So, I've just had scan for 7 weeks (after a bleed at weekend which put me in hospital). All ok but scared me (phew). I put in for another repeat prescription for 150mg which I am currently on. The GP said 'no, you don't need it, I will put you on 100mg ... last bloods 0.06 I think'. I'm worried this will shoot straight up from past experience and I know with pregnancy it needs to stay low.
Also, do I ask for a Hashimoto/Thyroid Consultant instead of midwife or ? Also, do I insist on the extra 50mg if I can? My new locum doesn't understand the thyroid and autoimmune thing and doesn't realise it's taken me 7 long years of ttc, surgery and ivf to get this far x Thanks for all your help everyone. RLS ... haven't had it in a week with Magnesium spray x
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Your GP could write a referral letter to the obstetrician who works with an endocrinologist in antenatal clinic but if he doesn’t your midwife can also refer you to the most appropriate consultant also. You will have shared care between the doctors and the midwives.
There are NICE guidelines I think on pregnancy and hypothyroidism...
It may be wise to have TFT’s done just prior to your hospital appt and the obstetrician/endocrinologist will decide what amount of Levo you should be on and will then let the GP know.
Thanks Redrosegirle, the clinic just said to 'talk to my GP' but I only have locums who come and go at our clinic, so they don't know me which makes 'consistency' a bit more difficult. I didn't know how it works or what happens next. Will read and print guidelines link. Thank you so much, just worried about being without enough Levo and meds etc until the New Year. Thank you so much x
Give them a ring and tell them what’s happening and ask them to make you an antenatal appointment to see the consultant on the day that the endocrinologist is there as well. Where I work it’s called the joint medical clinic.
You’re very early on in your pregnancy (congratulations btw) so hopefully you can be seen soon.
I would go back to your GP and say you want to stay on 150mcg
No, IVF clinic. They did a scan yesterday and discharged me. I'm not used to words like 'antenatal etc' at the moment. I NEVER thought it would ever happen. TTC for 7 years. I have an apt with a diff locum tomorrow so I will ask to stay on 150mcg and see if they can give me a prescription for other 50mg.
I'm excited but at the same time after speaking with my sister yesterday who is very level headed and straight talking she said "I can be happy recent bleed and scan still ok, but I shouldn't get excited as it's too early". Then she added that my body and my health were cr@p lol. Thanks, will take your advice tomorrow and see what happens. Just worry as things stop over Christmas and start up slow in New Year. x
((🤣@ your sister. Sounds like my kind of girl but sheesh!!
Still I would prefer that to my family who keep telling me not to worry and not to express any concern and won't even let me be levlel headed about it!)
She has had too many friends I know she has supported and been close to who have had late mc. She said 'don't buy anything till the night before you go in, and then me and your oh can dash about quick and get things. She is right, and she does know I've a crap locum and not exactly a picture of health lol x
And I would be the same.... Buy minimal things to begin with.
The night before might be a bit extreme ! Lol at least a maternity bag and a weeks clothing etc
I suggest that to everyone anyway regardless of TTC struggles - most people give you gifts that they grow out of anyway so keep it simple to begin with X
Has your GP not learnt yet .....? Your thyroid medication is supposed to be increased not decreased once pregnant (!)
But it all depends on your free t4 level- did he even check it ?? If it was at top of range and your TSH was 0.06 then you may be fine to just continue that dose.
Also need to check your free t3- if it's not 'over range' which I can't imagine it would be then there's no reason for him to panic either.
Saying that we all know they don't know what they're doing so maybe you should say that reducing it goes against all the research you have done and the consultants at your fertility clinics advice also. You would wish him to do TSH, free t4, free t,3 and then consult with an endocrinologist /gynaecologist at the hospital to decide best dose going forward
Your TSH is irrelevant - your t4 is what your baby needs and after all this time you are not willing to put your pregnancy at risk because your GP is uncomfortable or unconfident in dealing with thyroid issues.
P.s. yay for the magnesium spray - knew it would work- glad it's completely gone (!)
I was worried when I only got prescription for 100mg as well, as I'm still finishing the last week of 150mg then I'm out. Tough getting anything done over Christmas, and we're going up to my oh for a few days till the New Year.
