A Funny Thing Happened at the Doctor's....

[marram]

I had to go for an ECG to my GP's surgery and the nurse who was doing it is a very helpful and sympathetic individual.

She called me in almost 15 minutes early (I am always early for appointments and it often pays off!). While getting ready I mentioned that I was having the ECG because of the heart damage due to under-treatment of the thyroid.

She suddenly said "I've been worried about my thyroid lately, and I've been told there is nothing wrong" We had a discussion of her symptoms while she was waiting for the next patient to arrive.

It seems she suddenly put on weight last year and got very tired and bloated. Then at the start of March this year she suddenly lost a lot of weight and felt anxious, exhausted and had symptoms of a racing heart.

To cut a long story short (her next patient had still not arrived!) she is going to ask her own GP to do tests for TSH, T4 and T3 plus antibodies.

Let's hope that she gets the tests she needs, or as I advised her, that if not, she has them done privately.

[Marz]

.....things happen for a reason ! Am sure she will soon be most grateful.

[marram in reply to Marz]

I sometimes feel the urge to advise complete strangers to go and have thyroid tests! I do tend to resist unless the subject comes up.

[Marz in reply to marram]

......me too ! Went to experience an Indian Guru practice his Meditation with a crowd of over 50 people. I did not see too many suspects ! Just one poor lady who had to leave the room....I wanted to help - but my Greek is not good enough ! Surprisingly few had outward symptoms - so perhaps Meditation is the way to go !

Not for me as sitting up straight in the classic Meditation pose hurts my back too quickly and I need to fidget. !!

Maybe a good idea to have a Business Card printed with the website of Thyroid UK on it and other references - eg books. Then all you have to do is hand it out to people who may need the help !

Shall see a few candidates this evening when we go the Amphitheatre in the village to watch a play....lots of Northern Europeans. They think I am as mad as a box of frogs when I discuss VitD.....we live in the sun so that's OK !! Sadly when hubby and I were tested we were sufficient and deficient respectively ! After 10 years of living here....oh well - better to be informed and act accordingly or just enjoy life in a different way !

[LouiseRoberts in reply to Marz]

Something like this...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/get_in...

Louise

x

[Marz in reply to LouiseRoberts]

....that would certainly be a start - will print some off and pop them in my bag ! Do you do them in Greek !!

I feel that sometimes people are happy with the diagnosis - take the T4 and suffer the symptoms still - and have no desire to improve things. Maybe that is part of the illness.....

Thanks Louise - you are a STAR ! x

[LouiseRoberts in reply to Marz]

no, sorry!

If you want to get me a translation, happy to reproduce in Greek...

xx

[Marz in reply to LouiseRoberts]

...that is way beyond the call of duty !! Such a kind offer but think I will stick to the English speaking ex-pats. Already have a few I am helping and keep referring them to Thyroid UK,

[anuska in reply to marram]

marie i do it all the time. constantly. i ahve a hyper colleague that she has decided to stop taken her medication. i tell her off constanly. she is only 20 and i say you will regret it. get it sorted now that youa re young

in the party the other day i was says to another colleague whose doctor things she is depressed. i told her have this test done and please if you need recommendation or info let me know. i dont want anyone to go trught what i did. it is horrible

[marram in reply to anuska]

We have to be pro-active because he medical profession is not, apparently! When we see someone who looks as if he or she might have thyroid problems, our immediate thought is- 'Has anyone told her(him)? has she/he been trying to get treatment? can I help?

You would think that health professionals would think like that, but nowadays they would probably think - No, I'm not on duty.

[Hidden in reply to marram]

Me too. Hope I don't stare too much.

The wife of a Manager of local shop used to work there for a few hours sadly no longer. She has been diagnosed with dementia. Of course that may be correct but for months i could see her getting bald bloated shaking sweating and very talkative. Eventually she could not work any more. She would always change the subject if you asked her if she felt well or how are you?

I asked her husband to insist on thorough thyroid checks being done and he said 'oh yeh we've had all those'. I think about her often and when I ask him he does not want to talk and just says 'same old' don't know what I am going home to! and moves on.

Just waiting for another opportunity...hopefully he will not ban me from the shop.

Got chatting to young HCA who told me it took her eight years to get thyroxine dose right!!? and she was concerned for one of her children but no one would take her seriously.

