Hello sorry to ask on here again but my 5 week wait is over tomorrow to see my gp..as I've posted before and won't bore you all again ...in short my doctors say bloods all fine I've had private bloods too. my private showed below range t3 low t4 and lowish tsh..doctors ignore said they don't look at private tests .their nhs test showed low but not under so I pushed for another 6 month one. this is under range t4 low t3 low tsh. still came back as all normal no action required!!.you kind people told me that could point to secondary hypothyroidism or hypopitituarisn..my question is I have 9 minute appt tomorrow I had asked my partner to come to speak up for me as they refuse to acknowledge I have a thyroid problem and won't refer me to an endocrinologist but he's busy at work ..sooooooo..can anyone tell me a brief concise attack I can plan tomorrow to be taken seriously and not come out once again feeling like a deluded hypochondriac as they think I am...thank you
last minute pointers for doctor tomorrow - Thyroid UK
last minute pointers for doctor tomorrow
I am sorry you are having to fight your way through the stupid guidelines that a blood test alone proves whether not you are hypothyroid. This is from Thyroiduk.org.uk the NHS choice for information and advice re dysfunctions of the thyroid gland.
The following is the 'Interpretation of Blood Test Results - not the basic GP/Endos knowledge.
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
Now - tick off your symptoms on the following link. Tell your GP you thought the NHS would be up-to-date with a basic condition suffered by thousands if not millions worldwide.
The medical profession have lost their skill in diagnosing their patients, as they used to know, with clinical symptoms alone plus outward signs and people given NDT on a trial basis. If they felt they were improving dose was increased till they were symptom-free and no blood tests to worry about - just relief of all clinical symptoms..
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
Patients were treated according to symptoms alone - even given a trial of NDT to see if they improved.
Your ideal blood test would be :
TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.
If antibodies are present - despite TSH - you should be prescribed as that would mean you had an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease - called Hashimoto's or hashi's. It is the commonest form of hypothyroidism and treatment is the same. The antibodies attack the gland and wax and wane until hypothyroid.
thank you for that..I'm not holding out hope hence why I'd hoped my partner would come with me I just get told I've got health anxiety and that I'm looking for illnesses I don't have ...she says it's all menopause which it could be but why do my bloods along with symptoms point to secondary hypothyroidism.
I tried to show her a long list of my symptoms she just smiled and said it's called getting older and being a woman wouldn't even look at it!!
all I'm hoping is to push for a referral to an endocrinologist or maybe if she won't as the other 3 GPS wouldn't then buy myself some ndt and trial myself?? thank you
I meant to say I did test positive on the antibodies test but only low which I thought is ok..it's only with a high reading it's hashimoto isn't it? or should I read zero?
Brief concise attack I use on GPs when they refuse referral is:
"You either refer me to a specialist or I'll make a complaint."
And then make complaint to NHS if you are still refused and you'll get a referral.
It always works. Good luck
thank you..I'll try but I'm not very brave in front of the gp I get tearful at not being believed and don't push when I should but I will try
If you wuss out in front of GP nothing stopping you to make complaint to NHS afterwards anyway. This way you won't have to be assertive in front of and verbally just do it in writing to NHS in your own time.
It's your health you need to worry about the most not what doctor thinks and your right to get help on the NHS by any means.
thank you..I expect to be ignored and humiliated again today so that's my plan. to complain afterwards like you said it's my health..my 4 family members all with hypothyroidism only one was diagnosed easily the other 3 took between 4 and 11 years to be diagnosed and all 3 because they went private in the end
It's wrong in itself that your GP makes you feel like this! It's bullying behaviour, and you're well within your rights to make a complaint. Good luck, and don't let the bxxxxxds grind you down!
Point out to GP there is strong family link to hypothyroidism
That your vitamin levels are poor, suggesting gut issues or coeliac disease
Have you considered trying strictly gluten free diet?
ask GP for coeliac blood test first.
Are you vegetarian or vegan?
Are you continuing to supplement for your extremely low vitamin levels?
Not everyone with Hashimoto's has raised antibodies
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
drknews.com/unraveling-thyr...
Perhaps ask for zinc test
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
I haven't been taking my supplements apart from magnesium since my last blood test 8 weeks ago. my ferritin is low and I will start my b complex again.
I'm not vegan or vegetarian and haven't tried gluten free no...they literally won't test me for anything else so coeliac I've no chance. the only thing they keep mentioning is statins as my cholestrol is high but again that is in the family and thyroud related when I'm a size 10 exercise good diet and eat well...
Well there's no test for non coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) you just have to try it
Have you had coeliac blood test?
Getting vitamins optimal is first step. Only add one at a time and wait 2 weeks to assess before adding another
Nearly everyone has to self supplement unless extremely deficient
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...
endocrinenews.endocrine.org...
Ferritin obviously needs improving. Eating liver or liver pate once a week should help. Vitamin C alongside iron supplements helps improve absorption
Selenium supplements can help improve conversion of FT4 to FT3
If your GP refuses to refer you to an endocrinologist you can self refer for private appointment
Email Thyroid UK for list of recommended thyroid specialists,
please email Dionne
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
But suggest you get vitamins optimal first and do full Thyroid and vitamin testing privately in 6-8 after restarting all vitamins (and possibly after going strictly gluten free) before seeing any consultant
Have you read up on Secondary Hypo? Can you give a brief description of the illness and be ready to answer questions? If so, then start straight in with something like "I have low TSH, but also low Frees, this points to Secondary Hypo when the problem lies with the pituitary, rather than the thyroid itself…"
Good luck. 
