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Hypothyroidism

Awareness campaign needed

From Mr E. Horne, FRPharmS

I was pleased to read the important letter from Margaret Martin (PJ, March 24, p392). My wife has had a similar experience and has been seen by her general practitioner over a considerable period when he has been treating symptomatically all the manifestations of hypothyroidism, eg, fybromyalgia, scaling skin, overweight, cold limbs and, most important of all, tiredness and fatigue causing frequent falling asleep. The various conditions were put down to diet, and the skin dryness from “too much sun abroad” and the pains in arms and legs was from being overweight. The GP was finally persuaded to have blood tests done for osteoarthritis, and when the results came back they indicated a case of hypothyroidism that had been progressing for almost 10 years. My wife immediately began treatment with thyroxine. The prognosis is, of course, excellent, but the condition has to be diagnosed in the first place. It is underdiagnosed and there should be a national campaign to increase awareness of this common, controllable condition.

In the United States, there is a national campaign sponsored by Oprah Winfrey. As the United Kingdom tends to follow the US, albeit a little way behind, I think our time has come for positive action.

Edgar Horne
Sale, Cheshire

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