Twice I have been asked by a stranger if I had thyroid probs and given kindness & help. Other times I think people have thought I was the worse for the drink! wyn

[PinkNinja in reply to marram]

Me too

[Hidden]

Hope you gave her the website - thyroiduk.org!

L

xx

[marram in reply to Hidden]

Ohhhhhh, yessss!

[LouiseRoberts in reply to marram]

*like*

[rosetrees]

I often find that the practice nurses are more open minded and understanding than the doctors! Good for you and I hope you really have helped her.

A "funny" thing happened to me with a doctor last week. I went to see a cardiologist for a follow up appointment. I told him I had thyroid/adrenal problems - which he accepted at face value. He asked what I was taking - and wrote down my long list without comment.

I told him how my blood pressure was dropping dramatically when I crashed. He looked me straight in the eye and said "yes, that's typical of an adrenal crisis".

I was speechless. It's only taken 37 years for someone to say that. Would he have said it if I hadn't already told him I have adrenal problems? Probably not.

[BexyLS in reply to rosetrees]

totally agree! my bloods nurse is great and said you probably still dont feel well with a TSH of 4.73. my doc said i dont want to raise your dose as you are close to the range! grrr

[Thyroidmeg]

I had to go for an ECG due to blood pressure which I think is due to my thyroid. The nurse howeverdiesnt care because my tsh is normal

[Hidden in reply to Thyroidmeg]

Thyroidmeg, sometimes they say the daftest things to put you at ease and it would be better if they stuck to the weather.

I have heard some refer to television medical soaps (which I do not watch) only flicked past them a few times when I did watch television (part of the reason I gave it up. ie., 'it;s not like in ER you know' !!An insult to my intelligence

It is only through friend relative or personal experience that they are likely to know about TSH significance or NOT. It is after all the GP's job.

I have had a couple of brilliant nurses who really had a vocation and one pointing out to Consultant the vitiligo and tremor. They worked well together and she was not in afraid of him. Another time a good male nurse was shouted at by the female Consultant whilst I was in the room..oh if looks could kill!?

Hope the ECG had a good result for you.

[Thyroidmeg in reply to Hidden]

I think it was worse as ECG was in hospital some people doctors surgery have an ECG .

[Thyroidmeg]

I hope so too thanks

I just want to be well and not have to visit the surgery as it just stresses me out!

[Hidden in reply to Thyroidmeg]

Oh I feel the same. I always plan a treat for myself after and come home and flop out on the couch and remember all that I could/should have said. Masochist!!!

Sometimes have written notes on my hand. Bit of paper used to get a bad reaction from Doctors but now am getting to the dementia age they may be more understanding!

My ECG was done at the surgery and ... yes going to hospital is angsty.....the whole thing of getting there and staff sometimes under more pressure.

All the best hope good news very soon. wyn

[Thyroidmeg in reply to Hidden]

Bp was high today cholesterol was very slow.

I have to think about whether to get pills for bp now

. I think a quiet night then plan my exercise and diet because I'm determined to lower weight and bp . I might get t3 tests private incase that is not helping the weight thing!

Thanks

[Hidden in reply to Thyroidmeg]

Thyroidmeg, have you read this thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/news_a....

Just read your posts am fuming that a Nurse would tell you TSH is complicated and you would not understand it.

You are way too young to be wasting precious time with that kind of attitude. I feel she is referring to her own woefully inadequate knowledge of thyroidectomy and thyroid disease.

Will find link to what you can expect from the NHS and post here later.

Sleep well and hopefully tomorrow you will make an appointment with someone recommended on thyroiduk.org and get the treatment you need and the weight will not be an issue.

wyn

[Thyroidmeg in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that I feel I'm not alone on here. I'm embarrassed that I'm always cold I get tired after work and just want an early night. So many other symptoms too

I eat really healthy 99% of the time I walk everyday I am Not lazy or greedy although I'm made to feel that way

[Hidden in reply to Thyroidmeg]

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/news_a...

Sorry other link ooopsd!

[Thyroidmeg in reply to Hidden]

Interesting he's originally from Glasgow like me

[Hidden in reply to Thyroidmeg]

nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Right...

And ME too..now down south.

[Hidden in reply to Thyroidmeg]

In case you have not visited the site...on theLH side Getting Treatment...drop down menu...private recommended Consultants

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/index....

[Thyroidmeg]

Great thanks.