No... you know my locum/ GP surgery. You roll a dice and get a random name of someone to see and then they say "Oh, I see you've had IVF. How many kids do you have and then the butterfly story again". It's like the medical version of what you'd hear in a movie ... same old rubbish. I've an apt tomorrow with a different one sigh. Can't go wrong now. x Will check your PM x
Absolutely - this is exactly why I didn't want a cycle near Xmas - don't worry too much hopefully .... What you could do is take the 50 on alternate days.... That will decrease your dose by 25mcg rather than 50 MCG and means the dose will last a lot longer and therefore minimal consequences
Print out the NICE guidelines and thyroid guidelines regarding early pregnancy
Say you are not happy to decrease dose until a consultant has looked at it too. You have no symptoms of overdosing and you are currently pregnant so even if you were slightly overmedicated before that at the very least will be enough to sustain the embryo.
Ask them for 2-3 weeks prescription and then retest (I think your last test were 2 weeks ago? So another two weeks will be 4 weeks since your last bloods.
I think this is a situation where there's no way around it but to stand firm. Take that straight talking sister with you if you can, and say something like this: I am, and have been, feeling well and optimally medicated on the higher dose. I have no indication of being over-medicated and indeed my thyroid levels are within range. Speaking for myself, I might otherwise give in to you having the opportunity to cause that to cease when you reduce the dose to 100 mcg and as a consequence I become ill. However, I am absolutely not willing to put my baby at risk. It is an absolute fact that the effect on any women, never mind one who is hypothyroid, of pregnancy, is a thyroid drain. It is also a fact that during the first trimester the foetus can make no thyroid hormones of its own and is wholly dependent on that of its mother. Likewise, it is absolutely the case that optimal levels of thyroid hormones are unequivocally necessary for the brain and other development of the foetus. I am not therefore willing to allow you to put the health and wellbeing of my unborn child at risk, and I therefore decline your offer of the opportunity to reduce my dose. I am however happy to read any validated studies you might have that support your contention that a below range TSH is a threat to me or my baby.
Wow, that's good. Usually I end up in tears and sometimes give in. I tend to feel so drained like I'm always fighting with them, and usually I get called "Dr Google" etc. Wish my sister was in the country at the moment. She works abroad so won't be back till mid Jan or I wouldn't hesitate. Thanks for your advice. I didn't know that the baby also relied on the Thyroid hormone, although why wouldn't it. Will keep you posted x
You could write it down and hand it to them to read.
And a useful trick of wordology is to say "I've been advised that ...." rather than "I went online and did a search ...."
If you think the Dr needs the scientific approach, you could search against thyroid hormones and foetal neurological development, or similar, and print it off to have with you, in reserve.
Maisie's reply was wonderful. You are going to have to really stand up for yourself and not budge or be intimidated because you are fighting to get the best healthcare for your baby.
I'm in the US and it if were me I would include the following when going up against your GP: I don't normally believe threats and ultimatums are the way to go in life but you risk losing too much to not be assertive. I would say something like "My priority is to have a successful pregnancy and a healthy baby. As you can see from my history getting pregnant has been a long difficult road for me and I won't allow you to put my baby at risk. So you can work with me, or refer me to someone who can or I will hold you accountable legally if your recommendations cause me any problems with my pregnancy." Here (US) the "L" and "S" words (lawyer and sue) carry a lot of weight as we are a litigious society and NO ONE wants a malpractice suit on their record.
Even if a doctor wins the incident follows him showing up on ratings and can affect his/her practice for years to come.
I understand the UK has a different system but is there any legal or public recourse that doctors would prefer to avoid? Worth considering.
Please take whoever you need for support to your appointments (even a good friend if family is not available), consider recording the visits, write letters to appropriate people with copies sent to offending doctors. Putting things in writing is often a good adjunct to a verbal skirmish.
Also, is there a way you can obtain info re self medicating and purchasing what you need until this is resolved. Time is of the essence for you.
I'm praying for you and again time is of the essence.
It's very difficult standing up for ourselves with the medical establishment but often it is easier when we do it for someone else-especially our children.
As a last resort I would even consider going public with a newspaper story.
This post may sound off the wall but I want to show whatever we do to protect our children is worth it. And there must be something that will motivate this doctor to protect her professional interests. Find out what it is and use it.
