NHS and Private

[Foggy73]

My GP won't refer me to an Endocrinology. If I decide to see an Endo for one private appointment can I continue treatment on the NHS following this appointment?

[Barrister]

It depends. If the endocrinologist also works in the NHS, you could ask him/her if they would see you on the NHS. You would then have to go back to your GP and request that you be referred to the endo on the NHS. And then, whilst you may be referred that particular Endo's team, you won't necessarily actually be seen by the main man/woman. it's a chance that you have to take but I would do it if necessary. Clemmie

[Foggy73]

My GPs won't refer me because they feel that an Endo can't do anymore than what they are doing. My results are:

November 2014 - Serum free T4 = 13.1, TSH = 10.85

January 2015 - Serum free T4 = 16.3, TSH = 4.96, Antibodies test = 176.5

March 2015 - Seum free T4 = 17.9, TSH = 2.93

July 2015 - Serum free T4 = 17.5, Serum free T3, TSH = 4.04, Antibodies test = 86

I have gone from 25mcg to 125mcgs in less than a year and I have been feeling terrible for about 6 months again. Symptoms are very bad fatigue and still feeling awful even after a daytime nap, weight gain, dry skin, terrible brain fog and memory, lack of concentration, short tempered/irritable,

[Foggy73]

Free T3 = 4.9 pmol/L (range 3.10 - 6.80)

Serum Folate = 17.4 ng/ml (range 4.60 - 18.70)

Serum vitamin B12 = 734 pg/ml (range 197 - 866)

Vitamin D Serum 48 nmol/L (range 50 - 120)

Are these OK?

[Clutter in reply to Foggy73]

Foggy, TSH 4.4 means you are undermedicated. Your GP should increase dose until TSH is just above, or below 1.0. FT4 and FT3 are both quite good but will improve with increased dose.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Thyroid antibodies are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's). Adopting 100% gluten-free diet can be helpful in managing Hashi's and can eradicate, or reduce, antibodies.

Folate and B12 are good. VitD is insufficient. Most people are comfortable around 100 which is in the replete 75-200 range. Supplement D3 5,000iu softgel capsules, spray or drops. Take vitD 4 hours away from Levothyroxine and retest in 6 months.

[Foggy73 in reply to Clutter]

Thank you Clutter.

I took an article to the GP I saw last a couple of months ago which was recommended to me on this forum about your TSH should be 1 or just before and she agreed with it (she previously said I was in normal range!!).

My Vit D and Calcium has been low in the past and I still have some Adcal that I can start taking again.

I have to wait another few weeks before I can have my thyroid testing again (as only been on this dosage 6 weeks), which means I have to continue suffering until then to have my meds increased again.

[Clutter in reply to Foggy73]

Foggy, 6-8 weeks after a dose increase is long enough for testing. See whether you can retest in a couple of weeks.

[Foggy73 in reply to Clutter]

Thank you Clutter. Yes I will boom a bllod test. I feel no better, if anything i feel worse. I went from 100mcg to 125mcg 6 weeks ago