GP's first response to medichecks blood and cortisol results

[Yammie1973]

OMG...this is my GP's 1st response to the private medichecks blood tests. He didn't even look properly at the results:

'Hi Yvonne, I am sorry that you feel we cannot help you. Can I try?

The key result here is that you are clearly very underreplaced with respect to the thyroid hormone. The cortisol anomolies are likely to be a consequence rather than a cause. I presume that you have been taking your 200mcg/day routinely. You don't take anything else with it? Iron is the most common confounder, but other supplements can change the absorption. The last TSH you had was in the normal range (April) so something has changed since then'

He has not even mentioned the Hashimotos potential etc. Spitting acid at the moment!!!

[shaws Administrator]

Oh dear. The fact is that they do not like getting the results of private tests.

There is some severe implication in their training (what training?) in that they don't even know the very basics.

They don't understand that if a patient isn't improving they are going to look elsewhere.

We do not want TSH within the 'normal range' we need it to be 1 or lower.

No wonder you are angry. I doubt many doctors will pay any attention to private tests as they seem to follow the same rules. i.e. check TSH - wait until it reaches 10 before diagnosing.

Get all results within the range and patient must be fine and everything else they complain of, give them a separate prescription for the pain, depression, anxiety etc etc.

[Yammie1973 in reply to shaws]

Thank you Shaws

I don't know what I was expecting really. Looks like I am going to have to look at sorting out the vitamins D, B and iron, test again and then find a private Endo to discuss and treat the thyroid properly.

[Mary-intussuception]

I don't understand this Yammie

His opening sentence ???

I understood that you were going to send him all results (the urgent ones being the Iron Panel).

I thought you were going to ask for

1) An Emergency referal to Haematology for Iron treatment.

2)An urgent referal to Endocrinologist for monitoring Thyroid.

And that you were going to send a list of symptoms - no comment on extreme exhaustion; eating ice etc ??

But have you made some sort of complaint ?

Get treated first - complain later (if desired) that's what I'd recommend.

Have you asked about High T.I.B.C. and superlow Transferrin Saturation?

[Yammie1973 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Mary

I didn't complain. My husband hand delivered the results only, with a hand written list of symptoms. He must have assumed/thought that I was complaining. I asked him to refer me to an Endocrinologist and/or haemotologist. He has made it very clear in his initial comments that he is going go follow his rule book to the letter referring to TSH at normal level. I gave him ALL the results but he is studiously avoiding the obvious. I just can't win!

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Yammie1973]

Did you go to see him.

I would post results to Consultant Haematologist at the hospital with a brief letter (add symptoms list) and ask for his help/ guidance.

Definitely need new GP. Quiicker if you can see a different GP at the practice?

You could also phone MP 's office.

But as I said earlier - I would have attended the hospital and asked Receptionist at Haematology if I could have a word with the Nurse in Charge or pass in results asking them to show to a doctor.

[Yammie1973 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

No chance of seeing another GP at the same practice...they have meetings discussing difficult patients and usually close ranks to defend the practice's reputation. Will send the results to Haematology and Endocrinology at the hospital to see what they have to say...no doubt refer me back to my local GP practice!!!

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Yammie1973]

I'm guessing he didn't agree to do the blood tests either - FBC, kidney, liver & bone ?

[Yammie1973 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Correct, no didn't get in to see the GP either. I gave up in the end after an hour on the phone with him trying to convince me he knew better!!!

[Yammie1973 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Nothing at all...kept going on and on about how TSH was the only factor that matters in testing the thyroid, no mention of the antibodies test or ferritin levels, that I should consider losing 3-5 stone if I want my thyroid to start functioning correctly and suggested that I start back on the anti-depressants he prescribed years ago.....

[Lillyloop in reply to Yammie1973]

Hi Yammie1973,

I have been investigating why I feel unwell. One of the tests I took is a private thyroid and cortisol /adrenal test.

I digress…so I came upon your post.

Years ago I had a serious iron deficiency including my iron reserves. My doctor injected me with iron every week.

One of the symptoms was an abnormal craving for ice. I couldn’t get enough.

It passed and I have never had it since.

I do hope you are well and the doctors are listening to you. ❤️

OOPS! New to the comments. I just noticed this is 3 years old.

[Yammie1973 in reply to Lillyloop]

Hi, no worries. Craving for ice is a symptom of pica, your body craves certain minerals and vitamins and what it doesn't normally get, it goes looking for. In my case it was iron and vit D deficiency anaemia. I have since been using Spatone daily supplement drinks and Better you high dose vit D spray. I have never looked back. Good luck to you 😊

[Lillyloop in reply to Yammie1973]

Hey, thank you for replying so quickly.The doctors did test you in the end. That’s good.

I need to redo my full thyroid as some of my blood was damaged.

Have a good day.

[Yammie1973 in reply to Lillyloop]

No, in the end I went private, I have a number of reasons why I will never trust the NHS again. Have a good day too

[Yammie1973]

That was my initial reaction too but apparently they don't like informed and educated patients especially if they haven't specialised in thyroid conditions!!! Will be going to a private GP service and demanding to see Endocrinologist.