I had to see my Gp the other day as my sick cert ran out . However I had previously been to see my boss who told me that she didn't think i was like the person she knew , she said since this autoimmune thyroid , I had become very slow and not half as alert as the person she has been used to over the last ten years,
She too has had thyroid problems, she had hers out !!!
She even offered to come to the Gp with me , dont know if that was a joke or not, however... I went to my Gps surgery and saw a locum, she started well and said 'I want to treat you not just your results,, i shook her hand , but i think i was a little bit ,previous as after i had only got half way through my symptoms as it was obvious she hadnt even looked at my file,,she looked at my screen, she had already signed me off for the next month , and i was trying to tell her the pain killers for my leg have stopped working and that i feel i have gone right back to how i felt at the beginning, as even though ive upped my meds , im twice as slow , head foggy and sweaty and it just feel as if its beginning again!
Trouble is I hadnt even managed to tell her half of that before she looked at the screen and said times up , youre exceeding your limit, cant give you a blood test not for two months bye!! She did however agree to swap my painkillers after much deliberation,, I just feel the Gps here are keeping me ill,,, I want to know two things ,1 can someone tell me please what a really healthy thyroid blood test should look like?
2,If I swap my Gp mid treatment to a new doctor who doesnt know me , becuse of my condition is there anything i should do , know , tell the gp etc,? REALLY FED UP AND GETTING REALLY DOWN , Im used to running about and getting up at 6 am and going to work and sometimes working till midnight,, now i dont have the energy for two hours !!
Regards
Astro
Written by
astroscopesuk
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Next time you are with a doctor who is not listening. Ask them to switch off the computer and talk to you. Refuse yo leave until they have dealt with your problem.
Astroscope, when I was first diagnosed I was so glad that I had a 'name' of my condition and was told that I would soon feel fine and given levothyroxine and after 6 weeks dose increased, but I was beginning now to feel worse and worse but the GPs don't think its the levothyroxine. I had widespread muscle/joint pain and could barely move. With the help of Thyroiduk - there was no forum then, I eventually got better but it necessitated a change.
You may begin to feel better as your GP has increased your dose but they have no idea really how we feel when we are so ill and all they can say 'your in normal range' that means absolutely nothing whatsoever. We are supposed to feel normal health not just have bloods in normal range.
I think they tell you whatever they think, i.e. menapause (due to age), lose weight (if you've gain) tell you your depressed but in actual fact we are desperate for a quality of doctors that give us confidence that we will be well.
All of these emotions we go through is due to our thyroid hormone being out of whack as it is the Master Gland which needs sufficient hormone to work efficiently.
I am so sorry to hear you had a bad time at the beginning of your diagnoisis.
I am so fed up not feeling normal, marginally better for the up of 25 mg, but i cant zip about like i used to, and work say im useless to them until Im the Duracell bunny they know. I tell you that didnt do alot for me and my self esteem just fell through the floor. I have worked for the company since 1986 and only had off 3 months for cancer and about one week for a kidney infection , and three days when my menstrual cycle went mad and i didn't stop bleeding for three days .
However in all that time until now that's been it. My boss said that they only want me back when im 100 pc as the pressure is great there and i wont be able to manage unless im 100pc well.
So with the GPs all about 7-9 of them all not looking at my notes and all doing different things as they ha vent got a clue its more than frustrating, and since im auto immune all i can think is they are just going to up and up my meds until my immune system has eaten my thyroid completely ,!
You can get well but if you are feeling pretty unwell you find it difficult to get the strength but you can get well but it does take time unfortunately.
1. Many people who are on levothyroxine get well. They have to reach the dose that makes them feel good - that is the optimum level.
2. GP's (as I've already mentioned) think if your medication is 'within range' then the patient is o.k.and wont increase your dose. So we have to make sure they increase each time and some need the TSH to be suppressed but GPs think, wrongly, that we may get a heart attack but that's not true either. People who have had cancer of the thyroid gland all are given a dose which suppresses the TSH, so they wouldn't do that if it would harm the patient.
I am sorry you, yourself, have also had cancer which is another thing you've had to come to terms with but am glad you have recovered.
When I had cancer, i had three months off work due to the radio therpay and all the drugs at the time, and three months in the office at work, that was a while ago and now work wont let me go in the office as , 1 i cant walk properly and they want me on the street,!! and with my panic attacks(which ive never had before in my life,)thats not advisable, ! Ive never before been advised to take the max sick leave till I recover,! But im hoping its not completely necessary . I am well aware people have had lots more time suffering with this, but I am fed up with Gps who dont even look at the screen when youre the patient, then thy look at it last thing and treat the screen result not the person.
I am glad I managed to get over Cancer , but this thing its changed me so much I dont even recognise the person I used to be.
Thankyou, for your reply and I will see if i can get the gps to up my meds even more,due to the fact it is autoimmune and will probably have suffered as a result by the next time i visit Gp.
My GP is of the opinion that any cortisol levels are as rare as hens teeth!! So if I even mention that Im on a hiding to nothing.
But I do take regular vit c tablets and I still get panic attacks, and am going for counselling to see if that can help me get emotionally strong as Ive completely lost it as far as any emotional strength lately.
Thankyou so much for all the advice, any is very much appreciated.
I think GPs are feeling the pressure of cuts - they go for the line of least resistance, she knew your note had run out so that was the priority for the appointment from her point of view. it is is difficult when you feel poorly to be assertive. I think if they can't listen to all you need to say in one appointment, then you need another appointment, and another if necessary, and it is possible to book double appointments sometimes. See the same doctor each time so they get the message that they, not another doctor is going to have to sort this out for you. They realise that sorting the problem properly will save them time, then you have a GP who is listening. Get the next appointment you can, well before this note runs out and a different appointment for another note. Hope you're soon better
I dont think my Gp does double appointments. if they do its only another 5 mins.
And yes I agree its difficult to be assertive when youre poorly,
I just dont feel im getting anywhere with the whole surgery , as it seems when my long standing Gp retired, the only good ones shes had there dont work there and are only in for the day to help out.
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