Having seen Dr BDP in July, I have been taking T3 and gradually reduced my T4 until I am now on T3 only. It has not been an exactly easy ride, but I am functioning SO much better than at any time since my GP dropped my Levo from 150 to 100, and I had several TIAs and my cholesterol went up to 10.1 at its highest.
I had a blood test last Thursday and next day got a phone call from the surgery, saying that my GP was worried about me. Strangely, I had been due to see him in September but did not hear a single word from him - so he was not worried until he saw my blood test result.
Just now he phoned me himself. He did not tell me the exact figure (nothing new there then) but said my TSH ws really low, my T4 was low as well (confused how I could have any T4 in my system as I've stopped taking it in 20th November) but my T3 is fine!
However, he was absolutely INCENSED that I was taking T3, I am going to kill myself, what I am doing is VERY dangerous, I will not be able to survive without T4.
I told him I was feeling quite well, and the T3 suits me. If at a later date I can go back to T4 and T3 combination, I will, but if not, I will carry on with just T3.
I told him I had seen Dr BDP and he has helped me to get better.
"WHO IS THIS PERSON? HE COULD BE SOME QUACK FROM MARS FOR ALL YOU KNOW!" (Yes, he was shouting.)
I said that he is a thyroid and adrenal specialist who recognised my symptoms immediately, and that all he has suggested has helped me.
"WHY DID YOU NOT TELL ME! THE LAB THOUGHT YOU HAD A PITUITARY DISORDER! YOU HAVE WASTED PRECIOUS RESOURCES! YOU ARE IRRESPONSIBLE!"
(How strange. When I sent my blood to Blue Horizon, they saw immediately that I was on T3. To quote, " A very low free thyroxine and TSH level together with a normal T3 level
would normally indicate that the individual is taking the T3 form of
thyroxine supplementation. In this scenario, replacement is probably
adequate, although you may wish to discuss the result with your usual doctor
of course.")
Which is exactly what I planned to do. So I arranged a blood test at my GP Surgery and tried to get an appointment but was unable to do so until 23 December.
Considering the my GP almost killed me by reducing my Levo too quickly and giving me statins to control my soaring cholesterol - which crippled me so I could barely walk - and watched me turn from an active person to a vegetable, dependent on two kinds of inhalers, Amytriptyline, Codeine, Clopidogrel, and Lansoprazole, it's very strange that suddenly he is worrying about me.
I think he's not worrying about me, he is angry because he can see all those lovely points marching out of the door. As for wasting resources, I think several chest X-rays because of the persistent cough, and all that unnecessary medication is what I call a waste of resources.
I am sounding calm but actually I am RAGING! he spoke to me as if a were a 5-year-old caught going to the toilet without permission.
I have no alternative, unfortunately. All the GPs in that surgery sing from the same hymn sheet.
I am not sure what to do next, - re the GP, not my medication - because I cannot see that I can ever trust him again, he has really shown what a - oh, I don't know, pig - he is. I did suspect he would react like that, which was why I actually put off telling him.
Question is, should I simply tell him that I will let Dr BDP look after my thyroid and he can look after anything else? I don't actually think I want to ever see him again, I had begun to dislike him when he started refusing to give my blood results, now I could cheerfully garotte him!
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Sorry Marram - had to quickly reply before I'm off out
Some are just not happy about losing control (funding points) are they? and who's body/life is it anyway? J xxx
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'twas my lad's birthday - 29 already - eek!
I'm sorry you had such an awful doc appointment, perhaps you can find a better GP? (they're two a penny so shouldn't be hard especially compared to that one) I've seen 3 so far at my surgery - and all consider half a thyroid has no bearing on how I feel, so you having no thyroid..... well, words fail me. (hugs) J xx
What a story Marram, so glad you got to see BDP, I am under him too and am on T3. The medical profession don't like him, because he gets us well.
Regarding your cough/chest X-Rays, I didn't know that it's related to low/under medicated thyroid problems? I too have had coughs and numerous chest X-Rays.
He also told me that i will be running around non-stop, doing all my housework, never sleeping, and then I'll just drop down dead. Thanks, doctor. I had countless TIAs under YOUR tender care. I was not functioning as a human being.
I was dubious whether it would help my cough but it really has all but cleared up. This summer I did not have to use my inhalers at all, last summer I did not venture outside the house without them, and was using them constantly. It has got worse and worse until this year.
He told me that it was no good going by how I feel, the important thing is the blood tests, nothing else matters SO LONG AS THE FIGURES ARE RIGHT (Shouting? yes!)
I said I thought the idea was to get well and live a normal life. WHAAAAAAT! It's the figures which count! Blood tests cannot lie!
Doing your housework? What century does your GP live in? Is that what springs to mind for him when he thinks about women? Words fail me.
I actually take T3 just before I drop off to sleep. I find it helps me get to sleep and also improves my quality of sleep. I also feel a lot better when I wake up in the morning!
Margo, thank you for your good wishes. And, yes, breathing problems are a symptom of low thyroid.
