Thyroiditis

[Caz8081]

Hi, I’ve been told I have Thyroiditis!! It appears Gp not really sure if I need medication or not... is this usual? X

[greygoose]

Nope. Happens all the time. Very rare to find a doctor of any sort that knows much about thyroid. However, he appears to have diagnosed you! How did he do that? Do you have a copy of the results of the blood test he presumably did? If not, you should get a copy - if you live in the UK it is your legal right to have a print-out, with results and ranges. Then we'll be able to see if treatment is necessary or not.

[Hennerton in reply to greygoose]

Wonderful post and I am still laughing. Sorry! Of course it is not funny at all but sometimes we just have to sit back and smile at their ignorance...

[greygoose in reply to Hennerton]

We need a good laugh from time to time. And, if nothing else, they can give us that!

[Hennerton in reply to greygoose]

Sad but true but do you not feel it is getting worse? Their ignorance and willingness to spout gobbledegook is endemic. At least my GP admits I know more than she does and lets me get on with it. If only they would not try so hard and would simply admit their lack of knowledge, most patients would be much better served by them.

[greygoose in reply to Hennerton]

It most definitely is getting worse. We see that on here. They know less and less - learning less and less in med school, but even the older ones seem to be forgetting all they ever knew. We'll be back in the Stone Age of medicine before we know it, at this rate! It's already medieval.

[m7-cola in reply to Hennerton]

My GP does admit he doesn’t know about endocrinology. He’s happy to follow the advice of my endo. I was rather amazed when he said it. Mind you he is highly respected here... (is senior partner) and has rather more confidence than the other doctors in the practice.

[MissGrace]

Your GP isn’t sure? WTF? Well at least he/she admits they know sweet FA. But surely they can ring and speak to someone who might know or use bloody Google!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Getting copies of your blood test results and ranges is first step, to see EXACTLY what GP has tested

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.

Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[Caz8081]

Thank you. Appear I’m booked for another blood test in 2 weeks time... at present I have a fuzzy head all the time... I ask for copy of blood test on next visit. Thank you again for information x

[m7-cola in reply to Caz8081]

Wishing you well.

[Hidden]

Maybe they think de Quervains Thyroiditis?

[Caz8081]

Hi, I don’t know what they think at moment. I’m not in any pain!. I seem to have a very overactive brain at present. Seems to be fuzzy head and just very very busy. Go, told me my Brian not happy at moment. All strange!... thank you for reply

[Valarian in reply to Caz8081]

When I was first diagnosed as hyper, my brain often felt as if it was working faster than my mouth could get the words out - also, before either of us knew that I had anything more than a virus, my brother kept asking me why I was talking so fast. You may feel that your brain is working faster than other people’s- be aware (especially over Christmas!) that if your thyroid levels are currently hyper, hypers aren’t known for their patience!

Better for your GP to admit he doesn’t have all the answers, than treat regardless and pretend he does. Assuming you do have thyroiditis, it can resolve itself without treatment, so ordering a repeat test in a couple of weeks, and not treating initially seems a reasonable approach, although it would be interesting to see your test results (first set and the next lot, as this will show whether your thyroid levels are going up or down).

Here is some info about thyroiditis:

btf-thyroid.org/information...

[RockyPath]

Technically you may "not require treatment at this time," but this begs the question about your list of obvious hypothyroid symptoms you've just provided. The tests should include an rT3 measurement. I had nice looking labs and was so hypothyroid (due to rT3) that I could barely string together a coherent thought. Watching and waiting is fine for the doctor whose body it is not, but watching and waiting in your case is just writing yourself a sentence for an even worse chronic disease as you age -- atherosclerosis, heart failure, orthopedic problems from hyper mobile joints, for example -- all provoked by hypothyroidism.

My endocrinologist could see I was hypothyroid, though the lab numbers looked ok. He kept increasing the levothyroxine, to no avail. To a doctor who is capable of overlooking hypothyroid symptoms, this would be justification for thinking the symptoms weren't hypothyroidism at all. Instead, my endocrinologist persisted and I am now on liothyronine and all those hypo symptoms are a thing of the past.

You must argue persistently for your own care. I suggest the thyroid uk .org .uk web site and, under "related conditions" is a page with Dr. John C Lowe's observations on hypometabolism symptoms (primary outcome of hypothyroidism) and how he treated it with T3.

Good luck!

[Caz8081]

Thank you for your advice. I check out the site.