Amusing or just plain sad.

[Moggie]

Hi All,

If this situation wasn't so serious it would be funny, in actual fact it did make me smile but it shouldn't have.

Had blood tests for ferritin and TSH last week and phoned on Friday for the results. Took me a while to get the silly receptionist to understand what she was reading but managed to get out of her that my Ferritin was 37 (range 13 - 150) so I still have a way to go with that and, according to her, my TSH wasn't done.

Me - Why

Her - Don't know, would you like me to get a doctor to ring you back"

Me - Yes please.

He duly rang me back and even before I had a chance to say anything he came out with:-

Doctor - "I've been reading your notes, and letters from endocrinologist, but had to give up half way through because they are too complicated and I don't really understand them"

Although this statement surprised me, and didn't fill me with confidence, I wasn't that worried as I only wanted to know why my TSH wasn't done - I just made a mental note to never see him at the surgery.

Me - I would like to know please why wasn't my TSH done?

Doctor - It was, the result was 0.16

Me - So I'm over medicated again (I had been getting bad palps again for the last two weeks)

Doctor - It looks that way but as I said, you are a very complicated case.

Me - Lucky I reduced my Levo last night down to 100 then wasn't it, so maybe I'll do alternate 100's and 125's to see how I go.

Doctor - No, no, no, you cant do that - not without your Dr.? say so. (Dr.? is my endo)

Me - I have an agreement with Dr.? that whenever I am over medicated and my heart starts playing up again then I will reduce my thyroxine.

Doctor - Really.

Me - Yes.

Doctor - Are you sure

Yes - Yes I'm sure - he trusts me to managed my medication.

Doctor - Well if your certain that this is what he has told you to do then I suppose 100/125 on alternate days would be fine - are you sure that he would be happy with you doing this.

Me - Yes I'm sure. Can I ask you a question.

Doctor - Well you can but as I have said your case is very complicated and I don't know if I will be able to help you, but I'll try.

Me - Do you think that now I have actually got some iron in my body, although it's not as high as I would like, that my body is utilising the levo better and this could be the cause of me now being over medicated.

Doctor - Don't think so - I've never heard of iron having any significant connection with thyroid medication.

At this point I just wanted to give up so a "Well thanks for that doctor - have a nice weekend"

ended the conversation.

I put the phone down with a smile on my face as, as far as clueless doctors go this one was up there with the best. I know I shouldn't have found it amusing, as any poor thyroid patients he looks after haven't got a hope in hell have they, but it was his "your case is to complicated for me" attitude that made me smile. Compared to some on this site I DO NOT think my thyroid condition is that complicated. Yes my heart has been playing up but I have now realise that my body (or more specifically my heart) just does not like my TSH being too low. If it drops below 0.5 I end up in trouble and its trying to manage this that's complicated, so my theory is (and please feel free to add your thought on this as it is only a theory) that:-

a) Four/five months of iron supplements, which has taken my levels from 12 to 37 (and yes I know this is still not ideal) IS helping my body to use the levo better or

b) My level's are unstable due to when, and for how long, the antibodies are attacking my thyroid. When the Hashimoto's is active I need more medication and when it is dormant (or not so active) and my thyroid is producing a certain amount of thyroid hormones itself I need less thyroxine.

Sorry for the extra long blog but needed to share with you this unbelievable conversation with a so called medical professional and how this sort of thing makes you realise why this site is so important when it comes to obtaining information that half our GP's seem to know nothing about.

Would just like to add that I will be disappearing off the site for a couple of months very soon as it is coming up to harvest time again and I will be very busy at work (will be "on line" at home before to long so will be able to catch up with things there and not have to rely solely on my works computer). I will be visiting you all on here briefly, in my lunch break, but wont be as active as I usually am - and I will miss it.

Moggie x

[shaws Administrator]

Hi Moggie

Nice blog and hope you enjoy the harvest and that the sun will shine for you.

[Moggie in reply to shaws]

Wont be "enjoying" the harvest Shaws - 14 hour very hectic days and thyroid problems don't seem to go hand in hand, but will struggle through and end up collapsed in a big heap at the end of it.lol.

Moggie x

[shaws Administrator in reply to Moggie]

I thought it would be like the films, you lying back on the haystack enjoying the weather.. (Cant remember how to do the smiley face).

[Moggie in reply to shaws]

and eating a nature bar, having been dropped on the haystack from mid air.

You really did make me laugh Shaws - no film set here, just a stuffy office (although I do look out over open fields), phones ringing non stop, men TRYING to boss me around and not succeeding and long hard days.

Sorry to take off your rose tinted glasses as far as harvest time is concerned - not a haystack in sight I'm afraid.

Moggie x

[Sirona]

Did you explain to him about ferritin & iron? He needs educating, and it might at least have sent him off to do a bit of research...

[Moggie in reply to Sirona]

He didn't even want to try and understand what was going on with me, his " gave up half way through as it was to complicated" was enough for me to realise that this GP wasn't interested in thyroid issues, let alone one that was causing a patient a few problems.

Will be interesting to find out, in August, what my endo's take on my iron theory is.

Moggie x

[Poppy03]

So funny and so wrong!

[LouiseRoberts]

Aww, you will be sorely missed Moggie!

xxx

[Moggie in reply to LouiseRoberts]

But I'll be back before you realise I'm gone.

Nice to know I might be missed though.

