Best endocronologist in northern Ireland public/private

[Nuci]

Hi folks...I'm in a bit of a spin regarding my diagnosis of overactive thyroid yesterday.. my gp has prescribed a host of meds that I'm cautious to take. I feel my condition may vary, do I have a goiter? Is this autoamune ? So I want to see an expert .. who Is the best .. I'm really very sick and I need to feel well again. .. any help would be amazing.. thank you all

[shaws Administrator]

If you need to edit anything you've posted, just press the down arrow next to More and select edit. You can then edit. You can then delete your second post.

[Nuci in reply to shaws]

Thank you so much ..new to this and shaky hands

[shaws Administrator in reply to Nuci]

Don't worry we've all found it difficult to have hypo and members are very good at answering queries and support.

A couple of hints. Any blood tests to check thyroid hormones have to be at the very earliest (TSH is highest then and may prevent a dose reduction). Also leave a gap of 24 hours between last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards. This helps keept the TSH at its highest as that seems to be the only number doctors look at. TSH means thyroid stimulating hormone which is from the pituitary gland which rises if is struggling.

[Nuci in reply to shaws]

Thank you

[humanbean]

So, what meds has your doctor prescribed, and at what doses?

Do you have copies of your blood test results? If not you should ask for a print out of any blood test results you have for the last year or two. As far as I'm aware we are legally entitled to get copies over the whole of the UK. You also can't be charged anything for the results since the GDPR regulations came in. You need to make sure you get numbers and reference ranges. Then post those numbers in a new post.

Be aware that some doctors wrongly diagnose hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) when the patient is heading for hypothyroidism, on the basis that the TSH is low. They don't seem to notice that the actual thyroid hormones themselves are low too. (Obviously the doctor could be absolutely right too, of course, and you could be hyperthyroid.)

TSH is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and is produced by the pituitary, not the thyroid.

[Nuci in reply to humanbean]

Hi ...they have prescribed beta blockers and croprisoml * not spelled correctly. Not sure of dose because I haven't collected them yet .. I'm still feeding my daughter so it's not easy for me to take meds at the moment... My gut is telling me to investigate further before I start treatment..I feel like I need to know exactly what is causing the hypo before I medicate..I really am at the very beginning .. feeling awful too

[greygoose in reply to Nuci]

If your thyroid is 'over-active', then you are hyper, not hypo. But, you're absolutely right, you need your antibodies tested:

TPO and Tg antibodies for Hashi's.

TRAB or TSI for Grave's.

[Nuci in reply to greygoose]

Ok ... I'm so new to this ..my doctor called me and told me ..and wrote a prescription..so I have no idea .. I just know I'm sick but I have no awnsers .. do you have a recommendation for a consultant in ni? No worries if you don't .. thank you for your help x

[greygoose in reply to Nuci]

No, I'm sorry, I know nothing about endos in the UK, I live in France. Just pointing out that you absolutely need those antibodies tested, and should insist on it whoever you see.

[Nuci in reply to greygoose]

Thank you greygoose I will insist on these being checked .. i would never know otherwise.. thank you again.

[greygoose in reply to Nuci]

You're very welcome.

[humanbean in reply to Nuci]

croprisoml * not spelled correctly

Do you mean carbimazole? If that is what you've been prescribed I'm surprised a GP has prescribed it. In England they normally make patients wait until they have seen an endo before hyperthyroidism is diagnosed for certain and the endo does the prescribing. The GP would normally prescribe beta blockers though to tide people over until they get carbimazole prescribed by the endo.

I've never been hyper, so I don't know how good beta blockers are at "tiding people over".

It is possible to have hyperthyroid levels of thyroid hormones with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which will eventually end up with you being hypothyroid, not hyper. I'm not sure how useful carbimazole is for people who are "hyper" as a result of Hashmoto's Thyroiditis. Fruitandnutcase is helpful on the subject of hyperthyroidism.

Take a look at some of the articles/blog/resources/forum on this link :

elaine-moore.com/

[Nuci in reply to humanbean]

Yes thats it ..I suppose that's why my gut was telling me to get further tests

[humanbean in reply to Nuci]

Rather than waiting until you've seen an endo to get your results go to your surgery or phone them up and ask for a printout of your results. You would need to take proof of identity with you. Be prepared for a 24 or 48 hour wait because the reception staff will have to ask for a GP's permission before they can print them out. But legally they shouldn't refuse. You should go and pick up the results in person.

[Nuci in reply to humanbean]

I'm definitely going to do that Monday morning.. they already refused

[greygoose in reply to Nuci]

Then they are breaking the law. Remind them of that.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Nuci]

Quite a number of women, after pregnancy, develop a problem with their thyroid gland. I would suggest a new blood test and a Full One which is:-

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.

All tests for thyroid hormones have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of thyroid hormones and the test.

