I saw another GP at the practice yesterday, as I was experiencing worrying breathlessness. She suggested an xray referral, and I explained I had a chest xray within the past 3 months. She then asked about oedema and I told her I had already had a perfusion scan and no heart problems were detected.
She finally settled on my weight and the need to reduce. I pointed out that I had found it impossible to lose weight and keep it off. Five months of strict dieting to lose 4 lbs, regained in a week on holiday eating mostly salads. I said I thought this, together with other symptoms, might be related to an underactive thyroid.
She said there was clear guidance NOT to treat unless TSH was over 10. To do so would expose the GP to a negligence claim if the patient developed heart problems. Also, the guidance restricted treatment to patients with antibodies indicating Hashimoto's. The absence of such (me) meant no treatment, even if TSH raises above 10.
No amount of evidence to the contrary would influence this GP, and it just confirms my decision to self medicate, despite the cost, which is annoying to say the least.