Private GP or functional medicine doctor? Anyone have experience?

[Raucous]

I recently saw my GP about a private blood test I had done which showed:

v. high Anti-Thyroglobulin antibodies

v. low Ferritin

high RT3

TSH 2.6 (but it was 4.85 a few months ago).

I am on 100mcg a day of levothyroxine. She has prescribed iron (400mcg a day) and although she is going to run the test results by the endocrinologists, she said she can only work within NHS guidelines, so T3/combination, NDT, or a raise in.

She actually said that if I wanted to go to a private GP they might be able to do more.

My question is if I decide to pay to see a specialist do I actually go to a private GP with an interest/specialism in thyroid problems or do I see a functional medicine doctor with the same interest?

Presumably because functional medicine is not recognised by NHS they cannot prescribe...? I would be nervous about buying anything like T3 or NDT over the internet without a prescription.

I like the approach of functional medicine because I would like a more whole body look at my health, but are there any advantages to seeing a qualified GP over an integrative or functional doctor?

[Angel_of_the_North]

I don't think there are many functional medicine doctors in the UK, but many are GPs so could prescribe.

[Raucous in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

I've found a functional medicine doctor in Bristol but there are also people like Dr Myhill and those on the list from Thyroid UK are all private GPs

[Jaymieleigh1412 in reply to Raucous]

I'm in bristol too! Could you give details of this functional medicine doctor that you see and can they prescribe NDT?? Thanks!

[Raucous in reply to Jaymieleigh1412]

I'll try and look it up again & send it to you, I havent been to anyone yet and have not found out if they can prescribe NDT.

[Jaymieleigh1412 in reply to Raucous]

Great, thanks!

[Giffysmith in reply to Raucous]

Hi there, I have just seen this post as am currently trying to find a functional doctor in Bristol too.. would you be able to let me know who you used and will see if they are around.. thanks if that is possible 4yrs on/ if you are able to advice. Many thanks and hope you are well, Kathryn

[Raucous in reply to Giffysmith]

I have not been to this person but if you search functional medicine doctor Bristol you will find someone called Dr Jens Rohrbeck who says he treats under active thyroid....

[bmcnicol2001]

I have been Hypothyroid for 38 years, the first 37 of them I was going to an Endo who would only prescribe synthetic T4. She would not let me try T3 in combination with the T4 and was dead against NDT. For all of those years I suffered with weight gain, fatigue, dry skin and nails, insomnia, brain fog, aching sore muscles, constipation, high LDL cholesterol etc, etc. Got fed up and stopped going to her. Last summer I went to me GP and had a very frank discussion with him about my issues ad the lack of any real treatment by the Endo. I asked him if I could try NDT, thankfully he is open minded and had some success with it in other patients (someone came to him as a new patient from the US and they had a prescription for it). Well I have been on only NDT not for about 6 months, what a difference in the way that I feel. I know that it will take more time for my body to fully adjust to this new treatment but so far so good. Hubby and I are moving back to the UK (Bristol area) in September for our retirement and to be near our daughter. I now have to find a doctor that will prescribe the NDT for me, is this going to be a issue?