Ask your doctor to test the above and post your results and ranges for comments (follow advice above for blood draw). Always get a print-out of your results, with the ranges. Ranges are important as labs differ in their machines and it helps members to respond.

This is two excerpts from the following link:-

What causes maternal hyperthyroidism?

A common cause of overactive thyroid in pregnant women is Graves’ disease. This disease occurs when your immune system becomes overactive and forms antibodies (immune proteins) that attack the thyroid. This causes the gland to enlarge and make too much thyroid hormone. Most women with Graves’ disease find out they have it and get treatment before they become pregnant.

and

The thyroid also can become overactive after childbirth. In the first year after giving birth, about 7% of women get postpartum thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid). This problem starts with hyperthyroidism. Most often, it clears up without treatment in a few weeks or months. But sometimes the inflammation leads to hypothyroidism, the opposite condition in which the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone. In most cases, this hypothyroidism goes away on its own.

hormone.org/diseases-and-co...

[Nuci]

Yes your right ...I have no idea just now .. all I know is my throid is overactive..my liver bloods are abnormal, I just need a recommendation for a good endo then I can get the picture and report back !

[Nuci]

Thank you ..I requested the results and was refused ..I feel like I have a fight on my hands ! Seems like everyone here does .. thank you and if you could PM me that doctor I would be forever grateful

[shaws Administrator in reply to Nuci]

In the UK, we are entitled by LAW to get a print-out of your blood test results, with the ranges. Some charge a nominal sum for paper/ink but we do get them.

The majority of (mainly) women on this forum are on it because they found that doctors etc didn't have the knowledge one would expect regarding dysfunctions of the thyroid gland.

[Mary-intussuception in reply to shaws]

They're not allowed to charge now (since 25/5/2018)

[Nuci]

I will .. I'll get my game face on !

[Fruitandnutcase]

Does sound like you might have post partum thyroiditis. You must be very tired and yes, you do feel very ill. I’m afraid I don’t know anything about taking medicines when you are breast feeding but I can see why you are anxious.

Although it’s usually an endo who prescribes carbimazole my GP prescribed carbimazole for me as soon as my blood test results came back - in fact she left a message on my answer phone telling me I had a very overactive thyroid with antibodies, that she had left a prescription for carbimazole at reception for me, made me an endo appointment and told me to come back for another blood test after four weeks. So it’s not all that unusual for your doctor to prescribe carbimazole. It depends on how your surgery work with your local hospital - mine seem to file share so yours may be the same.

The beta blocker is to stop your pounding heart - I was never given that because I have asthma. Just found a couple of articles that might help you

verywellhealth.com/are-hype...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

and here’s a link that beta blockers and breast feeding

sps.nhs.uk/articles/safety-...

You need to get a hold of your blood test results along with their lab ranges the number shown in brackets next to your results, that shows you were you fit in on the scale of things. Just say you want them for your records you are entitled to have them

Like the others say, you want to know what your antibody levels are - you will have antibodies if you have Graves Disease - ideally you want your vitamins D and B12 tested as well as folates and ferritin, you want them all to be near the top of their ranges to help your thyroid.

I kept a notebook with all my blood test results along with whatever medicines I was taking, increases etc and also jotted down a quick note on how I was feeling when my meds changed. Plus any questions I wanted to ask my endo - otherwise I would either have forgotten what I wanted to ask or just said I was ‘fine’ when my endo asked how I was.

Hopefully someone will come up with the name of a good endo for you. Yu have come the a good place for support.

[Nuci in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Hi.. thank you for your message and your links ...all so much appreciated.. my daughter is 19 months now and no I can't medicate while feeding her , she is small in stature and really relies on my milk so I really am stuck between a rock and a hard place . I will be getting my results on Monday I'm just going to pop in , then go from there . We have a history of unusual medical problems in my family , thyroid not mentioned but I'll start asking ! Really appreciate your message

[Tilleg]

Hi Nuci, not sure where in NI you are but I attend Dr <redacted name> in Lagan valley hospital, he also does private appointments in Hillsborough clinic. He is absolutely fantastic, I can’t recommend him enough. I’m no expert but please ask if you have any other questions x

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Tilleg]

Your reply has been edited to make in conform to guideline 27. Please send a Private Message to the poster and do not post doctors' names.

27. Do not post information about specific endocrinologists or doctors on the main board without their permission as this may result in unwanted attention from certain areas of the medical profession. If you wish to discuss a particular endocrinologist or doctor, you may mention his/her name and location, providing that you ask for comments by private message only.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Nellups]

Try Dr <redacted name> at Ulster Hospital endo

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Nellups]

Your reply has been edited to make in conform to guideline 27. Please send a Private Message to the poster and do not post doctors' names.

27. Do not post information about specific endocrinologists or doctors on the main board without their permission as this may result in unwanted attention from certain areas of the medical profession. If you wish to discuss a particular endocrinologist or doctor, you may mention his/her name and location, providing that you ask for comments by private message only.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...