GP appointment Monday -- am nervous. :(

I've got my appointment with my GP on Monday and I'm not looking forward to it at all (who usually does?)

Well, at my last appointment my GP weighed me and said, "you're only just within the healthy range, but I don't want you losing any more weight." I weighed 7 stone 11 pounds.

Now I weigh 7 stone and 9 pounds. I haven't done anything drastic to make me lose weight. If anything I've been eating more because I know I need to pile the weight on. I get bloated and feel comfortably full at the end of each meal but before I know it I wake up the next day, weigh myself and I've lost a couple of pounds. I don't understand it. For someone who is for the majority hypothyroid I should be *gaining* weight, not losing it.

I'm now worried that she's going to think I'm anorexic or bulimic. I'm neither of these things - I eat very well when I'm hungry and even when I'm not hungry I still eat something. It's not like I'm doing anything on purpose.

And it's a big change from at the start of this year - I only weighed 7 stone 3 pounds and even my size 6 clothes hung on me at the time. It was due to my goitre that I was so put off by swallowing anything for fear of it getting stuck and I ended up on a diet of tomato soup, fromage frais yoghurts and a whole box of Dairylea singles per day. Seriously. That was it. But now although I've had issues with my neck swelling I make a huge effort to get enough food in per day and although it's been hard I do manage to eat most of my meals although finish much later.

I'm dreading this appointment so much and I'm worried about what's going to happen.

Jo xxx

[Clutter]

Jo, I've been 'underweight' my whole life except for a couple of years prior to thyroiditis diagnosis. I was so thrilled to have cleavage and the extra weight really suited me.

I then lost 13kg in 10 months & my BMI went down to 16. Gained a couple of kg post surgery & pre RAI but lost the same as soon as I started on levo. I was advised to eat frequent small meals and supplement with Complan, protein shakes etc. Bottom line though is when you're full, you're full.

I deliberately let myself go hypothyroid by quitting T4 and gained 2½kg in 4 weeks. TSH went to 107.5 though.

Checking PiL I found that Mercury Pharma T4 and T3 contain acacia powder, a weight loss aid. Actavis doesn't have this in their fillers so it may be worth asking your pharmacist to supply Actavis instead of MP. You can ask your GP to specify 'not Mercury' on your scrip but generic provision is the pharmacist's discretion and shouldnt be a problem.

Unfortunately I've lost weight since restarting T4 (Actavis this time) so acacia powder isn't the villain in my case.

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

Thanks for your reply Clutter. I thought I was the only one in the world who was hypothyroid and slim, but I've been slim my whole life too like yourself.

I was on Complan too when I had the goitre but even though it's gone down and that my GP has said I have no goitre I still have problems swallowing.

The brand of Levo I'm on is Actavis and Wockhardt, so I guess I dodged a bullet there.

I did gain weight at one point when starting the levo but since I've been eating more I can't seem to gain any weight at all.

Thanks

Jo xxx

[Jackie]

HI Jo,

Are you sure you do not have an absorption problem? I am very underweight for this reason.Although my Endo also says That sometimes you can have all the symptoms of hyper and be hypo, especially with regards to weight. It is unusual but can be so. A while ago I had a thyroid specialist radiologist ( consultant) do my thyroid ultra sound.He kept saying well of course being hyper!!! So I a not surprise a GP is a problem.

Do what I say when moaned at by consultants ( frequently) say if you find out why? Then I would be pleased to put on weight. Before diagnosed with Diabetes, I was told by my Hepatologist to have a bar of choc Am and PM. I hate anything sweet, I just could not. Keep being given script drinks etc too, ugh!. In fact all my consultants keep ganging up saying i am not eating. However,very good, so do not say it is my fault. I have had that in the past in bad hospitals, night mare!

Jackie

[Hennerton in reply to Jackie]

How do we know if we have an absorption problem? I am also very thin and it was recently suggested to me by a new endo that I was using thyroid meds to stay thin! Absolutely not true. I eat healthily and almost as much as my husband, who is probably twice my weight.

