GP chat-NDT, Antibodies and more...

[NatChap]

So I bit the bullet and made an appointment to see my GP (I say 'my', I never get to see 'my' Gp as she's hardly ever there so this will be the 4th different one I've seen about thyroid issues) to tell them I'm taking NDT. I said that I had previously asked for T3 test and/or a trial of T3 or NDT and she said I won't get that in this country. When I told her I was self medicating and doing well on it she hesitantly replied 'ok, that's good', which was a relief!

When I showed her my private test results which showed raised antibodies she said that everyone with hypothyroidism will have that and it doesn't mean it's Hashimotos and that relatively speaking mine were low as she'd seen them in their thousands before.

I also showed her my cortisol results and she said that it is really meaningless as cortisol levels can change on a daily basis in response to stress etc.. Also, although my DHEA is at the bottom of the range she said that as it is in range there isn't cause for concern.

Anyway, the upshot is she has offered to refer to me to an endicrinologist at the QMC to discuss all of these results as she can't request tests for things like DHEA and there are certain medications she can't prescribe too. I'm not disappointed, I wasnt expecting to get anywhere with the appointment, just wanted to let them know where I am and what I was doing so feeling quite relieved really!!

[Rennixon]

Sounds like it went ok, like you say expect nothing. But at least you've got it off your chest! Endo at QMC hummmm I wonder which one? keep me posted! 👍

[NatChap in reply to Rennixon]

Will do

[Treepie]

If you have high antibodies you have auto immune thyroiditis . Hence Hashimotos or sometimes Graves disease. Not all hypothyroid folk have high antibodies so the GP is wrong .

[NatChap in reply to Treepie]

I figured that arguing was pointless, especially as she had offered a referral and hadn't said anything about me self medicating.

[humanbean]

I'm hypothyroid, but have never had positive antibodies. And if you have antibodies, yes, you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis aka autoimmune thyroid disease.

I wonder what doctors look for when they think about Hashimoto's? That's never been clear to me, at all.

[NatChap in reply to humanbean]

She did seem a little more clued up on other things though like ferritin and making sure I was nearer the top of the range with that. My expectations weren't high, I was surprised she offered to refer me to be honest. I'm not bothered, I am treating myself with the help of this fab group but I just wanted them to know I wasn't taking my levo anymore

[Jazzw in reply to NatChap]

You did well. One day I'll be brave enough to do the same...

[Jazzw in reply to humanbean]

No antibodies for me either, HB. Although given the antibodies for other autoimmune diseases don't always show up, it seems perfectly possible to me that they just might not show up even when the cause is Hashimoto's.

And yes, I'd also love to know how doctors think they might diagnose Hashimoto's, if it isn't by looking for the presence of antibodies...

[AnnT49 in reply to humanbean]

Or Graves.

[AnnT49 in reply to AnnT49]

"if you have antibodies, yes, you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis aka autoimmune thyroid disease"

Or Graves.

Don't know what happened there. It was meant to follow on from the comment from Humanbean. It made more sense there.

[humanbean in reply to AnnT49]

Your reply did appear in the right place as far as HU is concerned. It isn't the most user friendly of forums. Trying to work out who has answered who and which post a reply belongs to can be well nigh impossible sometimes.

I got alerted that you had answered my post.

And yes, you're absolutely right. I had my hypothyroid blinkers on and didn't think about Graves' Disease.