To tell or not to tell?

[pennyrose]

Seen my GP for a different matter last week and the topic of my condition was brought up. I asked for them to trial me on T3 (didn't mention I was self medicating on it) and he was quite dismissive as it isn't something they normally prescribe. GP said he would send a letter to the endo which he did.

I was expecting endo to then right back but GP has just done a referral to the endo instead. NHS wait time is 2.5 months (end of November appointment). I do have private healthcare with work so have booked in to see the man who diagnosed me on Wednesday (6 day waiting time).

My predicament is this. Do I tell my endo that I've finally had enough of the GP's not only of mismanaging (not managing!) my condition and finally started adding t3 myself or do I keep that to myself? My last set of bloods were on the hypo side but since my increase (which the doctors ignored to advise about) I have felt much better, particularly the past 4 days. The past 3 days I've felt a consistent 8/10 which is amazing really.

Thanks all xx

[susymac]

Why bother to go see a consultant if you are going to lie to them? Presumably you want them to prescribe the T3 for you, in which case you would be far better making a case of how much better you have felt since taking it. Doesnt mean they will give you it, that depends on hospital policy and whether the endo you see believes in prescribing it or not, but an endo would be able to tell something wasnt right from your blood tests anyway.

[pennyrose in reply to susymac]

Thanks so much, just feel a bit "naughty" self medicating but it's made the world of difference x

[Clutter in reply to pennyrose]

Pennyrose, I agree with Susmac, it's a waste of everyone's time if you aren't honest. I told my endo I was self medicating and he could see for himself the improvement in my health and agreed to prescribe despite being unconvinced that there was sufficient good evidence based research to support the use of T3.

If your endo declines to prescribe you can continue self medicating.

[Glynisrose]

Personally I do not tell my GP anything!! Especially to do with the thyroid, when asked to do blood test I tell him that there are results in the system from the endo. I have a little Armour in the freezer as back up and I would not tell any doctor what I was taking as I feel its my condition I'll manage it!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Glynisrose]

That is almost exactly what my mother said about a (non-thyroid) illness she had last year. She very nearly died because she didn't tell anyone about what she saw as "her condition". First I knew was a phone call from a paramedic scooping her from the floor in her home.

[susymac in reply to Glynisrose]

Its not her GP, Its a consultant, who she has asked to see!

I also dont bother telling my GP anything thyroid related, theres no poinbt they dont listen and they dont treat it, I do, they know what I take because I told them. However if I had asked to see a consultant because I felt the treatment I was getting from a GP was inadequate for my needs, Id tell that consultant exactly what I took and how well I was doing on it, because its a complete waste of both theirs and my time otherwise.

[Glynisrose]

When doctors start treating thyroid illness as serious, that's when I'll tell them whats going on and not before. Regrets about your mother but its really not the same.

[eeng]

Your blood test results are going to be affected by the T3 you are taking, so I think you probably need to tell him or he won't be able to make a sound decision about future medication.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to eeng]

I don't tell my GP anything much. Hardly ever go. I had a TSH test sprung on me when I went about something else entirely (thought they were doing a full blood count because of my low ferritin) and my TSH was actually higher than it's ever been before even though I had taken T3 about 5 hours before. All normal. of course.