Going GP today, any words of advise....

Hi,

I thought I'd go to the GP with the NICE guidelines today for women who are trying to conceive. I will let them know what the guidelines state and see if they decide to treat with me with my elevated thyroid antibodies. I need to give it once last shot before I self-medicate. If they decline. I'm coming straight back here to order online for self-medicating. Any words of advice i could say to the GP to persuade them and make them listen.... (Note my thyroid is 2.84 TSH. (docs are not considering me hypo just yet)

[Hidden]

*words of ADVICE even

[Zoz1 in reply to Hidden]

No advice other than to stand your ground and don't let them fob you off! I'm off to my GP for a similar conversation tomorrow and already feeling anxious about it. Good luck and be sure to post how you get on.

Before self medicating, is it worth considering going private? That's my next port of call if/when my GP doesn't help x

[Hidden in reply to Zoz1]

Thanks will update you. No, it's not really affordable at the moment.

[Hidden]

I read on STTM that you need both sets of thyroid antibodies to be raised not just one to have Hashi's.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

I don't know if this is correct or not. Perhaps you need to confirm if you have Hashi's

(forgive me but I only saw one set of antibodies results) first before you start to self-treat.

My first question would be:-

Do I have Hashi's?

Followed by:-

Why are my antibodies raised and could this be the reason why l miscarried? What is going on here?

I'm so sorry about your loss orangpie, ((((()))))

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for the response HeirloomApple. The thing is the NICE guidelines state a women trying to conceive should have a TSH level of under 2 in the first 12 weeks. This is one of the reasons why I would like levo to lower TSH. I think my TSH struggles in pregnancy. However, the last time I miscarried I did a blood test straight after the miscarriage which suggested an increase in TSH by 1 and Thyroid peroxidase antibodies soared. This from what I have read indicates the miscarriage was caused by these antibodies as the blood test was done straight after. Most of the links I read says even if one is elevated including advice from here suggests I do have hashi :

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

I am having difficulty being diagnosed by GP and private is not affordable at the moment, which is why I have come here.

I do have an appointment with endo but thats a while away. I don't want to miscarry again in the mean time so I want to be on meds asap if that helps.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

You sound knowledgeable and strong! :0)

Good luck and please let us know how you got on?

H xxx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, I have updated this thread.

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

HA, I think what they're saying is you need both types of antibody to be tested, not you need both high to be positive. You are positive if one or the other is high.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

Aha! I well and truly misinterpreted that one! Yes, I see exactly what you mean now.

Thanks gg!

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

You're welcome.

[Ruthi]

No advice, just wanted to wish you good luck and inner strength!

Maybe ask for a Gynae referral as well? Often its the non - endos that will be the greatest help.

It makes me so angry that it has to be the luck of the draw if you get a good one!

[Hidden in reply to Ruthi]

I have an update in this thread.

[Hidden]

UPDATE: I've been to the GP (NHS) and presented the guidelines about pre-conception and TSH levels. She said that these guidelines apply to a women who already has hypo or newly diagnosed. I have to give it to her, she was sympathetic and understood my concerns. I've been to the Docs about this twice last week too and they were not as good as her. She mentioned that my antibody levels should not be a reason for it to be a problem for implantation. She didn't just dismiss me or fob me off; she messaged the endocrinologist saying that I wish to conceive and I keep miscarrying very early. She also mentioned to the endo I wanted to take levothyroxine in order for it to help the antibodies as she was unsure what to do. I have to wait until next week when she will call me with the answer from the endo. Wish me luck that they will prescribe it.

She said ' do not self-medicate' as you do not know what you are getting abroad. Hmm.

[Hidden]

It sounds hopeful. Clutter has just pointed out to me in a similar case above that the British Thyroid Assoc guidelines say explicitly treat even if "euthyroid with antibodies" if over 2.5, I've just put the extract on the conversation. So your GP is wrong, though I have to say the BTA doc is a bit of a wade through and I thought exactly the same as her. Only just over should do it. And the BTA document says your thyroid should be monitored in pregnancy too.

Sorry I didn't find that earlier for you.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

btf-thyroid.org/professiona...

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Can you send me a link to the British Thyroid Guidlines- guidlines 'euthyroid with antibodies' and do GPs have to follow this??

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Can you send me the BTA guidelines link please which relates to this and are obliged to follow it like the NICE guidelines as I didn't get too far with that.

[Skeeter1956]

Hi Orangepie

I wish you all the best and hope your GP visist has a good outcome . My wife has numerous early miscarriages over many years . Their are many causes of miscarriages and I would advise not getting too fixated on one cause . Best wishes . Skeeter