Fuming after GP visit,waste of time ...

[Paul1108]

What a waste of time ,saw a GP today and explained where I'm at regards my own blood tests that I had with me ,I explained how terrible I feel right now and that the Levo contains maize that I'm intolerant too, I explained that previous NHS bloods came back with instructions to increase dose and my new bloods show similar too. The doctor that I saw told me that

All my bloods are satisfactory and within range

The recommendation from their own NHS results were not an instruction and no dosage increase

They do not recognise my private bloods as not from NHS even though they won't test everything I had tested by Blue Horizon

They will only prescribe Levo regardless of intolerance to maize as its a small content !!!!

I've only got 18 weeks until I see an endo

And finally she hoped I felt better after discussing it all with her

Absolutely shocking with all the facts on the table they can only offer what is within their guidelines so I'm done for now with them as I feel I need to see a sympathetic ( if that's the right word) experienced common sense doctor / endocrinologist and soon as a plan is needed I feel ,I'll do everything I can diet wise but for new meds I'd be glad of some guidance who/where to go as I value good health and want to strive towards it ,I've had a tough 18 months and recently bloomin awful ,I asked her is it normal to ache for days after washing a car or be out of breath going upstairs and feel low all the time and she said they are common hashimotos symptoms I can discuss when I see someone in 18 weeks.

Be glad of help here ,really would and you've been great so far.

Paul Jones, A moment ago Report#11Reply

[Jill35]

Could you see another Dr at the same practice and see if they are more empathetic? How long have you been waiting on an Endo apt? I have been waiting since start of July even though it was marked urgent

[Paul1108]

Waiting since May ,she checked with experienced GP and they said all within guidelines

[Jill35 in reply to Paul1108]

Oh dear you have been waiting even longer than me then. I spoke to my Dr today regarding deficiencies and he thought I was looking too much into things! Ask them to chase up your endo appointment my practice is doing that for me as I have been referred as urgent and still waiting but you have been waiting 8 weeks longer than me.

I am new to this so can't really offer much advice other than keep at it.

[Hidden]

Write a formal letter of complaint to the GP, copy to Practice Manager, stating that they've done nothing to help you regain your health. GPs are revalidated every 5 years so any complaints are taken seriously. You should not have to put up with a lazy doctor who's being paid a fat salary via contributions from the taxpayer.

[Hidden]

Have a read of these official guidelines then become an assertive patient:

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

[Scazzoh in reply to Hidden]

I note that the NICE guidelines state that referral to an endo should be sought if someone has 'persistent symptoms despite treatment with LT4'. I would argue that if these guidelines were accurately interpreted the Endo departments in hospitals would be overwhelmed with referrals. I've just been offered an increase in anti-depressants, PPI medication, referral to a CFS clinic and/or a therapist for my persistent symptoms.

[Hidden in reply to Scazzoh]

Scazzoh - the way it works these days is that consultants see less patients as they're being dumped on GPs to deal with, unsurprisingly GPs aren't happy and who can blame them. My own experience is that by making a formal complaint it meant that I was able to see an Endo but what an Endoknob he turned out to be. Utterly useless.

Just trying to be helpful but are you aware that AD's and PPI's can affect the thyroid?

[Scazzoh in reply to Hidden]

Hi Cinammon, I am not taking the PPIs. Have you got info about ADs and thyroid? I am on Citalopram. Once my T3 gets off the bottom of the tank I hope the depression will lift and I can stop taking them. Just started NDT, but couldn't tell my GP that.

[Cariad-y-Mor in reply to Hidden]

Thank you@cinnamon_girl......very interesting. My computer printer will be working overtime tomorrow. ☺☺

[greygoose]

I hope you told her exactly how you did feel after 'discussing it all with her'!!!

[Di588]

Hi I am in the same position as you. I did receive a higher dose from my old doctor, but she wasn't pleased and unbeknown to me she red flagged my notes. I changed surgeries and the new doctor gave me a lecture and told me I had been given the new dose outside the guidelines and she would not have done it, and don't bother with another doctor at the surgery as they won't either. I explained that I was feeling well on the new dose, but she ignored me and said she would refer me. I now understand that she has asked for advice from an endo rather than refer me. So this endo is going to comment on me without seeing me, knowing me or even speaking to me. I am due to request a new script soon, so we will see. As I feel well and the doctor is not listening, I have decided that if she will not give me the higher dosage (it's only 75mcg for Gods sake) I will have to self medicate.

I wish they would rip up those damn guidelines!

All the best

[cwill in reply to Di588]

Good grief: doctors have to swear to do no harm in their oath. I don't think doing nothing of use to the patient, and prescribing drugs that are not really indicated and will have side effects, actually meets this rather stringent tenet of practice.

[serenfach]

Try muttering under your breath but loud enough so that they hear "first, do no harm". I have had some interesting results with this, GPs suddenly grow ears, Endos muttering that they are really Diabetes trained, and then asking what I think should happen!

I think it is because they suddenly realise you have a brain!

[ziel]

GP's are so useless, waste of NHS money.. And these guidelines, who the hell was writing them?! I swear, over the time, I'm more and more convinced they have no desire to treat the illness, just to kill us..

[Glynisrose]

There is NO maize in Armour.

[Hippopotamus]

How frustrating!! I think we've all been there, at some point. I had to try half a dozen GPs before I found one that knew anything at all about Hashimotos.

Just out of interest, have you had your Vitamin D and B12 tested? I have had significant problems with severe breathlessness after light exertion and find it improving (but slowly) after switching to T3 and supplementing with liquid D3 and methylcobalamin. I wish I knew which was responsible, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a combination of factors.

Keep at it, frustrating though it is, until you find someone who a) hears you and b) knows what they're talking about. Good luck!

[Paul1108]

Thank you for the replies ,more food for though making me more determined