WEIGHT LOSS PROBLEMS

[TerriTalks]

I HAD A THYROID OP IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR. I AM A MEMBER OF WEIGHT WATCHERS. FOR A YEAR NOW. MY WEIGHT WAS GOING DOWN WELL BEFORE THE OP NOW I AM JUST PUTTING IT BACK ON. I AM VISUALLY IMPAIRED WITH A GUIDE DOG. I DO WALK A LOT. DO NOT WANT TO JOIN A GYM FOR FINANCIAL REASONS. WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP. THANKS TERRI XX

[greygoose]

I think we might need some more details in order to help you. Was it a TT? Are you on levo? Do you have any blood test results to share with us?

[TerriTalks in reply to greygoose]

I AM SORRY TO SAY MY DR. SAID MY BLOOD TESTS WERE NORMAL I DID NOT NEED THEM AS I AM BLIND. I AM ON NO MEDICATION FOR MY UNDERACTIVE THYROID PROBLEM.

TERRI XX

[greygoose in reply to TerriTalks]

TERRI, HE IS NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT. IT IS YOUR LEGAL RIGHT TO HAVE A COPY OF YOUR RESULTS UNDER THE 1998 DATA PROTECTION ACT. IF HE REFUSES YOU A COPY ON ANY GROUNDS, HE IS BREAKING THE LAW AND THERE ARE MEASURES YOU CAN TAKE TO FORCE HIM TO GIVE IT TO YOU.

YOU SAID IN YOUR LAST POST THAT YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO READ THE RESULTS OUT TO YOU. SO WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR THAT PERSON TO GO WITH YOU TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR AND BACK UP YOUR REQUEST. HE IS LESS LIKELY TO TRY AND FOB YOU OFF LIKE THAT IF YOU HAVE A WITNESS.

'NORMAL' JUST MEANS 'IN-RANGE', AND THAT IS RARELY GOOD ENOUGH. YOU NEED TO KNOW THE EXACT NUMBERS - RESULTS AND RANGES - TO KNOW IF YOU ARE ADEQUATELY DOSED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT YOU ARE NOT GETTING GOOD CARE FROM THAT DOCTOR. HE NEEDS A GOOD SHAKE UP!

[TerriTalks in reply to greygoose]

THANK YOU GREY GOOSE I GO TO SEE MY SURGEON NEXT FRIDAY 25 MAY I CAN ASK HIM IF I NEED ANY MEDICATION AND ALSO GET A COPY OF MY BLOOD TESTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONCERN. I JUST DO NOT KNOW HOW TO TACKLE THIS WRIGHT GAIN. I CAN HAVE BARIATRC SURGERY THIS WILL COST AT LEAST £6,000 I DO NOT HAVE THIS SORT OF MONEY SO WHAT CAN I DO? I DOUBT IF THE NHS WILL ALLOW ME TO HAVE THIS SURGERY.

TERRI XX

[greygoose in reply to TerriTalks]

THE SURGERY IS NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO, ANYWAY. YOU NEED TO BE ON THE RIGHT DOSE OF MEDICATION FOR YOUR THYROID. BUT WE WON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS UNTIL WE SEE THE RESULTS.

ASKING YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU NEED MEDICATION IS ONE THING, BUT WHAT IF HE SAYS NO? WITHOUT THE LAB RESULTS YOU WILL NOT HAVE AN ARGUMENT.

[TerriTalks in reply to greygoose]

I AM HOPING MY SURGEON WHO I SEE NEXT FRIDAY 25 MAY WILL BE ABLE TO ADVISE ME. IF NOT WELL I SEE THE NURSE PRACTITIONER IS SEEING ME ON THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY REGARDING MY WEIGHT GAIN. I WILL TRY AND GET SOME INFORMATION FROM HER.

TERRI XX

[greygoose in reply to TerriTalks]

OK, but don't allow yourself to be fobbed off. It is your legal right to have your results, and you have someone to read them out to you. Good luck!