Endocrinologist

[mags44]

I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid in August 2014 and my TSH levels were very high. I was immediately put on thyroxine and between then and now my health has not been great. I developed joint pain in April, had weight gain and insomnia. My gp referred me to an Endocrinologist and eventually saw him on Thursday. He looked at my blood results and told me they were great and my weight gain and insomnia were due to stress not my thyroid. I am really good at coping with stress and have never not been able to sleep due to this. I have been upset since seeing him, as I was expecting help not a generalisation about myself.

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum, and you have had a taste of what appears to be a 'normal' consultation for hypothyroid patients.

We have to read and learn ourselves if we want to recover our health.

You have discovered the professionals know little about clinical symptoms, which you quote above. Also they are apt to keep our TSH in 'range' even towards the upper end of the range when most of us feel best with a TSH around 1 or lower or suppressed. They are under the illusion that 'suppressed' equals heart attack when it's probably the other way around. Too little levo means that our metabolism cannot get back to normal and if you begin to take your Basal Temp test before you get out of bed and several 'normal' temps/pulse a day until you feel better is a good way to judge our doses. Levo has to make our metabolism rise as hypo means it is 'slow' and heart can struggle to pump sufficiently amongst all the other symptoms of a 'slow metabolism'. We usually have low pulse/temps until on sufficient hormones.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/thyroi...

regenerativenutrition.com/c...

Always get a print-out of your blood test results with the ranges for your own records and so you can post if you have a query. We are entitled to them and some surgeries ask for a nominal sum to cover paper/ink.

When you go for a blood test for your thyroid gland, make the earliest possible appointment and fast. Leave approx 24 hours from your last dose of levo and the test and take levo afterwards. If you've not had Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate tested ask for these too. We are usually deficient in vits/minerals which can also cause problems. Following these simple rules means that the doctor is unlikely to adjust our dose down (which makes us worse usually).

If you've had recent blood tests, get a print-out and post. We need the ranges as labs differ.

[Jackie]

HI Ask to see another Endo but research them carefully first.

Jackie

[Ruthi]

Welcome to the world of medicine! Doctors are well meaning, but arrogant. Very few are brave enough to admit that they don't know the answer, or to go against the received wisdom (doctrine of the day) - and will happily blame us for our symptoms.

Its not just Endos either. I have had dreadfully dismissive and condescending treatment at the hands of a Rheumatologist, an Orthopaedic surgeon, and a Gastroenterologist too. I have observed too that the men in my life don't get that treatment to anything like the same extent - whether the doctor is male or female!

You need to educate yourself thoroughly and be prepared to demand a sensible explanation. Sadly its likely that you will get better advice, and better solutions here on this board than you will from your doctor.