So A Year Later.....

[KrazyK]

Hi all,

i have not posted in a while or looked at this site, but i guess back again since my up and downs and constant problems....

finally mange to hopefully find a decent GP, fingers cross

had the appointment last week.... Doc as standard got me to take a blood test but its a month later...

is there any such way to get this sooner with our paying for private was just wondering since my local hospital dont do this no more....

also she has me on the lower tablets for now from when i was taking or prescribed almost 6 months or more back of 200mg

currently on Levothyroxine 50mcg (actavis) one aday..

any advice or help would be appreciated

thanks

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Are you saying that it has been a month and you still have not got the results?

Round here (and we are not unusual) blood tests such as standard thyroid tests and full blood count would usually be back with the doctor within a day, maybe two days. Antibody and some other tests do often take longer.

And she dropped you from 200 to 50? That is, to say the least, a dramatic drop.

I'd go so far as to say that if you need that big a drop, there is a huge question mark over what you do need. You simply cannot expect someone to undergo that sort of reduction and not keep a very, very close eye on them.

Rod

[KrazyK in reply to helvella]

Um well i stopped going to the previous doctor i had as they were useless and screwed me around, so thats why after a year of searching ive found a good GP..

after seeing her and been told that my blood test appointment as they are so busy is a month later.. so thats why i was wondering if there was any other way around it..

um the drop was because my previous gp and pharmacy had me on 200mg for the last 7 months or so but i stop taking them since it made me more sick and i lost faith and trust in that GP.. soo this docs starting me on the basic again as ive been off any meds for 6 months or more...

thanks for your reply Rod

[vajra]

I'd be concerned too K, especially at the thought that you've been from 200mcg (you listed mg, but i'm presuming that's a typo, and that it's T4) of hormone to zero.

The former is in most of us close to a complete replacement dose. It seems unlikely that you could feel remotely well on both - and 200mcg could be getting you into unsafe territory if you don't need it.

It sounds like as you say a case of finding a decent doctor and working with him/her. The blood tests are not necessarily reliable so far as fine tuning a patient to a state of feeling well is concerned, but they are still an important indicator of what's going on and should pick up a major over or under replacement issue.

Most doctors will normally make only small changes to dosage at a time - i've not seen more than 50mcg. Except (guessing) in exceptional circumstances - maybe after a thyroidectomy, or where there is obvious and severe overdosing or underdosing and the situation will result in frequent re-testing.

25mcg of T4 is in my own case the difference between over and under replacement.

A month's delay before blood testing sounds long - but maybe your new doc took bloods when he/she saw you and has arranged it as a follow up to see how you are getting on after a small dose adjustment.

Most doctors treating thyroid take blood when they see you, and have results back from the local hospital lab in a few days. They don't always pass the result on to you immediately though.

It can take a while (several months or more depending on both luck and judgement) to dial in a replacement dose to leave us feeling well. The best input we can make as a patient in that situation is to take it steady, co-operate and try to express openly and clearly to the doctor what we're doing and feeling.

Those of us that have been at it for while tend to have a fair idea what's going on (hypo symptoms tend to be very noticeable) - but bear in mind that it can at times be very hard to tell the difference between over replacement and under replacement.

If you're being asked to take or stop taking something that seems to be causing a definite and continuing problem in terms of feeling unwell, then it's important to get back and clearly raise it with the doc. If the situation continues, and you can't get him/her to address it then by all means get another opinion...

ian

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Your definition of a "decent" GP differs somewhat to mine!

I would suggest a Doctor you can't see for a month is as much use as no Doctor at all, and one that withdraws 75% of a necessary treatment without even so much as an initial blood test result and just leaves you to get one with it is a positive danger!