[Jackie in reply to Hennerton]

Hi For years it was a mystery to y consultants, as could not understand that I needed such high doses of meds, only 5 foot too.I saw lots of so called top Gastro, for lots of things. However, no one tested my pancreas, just blamed my very long colon ( refused surgery) and other similar things. I then saw my brilliant Endo who worked in the metabolic unit at Oxford, prof. there top in the world No left and just a normal Endo,. She noticed straight away. I then , on her instructions "demanded a Faecal Elastase test against the Gasto`s wishes. It was horrendous.He refused for 6 months, eventually I just insisted. Simple stool test, idiot proof results, Just shows if Pancratic enzymes not working, I have to take the enzymes, Creon, not a drug, 20 mins before any food. I have a script but she says same thing from H and B, totally safe. Really also you need a pancreas check, I had to insist as I have lots of serious medical conditions. You need not have Diabetes, but common to develop it. The pancreas check is more complicated, and ultra sound but that does not show enough. Then a special gastroscopy done by a radiologist, large teaching hospital. Nothing to it, just the usual but he takes photos as some not reachable. This is just a precaution.

Apart from the enzymes, which is different. I have severe pancreatitis, autoimmune and hormonal, never drunk etc. This effects the colour, and constiniency of stools. Also causes agonising pain, far worse than any other , even babies. It is referred so goes round back, into shoulder. Screaming level! Intermittent.

With the enzymes if on them, I have to have 6 a day, unusual. Then you need a retest of the enzymes i about 3 months.Take for life. Lots of ignorance , the "top" gastro who said it was a waste of time, said that he would take me off them at retest. Still so low, dumped him saw a brilliant hepatologist, still do, he doubled them.

You also nee to rule out Caeliac disease. The best way as tests not at all perfect, is to have gluten free for 6 weeks, if you think that is a problem. It is autoimmune and hormonal too.

I hope this is clear. I am dyslexic, so do not mind if you ask further., sometimes not good at explaining things.

Jackie

[Moggie in reply to Hennerton]

My GP accused me of taking T3 for that very reason but as I have but on 5 stone in as many years you can imagine my reply to her cant you - stupid woman.

Moggie x

[Hidden in reply to Jackie]

Hi Jackie,

I spoke to my GP at my appointment today and she has said the coeliac disease profile has come back negative. The only other thing on the autoimmune profile that has come back positive are Anti-Nuclear Antibodies. The GP didn't weigh me, luckily enough, but I have said I eat anything and everything - she suggested I eat more folate-rich food.

I've been eating more biscuits, chocolate, sweets, pasta, anything that would pile on the pounds but it gets me nowhere. So I don't know.

Thanks

Jo xxx

[Jackie in reply to Hidden]

Hi the Caeliac disease is one thing for weight. An entirely different thing is the pancreatic enzymes. You do not need to have anything wrong with Pancreas, just the enzymes which digest food. The only test for that, is Faecal Elastase, a simple specific stool test.. It is very common.The Caeliac test is not very reliable, so if you think you do have the disease, you just have to go onto the Gluten free diet for 6 weeks, and see.Gall bladder disease, also causes massive weight loss, pain but not always to a pattern. Ultra scan ( abd)sounds that.

I hope that helps. When the thyroid is right it may make a difference.

Jackie

[anbuma]

I have my appointment tomorrow also and am dreading it too,cos I wrote to practice manager recently saying my symptoms were being ignored ,for last two years they keep on at me to lose weight when I don't eat and therefore cant diet and they wont accept my weight is the mass in my abdomen.goodluck with your appointment.

[Moggie in reply to anbuma]

Good luck with yours to but I really can not understand why anyone would be dreading a doctors appt. They are only human after all and if you treat them as "just" another normal person who can, and do, make mistakes as well as getting things wrong more often than not then maybe you wont be so nervous.

