Supplements advice needed for new blood results... - Thyroid UK

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Supplements advice needed for new blood results & bad visit to Doctors.

nikki2975 profile image
18 Replies

Here are my latest blood results....I'm happy there all back to "normal" but wanted to know what and if any supplementation is still needed. I still don't feel any benefit from taking them except i'm calmer. I have noticed that if i go too long between taking my daily B Complex & B12 that my mood changes back to how it was before and i get easily irritated again.

Saw the new GP that replaced my last GP today for the first time and i really don't like her. I was with her for 20 minutes and wanted to cry by the time i left.

I mentioned i had a referral done for my Fatty Liver Disease and that my previous Doctor did it so i was seen at the same time by the same department as my Colorectal (Bowels). when i mentioned it to them during my first appointment last week they knew nothing about it and said it was separate. When i asked about it today she said it wasn't worth a referral and that all it took was dieting. I already knew that diet helped but i was referred for a reason. anyway, next minute she turned to me and said come back and see me in two weeks and i want you too of lost 2kg. my heart sank, i have been trying to lose weight but it's well known that Polycystic Ovaries and Fatty Liver can stop you from losing weight and make you put it on. She told me i had too and that when i did she would give me meds to help with further weight loss (because of the Fatty Liver i'm not allowed to have Metformin so it was something else i think being with S, I kind of zoned out after hearing losing 2kg in 2 weeks), she then said i want you to lose 5kg in 4 week and another amount in 6 weeks and so on. she said it was easy to do and went through some "idea's"...basically ones i knew off or tried and don't help me.

Are you allowed to take Aspirin when your hyper? She told me that Zapain don't work for Migraines (they do for me) and that i should take 900mg of Aspirin. i'm sure i heard or read somewhere that we shouldn't take it?

I just want to cry :(

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nikki2975
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18 Replies
nikki2975 profile image
nikki2975

Forgot to mention that i'm only allowed 1000kcal a day :(

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to nikki2975

That's not enough. You will probably end up putting on more. Doesn't she know that weight gain is a symptoms of hypo??? Low calorie diets negatively impact on conversion, so will make you more hypo.

Your FT4 isn't even mid-range, so goodness knows what your FT3 is like. You are still hypo, but I imagine she was only looking at the TSH. She doesn't sound very clued up on anything, to me.

Your folate is a bit low, too, but the rest are fine.

nikki2975 profile image
nikki2975 in reply to greygoose

Hi Greygoose,

I'm hyper not hypo btw.

I tried to explain that too her but couldn't really get a word in edgeways :(

Do i still need to take the supplements? i was taking VitD - 20,000iu weekly, B12 - 5000mcg daily, B Complex - 1 daily and Iron was 1 daily too but i don't have a prescription for that anymore.

What should i do about the diet? she made it very clear i wouldn't get any help from her if i didn't lose the 2kg by my next appointment on the 3rd October.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to nikki2975

OH, I'm so sorry. My mistake! :) But being hyper can still make you put on weight.

The woman's a sadist. I think I would complain to the practice manager. As I said to one doctor who insisted I lose weight : hang on! I'll just get my magic wand! You have several conditions that make you put on weight and make it difficult to lose, and she just walks in and snaps her fingers and thinks that's going to make it all alright? That's insane. I'm not even sure it's legal for her to refuse you treatment. Besides, it's not chemicals you need to make you lose weight, it's correct treatment of your conditions. And she's cancelled your referral? I would most definitely write to the practise manager and tell him all this. It just isn't right!

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to greygoose

Forgot to mention the supplements, l was so outraged!

If l were you, l would reduce to maintenance doses. Perhaps take the vit D once a week, and just 1000 mcg a day of B12. But continue with the B complex.

nikki2975 profile image
nikki2975 in reply to greygoose

Hi Greygoose, Sorry for the delay in replying i've either been working, College or ill :(

I've cancelled all my appointments with her and will be making appointments with other doctors at the surgery from now on.

I have printed my doctors complaint form off and will be posting it today. I felt really down for a couple of days after the appointment but decided to stick to the original plan with my previous doctor and felt better.

I don't think she's cancelled the referral although she possibly could of since seeing her as she thinks i don't need to be seen.

For the Vit D, I already take it once a week...should i take 1 20,000iu tablet instead of the 2? what about a maintenance dose for the Iron or should i leave that?

