Conspiracy?!! Disastrous visit to the GP today

[Vicm78]

Hi,

Went to the GP with my results re Low T4, normal TSH. Lots of you suggested that I mention central hypothyroidism and ask for medication.

I went armed with my results, list of symptoms and information. I was point blankly refused a prescription on the grounds that my results are not low enough. I mentioned about my family member being recently prescribed Thyroxine even though her results weren't necessarily out of range but her GP did it based on her symptoms.

I mentioned central hypo and the doctor looked at my other hormone tests (fertility/sex hormones) and said there is nothing wrong with my pituitary.

I asked how I manage my symptoms in the meantime and they said they can't do anything for me.

Surprise, surprise I was told that many of my symptoms are typical of anxiety. I said I was fed up with coming to the doctors and being considered mentally ill when I know that there is something more to it than that. I also asked why they are being driven by numbers and results and not my symptoms.

I told my GP that I have done everything to stay fit and healthy this year (losing weight, exercising etc) so why do I feel so rubbish?

I am so upset. I said that I may consider self medicating and was told that they wouldn't recommend it and they won't discuss it.

So is it a conspiracy? What is the objection to medication? I just can't understand it.

Not sure where I go from here. Changing GP could be an option but how do you find one that will consider medicating? I could go through the whole change of GP and still not find a co-operative one.

Where can I go next?

[Hidden]

Vicm78 I thought only an Endo dealt with pituitary issues? Regardless your GP is a muppet who wants to blame the patient, as they all do.

[Vicm78 in reply to Hidden]

Muppet! That reply gave me a much needed laugh!

[Hidden in reply to Vicm78]

Excellent!

[greygoose]

Not a conspiracy on the doctors' part, they're just ignorant. But definitely a Big Pharma conspiracy.

[Vicm78 in reply to greygoose]

Would the pharma's rather prescribe anti depressants then? Is that the conspiracy? So frustrating!

[greygoose in reply to Vicm78]

They most certainly would, yes! And statins, and beta blockers, and PPIs, and a myriad of other expensive, dangerous drugs to 'treat' our symptoms as if they were all separate diseases. That's how they make their money without ever getting us well, keeping us just alive so that we can consume more and more drugs.

Big Pharma doesn't produce cures, it produces return customers!

[Hidden in reply to Vicm78]

Vicm78 for each new diagnosis of depression the surgery receives £1,650. Then there's more money to be "earned" from reviews.

[shaws]

Maybe send your doctor a copy of Dr Toft's article. Dr T was a distinguished Endo.

Maybe send a copy to your GP/Endo.

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...

[Anthea55 in reply to shaws]

Shaws, Technical point. I tried emailing that link to Dr Toft's article the other day and couldn't get it to work. I see that it's happened to you as well - the link just ends part way through with ... I tried doing it with cut and paste, which maybe is what you did.

Any idea how to make it work?

[helvella in reply to Anthea55]

Anthea55,

Like this:

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...

The characters that appear in the blue link are only the first few. The rest are changed into "..." - it is actually this (but I have added spaces):

rcpe. ac. uk / sites /default /files /jrcpe_47_4_toft.pdf

You can follow the link that works and copy the address from the address bar of your browser.

[Anthea55 in reply to helvella]

Thanks, Helvella

I think my problem is when it pastes in black, so isn't a link. I see that in Shaws reply it now shows as a link in blue, where previously it showed in black. May have been changed, or could be my computer.

Anyway, thanks, and have a good Christmas.

[helvella in reply to Anthea55]

Anthea55,

Yes - I edited shaws' reply and pasted the link (in full - like I showed but with the spaces removed). As I typed the link (or pasted it) it was black. As I posted it (hit the Submit reply button), it was recognised as a link and changed to blue - and some of it hidden.

[shaws in reply to helvella]

Thanks.

[Kell-E]

Self-medicating was a good threat. You could always carry it out!

[Vicm78 in reply to Kell-E]

She certainly looked uncomfortable but didn't change her mind!

[Kell-E in reply to Vicm78]

Self-medicate and feel good....don't tell them as they don't want to talk about it. Ha, ha...

[Heloise]

I don't suppose they would do antibody testing, would they? That might expose how ill you are and of course I am fairly certain they will not since they won't have you take a FT3 test. You could ask though, for a TPO and THG test and say it would rule out a thyroid problem. They like to rule out things, don't they? And that would satisfy both of you. (It wouldn't completely rule it out.)

I've just posted how to use a finger prick test, it was for vitamin D but you could use Medi Checks and request thyroid tests. I'm in the U.S. so not sure how to go about it in the UK but you could ask others.

[Clutter]

Vicm78,

Your GP doesn't seem to be considering isolated TSH deficiency causing secondary hypothyroidism even though your sex and growth hormones don't indicate pituitary dysfunction. You have several options:

1. Try every GP at your practice;

2. Change GP practice;

3. Consult a private endo (email [e-mail] for a list of member recommended endsos);

4. Self medicate Levothyroxine for 3-6 months and see whether symptoms improve. If they don't once you are optimally dosed you can stop Levothyroxine.

[Hillwoman]

This is a typical response of a GP to an informed patient, sadly.

[Chippysue]

With hindsight I wish I hadn’t battled with the many gp’s and endo’s to get a diagnosis and the right treatment. I wish I had gone down the natural route and forgot about doctors. Seeing a functional medical dr and/or nutritionist will help far more.

[Peanut31 in reply to Chippysue]

Hi Chippysue

I paid privately to see an Endocrinologist after suffering over 18 months with various symptoms.

Anyway, I was low on all vitamins and tested positive for Epstein-Barr, antibodies low etc.

I had several visits with him and all my visits I felt awful, but I was sent away saying test for vitamins levels.

Feeling awful still and having already spent a lot of money with him.

I then suggested a full thyroid test and a scan (suggested on this forum) which he thought was a fantastic idea, why he didn’t suggest this in the first place is beyond me.

This confirmed Hashimoto’s.

In order to help myself , I went gluten free, again on advice of this forum and then had another blood wish showed my TSH had gone to 1.8.

I still feel awful, but I was informed that there was nothing he could do, despite me still feeling bad as I was within range.

My faith has gone even with this Endocrinologist.

Still feeling awful I am now under a nutritionist and had a stool sample taken, this is not a cheap test, but I have several bacteria infection and one is effecting my immune system.

I’m currently on strong antibiotics (they are making me feel terrible) which my GP had given me, but basically belittled the stool results.

I’m hoping one day I will feel better or the GP will give me some medication.

However at the minute I feel completely let down.

Best wishes.

[Chippysue in reply to Peanut31]

How awful!

No doubt the nutritionist didn’t agree with the antibiotics?

It’s about getting all of our ducks in a row, our bodies are amazing at healing.

How are your levels for B12, vitamin d? Ferritin and folate?

Do you supplement with magnesium oil? Vitzmn c! Selenium?