Hello everyone,
I am a newly diagnosed hypo patient and was wondering if my doctor should have put me on the thyroid register, is this automatic or should I pursue. I have not been referred to an endo, should I insist on this?
So much to deal with and so many questions, I am thinking of asking to see a dietician to help with vitamins choices, your opinions/advice would be gratefully received.
Barb
Are you in the UK?
I have been diagnosed hypo for over 40 years and I've never heard of the thyroid register here in the UK so no idea what it is.
As far as seeing an endo is concerned, that's very hit and miss here. In the UK most endos are diabetes specialists and know very little about thyroid so many members have been very disappointed with their consultation, although there may be the odd good one out there. Sometimes a good GP knows more than an endo.
I've no personal experience of seeing a dietitian but the one my granddaughter saw left a lot to be desired. It might be better to test Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin, then put the results on the forum for interpretation and suggestions if levels aren't optimal.
I've never come across a thyroid register either, nothing comes up on google 🤷♀️
yes in the UK
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies.
Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.
you should have bloods retested 6-8 weeks after starting on Levothyroxine. Presumably you were started on 50mcg. Dose in increased slowly in 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range
Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. Many take on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime
verywell.com/should-i-take-...
Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable. Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased
All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. If on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances too, especially gluten. So it's important to get antibodies tested if not been done already
In years past, GPs were expected to place all hypothyroid patients (at least, those on medication for it) on a Thyroid Register. I think - when introduced - it was a real paper register.
These days, computer systems can list all patients receiving thyroid hormone prescriptions in seconds - so the separate list seems somewhat superfluous. Until fairly recently there was some small payment for managing thyroid patients and which was an incentive to be able to claim that 90% of hypothyroid patients had been re-tested in the past year (or whatever the requirements were). That has disappeared now.
I think that most hypothryoid patients do not get referred. (In so many cases, patients wonder if they benefit at all by seeing an endocrinologist. Is there any advantage? Difficult to know.)
SeasideSusie bantam12
There are some mentions of thyroid registers in the followong links - but not (I think) the basic GP list of patioents that was under discussion.
nhs.uk/Services/hospitals/S...
Until fairly recently there was some small payment for managing thyroid patients and which was an incentive to be able to claim that 90% of hypothryodi patients had been re-tested in the past year (or whatever the requirements were). That has disappeared now.
Ah, that explains why they don't bother automatically recalling me for thyroid tests every year now!
I wasn't referred to an endo way back in 1975, and when I did see one in 2003 when my GP was totally stumped he was the most pig ignorant, rude, vile doctor I've ever seen. Certainly no advantage in me seeing him because he turned me into a zombie just so he had the satisfaction of getting my suppressed TSH scrape into range and my FT4 plummetted to the very bottom of the range. Never again, worst thing I ever did!
It is disgraceful how we have to suffer even more due to inept doctors.
Thank you for all your comments, obviously my source that mentioned the 'Register' is a bit behind the times. I will post my lab results tomorrow, your comments would be gratefully received. I am yet to test the doctor on his knowledge of thyroidism, but I am building my knowledge to bombard him at my next blood test in 5 weeks!!!! I am not someone that just accepts what the Doctors say without doing my research. You guys are a golden find and clearly a vast source of knowledge.
newly diagnosed 
Tsh 59 newly diagnosed 
Newly diagnosed 
Newly diagnosed hyperthyroidism 
Newly diagnosed