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to nikki2975

Glad you're complaining, that is just unacceptable!

If i were you, I would stick with the vit D as is, and leave the iron for a while. Get tested in six months or so, to see if it's still ok.

Good luck with the complaint!

nikki2975 profile image
nikki2975 in reply to greygoose

Ok, will do!

Can i send my complaint letter to you by message please as i forgot to remove the doctors names before posting and it got deleted?

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to nikki2975

Certainly you can. But don't you think we'd all like to read it? :)

Hillwoman profile image
Hillwoman

The weight loss goals you've been given by your new GP are completely unrealistic, given the range of conditions you have which will militate against any loss.

I would raise a concern with the practice manager, and ask again for the missing referral. To be honest, your GP sounds a bit sadistic, as well as unrealistic.

Edit: GG made all my points just ahead of me! :-D

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Hillwoman

Great minds think alike. :D

nikki2975 profile image
nikki2975 in reply to Hillwoman

Thank you Hillwoman :)

bluebug profile image
bluebug

All your vitamin and mineral levels are fine except for your folate level. It should be over halfway in the range. Do you supplement folate or B vitamins? If you don't then you need to supplement folate at least.

BTW if you are on a 1000Kcal diet particular one advocated by the NHS you will be vitamin and mineral deficient without supplementation, and the NHS don't advocate taking vitamin and mineral supplements if you are in range. Your GP is not trained in nutrition and if she wants you to lose weight on such a low calorie diet then she needs to refer you to a dietitian. No GP should be advocating that someone eats less than what the government recommends for an adult female/male if they want to remain in their job. Very low calorie diets can only be advised by specialists and a GP isn't one.

Hillwoman profile image
Hillwoman in reply to bluebug

Very well said.

nikki2975 profile image
nikki2975 in reply to bluebug

Hi Bluebug, Sorry for the delay in replying i've either been working, College or ill this last week :(

The Folate i take is the 400mg that's in the Thorne B Complex.

I'll be posting my complaint to my Doctors today but i'll probably post it on here to make sure it's ok first before i send it if that's ok?

bluebug profile image
bluebug in reply to nikki2975

Best to start a new thread with a brief summary of why you are writing the letter to get the most replies.

nikki2975 profile image
nikki2975 in reply to bluebug

Hi Bluebug, i did that but forgot to remove the doctors names and the post got deleted. Can i message it to you to get your opinion please?

nikki2975 profile image
nikki2975

Here is my letter of complaint, i'm not very good at writing letters especially ones of complaint but wanted to give as much info as possible to really show the problems i had during this appointment. hopefully i have x'd out all the names listed.

Dear Sir/madam,

RE: Complaint about Doctor xxxxxx,

Date of Incident: 19th September 2016.

I’d like to make a complaint about the treatment I received from Dr xxxxx during my appointment on the 19th September 2016.

It was my first appointment with Dr xxx although we had previously spoken on the phone. I made the appointment to discuss having Zapain put on repeat, follow up for the referral for Fatty Liver Disease which was originally requested by Dr xxx, Heart monitor results from the ECG I had on the 23rd August and lastly, regarding my symptoms of extreme tiredness/fatigue and the fact it was affecting my work and the possible connection to Addison’s Disease with the numerous other symptoms I’m having alongside them and knowing someone who has it and a lot of the symptoms I have.

From the beginning of the appointment I could tell that Dr xxx wasn’t really interested in what I was saying, she kept repeating certain things I was telling her and giving me the occasional ok and hmm. She would also not let me finish what I was saying at times which was really annoying. I understand appointments aren’t very long but how am I supposed to get the right treatment/help if I’m not allowed to finish talking about it?

Anyway, After asking for the Zapain to be put on repeat, Dr xxx asked me how I knew it was a Migraine and where the pain was coming from in a very condescending way. After I explained that I saw a Neurologist and she had confirmed it was Acute Migraines she agreed to put them on repeat but not before telling me that Zapain doesn’t work and that I should take 900mg of Aspirin instead when I feel a Migraine starting. I explained that Zapain works for me but was given a prescription for Aspirin anyway after I agreed to try them just so I could move on to the next thing. I have since found out that with my Hyperthyroidism I should avoid taking Aspirin.

The next thing we spoke about was my ECG and that I hadn’t had the results back yet. Dr xxx said she would try and chase it up for me. When I referred to it as a heart monitor and not an ECG she gave me a look and said ECG again being condescending and trying to belittle me just because I didn’t know/remember the correct medical term for it.