Moggie x

[anbuma in reply to Moggie]

it s not so much getting things wrong-its not giving any answers to questions/symptoms.if I go to my doctor with a problem am i wrong in expecting him to tell me what it is/could be rather than say things like "its your stomach","wear make up" "I can't feel anything( abdominal lumps).when I saw rheumatologist re fibro/poss lupus I would expect him to make a diagnosis from my symptoms not persist in going on about weight loss and dieting and ca 125 bloods which are not his dept..same with ENT after a year of nasal sores and bruising and puffiness round eyes -his letter said "its not sinuses" that doesn't help me as i didnt have a sinus problem-.or tell me what these symptoms are- of lupus?

[Moggie in reply to anbuma]

Poor you and no its not to much to expect that these people know their job and can answer our questions - it's what they are paid for after all.

Can you not find a really good thyroid/autoimmune doctor who could tie all your symptoms together. Have you asked on here what the symptoms of Lupus are as I know there are quite a few on here who also suffer with it.

You could always any doctor that you see, and he/she doesn't know the answers to your questions, to find out for you and see what response you get. They might be surprised by the request but if you don't ask you don't get, as my mum says.

Hope you get some answers soon as it sounds like you have really been through the mill.

Moggie x

[anbuma in reply to Moggie]

Hi Moggie.went to drs and was tearful,he offered me a tissue btu I said I had some. itold him my concerns that my stomach was harder than ever and the issues I ahd with the rheumatologist not giving me the chance to tell him of my symptoms and going on about losing weight and that I told him how can I lose weight when i don't eat anything.i then explained to my dr that I only really ate breakfast and not much else as never feel hungry andtaht no one is accepting that my weight gain is abdominal.will continue in awhile.sorry just had tosort my printer out.i told him of two people I know who were told they had IBS and one was bowel cacner and the other had ovarian cancer and recently passed away.he then went onto say that I should be reassured from all the scans and the op I had that I didnt have OC.I said I wasn't he asked why -cos of all the stories I ve read of people having oc and scans not showing.etc I then told him that my dogs sense it btu don't know if he believed me.iasked if I could have blood test and see a gynaecologist.he said he would arrange a blood test and see how we go from there and that the gynaecologlist had said to him a year ago why was i being referred and taht I had been quite angry then.i still feel it is more as I do have symptoms of oc.blood tests booked for Friday.

[Moggie in reply to anbuma]

o.k.

Moggie x

[Hidden in reply to Moggie]

Hi Moggie, it's really because my GP had a go at me for not being a healthier weight and I've doubled my intake just to put on weight and it's done nothing.

My GP actually got a few things wrong at my appointment today and we both laughed it off, so that helped put my mind at ease a little.

Thanks

Jo xxx

[Hidden in reply to anbuma]

Hi Anbuma, thanks for your reply.

I feel very badly for your symptoms being ignored for so long, I had that with my former GP as they refused to accept I had a thyroid illness - I proved them wrong by having an antibody test and having a high TSH 4 months later.

Jo xxx

[sarahstevenson]

Hi Jo, my son was underweight not as bad as yourself but struggled to be 9 stone not great for a chap. Dr BDP said absorption and with adrenal supplements son is now a much better 9.5 - 10 stone mostly near top of this. After half his life of NHS saying it's his age last blood tests indicate 70%likely to be celiac. Still waiting to speak to endo.

Re Dr appt treat it like a play and be firm. Say exactly what you've posted

S x

PS my hip pain much less last night after Epsom salt bath - might be helpful for you

[T3sortedme]

Just tell the GP exactly how it is. Express the same concern she has. Write down your last few day's meals and take it with you so she can see what you are eating. She needs to get to the root of the problem and it is unhelpful if she heads down the wrong anorexic/bulimia route. Be confident and open and she will know you are not trying to hide anything. Good luck.