GP wanted to see me - results are back. Need help please.

Hi, for those who don't know me I'm a 28yr old Hashimoto's sufferer and I've been on Levo since August with the dose being gradually moved up from 25mcg to 125mcg over the course of 6 months.

Here are all my lab results here in case anyone who doesn't know me sees this:

Nov 2011 blood test results

TSH - 5.2 (0.2-4.2)

FT4 - 16.48 (11-23)

Feb 2012 blood test results

TSH - 2.2 (0.2-4.2)

Jan 2013 blood test results

TSH - 0.69 (0.27-4.2)

Anti-TPO - 84,000 (>34)

May 2013 blood test results

TSH - 22 (0.27-4.2)

FT4 - 10.9 (12-22)

August 2013 blood test results (Levo started May)

TSH - 4 (0.27-4.2)

November 2013 blood test results (Levo increased to 125mcg)

TSH - 4.3 (0.27-4.2)

FT4 - 15.3 (12-22)

Levo doses have been:

25mcg - 2 weeks

50mcg - 2 weeks

75mcg - June-August

125mcg - August onwards

I've been getting horrible internal itches in the front of my neck area, over my thyroid. I understand this to be part of the inflammatory process due to the antibodies and I can only put it down to this as I've been doing everything as directed by my GP and have not worn anything around my neck area. (if I do I don't usually get an adverse reaction anyway!!)

Anyway the GP rang while I was away to discuss the blood test results and some other things came out of my appointment today:

The letters - I recently sent 2 letters to them asking for a referral to an endo but although I have high antibodies he says that these tests are irrelevant and that a referral to an endo would come to nothing, hence why no reply.

Mentioning T3 - He also mentioned T3 and that it does play a significant part in diagnosing thyroid disease, however to be tested for this is irrelevant as well as the cost. So I'm going to order a private test for the FT3/T3.

Itchy neck - When I mentioned the itchy neck he said it could be dry skin but the dry skin I have everywhere else doesn't itch or cause problems like this!

Low Iron - He does accept however that my low iron could be due to the hypothyroidism and I did mention that I didn't get on with the ferrous fumerate and took the Spatone. He was happy for me to take the Spatone instead if I got on marginally better with that, however he did say some people do feel sick or get diarrhoea with any iron supplement. He suggested I eat more greens.

Increase in meds - I've had my Levo bumped up to 150mcg from 125mcg but he said if I had any problems or adverse reactions to come back.

I knew full well my TSH was going to be abnormal but I had no idea it didn't go up by that much.

So now I'm at a complete loss what to do next.

Thanks for any help

Jo xxx

[Moggie]

My next step would be to request a meeting with the GP and practise manager as you do not feel that your condition is being managed properly and your request to see a specialist has been dismissed out of hand.

Moggie x

[Hidden in reply to Moggie]

Thanks for getting back to me Moggie.

I'm going to go back up there and do just that.

Jo xxx

[Moggie]

I would ask for the meeting first and if you still get no joy then I would seriously think about changing GP's. If you do get a meeting then please take someone with you who visibly has a pen and notebook with them and can be seen to be taking notes.

Moggie x

[Hidden in reply to Moggie]

Thanks for your suggestion Moggie.

I might speak to one of the lovely ladies at thyroid support group - I see her tomorrow and she might recommend to me her GP as she lives locally to me. Also GP mentioned that antibodies aren't necessarily high unless they're above 10 - mine are 84,000? Is he even on the same planet?

Also is it worth posting another question as to good NHS surgeries/GPs within my catchment area? I don't want to go as far as to complain as last time that didn't get me anywhere and I don't want them to strike me off for complaining to/about them.

Thanks

Jo xxx

[Moggie in reply to Hidden]

I would ask around locally first if I were you, especially if you have someone in mind to ask.

Moggie x

[Hidden in reply to Moggie]

Hi Moggie, I don't really know who to ask I'm afraid. All the GP practices around my catchment area don't have a very good success rate and the ones that do have a good success rate are more than 3 miles away!

I'm going ahead with ordering a FT3 test online anyway as the people I've spoke to at support group seem to think it's a good idea since my own GP won't test for it due to a matter of cost.

Thanks

Jo xxx

[Moggie in reply to Hidden]

I thought you said that there was a lady at your thyroid support group that you could ask!!!!!!

If not then maybe someone on here will be able to help. You will have to ask them to reply to you by private message though as you are not allowed to name doctors on here.

Moggie x

[Hidden in reply to Moggie]

Sorry Moggie, yes there was a lady I asked but she told me she goes private and uses an endo who is not based in Bristol.

I might go ahead and do what you suggested. Thanks!

Once again apologies for the mix-up.

Jo xxx