No, your post doesn't sound off the wall at all. I'm very good at fighting for others but when it comes to me I get all emotional, tearful and rubbish. Maybe it's my hormones or just me. I know I have to fight for it. Just a tough time of year as things are shutting down as well which makes me anxious.
I would consider taking legal action if it all went wrong as I feel they are just telling me to go back private and pay for all this etc. We've had nothing from the NHS in 7 years of trying to conceive. Payed for all our IVFs, accupuncture, drugs, scans, meds and my 2 surgeries they said I needed . I did have to stay in hospital last week overnight for threatened mc as I had a bleed and they did do a scan in the morning. I felt bad for taking a bed as I didn't want to waste money but they couldn't guarantee a scan if I wasn't a patient. Kind of wish I was in the US right now. I don't mind paying if I need it but you shouldn't have to beg, write notes etc. I did put my blood results together and print NICE guidelines off but she took them off me and didn't even scan over them. After Christmas the fight will continue. Thanks for congrats. After all that's happened I'm trying to remember why we should be x
Good. You can do this. Be proactive while time is on your side. Life has a funny way of continuing while we make other plans.
This may be the only pregnancy you will ever have. I'm 74 with one daughter (she was 51 5 days ago.) Years later my only other pregnancy ended with an mc.
I'm pulling for you . Set your mind and stand up to this uncaring #^%@%. irina
• in reply to
PS The sqeaky wheel gets the grease. Don't people please the doctor. Make noise.
I think I PM'd you a similar message music 1 explaining how you would not put baby's health at risk over their 'inexperience ' (read incompetence )
I would provide them with a letter and written evidence -maybe contact thyroid UK charity also for an advocate ?? I know they have a helpline
Then say all of the above and if they refuse to increase your dose and insist on REDUCInG your dose without any evidence to explain why then you want that in WRITING from them and you will be forwarding this on to the health ombudsman
And God forbid if anything goes wrong with this pregnancy they will be hearing from you !
You have been entirely reasonable and are following STANDARD well know advice regarding thyroid control and especially in pregnancy
And at the recommendation for your fertility clinic and thyroid UK charity advice as well as NICE guidelines and any endo worth anything would all agree.
So if they can challenge that after admitting on multiple occasions they have NO understanding of thyroid issues then the situation is absurd and causing undue stress at a very vulnerable time for you.
MaisieGray, what you say about telling them you are well etc is a very good way to go.
When I needed an increase in my levo when I was on block and replace - I was having what felt like hyper symptoms but someone on here suggested correctly that I needed an increase in my levo when I was on block and replace.
My GP obviously didn’t want to interfere with my endo and decided to give me amitriptyline to tide me over until my next endo appointment. I took it for long enough to phase out the worst of the symptoms and had stopped by the time I saw my endo who rolled her eyes at the mention of amitriptyline and agreed with me that I needed an increase in levo.
Next time it happened I went along armed with my little notebook of results and evidence and did exactly what you have advised Music1 to do. I said how I felt, showed her my evidence etc and said quite firmly to my GP that when I had felt like this before my endo had increased my levo and I felt well again and that I knew with with another increase in my levo I would feel well again.
She muttered a bit about not wanting me to become hyper again, I said ‘neither did I’ and that I certainly didn’t enjoy being hyper but I did wanted to feel well and I knew that with an increase in my levo I would feel well again. She came up with a strange schedule of increasing levo on certain days of the week but once I got more I just alternated and it all worked out.
I think (in the absence of that sister) Music1 you should do exactly what MaisieGray says, write out what you want to say, back it up with evidence and be firm. Just imagine your sister in there with you with you. Once you’ve done it once there will be no stopping you. Good luck.
