"The first step in my diagnosis occurred when I was working at the NHS and was offered a finger prick cholesterol test. This was high so I was advised to see my GP. Further blood tests showed I had sub-clinical hypothyroidism and a year later my hypothyroidism diagnosis was confirmed.

I was given the standard treatment for my condition, Levothyroxine. However, 7 years on, the fatigue, weight gain, brain fog and many other new symptoms were badly impacting on me and making me feel old and depressed. I sought help from my GP, thinking I needed more levothyroxine, but he was rude and dismissive and offered to refer me to the local mental health services for depression.

At that point, in 2015, I realised that I needed to research my own condition. Through this research I suspected that I might have a faulty gene that affects conversion of thyroid hormone T4 to the active hormone T3. I paid for a private test and this confirmed a faulty DIO2 gene. I suspected that I needed to be moved on to combination therapy, both T3 (liothyronine) and T4 (levothryoxine). I was able to persuade a different GP at my surgery to refer me to an Endocrinologist and thankfully he was in agreement that I might benefit from a trial of liothyronine, but told me that I would have to source the T3 myself. My CCG no longer supported the use of T3 because the cost had risen by up to 6000% in a decade while remaining low-cost in Europe.
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Subsequent years have been spent fighting to get my liothyronine on the NHS as the trial proved very successful and I experienced a significant improvement in my symptoms. The Thyroid Trust has been a very supportive resource to me. In a short space of time this small charity has made its mark amongst the various charities and organisations that help patients. It has arranged many very interesting events with highly relevant experts and continues to fight for better diagnosis and treatment for all thyroid patients."

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T3 and the NHS

National NHS and specialist guidance is clear that patients who need liothyronine should be prescribed it on the NHS, providing treatment is initiated and overseen by an NHS endocrinologist. It is a specialist treatment and specialists don't all agree on when it is appropriate to be used, so if it's something you would be interested in trying, check with the doctor's secretary whether they sometimes prescribe it, or not, before you consult with them, or you may be disappointed. Bear in mind too, that we are all individuals and that what works for one person may not work for another. 

Unfortunately in some local areas, local health authorities have restrictive local prescribing policies in place, due to the cost, which can make it very hard for clinicians to prescribe.  We have been working hard to address this situation since we started The Thyroid Trust. See our T3 News and Resources page if this is of interest to you. 
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Appearing on BBC South East TV

 Mary's story was featured as the lead news story on BBC South East television news, lunchtime and evening broadcasts, on 28th June 2018.  Thanks to Mary Saunders for bravely talking to the cameras and helping raise awareness of the issues around access to liothyronine that she and many other patients have been facing.  

Supporting The Thyroid Trust

Read about Mary's amazing running challenge in January 2021 when she chose to help raise vital funds to support The Thyroid Trust! ​ Thank you Mary - you're a Thyroid Champion!