After going through both the Zapain and ECG I just wanted to leave as I knew I wouldn’t get anywhere but I also knew I couldn’t because I wanted to at least try and get to the bottom of the tiredness/fatigue. When I saw Dr xxx, she said it was possibly down to my low Vitamin D levels but my levels are normal now and I’m still having the same problems. I did mention Addison’s disease too her and she said we would look into it after finishing my current course of Vitamin D if my symptoms are still there. Dr xxx basically refused to even acknowledge it. after going through some of the symptoms I have because I had a renal profile at some point and nothing showed up then, then it wasn’t Addison’s disease. I’ve only had the fatigue and extreme tiredness for the last 3-4 months, most of the others I’ve only noticed in the last month or so. I don’t remember having a Renal profile done since my symptoms started. She didn’t offer to look into it any further to try and find out what else it could be. I explained that I was running on empty, it was affecting my ability to do my job and I’m at risk of losing my job, how it gets me down and makes me cry but she wasn’t interested at all. I only gave 5-6 symptoms of about 20 as I gave up and could tell she wasn’t really bothered or interested.

Lastly, My Liver referral which was requested by Dr xxxx. When I spoke to Dr xxx on her last day she confirmed that my referral for Colorectal and GI Medicine was for both my Bowels and Liver but when I went to the appointment the consultant said it was only for my Bowels and that my Liver was another department. I explained all this to Dr xxx and she said there isn’t that much fat in my Liver only a small amount and basically I didn’t need a referral and if it was to escalate into something more serious it was reversible within 3 months and basically I don’t need/won’t be getting a new referral. All I needed to do was Diet.

Next thing, Dr xxx turns to me and says I want you to come back and see me in two weeks and you will have lost 2kg and when I had done that then she would prescribe me some medication for my Polycystic Ovary Syndrome but I had to lose the weight first, I explained that I have 4 conditions that makes it hard for me to lose weight and if anything makes me put it on but she wasn’t interested. She said it was easy, 2kg wasn’t much and that I had to lose 2kg every 2 weeks on a 1000kcal diet. The conditions I have are Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Fatty Liver Disease, Hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto’s Disease I also have an undiagnosed condition with my Bowels. I am not receiving treatment for any of these conditions at the moment but somehow Dr xxx expects me to wave a magic wand and lose it.

I have been trying to lose weight but nothing’s working because of my conditions and the fact that I’m not on any medications to treat them. I also already have a plan in place with Dr xxx that after my Vitamin D levels were normal and my fasting bloods and height and weight were checked (I have appointments with xxx & xxx on the 18th October) that I would be referred to the Trafford Wellness programme. All this Dr xxxx would of seen had she taken the time to look through my records.

After leaving the surgery, my eye’s started welling up and I just wanted to cry in the street, I felt down for days afterwards but after realising how unrealistic the weight loss “plan” was and cancelled my future appointments with Dr xxx I felt a lot better.

I was with Dr xxx for 15-20 minutes and she came off as being very uncaring, disinterested, condescending and Sadistic. I’ve never had a problem with a doctor before in any sense but after this appointment I was actually contemplating finding another surgery. As I have now calmed down I have decided to just see another doctor at the surgery and won’t be attending any more of Dr xxxx appointments.

I would like for my Liver referral to be looked into or re-sent asap and I would also like a prescription for the medication for the PCOS and Fatty Liver ( I can’t take Metformin because of my Liver) so I can start taking them to help my symptoms. Lastly, I’d also like a blood form to check for Addison’s Disease and anything else that could be causing my symptoms. My symptoms are : Fatigue, Exhaustion, Lack of energy & Motivation, Loss of appetite, Increased Thirst, Lethargy, Irritability & Low Mood, Need to Urinate more frequently especially during the night, Craving Salty foods, Eating sugary foods for energy, dizziness, light-headedness, irregular periods, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, stress, insomnia, confusion, Muscle Cramps especially in my left Calf, Muscle weakness, Abdominal, Joint & Back pain, Constipation, Diarrhoea, Dry Skin (facial moisturisers don’t work and it’s around my eyebrows and at the top of the bridge in my nose) I know I have conditions that can cause a lot of these but I’ve had them a long time and most of these symptoms have come on within the last 3-4 months.

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