Firstly congratulations, I have everything crossed that this baby sticks for you. Unexplained bleeding is terrifying, my heart goes out tl you. There are people on here far more knowledgeable than me, I am at the beginning of trying to sort my thyroid out. My answer is based on my experience though. I am currently 11 weeks pregnant with an under active thyroid. I didn't have my levothyroxine increased to begin with as my TSH was around 0.5. For pregnancy my understanding is that TSH should be under 2 and ideally around 1. I have booked myself blood tests every 3 weeks with my GP and am managing my levels myself at the moment. When my TSH went to 1.6 I increased my levothyroxine from 125 to 150mcg. My doctor was happy with this but didn't suggest it or even say it was necessary. I won't get to see an endocrinologist yet, my pregnancy will be under a consultant and I have my booking in appointment when I'm around 14 weeks, this is when they'll put the referral in to the endocrinologist, which is quite late to me. It may depend on what area of the UK you are in as to how they do things. In my area I have all my midwife appointments as usual but I will also see the endo. With my youngest son that was every 6 weeks. I have found this website invaluable and have got most of my information from people and posts on here. As I say there are far more knowledgeable than me, but this is my experience with thyroid and pregnancy. I really hope everything works out for you, you've certainly been on a tough journey to this point.
I've been trying to manage it myself by asking for blood tests, but they don't always test what I suggest like T4. They are not good at prescriptions either. They have good locums who will agree but don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to writing a prescription or making a referral. Huge congrats on your 11 weeks wow, and you have a young son as well. I guess I'm worried as I'm so old (considered a risk) and I know my thyroid has taken nearly 2 years to get under control with little help from GP. It was jumping from 4 - 10. Rarely has it stayed under... and I know my body isn't very good at being a picture of health. Thanks for advice re: midwifes and apts etc. I just thought they'd be helpful and offer some support or steps to what comes next, rather than be bounced back and forth from clinic to locums. Best wishes. Will keep you posted x
Please keep us posted, I really hope it all works out for you. The care in pregnancy is, in my experience, diabolical. Educate yourself and fight your corner. I have to tell my doctors what treatment I want, I'm lucky that they tend to go ahead with it, but I don't have confidence that they know what they are doing. I really hope you get the support and care you need. People on here are great, I don't know if I would have conceived or kept this baby without the knowledge from here. The advice to look for a new gp is worth considering. Have a lovely Christmas and I really hope everything continues well for you.
Thank you. I don't have any faith in their level of care or knowledge of what they're doing anymore. I thought things would change once I told them I was pregnant but they don't even read my medical notes. If it wasn't for this site, I wouldn't even be this far. I had to monitor my own Thyroid Tests for nearly 2 years and beg for Levo to make it go down. My locum really didn't care less and said provided it was under 4 I was normal and should go ahead with ivf. I've been booking my own bloods not them, they don't even read them when they come back. It's not great. I can't say I'm suprised but with something so precious that some of us really struggle for I would have said they should be more understanding and caring. Will keep you posted. Hoping I'll hear from them again today. You shouldn't have to wait till Christmas Eve to try and get a prescription and then dash around etc. Hope you have a lovely Christmas too x
I'm sorry you are having this experience, keep fighting for you and your baby. I hope the bleeding stops soon, I bled for 10 days at 6 weeks and it was terrifying. I rested as much as possible, even though the professionals say it makes no difference. It stopped on its own. Bleeding at the stage you are at isn't uncommon, if it's brown that's a good sign. It's terrifying though. I dont think there is a normal with bleeding, certainly not anything that is predictable, some women bleed throughout, I don't know how their nerves take it! Keep fighting for the care you deserve, you shouldn't have to though. x
Most of us are not in an ideal state of health when we get pregnant. But pregnancy happens in its own time and plenty of healthy babies have arrived under less than ideal health conditions.
I drank during my pregnancy-not to excess but socially. It was the 60's and drinking was not considered a huge no-no then. We know differently now.
Also I was not a smoker but was around second-hand smoke a lot.
I believe when a child is supposed to arrive the Universe helps this happen and protects us in spite of ourselves.
Thank you. I just haven't had any luck with my health or past experience of mc and failed ivfs. I know this is it for us (due to age and everything else). I don't drink, smoke or do anything and yet I sometimes feel it's not enough and maybe I'd be better if I stopped trying so hard if that makes sense. My friends wife drank all the way through her pregnancy hoping for a mc as she didn't want a child at 41, although he desperately did. The ended up with a beautiful baby girl now aged 4? Thanks for your thoughts about the universe etc. Sounds daft but I'm no longer religious but I'd like to think something can help us. x
Religion is another issue for me. I like to think I'm spiritual after surviving years of Catholic boarding school, Catholic college and nursing school. I am a "recovering Catholic". There are many good people in this world who, IMO, have figured out that religious leaders often talk a good game but don't'walk the walk'. We have all learned that we can talk to God directly without a self-appointed middleman here on earth to run interference.
