What info should I discuss with specialist on my first appointment

[Burlingham]

Hi not posted for a while but as it's not far off my appointment for thyroiditis I was wondering what to discuss with specialist as all other things I'm being treated for seem to fit. Palpitations, Af. Painful joints, Arthritis. Fatigue use to walk very briskly now I have no energy and soon start lagging. Weight gain even though I eat less ( put this down to sluggish movement, can peddle my bike at any other pace than really slow. Clumsy, weepy and forgetful. Could all this be part of the same thing. Help

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You need to get copies of all your recent blood test results and ranges

It's now FREE to request (since May 25th ) and they can not refuse

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need enhanced access to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

As you have Pernicious Anaemia, an autoimmune disease, it's more likely to get other autoimmune diseases

So you need testing for autoimmune thyroid disease by testing BOTH TPO and TG antibodies as well as TSH, FT3 and FT4

Also helpful if had folate and ferritin tested. Add results and ranges if you have them

In your post of 7 months ago you had low vitamin D. Has this been treated or are you self supplementing?

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Burlingham in reply to SlowDragon]

Last visit to my doctor he said would do a full blood test and to go back to discuss, unfortunately surgery cancelled because doctor was off sick. They have sent me a letter to day my another appointment to discuss results of test but not anything to worry about. I requested today a copy of results and again very reluctant for me to have them so I said I want them for my specialist. So pick them up on Monday. I'm self medicating vtD and extra VC

[Marz in reply to Burlingham]

These are the results members are asking about - where have you posted them ?

[Burlingham in reply to SlowDragon]

Got my blood test print out from my doctor unfortunately it's not in the format that is any use to me. Just says things like Bone profile - No Action - satisfactory. Which applies to most of the test. Except, Serum vitamin B12 - discuss at next appointment. Serum lipids Abnormal & plasma Glucose level Abnormal contact patient. I believe the last two could be due to my thyroiditis but won't know for sure before I speak to specialist.

[Marz]

Have been reading through your previous posts and wondered if you were able to follow through on the excellent advice given. Did you have anti-bodies tested TPO & Tg ?

How are you treating your LOW VitD ?

Have you had the FT3 tested as well as TSH & FT4. Raised cholesterol is linked to thyroid as suggested by Londinium on Cholesterol Support Forum.

I read you have PA - do you think 3-monthly is enough ? Are you taking a B Complex suggested in an earlier post.

What are you hoping to achieve with your Endo ? Have you checked him/her out on the Internet ? Always good to have a plan in place and questions.

Your symptoms also sound B12 related. Have you had Folate and Ferritin tested ? - sorry if I missed the results somewhere. Folate and B12 work together in the body ....

Hope all goes well 😊

[Burlingham in reply to Marz]

Will look at my results when I collect them and will see what tests have actually been done. Self medicating Vd Extra V c

[Marz in reply to Burlingham]

How much VitD ? From reading your posts I thought you were having tests done privately to ensure you had the correct ones done.

What other meds are you taking ?

[Burlingham in reply to Marz]

I discussed with doctor had more blood test and have now been referred to specialist and will make request for all the test and hopefully will get them. Money very scarce at the moment so hoping I don't have to get tested privately.

[Marz in reply to Burlingham]

How much Vit D are you taking ? Are you taking a B complex ? Sorry I know I have asked before ....

[Burlingham in reply to Marz]

D3 nrv100% and Calcium 800mg. Was taking just V d but decided to try these + omega 3 fish oil 1000% and bit c was taking a multi vitamin but confused to what I need. Went for a consultation regarding pain and sleep all I got from that was take more pain relief.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Burlingham]

Most doctors are not interested in vitamins or understanding how crucial they are with thyroid or Pernicious Anaemia

Vitamin D - I guess you mean 1000iu dose?

That is possibly too low. Many of us need considerably high dose in order to improve

Can test via vitamindtest.org.uk £29 NHS postal kit

Extra calcium not a good idea. Supplementing vitamin D increases calcium levels naturally. So much so, that it's recommended to supplement vitamin K2 Mk7 in order to help send the extra calcium into bones, not fur up arteries

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

Absolutely essential to test for raised Thyroid antibodies

Multivitamins are not usually recommended on here as they have too little of what we do need and stuff we definitely don't need too

If you have high thyroid antibodies (Hashimoto's) you don't need any extra iodine

Folate, ferritin, B12 and vitamin D must all be tested

Plus thyroid antibodies, TSH, FT3 and FT4

Hopefully your endocrinologist may do these

[Burlingham]

Thanks for all this info. When I phoned for my blood results the receptionist still want to know why so now I know the new ruling on info May 25th I will be asking for a few back dated test

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Burlingham]

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. When you pick up print out of recent results ask if online blood test results are available and apply to do so if possible. If it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

[helvella Administrator in reply to Burlingham]

The NHS page on accessing your records used expressly to say that you do not have to provide a reason.

Now it is further simplified:

nhs.uk/NHSEngland/thenhs/re...

I've always imagined being asked why I want them and responding by asking them why they want to know why I want them. Not the recipe for a good relationship or even just civility.

The only reason I can think for them to ask is to be able to refuse if they don't approve. As they do not now, and haven't for many years, had any right to refuse, it is an utterly pointless question. Further, if they record the reason, it could well be regarded as inappropriate data collection, and if they don't record the answer, what was the point in asking?

[Burlingham in reply to helvella]

Good points

[Burlingham]

That's the sort of reply they're going to get on Monday if I'm treated the same for asking for previous results

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Arrange to see or call the practice manager. Politely request copies of your blood test results and ranges

You are legally entitled to them.

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need enhanced access to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

It's not acceptable to not provide them when requested

Do you supplement B12 or B vitamins or any multivitamins?

Do you know if B12 result is too low (or if supplementing, too high)

Alternatively just get full private testing. Thousands on here do that

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies. Plus very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

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.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

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 tested.

I just noticed you were prescribed statins a few months ago

Suggest you read this NHS link.

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

Link between statins and type 2 diabetes

diabetes.co.uk/news/2017/oc...