second opinion.

[joyce59]

After having a nightmare appointment with an endo in May Ive demanded a second opinion this time choosing who I want to see. next month iam seeing a endo who is also researching into thyroid disease. Iam concerned about the neck pain Iam having but the endo I saw seemed to think it was no big deal. last time i went prepared with questions but just got told bloods were ok and nothing was wrong. she (the endo) wrote to my gp saying shed examined my thyroid area which she didnt and discharged me back to the gp who once again referred me to mental health. Iam begining to wonder if my thyroid problem is 'all in my head' as thats all i ever get told but recently i accidently undermedicated (long story) the gp is now questioning why my TSH has risen again.

[Ruthi]

Take someone with you who can a) be a second pair of ears when you will be so stressed and b) vouch for what goes on!

[joyce59 in reply to Ruthi]

my daughter has said she will come with me if shes not working. she came last time as she drove me there but waited outside in waiting area.

[Ruthi in reply to joyce59]

And what will you do if she is working?

[joyce59 in reply to Ruthi]

I work at the same hospital so maybe able to get a some-one from the hospital to come with me.

[galathea]

What area are you in? Is there no one on here you can pair up with? We should all pair up if we can.....

I accompanied another patient to see my endo.... ( i told her he was rubbish). And he failed to recongnise me, then when he said he didnt believe in t3'. I told him i got better on it and was one of his patients.

No use though, he ushered her out of the room and discharged her. His nurse came up to us afterwards and basically agreed he was an ass!

Well done for standing your ground.

Xx g

[joyce59]

luckily i attend a thyroid self help group and some of the ladies are under the same hospital.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As well as TSH, FT3 & Ft4, Suggest you also ask GP to check levels of vitamin d, b12, folate and ferratin. These all need to at good (not just average) levels for thyroid hormones (our own or replacement ones) to work in our cells.

Make sure you get the actual figures from tests (including ranges - figures in brackets). You are entitled to copies of your own results. Some surgeries make nominal charge for printing out. Alternatively you can now ask for online access to your own medical records. Though not all surgeries can do this yet, or may not have blood test results available yet online

When you get results suggest you make a new post on here and members can offer advice on any vitamin supplements needed

If you can not get GP to do these tests, then like many of us, you can get them done privately

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Blue Horizon - Thyroid plus eleven tests all these.

This is an easy to do fingerprick test you do at home, post back and they email results to you couple of days later.

As you have Hashimoto's then you may find adopting 100% gluten free diet can help reduce symptoms, and lower antibodies too.

Assume you know that Levo generally should be taken on empty stomach and no food or drink for at least hour after. Many take on waking, some prefer bedtime, either as more convenient or perhaps more effective. No other medications at same time, especially iron or magnesium, these must be at least 4 hours away

Best advice is to read as much as you can. Vitamin and minerals levels are very important, but standard NHS thinking, doesn't at the moment seem to recognise this.

You will see, time and time again on here lots of information and advice about importance of good levels of B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D, leaky gut and gluten connection to autoimmune Hashimoto's too.

vitamindcouncil.org/tag/aut...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...