How can I ask my doctor to refer me to the endocrinologist?

[Gabbz]

I started with a dose of 25mg of levothyroxine and 2 years later was increased to 75 I felt the benefits at first but about 5 months later I started with regular palpitations and muscle cramps, Gp saying that my level are normal now according to blood tests. He done further blood test and I was prescribed with vitamins D, felt better for about a month and now is back to the same symptoms Do GPs know how to adequately manage thyroid patients?

[shaws Administrator]

To answer your last question the answer is 'very, very, few'.

Please get a print-out of your last thyroid gland blood test results, with the ranges, and post them on a new question if you don't have them to hand at present. If you haven't had a recent one, please get an up-to-date one. He should do more than the TSH. Ask for a full thyroid function test (lab may not do this if TSH is 'normal'.

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

They are far too quick to adjust doses of medication due only to the result of the TSH which is actually from the pituitary gland and doesn't always reflect how the patient is feeling.

They ignore (do not know) clinical symptoms and if your TSH range is 'normal' they pronounce that whatever ails the patient, it's nothing to do with the thyroid gland.

Treatment of thyroid gland problems are looked upon as 'simple to treat' so referrals to Endos are few but many of us do not get better or even get worse.

There are some good Endocrinologist/doctors and Louise Warvill at Thyroiduk has some names. I would wait till you get your new blood test with results and comments from members before you take the next step.

Regards

[Gabbz]

Thanks Shaws I will have to get back to the doc and request the new test.

[dolphin5]

I've had hypo symptoms for the last 9 months due to my doctor telling me they were over-treating me (despite feeling well on the dose I'd been taking for 14 years). I've had a few appointments with her since the reduced dose began, and every time she said the same things. However, I spent time at home studying the how the thyroid functions, so that I could ask intelligent questions, and I recorded all my symptoms, including body temperature at various times of the day. I also asked for all my blood test results so that I could list them in a table to show what had happened over time. In the end, I wore her down and she admitted that this was outside her area of expertise. She was unable to answer my questions, or discuss the topic. She had no choice but to refer me so she did it. I see the endocrinologist in two days time. They may say the same as my GP, but now, after everything I have learned (including everything I've read on this site), I will be happy to continue my old dose of thyroxine, "against medical advice" as it is clear to me that I know more than my GP, and the risks of my old dose are lower than the risks of the lower dose. I'm not recommending going against doctors' advice. Rather, I am recommending that you learn everything you can so that you can blind them with science, and take as much control (and influence) as you feel you can safely take. Good luck!!!