield did not use the blood test
results as the sole indicator for diagnosis.
I was started cautiously on thyroid replacement therapy and after
2 weeks my head cleared ( from the fog ). After that, progressively,
week by week, good health returned to me.
Many people have said that the blood tests for thyroid function are
unreliable. Is this the case or are the blood test RESULTS
misinterpreted?
If we say that laboratory tests are unreliable, that puts the onus
on the biochemist in the laboratory. Is this really where the problem
lies? The biochemist measures the hormone as accurately as he can
but he does not know the patient or the patients signs and symptoms,
yet many times a biochemist writes on the blood test result NORMAL.
What he means is that results lie within the normal range. Your doctor
will take that to mean that the patient is not suffering from a thyroid
condition. Lack of education re: doctors'.
The doctor knows the patient and their signs and symptoms but, in
the main, does not know how to interpret the blood test results yet
uses the blood test results to be the sole determining factor for
diagnosis and management of hypothyroidism. The medical profession
should be looking at signs, symptoms, history and carrying out a clinical
appraisal and using the blood test results as one indicator only.
Did you have a blood test for thyroid function when you were well?
Of course not, there was no need! Then how do the medical profession
know where your base-line is?
This is but one area, in clinical practice today, where there is a
problem with diagnosis and management of thyroid conditions. Read
about the others in
PROBLEMS WITH DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF THYROID CONDITIONS
As a sufferer I have researched this problem because I wanted to know
why I was told that I did not have a thyroid condition when I was
so obviously hypothyroid (under active thyroid gland). I ran a help-line
for 3 years and spoke to approx: 6,000 contacts. Nearly everyone's
story was a variation on a theme. So many were told that they were
suffering from depression or ME.
I met up with Dr Gordon Skinner MD (Hons) DSc FRCPath FRCOG a Consultant
Virologist and spoke to him of my theories. Dr Skinner had a great
interest in ME/CFS( myalgicencephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome).
He asked if I would assist him at his clinics. I did this for nearly
three years, and I was horrified at the condition of the patients
when they arrived at the clinic. Some arrived in wheelchairs and were
so obviously poorly, (it took me right back in time). Others were
just literally on 'automatic'. No real life about them, no sense of
humour and a hopeless despair in their body language.
I have just read a book by Terry Waite, titled, 'Taken On Trust' chronicling
the time he was taken hostage and and kept in solitary confinement
for 4 years. I can equate with this. When I was poorly, it was like
living in solitary confinement with society. I felt locked into my
body. Only those who have been through this will understand what I
mean. Terry requested many things but was refused and tried to get
his captors to listen to reason all to no avail. Does the story sound
familiar - yes! Will the doctors listen to us? - No! - No matter how
much logic we put forward.
At the clinics we saw hundreds of patients return to good health.
the majority suffering with hypothyroidism.
My own illness and the information
I had collected from interviewing hundreds and hundreds of patients
at the clinic spurred me on to write about my experiences.
My
first book was published in 1998 titled 'Tears Behind Closed Doors'
My Story, Other Stories,My Research and findings, What's Happening
Out There (some of the quotes from GP's or consultants to patients'
are very disturbing),Fluoride the Great Thyroid Antagonist, A Brief
history of Clinical Thyroidology, he Conclusion and my Recommendations.
'TEARS
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS'
is
available from
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Barryhullah@btopenworld.com
I
have written this book to raise awareness
of the problems with diagnosis and management of thyroid conditions.
For
too long doctors have relied on blood test results for thyroid function
to be the sole determining factor for diagnosis and management of
thyroid conditions. Instead they should be looking to the signs, symptoms,
patient history and carrying out a clinical appraisal.
Read
this book and you will become informed and therefore you can make
informed decisions and together with your doctor you can decide the
best way forward for a return to good health.
IT
IS PACKED WITH INFORMATION TO HELP SUFFERERS APPROACH THEIR DOCTORS
GO TO
PROBLEMS
WITH DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF THYROID CONDITIONS
GO
TO TOP OF PAGE
