I’ve just had a call from my (actually very nice) GP about my latest blood test results for Hypothyroidism which show I have been self-medicating with T3. He was not amused, in fact he sounded quite cross!
Thanks to you lovely lot, i have been taking T3 since June - and it has changed my life for the better. Prior to that I spent 15 years on Levothyroxine T4, mostly in bed with chronic pain and brain-fog.
For the last two years things got really bad - and I knew it was my thyroid. Every few months I asked my GP for T3 and was told it had no clinical evidence and the NHS couldn’t afford it anyway. I understand it’s due to its 6,000% price increase etc, and I also understand that most GPs and many endocrinologists don’t truly understand Hypothyroidism.
However, now my GP is cross because I’ve been buying my T3 from abroad and have gone behind his back, so to speak.
On a personal level, despite the T3, we have got on well up ‘til now. He’s given me the tests and meds I’ve asked for, and has been very supportive to myself, my husband and the kids.
But, if I hadn’t posted my results on here I would never have known that I needed to address my Ferritin levels etc, which the GP had said were in range. To give you an example, my Ferritin was something like 22 when the range was something like 20 - 240. So technically he was right, but that doesn’t mean much in that situation - especially with regards to the connection between iron levels and metabolising thyroid meds!
Anyway, now I’m angry because I feel -
a) sick like I’ve been caught out at school (I’m 41!)
b) guilty (I’m a softy)
c) like I need to write him an apologetic letter to explain myself or something!
I’m also concerned it will affect our relationship in future, as thyroid ignorance aside he’s been so good to our family so far - gone over and beyond his job at times. I’m worried he will mistrust me from now on.
I know I shouldn’t feel bad - especially given the circumstances, and how much T3 has improved my life as I knew it would (I was right! Yeah!). But I do, as effectively I’ve lied to my GP (not literally, but by simply not mentioning my self-medicating with T3).
What would you do in my situation? Advice please!
Many thanks,
Abi.
PS: I’m listing my blood test results on another post as I still need help deciphering the. Thanks!
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I would not put anything in writing unless I absolutely had to. I would point out to him that lots of people take illegal drugs and overindulge in alcohol but the NHS treats them and doesn't require them to own up. You are not doing anything like that.
You know NHS is trying to withdraw treatment and your aim was to get better so you had to find your own solution since NHS wouldn't help. By telling the doc you might have put hom in awkward position. You're saving the NHS and the practice money by less doctor visits and they don't have to fund prescription. What other solution does he suggest?
I expect you would be willing to explore solutions if he had suggestions?
I totally agree with what you’re saying. Thank you for your support.
I think he may have felt personally misled (as a family we have a good working relationship with him and he’s the most approachable GP I’ve had in 20 years of chronic illness) and professionally undermined. Plus I was right which must have been irritating, Lol!
My husband thinks the GP was frustrated because I didn’t tell him about the T3, so he felt he couldn’t look after me properly given the subterfuge self-medication.
But since he wasn’t looking after me properly anyway I’m not convinced by this argument!
You don't owe your GP an apology and you don't need his permission to self medicate. You asked for T3 and were told no, so decided to check it out for yourself. Next time you see him you might explain that you wanted to be sure T3 suited you before telling him you were self medicating.
After I told my endo that I had been self medicating for six months inbetween consultations he prescribed Liothyronine because my health was so improved.
He's probably cross because you showed him up and didn't take his advice. I still wouldn't have told him even after the blood tests. But I'm very lacking in trust.
Just tell him you are taking T3 recreationally. Here in the US they ask at every appointment if you are taking recreational drugs. Apparently that is okay, as is smoking, drinking, and eating Twinkies all day. Dear God, someone actually trying to improve their health! Curses on you! LOL
And yet here we all are in the U.K. having to buy T3 from dodgy internet shops abroad which also sell to body builders who have no thyroid issues whatsoever.
I certainly don't think you have anything to apologise for. As the NHS refused to take responsibility for your health you were left with poor choices. However I dealt with the problem by taking it all out of their hands and arrange my own blood tests too (avoiding the cross and disgruntled GP's) even though some of my T3 requirement is met by the NHS.
Funny though how we revert to the child inside us when we're up against it lol
Haha, I know: I felt sick to my stomach like a naughty child!
My bloods were taken for other health issues too this time, so there was no getting around it. Plus, I haven’t had the money to do any medichecks tests myself.
Thanks for your support and glad you’re managing your health so well. Ridiculous we have to resort to subterfuge!
But he’s also working within the constraints of the NHS. And from what he’s been taught, which is the general (thyroid-ignorant) traditional consensus of most GPs and endocrinologists.
Your improved health should be testament to your treatment, although doctors often refuse to believe what they see before their eyes. (The elephant in the room). Tell him how much better you are feeling after years of suffering ill health and ask him what HE thinks has caused the transformation.
He found out because my T3 levels were high while my T4 were low. He also said my TSH level didn’t make sense (or something! Not sure).
I was having bloods for other issues too so it was unavoidable, and anyway I needed to have a thyroid check as couldn’t afford to go private.
My husband thinks the GP was cross because I didn’t tell him. But I spent 2 years asking for T3 to no avail.
And apart from anything else thought his professional pride might be hurt as I - courtesy of the guys on this Health Unlocked forum/ Thyroid UK and Stop The Thyroid Madness - was proven right!
Well, give it time. you need your GP's support and help and we can all get it wrong sometimes. It's early days with T3. With other conditions alongside it's complicated for your GP and for you too. But as Clutter has already said, it's up to you if you want to self-medicate and I think it's worth a try for anyone who feels they're not doing well on LT4 because the NHS really has no other ideas although they should be testing and optimising vitamin levels. I'm all for GP's being able to give a T3 trial. Just hoping the cost will reduce.
Please don't apologize to him, especially in writing. Doctors are authority figures who bristle when patients are independent. Your body, your health. Due to incompetent healthcare, we have to do what we have to do to be well. We don't work for them & shouldn't be expected to behave as subservient children.
I’ve been sick 20 years, unable to work for 15, and I think having an invisible illness only makes it harder for the patient to be assertive. Unfortunately!
I was always find it hard to be assertive with anyone - including doctors. It has got so bad now that for any appointment which is very important to me or I think might be difficult I take my husband with me. It improves their manners quite a bit.
Yes, it’s always good to have an advocate - you’re quite right.
I should probably ask my husband to come to the doctor’s with me occasionally, but personally - this is just for me - having someone speak on my behalf makes me feel even more undermined. It’s irrational but there it is.
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