Hoping to get levo dose increased

[DonnyJam]

hello.

Right my appointment with a different GP is finally here, (well in the morning)

I'm hoping I can get him to up my levo dose but I've got a feeling he will refuse as my own GP wasn't interested and the the endo's seem to be happy with my levels via the register.

So I'm looking for a little advice for how I should handle the GP, I feel like bluntly saying if you wont help me I'll source my own extra levo but I'm not sure what the reaction will be, Could my GP then cut my prescription off completely? and what will happen when the thyroid register send my slip through for my routine TFT and the results show my TSH is lower than what it is now?

Maybe I would be just better acting like I accept what the GP says in the morning and then still source some extra levo? The problem with that though is on my next routine TFT they will ask what levo dose I'm currently taking. Obviously they will see I'm taking a higher dose than I'm prescribed?

As you can probably tell this situation is getting me all worked up so a little advice wouldn't go a miss please?

[Clutter]

Donnyjam, high light the part in Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... where it says some patients need a low/suppressed TSH and over range FT4 to feel well and show it to your GP when you ask for a dose increase. If he refuses I wouldn't tell him you are going to self medicate. If you source your own, see whether symptoms improve and don't worry about the next TFT. TSH will be lower if you increase dose, there's nothing to be done about that. If asked what dose Levothyroxine you are taking say "I'm prescribed xmcg."

Good luck!

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

[DonnyJam in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter, I will be showing the GP this.

Could I just ask what you meant by telling them I'm on prescribed xmcg, do you mean only tell them the amount I'm prescribed by them and not the amount I'm self medicating?

They Never actually ask me but on the letter that comes with the blood request it always askes me to state on the slip what meds & doses.

It has been a wasted trip to the doctors for now though, because of a mix up with my appointment time I was either to wait untill he could fit me in or take a cancelled appointment, so Thursday morning it is...

[Clutter in reply to DonnyJam]

Donnyjam, I was suggesting you write the medication and dose you are prescribed on slip. If your thyroid levels are 'off' after self-medication and your GP wants to adjust dose, you will need to 'fess up then to your GP.

_______________________________________________________________________________

I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

[Hidden]

Hi. I would do as clutter said. Don't tell the doctor and sorce your own and do it yourself, I did . as like you I was getting know where , so I sorted myself out and then went back to them and said this works and I now get all my meds on prescription, you need to arm yourself with as much info as you can so they can see you know what your talking about, like you I was getting stressed before seeing the endos/docs which then makes you more ill. When you do it yourself the stress eases just read up on doses so you know how you should be feeling and I got a blood pressure / pulse machine so you can keep check your not overdosing. Hope this helps.

[DonnyJam in reply to Hidden]

Cheers for the reply nataliesue.

Standing up for myself with regards to my thyroid issue has been a long time coming.

Untill fairly recently when I decided to get private tests for a better picture of whats going on I was just taking their word for it when they said everything was normal. I thought maybe the symptoms I have just need to be accpeted and lived with which is pretty depressing.

[DonnyJam]

Just a quick update:

My GP was very reluctant to increase my dose but agreed in the end, increased by 25mcg but said he would be writting to the endo to let him know, not sure what will come of that...

I reeled off some symtoms I still have but he didn't seem interested at all.

Even when I quized him for a second time about intermittent blurred/double vision.