That's my aim today ...when I mentioned secondary last time she got quite cross and said Dr Google knows nothing that I don't have any thyroud issue AT ALL and stop worrying..I told her I had read up on it on the thyroid uk site and she said that's full of the hypochondriac who think they know better than qualified doctors...see what I mean I'm up against a brick wall
Your doctor is pretty much using aggressive patronizing tactics to cover up his/her indolence.
You need to grow thick skin, ignore and don't take it personally.
There's nothing you can do to fix stupid. You either change surgery, doctor or fight by complaining to higher instances.
Thank you..I've seen 3 doctors all of the same opinion sadly. so moving surgery doesn't make much difference I don't think so a complaint and self medicating looks the way to go
I wouldn't give up in search for a decent doctor.
I've changed surgeries about 7-10 times and seen numerous GPs.
I still haven't found knowledgeable GP and I continue to look for one even if it'll take me to see 100+ GPs.
I know we're restricted by NHS catchment areas and that's the biggest obstacle forpeople to get best health care as we're stuck with whatever quack is residing in next door surgery. But don't give up trying to find good doctor.
All the best.
trelemorele just about summed it up. There's not much you can say to a doctor with that attitude. She knows it all and has nothing to learn from a bunch of amateurs, thank you very much, even if they are the one's with the disease that she can't even begin to imagine.
The problem is - apart from the fact that they have no idea about thyroid function - that they know nothing about symptoms, and think we're all just a bunch of whinging attention-seekers, and it really can't be half as bad as we make out. She's beyond hope, I'm afraid. 
so true..that's literally what they think...as if I make this up and visit my doctor because I'm short of attention and a hypochondriac...I just want the old me back even slightly..at this rate I'll lose my marriage my job my sanity and will to live..but heh the doctors says I'm fine it's all in my head so I need to buck up eh!! 😣
Idiots.
Tell her you read about it on the NICE site cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid... and the guidelines say you should be referred urgently to an endo and if she doesn't you will complain.
I've screen shot it I'll show her soon thanks
I have read the other posts and they give great advise - two things scream at me though - 1) FIVE WEEK WAIT TO SEE GP???? What’s that about? And 2) endocrinology 101 die is that your levels need to be at optimum end of the the ranges in brackets if you are experiencing clinical symptoms.
I know...as it's a routine appt that's the earliest I could get my surgery is a joke...I agree with you all my levels are too low borderline under one is under but nhs and their damn ranges why not go off my symptoms!! my ferritin is 17 but to them I'm in range so no problem there arrghhhh
FIVE WEEK WAIT TO SEE GP???? What’s that about?
The NHS is being deliberately starved of funds to drive patients into the arms of the private healthcare companies. They are popping up everywhere. The ultimate aim appears to be to have a health system like the American one.
What are your symptoms ?
a long list I'm afraid...of the list of hypo symptoms the only one I don't have is sleeping alot..I'm the opposite I can't get to sleep and have 4 hours a night so yes I'm shattered and can barely function but can't physically fall asleep til almost dawn. my worst bar insomnia is blurred vision feeling faint irregular periods weight gain panic attacks severe depression lump in my throat like I can't swallow swollen lymph glands feel run down and fluey tinnitus and erratic heart beat
my antibody test was
thyroid peroxidase 12.4
thyroglobulin 10
I believe these are low enough to be OK my gp said they're negative ???
I very much doubt your problem is Hashi's, anyway.
That's correct- both antibodies are low
That doesn't definitely rule out Hashimoto's....but most GP's wouldn't be aware of that
heyhashi.org/hashimotos-low...
For good thyroid function you need ferritin around half way in range, B12 and folate towards top half of range and vitamin D at least around 80nmol.
Low TSH can be due to low vitamins
Low vitamins common when hypo due to low stomach acid and/or gluten intolerance
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/hypochl...
scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/3-...
High cholesterol linked to hypothyroidism
my b12 is 213 my folate 6.2 I supplement folic acid when I take them all again soon..my vit d I tested privately that was a good level ...and I told my doctor about cholestrol being connected but they said it's irrelevant what's caused it I need statins!! I'm not taking them I don't want any nasty side effects to add to my I'll health when to me it's thyroid connected..
I'm not sure about low stomach acid apparently I've got high because when I first went about my lymph glands in my throat swollen and feeling like I've got something stuck in my throat and sore throat they told me I has gastric reflux so I've got high stomach acid..needless to say the omeprazole they prescribed made no difference so I'm not sure???
right...well I'm seen her and she agreed to write to the endocrinologist to ask if he thought my symptoms were secondary hypothyroidism...but did say according to her NONE of my symptoms point to it and she would include that in her letter. she said my t4 below level was nothing as it's up and down all the time. last time she rang the endo when my t3 was under he said he wouldn't see me as all my levels were normal!@!@!@!@
so this time I'll be just the same...my symptoms are listed on the thyroid site just the same but because I work and she knows I can't fall asleep at night and have fast heart rate and brachycardia that's hyper not hypo so I've no problem. I have asked in thyroid sites if people can have brachycardia with hypo and lots agree it's common..and insomnia ...
so there you go..virtually no chance of a referral as she's virtually written to him saying I've no thyroid issue..she said to increase my antidepressants as I sound very depressed and take a holiday cheer myself up!!! I seriously give up.
but thanks so much you everyone you have been so kind and helpful I feel less like a mad deluded hypochondriac 😏
You should do what so many of us on here do - self-treat. You will no longer be at the mercy of the doctors, you don't have to sit and listen while they blame you for all your own problems, insult you, roll their eyes at you, dismiss you or shout at you, nor do you have to beg and plead for treatment which they have no intention of supplying.
I think that's my only choice..I need to try ndt but that's a whole new thing and a different thread..I have literally no idea..where to buy how to take what dose etc....
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