Just the fact that you are trying so hard to do what is right for you in spite of huge obstacles shows you are a good person and this baby deserves to have you as a mother.
If it was me I would go to that GP and demand that he gives me the 150 dose. If he doesnt then go to another GP? If its taken you that long to conceive and I know how it is BTW, you dont want some ignorant and stupid doctor to decide whats best for you and your baby. Usually the dose needs to be increased in pregnancy, but he cant just give you a lower dose based on TSH only. It needs to be based both on t3 and t4 as well as tsh. Its very important to follow up with the right treatment early on in pregnancy to prevent possible complications. Doesnt everyone know that you can change your GP if you want? I have zero tolerance for doctors these days.
It's because they don't have regular GPs at the surgery, only locums that come and go, so you never see the same person, and the locums say they don't have the power to write prescriptions and they have to go through the practice manager. I'm trying again on Monday. I'm not giving up on this. You're right, I've gone through too much to get this far and have the NHS start saying it costs too much etc. Thank you x
Why does a locum have to go through a practice manager ?! Whose the damn professional here ???
A manager has no right interfering in the prescribing of an actual doctor !
Otherwise you are far more able to diagnose and treat yourself then some jumped up manager
(Unless they are a doctor as well??) Still doesn't mean that a locum cannot prescribe themselves
Unless !!! And I believe this may be the case - these locums aren't actual locums - they are doctors from abroad who haven't registered in this country yet and they are being used as prescribing manahers/health visitors and don't have the legal right to prescribe themselves.
We have a couple here too and even a pharmacist can step in too! And they don't even tell you they're not doctors
I would check the credentials of the 'locums' you've seen and see if registered with the GMC.
Missy has a good point.You may have to get very angry and possibly beyond assertive to get what you need. Your baby is worth it.
Please don't be concerned with anything this doctor says to try and intimidate you. Once your dealings with her are finished you don't ever have to see her again.
She is nothing to you. And if she calls you Dr. Google consider it a compliment. You are obviously intelligent and know how to find info on your own. I imagine she feels threatened in general by knowledgable patients. I google all the time to keep up with medical knowledge. I'm a retired nurse. And the internet is just a visual library.
We would go to the library if we needed infomation, wouldn't we?
Women with known thyroid dysfunction who are taking levothyroxine may need the dose increased by 30–50% from as early as 4–6 weeks gestation [De Groot et al, 2012].
You could print out the page and show it to your useless doctors.
(Read the whole page, not just the last sentence!)
Thanks humanbean, Saya85 advised me to up my dosage once I confirmed I was pregnant. I then checked with the fertility clinic whether I should up the dose by 25mg or wait for advice from GP. They said 'increase dose straight away'. I actually took this article in for the locum on Friday and although she agreed, she said she wasn't allowed to right a prescription without getting 2 other people to check it. I'm hoping to hear from the surgery manager on Monday. Failing that, I'm going to sit and make a nuisance. I'm 7wks 3 days now and the GPs have been useless.
I think you may be correct. They have all been foreign doctors (some good) but with no power to prescribe just advise or recommend over the counter drugs etc. A real shame. If they put people in the job they should trust their judgement
Hello, congratulations on your pregnancy 😊 your GP should not be managing this during your pregnancy at all. You should be under a specialist endocrine antenatal clinic and be having your levels checked every 4-6 weeks. Maybe change your regular GP and either ask your midwife or new GP to make the appropriate referral? X
I wouldn't expect them to manage anything, just make a referral to someone appropriate that could help monitor things. They haven't done that yet, and just keep trying to bat me back to the fertility clinic and say 'I'm under their care, when I've been discharged'. Thanks for letting me know what I should ask for ... I said a Thyroid/ Hashimoto consultant or someone who could help with those things. I really do think in the New Year I need to consider looking for another GP surgery as they only have locums here and nothing is consistent. I used to have a good GP there, but after his colleague passed away he retired and left it all up in the air. That was over 2 years ago and it's been a poor show since. Thanks for your 'congrats'. Doesn't seem real at the moment, and I'm worried as I keep bleeding ... although it's brown blood. I wish they would let you know whether you should expect a bleed once a month, every day, any day or ? Do you know if you can still bleed after 12 weeks please? Many thanks. Wishing you a Happy Restful Christmas x
*** Update *** So I was called today and told that I didn't need the dose to be on 150mg but it would be reviewed in the New Year. It wouldn't matter if I dropped dosage. I was so angry. Wouldn't help with other prescription of clexane either which I'm currently on. No referrals made to consultants for help but I was told I could see a midwife in Jan.
