Waste of GP appointment

[Aseamark]

I have just returned from my GP appointment to discuss my TSH results. My result is 5 (5.50 upper limit range) and went to ask for more thyroxine (currently on 50 for last 9 years!) and was told that she could only change my dosage if my levels were low. And that high is perfectly acceptable... I left in total dismay and now have to summon up the courage to see someone else!

[Clutter]

Aseamark, see someone else as soon as possible. Your GP is completely wrong. Your TSH should be much lower and you are currently very undermedicated.

Dr A Toft, consultant physician and endocrinologist at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, has recently written in Pulse Magazine, "The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance.

But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

email [e-mail] for a copy of the article if you wish to show it to your GP.

[naveed123]

your GP is wrong and you should increase the thyroxine dose to suppress the TSH level .when the TSH level will be in 0.5_ 1.0.You will feel better.Please also check your T4 and T3 level.

[shaws Administrator]

That's absolutely awful and outrageous. Sometimes I wonder why people don't sue. Should doctors be sacked...........

As Clutter suggests, get copy of Dr Toft's article. These doctors are so poorly trained. Read the answer to the question dated April 22, 2007

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