news

WOW a whole year has passed...

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:51:43 +0100

since my last blog here! I'm actually not surprised...this has been a difficult year for many in Christchurch...earthquakes & snow, broken houses & roads & lives. Stress does crazy things to those of us needing thyroid hormone replacement - it increases the need, as does the cold weather! So Spring & Summer are welcome sights here...although today's wind is rather wicked, it just blew our chicken coop over so a rebuild is definitely on for this weekend!
I'm sure we are all looking forward to Christmas & the New Year with renewed hope for the future.

Two important things to remember when getting a WTE script...

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 03:37:03 +0100

1/ Make sure the doctor writes it correctly - tablet or capsule strength, total pills ordered AND the words Take as Directed... not Take 1 daily - This is particularly important if you are self-dosing and not strictly following the GP's dosing plan. You could end up with only 90 pills...enough for 1 per day for 90 days.
2/ Make sure whoever faxes your script to PCNZ (you or your pharmacist or dr) - keeps a record of when they sent it so the excuse..."We haven't received the script yet" can be refuted.

I've just been through this farce for the second time... even after dictating word for word what needed to go on the script, my gp (or his receptionist) still got it wrong!
Script went to PCNZ on 28/10 - I finally got (half) my pills today... 10/11 pretty much 2 weeks all up.

Thyroid Vote 2010: Thyroid Hormone Replacement Drugs

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:36 +0100

Are you a Synthrocrat or an Armourarian? A Levoxylite or Cytomelican? Or maybe you are just proud to be a generican? Make sure you take part in today's Thyroid Vote 2010!
http://thyroid.about.com/b/2010/11/02/thyroid-vote-drugs.htm

Cellulose filler is not good!

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 22:05:47 +0100

Read Janie's latest blog regarding the cellulose that is regularly used as a filler in our tablets & capsules!
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2010/08/04/sues-remarkable-and-shocking-story-about-cellulose/

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 21:55:09 +0100

It’s very common for thyroid patients to be low in vitamins, minerals & other hormones etc
Some examples are...
Iron/Ferritin, Vitamin D, Vitamin B's,
Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc,
Selenium, Iodine, DHEA, Cortisol,
Progesterone, Estrogen, Testosterone

Have you checked your levels lately?

World Register of Counterexamples to Levothyroxine (T4-only) Therapy

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:31:28 +0100

We are in the process of helping with the creation of the first ever WORLD REGISTER OF COUNTEREXAMPLES TO LEVOTHYROXINE (T4)-ONLY THERAPY. The objective of this Register is to draw to the attention of those responsible authorities the dire need for an urgent re-examination of the existing protocol for the diagnosis and management of the those suffering the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

PLEASE NOTE: This questionnaire is for the use of ONLY those people who were prescribed levothyroxine (T4-only) that failed to relieve or eliminate their symptoms, who then started using a T3 containing hormone (liothyronine, Cytomel or natural thyroid extract).

Please note that all responses will be collated automatically online.

www.tpa-uk.org.uk/register_of_counterexamples.php

World Thyroid Register

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:39:37 +0100

Dr. Gordon RB Skinner MD DSc FRCOG FRCPath
has begun a World Thyroid Register which will consist of a list of completely confidential names. It is hoped to gather at least 50,000 signatories, with the goal of rallying the signatories to mount campaigns to deal with issues related to thyroid patients worldwide. Please take the time to sign this register - we need to make a stand together!

Names and email addresses will be confidential, and not shared.

http://www.worldthyroidregister.com/default.html

http://thyroid.about.com/b/2010/06/29/world-thyroid-register-gordon-skinner.htm

Read the latest from Janie Bowthorpe - Stop the Thyroid Madness

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:06:35 +0100

It happens often – someone will join a patient group, and right off the bat, you notice they are very defensive about certain subjects, know-it-all argumentative, condescendingly overbearing, and/or paranoid.
They may quickly fly off the handle. They might see implications in words that were never there. They can also be childish in their reactions, obsessive about certain topics or people, mistrustful of others, forgetful, combative, and/or jittery.
Even worse, combine someone with intelligence and a way with words along with all of the above, and you’ve got a royal pain in the butt.
And the worst part? Most have no idea how badly they are manifesting the above.
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2010/06/08/defensive-paranoid-frequently-anxietal/

If you use PTU to treat hyper/Grave's, please read this warning.

Thu, 20 May 2010 07:42:02 +0100

FDA Issues Warning About Thyroid Drug Propylthiouracil

Be aware that severe liver injury has occurred in patients taking propylthiouracil.
Read the Medication Guide when picking up a prescription for propylthiouracil. It will help you understand the potential risks and benefits of this medication.
Contact your healthcare professional if you have fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, itchiness, dark colored urine, or yellowing of your skin or eyes while taking propylthiouracil.
Propylthiouracil may be the treatment of choice during and just before the 1st trimester of pregnancy (weeks 1-12). Talk to your healthcare professional if you are pregnant (or plan to become pregnant) and are taking a medication to treat hyperthyroidism.
Tell your healthcare professional about any medication you are taking or medical conditions you may have before taking propylthiouracil.
Do not stop taking propylthiouracil unless told to do so by your healthcare professional.

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm209023.htm

Thyroid Surgery without a neck Scar!!!

Thu, 20 May 2010 07:36:48 +0100

THYROID SURGERY WITHOUT A NECK SCAR:
EXPLORING SCARLESS TRANSAXILLARY ROBOTIC THYROID SURGERY WITH DR. EMAD KANDIL
If you are going to have a thyroid surgery down the line, you will definitely want to learn more about a new technology -- scarless underarm robotic thyroid surgery. You end up with no visible scar, and there is a faster recuperation time and
less pain associated with this groundbreaking new surgical technique. http://thyroid.about.com/od/cancergoiternodules/a/transaxillary-robotic-thyroid-surgery.htm