My other half and I have decided enough is enough and we're going to change GP practice if possible probably in the New Year. I don't have any faith or confidence in them and feel completely let down as if I'm not worth it. Not a good feeling to have when you should be on cloud 9, but I was just made to feel like 'an inconvenience and nuisance' for them. I need to figure out how to change now and what forms to sign etc. Possibly not a good time to be trying to change over, but I don't need to end up in tears and stressed when they don't even read my notes or care. I wonder how long it will take to change GP and if some will say they can't take any more patients etc? It seems that they are all pretty poor according to 'feedback' round here. Thanks everyone, without this site I would have nothing x
My GP receptionist on the other hand was so lovely and is going to chase up the extra dose and get doctor to sign it off! They are incredibly busy and Iy depends who you speak to but at least they are more proactive and centred on learning
Coincidentally they were also on the GPs behind closed doors documentary so I feel very lucky.
Don't despair - Do as I said and take the alternate dose at least.
Ring around some GP practices today to find if they even have space and then ask procedure
Normally you just fill in a form with them to request change of practice and they contact the old one for transfer
Saya85 - I’m so impressed - is that the Bristol practise or the one up north? I love GPs Behind Closed Doors. I’d even go so far as to say it’s one of my secret vices. My husband can’t see what I see in it but I can tell from his look of wonder that he’s impressed / amazed by my extensive medical knowledge (ha) when my diagnosis is the same as the doctor’s - or maybe it just confirms his belief that that sometimes I’m a bit deranged. 😉
Try to get the meds you need in whatever way you can. January is almost 2 weeks away. Every week counts. Could you go to A and E for a prescription to tide you over? IMO, this is an emergency if there ever was one. Even if they reprimand you there's a chance you might get the prescription.
I think that's a good idea and worth a go. I travel up on 27th, so it's def worth a go. Thank you. We will def try that. My oh is trying to get a prescription from the fertility clinic, but they say they only deal with ivf things and should not prescribe for a GP. I feel like a ball being batted back and forth. Will try your idea. Thank you x
Tell them this is for the IVF and fertility side now as it needs increased dose which they are well aware of and GP isn't coooersting. They can give you a months dose at 25mcg
Alternatively pharmacies have to give you emergency scripts if you run out of meds and can give a week's worth or so if they can't get through to GPs and you provide an old repeat prescription copy
Use that excuse that you left your meds - good idea!
I thought that was a really good idea. Oh trying to get a prescription from clinic, and get it put online so we can get it shortly after Christmas. If they say no then I'm going to say I didn't bring them by mistake and it's an emergency. Surely someone would help and do something x It's just extra stress that none of us need and shouldn't be going through despite the time of year
Good luck. I wouldn’t normally say to lie but if it’s the only way you are going to be able to stay on the dose you need then needs must.
I’ve had to do that twice in the past once I just went camping without my BP medicines and I saw a random doctor can’t even remember how I found the doctor and the second time I had an extended stay in Glasgow when my mother was ill and just ran out of pills. That was a really good result. At home I only ever get one month at a time - I got a bumper three month prescription from my brother’s GP. You’ll most likely have to actually see a doctor. There are those on.ine doctor’s where you pay and have a telephone consultation- I don’t know much about them but when I felt ill recently, really needed antibiotics which I wouldn’t normally take, I couldn’t get to see a doctor at my surgery for three weeks so I got as far as to look the online ones up. In the end I went to the surgery and enquired about drop in clinics and managed to get an appointment with some system they use and saw someone at a town 14 miles away. All very odd.
Hopefully you will get it all sorted out soon and can have a restful Christmas.
