Needing to vent!

[Vicm78]

So today I went to register with a new GP surgery. My cousin with similar blood results to me is being successfully treated with thyroxine for having low Free T4 levels. She is feeling so much better as a result. So I took the plunge and went to register at her surgery only to be told I'm not in catchment and the GP in question is on long term sick! Aggggh!

Contacted my private endo and asked outright if she could prescribe me a low dose of medication on a private prescription just to trial. She was very against doing this and said these things are better dealt with on the NHS and suggested I get referred to a local NHS hospital for a consultation. I explained that I had already done this but due to NHS crisis I can't be seen until May at a hospital miles away.

I guess I just don't understand why a private endo is refusing to do anything and referring it back to the NHS. What could the reason be? Why can't she prescribe? What is the fear? She mentioned that I could get my pituitary scanned due to low Free T4 levels but obviously this will take a while to happen. Lots of you on here have suggested poss pituitary issues when you have looked at my blood results before.

I am now more confused than ever. I told the endo that I have recently resigned from a good job due to ill health but I don't have any treatment for my symptoms. She did take me seriously but still said she wasn't willing to treat me. She said that because I had lost some weight (very very slowly) it contradicts hypothyroidism. She also said that anxiety isn't a symptom of hypo just hyper.

So it goes on..... back to another GP at my current surgery. Trying the last one in the practice now! After that I have no idea what I will do......

[Hillwoman]

From experience, I'd say your endo is operating under a combination of professional fear and cowardice.

Her remark about weight loss being impossible in hypothyroidism is nonsense, and I would think that remark you tells all you need to know about her thyroid expertise.

[Vicm78 in reply to Hillwoman]

What is the fear and cowardice? What are physicians scared of so much?

I'm just not getting this! I asked her why she wouldn't prescribe and she said it would need long term monitoring which is better off done by the NHS.

I know - I've been following Slimming World since Jan last year and have lost 4 stone but it's been a tough old road. Needed lots of resilience and perseverance. I stick to the plan religiously and exercise 3x per week and some weeks I gain or only lose a lb or half a lb. it's so demoralising. The only reason it has worked is due to me persevering. I could have given up 10x over by now!

Thanks for responding

[Hillwoman in reply to Vicm78]

If doctors step outside current diagnostic and treatment guidelines they risk not only the opprobrium of their colleagues and damage to their careers, but they could be reported to the GMC. It's happened to other doctors in the field already.

I would ease up on the exercise, unless it involves gentle stuff like walking, as it will just deplete your T3 reserve without helping with weight loss. Remember that if you don't produce enough thyroid hormone now, you won't recover as quickly as a healthy person. Concentrate on a healthy diet, low in sugar and complex carbs, and eat enough good quality fat. We've become a fat-phobic society - something that my sheep and dairy farming grandparents, aunts and uncles found bewildering.

[Vicm78 in reply to Hillwoman]

This is very interesting thank you. You are one of quite a few who have warned against exercising. I guess because it is doing wonders for my mental wellbeing I thought it was doing me good but I didn't realise I could be making things worse!

Mmm Slimming World is fabulous for being able to eat a lot of food but it is a low fat diet so maybe I need to rethink things. I might start swapping the treats I'm allowed for avocado and nuts instead. Nothing is off limits in this diet but I will rethink how I spend my allowance for treats!

So sad that there aren't enough docs willing to take risks. Is it that dangerous? I finally find one who is and he is off sick! I can't win!

Thanks

[Hillwoman in reply to Vicm78]

You can still eat plenty of food on Low Carb High Fat (LCHF) diet, since fat is satiating, especially for women. And you won't need to worry about calories, unless you really overdo things...

There are some docs who take risks, but many of them have been attacked. You're dealing with a profession that operates like a herd and is susceptible to group-think. A medical education - remember it takes many years to qualify - takes bright, motivated teenagers and turns them into drones with few remaining critical faculties.

[Vicm78 in reply to Hillwoman]

Thank you for your input.

It's a very sad state of affairs. I explained to my endo that I had resigned from my job and whilst she said she felt that was very serious, she didn't feel concerned enough to go out on a limb and help. I think you are right - all common sense and compassion goes out of the window.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Vicm78]

They can get struck off for prescribing if tests are normal

[Vicm78 in reply to SlowDragon]

Okay well I guess it's not worth pursuing then. No one is going to want to risk that.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Did you get vitamins tested and antibodies as suggested in previous post

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Post results and ranges if you have them

Plus do you have high thyroid antibodies

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Dieting, especially low fat and working out can make things worse

Vigorous Exercise lowers T3

High fat low carb, like diabetic diet is recommended

diabetes.co.uk/diet/low-car...

[Vicm78 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I have posted antibody results in one of my other posts which were negative. Also mentioned previously that only vitamin that was low was Vit D and I am now taking tablets for that.

Will rethink diet - sadly exercise is what keeps me upbeat at the moment - I like the social aspect. Seems a shame to have to stop it!

[LAHs in reply to Vicm78]

Don't forget to check your Selenium level too. T4 and T3 are selenoenzymes and need selenium to convert the T4 to T3. If you can generate more T3, you will feel better.

[TSH110]

I don’t agree with your endo I had anxiety in bucket loads and was as thin as a rake but my TSH hit 110 - would she have classified me as not hypothyroid?

Also I’d say if the exercise makes you feel good keep doing it, we were meant to be active. If it makes you feel bad that is the time to stop.

[Vicm78 in reply to TSH110]

Thanks for your response. Do you mind me asking if you got treatment and if so, did it improve your anxiety?

I think you are right - I just need to be mindful and not exercise if I am feeling tired so that I won't make matters worse.

[TSH110 in reply to Vicm78]

yes I did get treatment, just in the nick of time.

The really bad level of symptoms improved and after 9 months I was optimised on levothyroxine but continued to feel unwell with persistent hypothyroid symptoms . After two years of not feeling right I decided to start on NDT as I had nothing to loose I felt so wretched. It did a lot to improve matters and for 3 years I felt normal again but have continued to suffer from anxiety, to a much lesser extent that before I hasten to add. I think I may have been so ill for so long it caused permanent changes, my heart has also suffered. I do wonder if it might be adrenal based but found the information hard to take on and was not sure what I could realistically do. It is a known symptom if a more unusual one that is more prevalent in hyperthyroidism but can occur with hypo as well.

Yes I would agree don't overdo the exercise or go when you do not feel up to it.