Moggie x

[ThyroidHell]

Moggie , I want you to be my doctor ! :o)

[Moggie in reply to ThyroidHell]

Why the hell would you want that!!!!

Moggie x

[ThyroidHell]

I was jesting of course lol , It just seems you are on the ball whereas I am just starting the battle of well being ( just had whole hog removed on monday and supporting a swollen and uncomfortable scar ) in anycase Best of luck !

[Moggie]

I guessed you were only joking but needed to know why you said it - yes you are only starting your journey but it would be a whole lot harder if you hadn't found this site with its lovely members and useful info wouldn't it.

Hope you get well very soon and are soon up and running again.

Moggie x

[Hidden]

Oh Moggie, if only things were simple.I always read your blogs and i know the trouble you've had. Now I'm complicated too! Went for pre-op assessment for my knee which still hasn't been done and my heart was racing at 123 beats (mainly because i was so nervous) and they don't like my thyroid result. T4 is.2 above the normal range(big deal)and they won't operate because my TSH is suppressed.(I've got away with that in the past).So now i have to fight my corner and will lower meds slightly.Good luck with your battle! now i've got one! Jan x

[Moggie in reply to Hidden]

If you need any printed evidence try this, it has been published in the medical journals and its not American and it explains all about a supressed TSH as well as much much more. Takes a bit of reading but worth it if you want evidence to put in front of your doctors.

nahypothyroidism.org/thyroi...

This whole illness is a battle isn't it and by the time you have chucked the ignorant doctors in the mix is seems like you are always fighting something or someone.

Please let me know how you get on wont you.

Moggie x

[Hidden in reply to Moggie]

Thanks very much for posting that link-very interesting.I will read it through carefully. My usual source of 'proof' for doctors is the Dr Toft book, but this adds to it! In fact my GP has taken on board my use of armour and the fact that I have 'white coat' syndrome.It's the hospital that needs convincing. Last op I had in 2011, my heart was going like the clappers, but the anaesthetist (who was a bit concerned) said my heart was totally normal once under the anaesthetic.It's just that when I perceive stress my nervous system goes on overdrive and that's when the adrenal stuff comes in!

Did you ever have your op or have you had to rethink all your meds in order for you to have it?

Yes,I agree, it really is a battle. Bad enough the thyroid on it's own without other health conditions in addition (caused usually as a result of having an undiagnosed thyroid condition for years). Then the range of doctors from different departments to contend with!!!

Don't work too hard and I'll keep in touch.

[Moggie in reply to Hidden]

No not had it yet Jan, my heart probs have only just been sorted (unless I go overmedicated and then they come back again), it seems as though my heart wont handle being even slightly over medicated so trying to get my T4 spot on is a problem, especially when you are sailing along nicely for several months of 125mcg's and all of a sudden, for whatever reason, you go over medicated again. I personally think having some iron in my body is the reason as I was very low, am still quite low but at least I have some. One for the endo to answer for me.

They tried to book me in for 3rd August but as my boss has been really good with me having to go for so many tests I really cant let him down at our busiest time so have cancelled until after November.

Hope you get yours sorted soon.

Moggie x

[Hidden in reply to Moggie]

Sounds as if the low iron has been playing a large part in how you've been feeling- and I'm no endo! We both need to get things right before we have our operations, as the anaesthetic and pain killers play enough havoc!! it's too much t4 that is wrong with me too, especially when the weather gets hotter as I definiteld need less in summer.It's also hard to find time to have a big op when we're all so busy! we'll get there eventually! (hopefully). jan x

[Sam75]

I found your blog so interesting, Its hard to believe that a doctor can be so dismissive of his own knowledge, yor guy obviously needs to return to medical school.

Thank goodness you listen to your own body......Im sure it appreciates your common sense X

[Moggie in reply to Sam75]

Fortunately for me he is not my doctor - and if he had have been I would have changed him - although he is one of the 6 or 7 at the surgery which is worrying.

They were talking about doing some sort of competence test on GP's every 5 years but I bet there isn't a mention of thyroid problems in any test they do.

Moggie x

[Hidden]

Been there and got that particular T-shirt, only not specifically Thyroid related in my case. I am on Testosterone replacement therapy, and you would think it was voodoo! One GP knows I know much more than he does about it, and freely admits it and bows to my opinions in conjunction with what the Consultant directs - the others don't, they pretend they know what they are talking about and I have had exactly the same type of discussions!

Mind you, if it was me, I would be more interested in where T3 level fits into this (and possibly even T4 too), rather than just your TSH, which is a very hit and miss way of knowing; even where I live with restrictions on when they will (or won't) run T4 and T3 tests, it would usually be done automatically when TSH is below lab range. It comes to me that if your T4 level is fairly high, it could be that which is effectively suppressing TSH down to low levels (ie. telling your pituitary to stop poking your thyroid into action!), yet you could still have relatively moderate T3 levels. (Although I am also a fan of judging by symptoms too)

[Moggie in reply to Hidden]

This was just a quick TSH test done by my GP for their review. My endo had also done an extensive set of test which include, at least, FT4, parathyroid and others so my GP's TSH test was just to tick a box.

I was blogging more about the GP's attitude and his inability to help, not my results as I feel both myself and my endo are now on top of these and know if and when things are wrong (me through my symptoms and him through extensive blood tests he keep running).

Thanks for your input.

Moggie x