If you are hypothyroid, it is safe to assume unless PROVEN otherwise that any long-standing, unexplained problem is connected with the thyroid deficiency. After all, every single cell in your body needs t3 to function correctly.
If you are optimally treated and the problem still does not clear up, then they can start to look elsewhere.
My breathing problems disappeared when I stopped taking T4 (along with the long list of other side effects). Endo said I had COPD in Aug. Finally had spirometry lung function tests last week. Lung age is 3 years younger than my chronological age despite being a heavy smoker until 7 years ago.
I think you should formally complain about the way you were yelled at. That is NOT compatible with treating px with dignity and respect.
I would not see that Dr again. Besides his appalling bullying and rudeness, he is lamentably ignorant and behind the times about thyroid treatment and T3 in particular.
I'm sorry to hear about your experience with your GP. But it's great you're feeling so much better on T3 only. I'm on T3 only as well (prescribed by a private dr). I had never told my previous GP, as he was the one who misdiagnosed me with depression and told me I was one of these people who would have to take antidepressants for life (I don't). He was adamant I I did not have thyroid problems despite symptoms, antibodies, borderline test results and family history. Then I was without a GP for several years. I've recently moved and registered with a new practice. I haven't told them yet that I'm on T3 only. I am worried what their reaction would be.
By the way, you mentioned you'd had a persistent cough. Did it go away after the T3? I recently was forced to change the brand of T3 that I take and I started getting symptoms. One of them is a cough. I wonder if I need a higher dose. I've had blood tests yesterday and am awaiting results from Blue Horizon. Maybe that will shed some light.
I don't know what to advise you re your GP. Considering how ignorant he is, I think I would let Dr P look after the thyroid and let him look after anything else, if you can put up with him.
I do so understand your anger. Some people are very lucky to find a GP who will understand and help them. We were not amongst that number and neither are you by the sound of it..
When it comes down to it you want to be well and you must follow the advice of someone who will help that to happen.
Neither Caroline nor I go near our GP's office, because as you say they all club together and and they have been more of a hindrance than a help.
I dread the day that I become ill with anything and need some medical help as I will never go back to them. I don't trust them at all. When Caroline felt her ovarian cyst might be returning a couple of years ago and was in considerable pain we went straight to A and E and they couldn't have been nicer or more thorough. They had none of the ignorant baggage regarding thyroid issues that have followed her at the GP's office since we discovered that we were right and they were wrong.
You must do what is right for you, not what suits them.
Jane x
marram - it is so nice to read a success story and to hear from someone who's health is improving after a pretty rough time. You've been through the mill but it's your determination that has made you better together with a willingness to try and understand the body. Dr P was the icing on the cake.
How about taking delight in sending useless GP some research papers that he can try and get his small brain around? Of course it would have to be accompanied by a patronising letter telling him that he, as a doctor, has failed you hence your seeking alternative treatment. Naturally emphasise how brilliant the internet is and saves bothering him from spouting rubbish that you take no notice of.
Just use the NHS as and when it suits you, you're not answerable to your surgery.
I think generally these GPs could be running scared, many aren't held in high esteem especially over their high wages and people are quite capable of using the internet to research.
Thank you all for your lovely support. It's when things like this happen that you are reminded why we need this forum so much. I have been so distressed by what happened, it has made me feel really ill. I did sleep last night but woke early with that horrible phone call on my mind, which tells my how upset I am. But I should focus on the improvements in my wellbeing, and forget about ignorant individuals who will do me nothing bu harm.
I am naturally a very timid person, and I find it hard to stand up for myself, so I suspect the best way (for me) of dealing with this is to write a letter with all the information about what I am doing and stay away from the surgery unless I have something I cannot deal with myself.
I will save the GP a fortune that way.
I was foolish to think I could have the blood test and then go to see my GP and explain what the results mean. Instead, he is accusing me of deliberately wasting resources by not keeping him informed - I told him that I was waiting to see if the improvement was enough to warrant staying on T3 only.
Of course, I totally overlooked the fact the the lab technicians would make the wild 'diagnosis' that I was in total pituitary failure based on a suppressed TSH, rather than report the results to my GP and let me explain the situation. They sent the samples to Norfolk & Norwich for further analysis, and sent their diagnosis to my GP - pituitary failure. (Low TSH, Low T4, Normal T3 = total pituitary failure? did it not occur to them to wonder where the T3 came from? No, because they really do not have the knowledge to do so.)
That's what you get when you allow the lunatics to take over the asylum.
Jackie, he refused to refer me. He also ignored my request to honour the promised heart follow-up, just doing an ECG in the surgery when I reminded him that the Heart Clinic had advised me to come back in a year, and it was over two years.
He was the one who caused all my health problems in the first place by reducing my Levothyroxine, and set off a snowball effect. Have you read my profile? I was given a clean bill of health at 60, a few months later after dropping my Levo from 150 to 100 I started having TIAs and palpitations and my cholesterol went from 4.7 to 9.7 and continued rising.
I allowed this situation to go on too long and this has caused adrenal issues, I had hoped by restoring the status quo i.e. going back to my old Thyroxine dosage, I would get better, but he has done too much damage for that.
