Private Endocrinologist

[Dee188]

Hi

Does anyone know of a sympathetic private endocrinologist in North East England (Durham/Newcastle Upon Tyne area), where I can arrange blood tests/investigations for myself/my daughter? I only ask as in these times of restricted NHS clinical guidelines its difficult to persuade GPs to either carry out a wide range of thyroid tests or refer you to a specialist without definite evidence that cannot be attributed to other causes.

I have had hypothyroidism for years (probably dated back to 1st/2nd pregnancy 1983/1985 but finally diagnosed in 1993 - by TSH only I think), I have been treated with levothyroxine (not entirely successfully I might add) since then (125mcg/day), last year when I became quite unwell (and after reading posts on here) I persuaded GP to check T3 and B12 along with my usual iron levels and vit D/calcium and all were on low side so in addition to my prescribed iron/calcium and vit d3 I purchased T3 (unipharma) and B12 sublingual and was taking them for a while with positive results but not sure if it was T3 or B12 so stopped T3 to see how it would affect me I have really noticed much decline and I still feel tired at least 60% of time and have difficulty maintaining my concentration (also have fibromyalgia and chronic neck pain from nerve impingement) but have attributed some of that to side effects of painkillers and debilitating effect of pain. I was going to give T3 another go but cannot seem to find a reliable supplier despite asking on this site.

Now my daughter who lives with us and is now in mid 30s (never had children) seems to have all the features I originally had (weight gain, hair loss, tiredness, concentration problems, constipation, facial hair growth), she also suffers with extreme anxiety and excessive sweating and at my suggestion GP (he knows I am ex nurse) did request TSH test and said it was within range (she doesn't have result) but trying to persuade her to ask him to investigate further eg in depth blood tests is difficult as she says he will know its my suggestion. It really is getting her down as she lost so much time off work she lost her job and its really knocked her confidence.

I thought if we could see a private endocrinologist and arrange blood tests etc it might help to confirm or exclude thyroid issues and we could work from there.

[jjb1983]

Hi dee188,

Let me know if you find one I'm in the same area as you.

I have the same symptoms as you and your daughter.

It's a struggle because most doctors do not seem to understand what tests need to be done along side tsh.

You could try the well woman test on medi checks.

Or the spire hospital Washington, it's such a lovely hospital.

Hope you manage to get sorted.

Jjb1983

[Angel_of_the_North]

Don't know of an endo, but you can get the Blue Horizon tests with blood draw at the Spite Hospital (I use the one in Washington). I found it easy to get tests done for loads of things but impossible to get any treatment for anything in Tyne & Wear.

[Dee188 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Did you need GP to refer you for blood tests or do you contact directly?

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Dee188]

I just buy from Blue Horizon using the TUK link and pick the one with blood draw at Spire.

I avoid my GP wherever possible, although to be fair, I have had a lot of tests from them for SIBO bIle acid insufficiency, gut problems, ectopic heart beats, low cortisol etc, but no treatment at all, so I rarely bother going.

[Dee188 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Do you source T3 privately and if so where? I did ask on here but so far no answers.

[tiredBFmum]

have you heard of medichecks? they often have offers on thyroid checks, don't require a GP referral and many can be done by fingerprick tests at home. there are lots of experts on this group so listen to their advice over mine but I would have thought testing vitamin D, active 12, ferritin, folate, TSH, free T4, free T3, both thyroid antibodies and a coeliac test might be worthwhile depending on funds and symptoms.

I would not feel bad about asking the GP to test properly though. if excess facial hair growth is an issue has she been checked for unbalanced hormones, PCOS etc? if she is unwell and has lost her job because of symptoms that affect her day-to-day life then it is hardly a waste of NHS resources. She needs to know what is wrong so she can be treated accordingly.

its absolutely essential to get a print out of test results even if dr says they are normal for three reasons:

1) so you can see exactly what has been tested

2) to see the reference ranges and if results are 'normal' but borderline.

3) for your own records and so you can see patterns of what is normal for you.

if you do want to go private, in my experience its cheaper to get the tests done on medichecks than say via spire/Nuffield etc.

people on here say do the thyroid checks first thing in the morning before breakfast.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to tiredBFmum]

It's cheaper to get the finger prick test from BH or Medichecks, but I get the blood draw done as I last time I tried a finger prick I broke the lancet and was reduced to stabbing myself with a kitchen knife - I'd rather pay the extra than do that again!