I have just come back from my GP appointment and I am a little disappointed by the response I got. I went in with private test results that I posted on here about a week ago with a TSH of 5.46 0.27 - 4.20 and free Thyroxine 11.5 12.00 - 22.00
and my Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies were also above range. Gp was not convinced by these results and wants me to have another blood test and if they come back similar she will treat me.
Is there anything else I can do or will I just have to hope new blood tests are similar to private ones.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
Written by
Cn13
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It's an infuriating waste of taxpayers money when GPs decline to take notice of private results. It's not like you can demand the lab finds your TSH 5.46 because you are paying!
Arrange your blood test early in the morning when TSH is highest and fast (water only) because TSH drops after eating and drinking.
Thyroid peroxidase antibodies over range means you are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's). There is no cure for Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine treatment is for the low thyroid levels it causes. Many people have found that 100% gluten-free diet is helpful in reducing Hashi flares, symptoms and eventually antibodies.
GP's can be an awkward lot, can't they! Do you know which tests your GP has ordered for you to have done? Is it a full thyroid panel e.g TSH, T4. FT4, FT3 and antibodies - as that's what you really need. If they have, that's great - and I have little doubt they will should similar to you own private tests i.e. raised TSH & low T4 & +ve antibodies which should at least confirm to your doctor there's something going on (and that your private tests were correct in the first place!). i.e. you're likely hypothyroid with possible active autoimmune response.
So if that's what your doc is doing I'd hold fire on doing anything yourself, always best to try and appease your GP, even if it turns out you eventually have to do your own thing. But at least you give them the chance to help, which could be very useful if any treatment needed (which it sounds likely). I would though read Dr Durrant-Peatfield's excellent book 'Your Thryoid and how to keep it healthy', it will do a fine job of arming you with all the key information needed to keep your GP on track, and/or appropriately aid yourself if your GP turns out to be unhelpful/unco-operative.
If your thyroid antibodies were above range, the advice from the ex President of the BTA states in his Pulse Online article that if antibodies are present levothyroxine should be prescribed. Dr Toft is physician to the Queen when she is in Scotland.
Email louise.roberts@thyroiduk.org.uk and ask for a copy of Dr Toft's Pulse article.
In the meantime, maybe your GP will be interested in the following. Tick off your symptoms:
Thanks very much everyone. Yes it is very disappointing she is not just going on these tests. Hopefully the new test will be similar results. I have booked the test for early morning. She is doing TSH, FT4 and the antibodies not sure what others. I did bring my symptoms but she didn't take much notice. I might buy the book too thanks for all the information.
It's probably not so much that she was 'unimpressed' or didn't trust your private tests, more that it's the protocol to retest after a couple of months to make sure that the high TSH wasn't due to a virus, or something.
Was just about to put the same as GG has as for a new tester it should be repeated incase it's a blip-either a virus which you may. It be aware of as GG says or even a machine mal function but don't give up. Look of the Thyroid UK site who run this forum and see the list of pribblrms. Print this out and annotate. I'm sure there will be some and you may not have none they could be thyroid related. Thyroid Uk is recommended by NHS Choices for thyroid dysfunction so your GP should take note!
Yes I suppose I see the sense in the retesting. But surely the free Thyroxine being below the range and my antibodies being over the range indicates a problem too.
Well hopefully the results will be similar and I will get treated. I have ticked a lot of the symptoms on the Thyroid UK site.
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Do you know which tests your GP has ordered for you to have done? Is it a full thyroid panel e.g TSH, T4. FT4, FT3 and antibodies - as that's what you really need. If they have, that's great - and I have little doubt they will should similar to you own private tests i.e. raised TSH & low T4 & +ve antibodies which should at least confirm to your doctor there's something going on (and that your private tests were correct in the first place!). i.e. you're likely hypothyroid with possible active autoimmune response.
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