And while they are blowing you off and passing the buck they're wasting your pregnancy time. Shameful. It's like they have a "no skin off my nose" mindset. Where is their moral compass?
I had this when I was pregnant and after early loss and 6 years ttc I wasn’t taking any bull. Whilst arguing with the GP I self medicated by an extra 25mcg as soon as I was pregnant and he upped it to 50 after I got my fertility consultant involved. I insisted on a endo referral and was seeing a specialist by 8 weeks. I am so frustrated that they are do clueless with pregnancy!! I left my GP over his attitude and didn’t look back. Levo increases with pregnancy even if your level was suppressed at 0.6 because that’s a pre pregnancy reading!!?? I had 2 dosage increases in the pregnancy. Stick to your guns and get a endo involved. Good luck xxx
Wow, I wish my clinic had been more helpful in writing or suggesting an endo referral but they wouldn't get involved. They initially said "ask your GP you shouldn't have a problem, but come back if you do". We've called but no help or support. Just feel like banging my head against a wall. We're going to try and change GP in the New Year. I feel like I'd be 20+ weeks preg (if that ever happens before they'd do anything). I had a mc this time 2 years back so my emotions are running high at the mo, especially with the can't be bothered GP. x Maybe I'll feel better in New Year x
Focus your efforts on clinic - they can easily write you a private prescription and they understand the importance of it.
No point in being on hundreds of pounds of other meds when you can't even get your thyroid dose for pence sorted out !
Tell them you need them to write a proper discharge letter with the correct thyroid advice and meds, protocol and recommend an endo referral based on thyroid, age and previous miscarriage !
Explaining the importance of first trimester thyroid control
Then get onto changing to a new GP surgery and make sure the clinic sends you a copy of the discharge letter too so you can take straight to new doctors
*** Update Christmas Eve *** other half got a private prescription for extra Levo and said he is now at Boots Chemist trying to pick it up. OMG phew. Was soo worried about stress and poss my TSH would start to increase etc. Already feel like I'm falling apart as still having a dark bleed following on from Sunday. Thank you all soooooo much for all your advice. If I hadn't got any, I would have tried to get emergency doc and say I'd left them at home. It means I can relax a bit knowing that the GP hasn't won and I have the drugs.
Will wait till New Year and do my best to get out of there and find a New GPs. Will keep you posted x
And maybe go to A and E if more bright red bleeding occurs. Bright red indicates fresh bleeding. Dark blood is old Dark blood may just have not drained out and doesn't necessarily indicate new bleeding. Sometime it's somethng they can treat with meds. Worth a try.
Also pay attention to any cramping.
You have a lot of surrogate 'midwives' here. Keep us posted. 😊
Bless you all for your support, advice and suggestions etc. Immediate worry over. Oh came back with 150mg of Levo for the month. The stress. Why would they do that. x Maybe they're trying to save money for the NHS or ? Without sounding like Scrooge or something out of a Christmas Movie ' Wishing you all a Happy, restful, stress free Christmas. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your advice, listening and making me feel like I'm not just being unreasonable and difficult as they claim'. x
You too. Re the GP.My late brother believed some doctors got their licenses out of cracker jack boxes.
A bit of US nostalgia: When I was growing up a box of cracker jacks (caramelized popcorn) was a special treat and came with a silly little prize inside.
Thank you Bitz. I had to get them from my private fertility clinic (which I was actually discharged from). Sad when you don't get support or care from your own GP surgery, although I understand it wasn't the locum I saw... it was the practice manager who said I didn't need them and wouldn't let her write a prescription. Hoping I can change GP practice in the New Year. Bleeding has stopped thank goodness. I think I was getting a little complacent that I didn't bleed up until that point. Then it scared me. Thanks for your best wishes and reply. Wishing you all the best for 2019 x
It's great you've got them, changing practice sounds like it would be well worth it. If you've got the support of a fertility clinic it could be worth talking to them about a referral to an endo, where I am you won't see an endo till 16 weeks plus. I'm so pleased the bleeding stopped, I have everything crossed that things are more straightforward now. Listen to your body and don't overdo it.
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Nurse phone call update
Adrenal ignorance
Why aren't Doctors trained in Thyroid!!
Help please hypothyroid
