What to say when I go back to gp

Hi everyone I'm new to this page and wondering if anyone can give me some advice. I have been taking 100mcg levothyroxine for 3 years. I felt it helped after 6 weeks but then from about 6 months after diagnosis I have had all the same original symptoms. My gp test my blood says its all normal and gave me anti depressants which I had been taking. I have come off these myself gradually as I felt I was just given them for the sake of it. Anyway someone told me today about a non synthetic drug. How to I go about getting this and what do I ask for when speaking to gp. Hope this makes some kind of sense

[lisabax]

It sounds as though you may need an increase in your levo. What your GP thinks of as 'normal' blood test results may not be normal for you. Some doctors are very ignorant about thyroid disease. You are entitled to get copies of your blood test results, so please ask your surgery for copies of these over the last 3 years, and post them on this site so that others can help interpret them. Please include the reference ranges (the figures in brackets after your results). I think this would be a good starting point.

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum,

You will gather information from our members which may help you.

First, many GP's are really unaware how to treat thyroid gland problems. From their guidelines it appears so easy i.e. give the patient levothyroxine and when their blood test levels are within range, any other symptoms are nothing to do with the thyroid gland. Instead, the symptoms we keep having are clinical symptoms of hyothyroidism and we either need increased medication or maybe an alternative but they very rarely prescribe them due, again, to their guidelines.

Always get a copy of your blood test results for your thyroid gland, with the ranges as labs differ and it makes it easier to comment. You should take your levo first thing with a glass of water and don't eat for about 1 hour. If you take supplements, take them 4 hours later as some can interfere with the uptake of levo.

Ask for a new full thyroid gland blood test. If the TSH is within range the lab will probably not do them. If you can afford it you can have some done privately:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Do not take levo on the morning of your blood test and have it as early as possible. TSH is highest then. Also ask for a vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate at the same time. It's time to take your health into your own hands. We are usually deficient in these vits/minerals.

[shaws Administrator]

This is a link re vitamins, the last 3 are helpful in converting T4 to T3 (T4 (levo) is inactive and T3 is the active which we need in our cells.

You can also get them from food.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

healthaliciousness.com/arti...

healthaliciousness.com/arti...

whfoods.com/genpage.php?dbi...

Things that interfere with levo:

livestrong.com/article/4106...

[Sunshine2014]

Hi,

I am new here too and have been quite surprised by how many people talk of their blood results rather than how they actually feel. I have had symptoms of underactive Thyroid since I was 8 years old (some 50 years) but blood tests have always said there was nothing wrong. I am a Kinesiologist and have spent 20 years researching a 'cure' for my symptoms and finally attended a seminar about Thyroid health and from there was able to research further. My latest search on-line was 'Mucin Thyroid' Have you looked at Iodine and Desiccated Thyroid (non synthetic treatments)? Look at all the information available on-line for holistic treatment rather than synthetic. I have read many different books and hundreds of papers about thyroid problems and now have a good understanding of why there are so many problems today. I have found for myself and many others, that Gluten Intolerance is very high in people with thyroid problems, just going Gluten Free made a huge difference to my energy levels. By Gluten Free I don't mean going out and buy all the expensive ready made foods, I mean using natural ingredients and making it myself.

Good Luck.

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Sunshine2014]

Iodine can be problematic unless you're deficient: thyroid.about.com/od/newsco...

[Boronia]

Hi Sunshine 2014-I think people here talk about blood results a lot as they can point you in the direction of why you have continuing symptoms ie a T4to T3 conversion issue, underlying adrenal issues or vitamin deficiencies. Do you have print outs of your results? And do you have results for the full thyroid panel to give you a full picture-TSH, FT4, FT3, RT3, thyroid antibodies: TpoAb and TgAb. Also D, B12, Iron(again the full panel-iron, ferritin, transferrin, sat%) potassium and sodium? If you do and you write them here with reference ranges people could tell you if your ranges are "optimal" not just "in range". Including a list of symptoms can help people see the whole picture. Maybe You have done this already and I am way behind. Best of luck with your research.

[veronicahoward]

I have been taking Eltroxin for over 40 years and was in superb health. Three months ago I was forced onto levothyroxine and have all sorts of aches and pains, lassitude and lethargy. I researched on this site which is genuinely marvellous and found Nature Dessicated Throid but my gp will not sign a prescription because it is not licensed in this coiuntry. I wanted to know why it is not and how people in 'high places' are making decisions about my health and he is going to email me contact details so that I can contest this. You see I am willing to pay for it and know that some doctors prescribe it and others do not and I also know where to get it in this country and, of course, I will oay for it myself. Yours doctor may be one of the ones who will prescribe it.

Good luck and good health