Any articles I can point my doctor to read?

[AnneEvo]

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism a few months ago. I was asked by the surgery to make an appointment and was told the doctor would want to put me on Thyroxine. Being reluctant to take what I term 'strong medication' I wanted to do some research first and have found that there are no alternatives for this condition. Having joined this website I discovered I should be tested for thyroid antibodies - I only had the results of 2 tests:

Serum free T4 = 11.8

Serum TSH level = 8.89

I asked to be tested for antibodies. I saw a different doctor this time. When they got the results I had a call to say I should have my thyroid checked in 6 months. I have made an appointment to see a different doctor tomorrow to discuss the results (which I don't have yet) and hopefully get a prescription for medication.

After reading some horror stories on here I want to be able to point the doctor in the direction of some articles on the subject if he proves not to be knowledgeable, which seems to be the case for many doctor (and even endos, going by people's experiences on here). I do have to say apart from feeling a bit tired and feeling the cold (both of which I have felt for about 40 years), I do not have any other syptoms.

TIA.

[Nanaedake]

If you have no symptoms why did the Dr check thyroid?

[AnneEvo in reply to Nanaedake]

I saw a doctor for something last year and he did some tests as a health check - due to my age I assumed as I was 70 last year. Presumably they are pro-active at my surgery.

[greygoose]

I don't think it's a good idea to come across as a clever-clogs on the first appointment - or even the second. Not many doctors like informed patients - they prefer them to be docile and obedient! So, I should get your treatment started first, if I were you, and see how it goes. You might be one of the lucky ones, with no horror stories - we are in the minority on here, most people do very well with levo. Play it by ear, for a while, get to know exactly how much your doctors does know about thyroid, before you start trying to teach him how to suck eggs!

[AnneEvo in reply to greygoose]

Thank you Greygoose. Sounds very sensible. 🙂

[greygoose in reply to AnneEvo]

You're welcome.

[Warrior75]

I agree with everything greygoose has said there is 4 of us in my family with hypothyroidism and I'm the only one who has, had problems.

[shaws Administrator]

These are a list of symptoms - of course we don't get all of them.

Your TSH level is just below 10, which number the doctors are told to prescribe thyroid hormone replacements.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

In other countries we'd be prescribed when TSH is 3+.

We are in the minority I think as many hypothyroid patients seem to do well on levothyroxine alone, whilst many on this forum cannot.

You mention 'strong medication'. It isn't strong medication, it is replacing hormones which our body can not longer provide optimally.

Levothyroxine is T4 only and is inactive until it converts to T3. T3 is the only active hormone required in our billions of receptor cells and the brain and heart contain the most receptor cells. When T3 is too low we cannot function properly.

A full range of blood tests can be done privately through one of our private labs and the tests always have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of levothyroxine and the test and take afterwards.

I shall give you a link for info:-

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

[AnneEvo in reply to shaws]

When I say 'strong medicine' I just mean anything really that isn't natural. Some diseases/illnesses can be treated with medication - eg some diabetes by changing diet.

Thanks for the rest of the information.

[Nanaedake in reply to AnneEvo]

Well, levothroxine in your body is indistiguishable from your own thyroid hormone. It's different in that it's absorbed in the terminal ilium rather than being released into the blood stream from the thyroid. Of course it can't adjust in response to your body's needs like your own thyroid but better than going short of much needed hormone.