g p woes

[Suzec]

Hi , I’ve just been diagnosed by a specialist with autoimmune thyroid disease after having to go private for help - g p said my results were subclinical tsh 8.4 .

By the time I saw the specialist my tsh had rIsen to 12 .4 and my antibiodies tests were positive .

The specialist has written to g p saying I should go on thyroxine immediately .

I have spoken to surgery who say the g p says they will get back to me at some point once they have scanned and reviewed the letter .

I have a bad feeling that they don’t want to prescribe the medication , have explained I’m keen to start ASAP as I feel so rough .

Can the g p refuse to prescribe?

Grateful for any advice as I’m feeling really stressed and poorly .

Thank you !

[shaws Administrator]

I doubt GP can refuse a Specialist's advice. No wonder you feel so bad. You are hypo and being denied thyroid hormone replacement. They have no idea how bad we feel.

Your GP is sticking strictly to the awful guidelines given by those whom we would think far more knowledgeable than us, the patient. The truth is the British Thyroid Association instructs GPs not to diagnose us as hypo until the TSH reaches 10.

UK is so backward and other countries have decided that when TSH reaches 3 with clinical symptoms we should be prescribed.

If your GP refuses say you will resolve your problem by buying your own as you cannot wait about.

You have an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease called Hashimoto's - the commonest form of hypothyroidism,

Dr Toft ex President of the BTA states that if antibodies are present we should begiven levothyroxine. If you email [e-mail] for a copy of his Pulse Online article to show your GP but I think that shouldn't be necessary as your GP should prescribe.

[bluebug]

A GP can refuse a specialist's advice but if you get really ill because you know what exactly the specialist said and because your TSH is over 10 then you can kick up sh*t for that GP, and eventually change GP. (Easiest way of getting GP in trouble is to go to A&E if you feel breathless or you collapse.)

You should get a copy of the Pulse article as you are probably going to have to fight with your GP to get medicated properly e.g. have your TSH optimal rather than just in range.

Also be aware due to having auto-immune thyroid disease you may suddenly find randomly your TSH gets really low when you have a Hashimotos flare. It doesn't mean you are taking too much of your medication it is just part of your damaged thyroid gland dumping thyroid hormone in the blood before it gives up.

Other than that keep reading through the forum and I hope your GP deals with the letter shortly.

[Nanaedake]

The GP may want to do their own blood test to confirm but the New NICE guidelines state that if you ate symptomatic, under the age of 80 (I think but check on their website) and TSH higher than 10.0 then you should be started on Levothyroxine. Point GP to new guidelines.

Make sure your blood test is first thing in the morning, fasting and don't take any supplements or vitamins for a day before hand. Biotin often found in B complex can interfere with results.

[bluebug]

Also never say to the GP you need the blood test first thing in the morning.

It appears some posters have GPs and other staff in practices who have decided to be difficult when they mention this advice to them.

Instead make a feasible excuse like caring responsibilities or work/volunteer shifts which means you can only have blood tests on the morning.

[Clutter]

Suzec,

Give your GP 48 hours to see the letter. If you've not been contacted ring the practice and ask for a callback or make an appointment to see the doctor.

[Suzec]

Thank you so much everyone for all your advice . I was feeling pretty isolated bring new to all this and feel so much better having taken in what you have all said .

I Have just plucked up the courage To march into the surgery and asked whether there was an issue with them prescribing. Told them I felt so rough I was going to go straight to the urgent care centre at the hospital if they couldn’t help me before the weekend .

And got my prescription !!! So thank you everyone for your support . I don’t think I would have been brave enough otherwise !

It’s the start of my journey and it’s so good to know I’m not in my own .

Have a good day everyone

[Treepie in reply to Suzec]

Good for you ,but you may feel worse initially as your pituitary senses the extra hormone you are taking and instructs the thyroid toproduce less.Hence the need for blood tests every 6-8 weeks and dosage increases until stable.

[Suzec in reply to Treepie]

Thank you so much for your advice , the g p hasn’t even mentioned the blood tests to me so I will have to go back to them . Appreciate you telling me .

Have a good weekend

[Sadienerin]

It looks like you're roughly in the same area as me, and the services aren't great round here, sadly :/ xx

[Suzec in reply to Sadienerin]

Hi , it’s all a bit of a struggle isn’t it ? Thyroid problems are so dehabilitating and it would be so much easier if you didn’t feel like u were fighting for support . Xx

[Sadienerin in reply to Suzec]

Yes, it is awful that anyone should have to fight, to even just be heard xxx