endocrinologist in northwest

[helpme2]

I am new to this site so please forgive if my question 'out of order' it sounds good in my head. Has anyone had good experiences with endocrinologists in the northwest of England regarding hypthyroidism? GP said that she will not waiver from what the test results show. At least she offered to add T3 to my next lot of blood tests and says that if it shows up then I may need to be referred to endocrinologist. I am on 100mgs Levothyroxine for about 4wks upped from 75mgs and just managing to hold myself together during the day, but by tea time anxious/tired feelings start to work their way in. Anti histamines are the only thing that help with sleep and throat/tongue symptoms. I have terrible pain in my body, my eyesight is affected but symptoms a little better since upped to 100mgs Levothyroxine. Manchester Royal Infirmary seems to have a good Endo unit but what are the doctors like. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[helvella Administrator]

Asking the question is fine, but would people please take account of guideline 24 and only respond about identifiable medics by private message.

24. Do not post information about specific endocrinologists or doctors on the main board without their permission as this may result in unwanted attention from certain areas of the medical profession.

If you wish to discuss a particular endocrinologist or doctor, you may mention his/her name and location, providing that you ask for comments by private message only.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/suppor...

Rod

[galathea]

100 mcg of levothyroxine us not really a full replacement amount..... You need blood tests every 6 weeks and an increase in meds until you feel better. Make a note of all your results to any tests which are done and see how you feel when tsh is under 1 and free t4 is at the top end of the range.

it takes a while to become ill enough for treatment a d it also takes a while to get better.

How long since you were diagnosed? And what are your levels of tsh and free t4 like?

[helpme2 in reply to galathea]

I was diagnosed and placed on levothyroxine 10 years ago and looking back I was showing symptoms of adrenal insufficiency all my life. T4 13.1 and TSH 7.69 recently.

[galathea in reply to helpme2]

So you have been on 75 For 10 years and only just got an increase??? Wow! No wonder you not feeling too great. Maybe time for a new regime and a saliva adrenal test.......

Have a look under testing on the web site. thyroiduk.org.uk

G

[helpme2 in reply to galathea]

In the early years the GP stopped the Thyroxine completely and I ended up in hospital with the consultant telling me never to come off it ever again! The Thyroxine dosage was 75 because I was told my symptoms were due to Fibromyalgia. I am just recovering from a breakdown after a bereavement, came off anxiety meds, felt rubbish so I asked GP for thyroid to be checked...that's when it was put up to 100.

Totally agree with you, thank you, about the new regime and have done some research about the tests but now it has all overwhelmed me (daughter typing for me so excuse the errors!)

I hope I can find a way forward soon.

Thanks

[galathea]

Fibromyalgia is thought to be related to low t3. If you don't have sufficient t4 it cannot convert to t3.

Would be well worth you getting your free t3 measured, but i suspect it will be low..... You could raise the t4. (Levothyroxine ) until your levels are at top end of the range, and take some selenium... (200 mcg a day) to help with t4/t3 conversion and see if it helps to raise your free t3 and improve the way you feel.

If it doesn't help you might to take some additional Liothyronine (t3) alongside your levothyroxine.

Xx g