Advice on useless GP

[Hippotutu1]

Hi. I've been diagnosed with underactive Thyroid since October 2015 after 18 months of going to to the GP with symptoms and knowing myself I had it. Anyway managed eventually to get pregnant ahd now have a lovely 2 year old boy. However, since he was born I have gained weight. I am about 5 stone over weight and nothung I do seems to make any difference. My hair falls out by the handful, I have dry itchy skin, no sex drive at all, forgetful and constantly achy and tired. Told my GP and he did blood tests. Saw him again today and he says all the symptoms are coincidental and I am just clearly not really trying to lose weight! Not true. I am miserable and am trying. How can all those symptoms be coincidental? Any recommendations at all anyone?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Are you in the UK?

First thing is to get copies of your previous blood test results and ranges. See exactly what has been tested, and importantly what hasn't been tested

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

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

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

Recommended on here that 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 all 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_...

Understanding Hashimoto's

hashimotoshealing.com/under...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

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

Come back with new post once you get results and ranges

[Hippotutu1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I'm in the UK. Thank you. Very helpful. I will look into this and update once I'm further on.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hippotutu1]

All too often GP will only test TSH and FT4, which is completely inadequate