GP Left Me Feeling Hopeless

[Elle_9]

Hello all,

Bit of background, I was diagnosed hypo last Aug/Sept, for months have slowly been feeling worse so I recently had a private thyroid test after still feeling awful on 75mcg levothyroxine and GP continuously telling me I was within range.

I posted my results on here and as usual received

invaluable advice. In summary my stats weren’t ideal and the experts among you felt I would benefit from an immediate 25mcg increase.

Because I knew I wouldn’t have a GP appointment for a while, I took some advice following careful research on the situation and listening to others’ stories and chopped up

my 75mcg tablets so I could start taking 100mcg a day. Maths isn’t my strongest subject but luckily 75mcg divides into 25’s quite easily

Anyway I managed to get a doctors appointment yesterday, I took my private results and additional info- including the information on optimal doses by Dr Toft as provided to me by SeasideSusie.

I kept my request simple but clear and asked for an increase of 25mcg only to be met by a brick wall. The doctor said he felt I was within limits and that 75mcg was all he wished to prescribe.

I tried to push but he was not budging so I thanked him for his time and politely left.

I left feeling very low and quite helpless, in the hands of people who don’t want to listen. I know many of you have been in similar places after leaving the GP’s office as have shared your experiences.

I’m not one to mope so I’ve dusted myself off and I am now here to ask if anyone else has met a dead end with their GP and to hopefully get some suggestions on how to proceed. I am wondering if a private endocrinologist is my next logical step.

I think some people will advise to change GP’s, and normally I would have done so without hesitation, however this time my baby is also under their care and undergoing some tests, they have been pretty faultless with his care and attention so while this is all going on I don’t want to interfere or rock the boat.

I am still taking the self-upped 100mcg but my bumped dose from what the nhs prescribes wont last for long! Surgery are very scrupulous with the correct administration of repeat prescriptions!

Thanks everyone

L

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Elle_9

Is there a different GP at your surgery that you could see?

There's nothing stopping you keeping your baby at that surgery and you registering at a different one for your care.

If all else fails, source your own Levo.

Don't forget though that you need to test vitamins and minerals. Your Hashi's may have caused low levels or deficiencies and those would need addressing so that thyroid hormone can work properly.

[Elle_9 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for the advice. I will start by trying a new GP at the same surgery. I will get tested for the vitamins. I’ll try again to get tested via the GP otherwise I’ll bite the bullet and pay for another medichecks test. I have been feeling incredibly breathless and achey as well as appearing very pale so I know getting vits checked is a priority.

Thanks again for your kind help.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest you make an appointment with different GP and request testing of vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin.

Your high antibodies confirm you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's)

Low vitamins are strongly linked to Hashimoto's

hypothyroidmom.com/92-of-ha...

low B12 symptoms

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Getting vitamins optimal will help improve use of thyroid hormones and then TSH likely to rise so you then can officially increase dose

Gluten free diet needs to be absolutely strictly gluten free for it to be effective

Or test vitamin D privately now for £29

vitamindtest.org.uk

Get vitamin D optimal and strictly gluten free then repeat full Thyroid and vitamin test in 8 weeks time making sure to also test folate, B12 and ferritin

Medichecks Ultra vitamin test is on offer today at £79

Can order and keep to use when ready

[Elle_9 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks so much for all of the information.

I have been very busy researching gluten free and absolutely prepared to go all or nothing! Will look at the vits test now.

Can I ask, I’ve been taking lots of vitamin supplements since last weeks results, are they likely to mask a deficiency? I will follow previous advice and not take any for 3-4 days before I get my blood drawn.

Thanks

Louise

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Elle_9]

Elle

What vitamins have you been taking and why? Did you test first? Some are water soluble so you excrete any excess but some are fat soluble so excess is stored and taking them when not needed or taking too much can cause toxicity.

[Elle_9 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hello SeasideSusie,

I’ve been taking Pregnacare Max which I’ve pasted the information below,

Sorry it’s pastes very messily but shows at least the components.

I’m also taking Royal Jelly, evening primrose and additional folic acid. Had been a bit hit and miss taking them but since last weeks results have taken them religiously so I was worried it could affect my results.

I should mention that I had been taking them very regularly for at least 2 years,

up until about 4 months ago when I stopped breastfeeding.

Thanks

Louise

Vitamin & mineral tablets with folic acid.

Nutritional InformationAverage per tablet% EC NRV*

L-Arginine100mg--

Inositol50 mg--

N-Acetyl Cysteine50 mg--

Betacarotene (Natural Source)3 mg--

Vitamin D (as D3 600 IU)15 µg300

Vitamin E4 mg α-TE33

Vitamin C90 mg113

Thiamin (Vitamin B1)8 mg727

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)5 mg357

Niacin (Vitamin B3)20 mg NE125

Vitamin B610 mg714

Folic Acid400 µg200

Vitamin B1220 µg800

Biotin150 µg300

Pantothenic Acid6 mg100

Magnesium60 mg16

Iron14 mg100

Zinc15 mg150

Copper1000 µg100

Selenium50 µg91

Iodine150 µg100

*NRV = Nutrient Reference Value, µg = microgram

mg = milligram, IU = International Units.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Elle_9]

Elle

I don't know much about pregnancy vitamins, they weren't around when I was having babies many years ago. Are you still taking them?

Apart from the fact that there is too little of some ingredients to be of any help, there are a couple of things that stand out with your supplement:

° The Biotin, unless the supplement is left off for 3-5 days beforehand, can affect any blood test carried out.

° Iron will affect the absorption of everything else

° it contains Iodine which shouldn't be supplemented unless tested and found to be deficient, it generally not a good idea for us Hypos and a definite no-no for Hashi's patients as it can exacerbate antibody attacks.

Do you still need to take folic acic?

It's best to test those listed by SlowDragon and supplement where necessary.

[Elle_9 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for the information. I had no idea at all about the iodine.

While my thyroid health is dominating any plans around having another child, we had very much hoped for another, but age and other health issues have prevented that so far.

Never say never though so while I am working on the thyroid stuff, I still take the pregnancy health/ folic acid thinking ahead. (That and I have a lot of pregnacare hanging around the medicine cupboard))

It sounds like just taking a multi-vit isn’t so straightforward (what is with hypothyroidism?) so will get tested for the key vitamins as advised and have a good read up on what to avoid with hashi’s i.e iodine.

Thanks again,

Louise

[serenfach]

re the extra supplies needed - your medicine cabinet is above the sink in the bathroom, and you took the packet/bottle out and it fell into the sink full of water, and everything got soaked - oops! So sorry (tears!), panic, what can I do!

At least you will get a replacement prescription that will take you through for a time so you can see if you feel better.