Hence my seeing Dr BDP who IS a good endo - he hit the nail on the head for me, and although not everything in the garden is rosy, I an functioning 80% now rather than a miserable existence at about 10% where I could not stay out of bed for more than two or three hours at a time, and any kind of physical challenge was a definite no-no.
I refuse to allow him to make me an invalid and drip-feed me the minimum of Levothyroxine, making up the shortfall with Statins, asthma inhalers, codeine, Buscopan, Amitriptyline, Clopidogrel, Lansoprazole, I was given ALL these, and whatever else - oh yes, and the suggested anti depressants. Probably Beta blockers next. And ACE inhibitors. That is what I would have been if I had not bitten the bullet and taken action.
Hi Impossible man.An ECG is not a lot of use on its own, does he listen to your heart and do all the extra bloods for it? The hospital should have sent you a folow up appointment. You could try them, may be too long but worth a try.Have you some one who can go with you to help at GP`s.? Also I would tell him your family will hold hinm personally responsible if reprocusions from heart
Ca you see another GP in the practice or a new practice/ Otherwise wait until he is on holiday, some locums are very good.It is extremely important to watch your thyroid levels, especially FT3 if any hint of heart problems. It must never go over range.
Dr. P is a private doc,not an Endo, so cannot do hospital tests or other tests surrounding thyroid ,or treat them.Also an Endp has a huge range f knowledge, especially electrolytes and other bloods. I se mine for thyroid, electrolytes. diabetes, osteoporosis, she looks after my low vit D and high calcium and does hospital tests for them when needed. etc etc.
If you take beta Blockers, always take them after a thyroid test, do not effect the thyroid ,just the test result if taken
I have had lots of problems with Docs in the past, still do all the times I have to go into hospital. I have learnt to insist on things, right across the board. I suggest your only way! Not nice, but my life more important to me!
Hi your story I think is just typical of how gp s are with patients with thyroid problems ..I too do not trust my doctor and my health is getting worse I have been to all 5 doctors in my surgery but no one has helped me ..they just send us for more complicated tests and ignore the fact that its thyroid problems ..important thing is you have found someone to help you now ..im very happy for you ..wish I could see him too
Maybe the GP would sit up and take notice if you were up to seeing him with a support person or the practice manager and explain that you had researched your condition yourself by educating yourself on the web and reading medical/scientific papers and finding a specialist dr yourself. When I showed the endo highlighted thyroid symptoms on T4 and then on T3, plus before and after photos it was a compelling case, there wasn't much he could say. Also, would the GP rest your cholesterol and heart again to see what has happened? I know it's horrid when you get such a phone call but I think we should try to educate our GP's. I can quite understand however, if you wish to change GP's!
Really pleased that you're getting your health and life back.
Since upsetting my Gpnearly 4 years ago I always right letters to GP and ask for what I want blood tests and tell her symptoms I have not related with the thyroid and the GP gets the receptionist to phone me and offers appointments! Sometimes the GP phones me direct, usually after blood test results! And now as I am self medicating I haven't asked for a blood test but she actually phoned me and said I must book one!!!!
My blood is boiling on your behalf. My own GP takes no interest in my thyroid condition: I am on levothyroxine; the single blood test she deigns to do once a year is within parameters; I am fixed. Perhaps I should be grateful that she doesn't! It seems matters can be immeasurably worse when they do!! (Actually I haven't taken levo for nearly a year now and am doing my own thing).
You really should send this thread to someone with responsibility for General Practitioners. The recent Commons debate about the low efficacy of doctor input to thyroid problems sounded so sensible. Whether it will lead to any improvements is, of course, another matter. But this is wonderful fuel for that debate - and for something to be done. This is the woman who raised the debate: Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden) (Con). This is a link to it.publications.parliament.uk/...
I would not want to see a GP like that 'ever again' to be honest, I would happily look after myself than to go to him!
How dare he talk to you like that? and shout??? I am 'disgusted' that they feel they can treat us like this and take their frustrations out on us!
I am not happy with my GP either, although thankfully she is extremely nice and polite, she would never ever talk to me in that way, but she is 'useless' bless her
so I have decided to stay with her, I look after myself and I ask her for referrals and blood tests (ie I use her as my 'secretary' LOOOOL)
Of course I have a private doctor, one who is a little 'infamous' with a lot of GPs, my GP refuses to do anything she asks her to do or agree with anything she says even though she is always right and has nursed me back to health a few times!
Stick with DR Peatfield for your thyroid. Keep calm and realise they're all influenced by big pharma. T3. Is fine to take alone. It's saved many lives.
hello may i ask how you got to see dr. peat did you have to travel a great distance and i thought he had retired and didn't prescribe any more--do have have incorrect information ? if you don't mind answering -- he would be my last hope--have seen 2 endos over 4 years and cant even get them to say i have a thyroid problem at all--ready to pull hair out.. got dr. peats book it's great between him and dr.brownstein an stop the thyroid madness i feel i know all but just need meds--no way no chance from my endos--north west wales--- any info on dr.peat would be very much appreciated... thanks sky
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