Disastrous appointment with gp today

[bluejoppo]

Please bear in mind I am in Germany when replying. If anyone knows of any websites/ forums here that I can also access that would be great.

So today I went back for the results of my last blood test. Bearing in mind that he increased my dosage to 100mcg, then 150mcg daily on the 22nd jan when my TSH was 4.47 (range 0.35-4.5) from the 18th jan.

Today's results of TSH from bloods taken last week now 0.40. Same range. Reduced tablets down to 100mcg per day. I asked about ft4 and ft3 and he said i don't need them because my ts H is within range, also don't need vitamins checking apparently. He said back in May for next bloods but would do ft4 and ft3 then and referred me for a scan of thyroid.

I rang to make appointment to be told that what he had written on the referral isn't correct so I ring back the gp and I said to him i told them I had an underactive thyroid to which he replied "no you don't it's normal now! "

Suffice it to say I have since rung a different gp that my friend recommended as they do the scans there and one of the docs is a thyroid specialist and I now have an appointment on thursday so hoping to get a bit better treatment.

Thanks for reading.

[m7-cola]

Sounds as though you’ve done the sensible thing to change doctors. Hope you find the new one thyroid friendly. I had thought that there was a high degree of familiarity and discernment in this field in Germany.

[bluejoppo in reply to m7-cola]

I think part of the problem is that we live in a rural area. Beautiful but not a lot has changed it seems.

[MissGrace]

Hey your doctor is amazing - he appears to be claiming he’s cured you! You don’t have underactive thyroid any more - you’re normal! What a star - surely a nomination for the Nobel Prize for medicine is in order?

Good job you’ve changed doctor - hope the next one isn’t a fantasist too...

🤸🏿‍♀️🥛

[bluejoppo in reply to MissGrace]

Heres hoping! Honestly - we pay for our healthcare here so you would think as he's charging my insurance he would do whatever is necessary.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Thyroid hormones need very fine tuning

Change dose up or down by 50mcg is far too much

Suggest you only reduce a small amount, if at all.

Perhaps 125mcg and 150mcg alternate days?

TSH of 0.4 is within range (0.35-4.5)

Likely your vitamins were low and might now improve.

[bluejoppo in reply to SlowDragon]

Whoops have posted my reply to you below!

[bluejoppo]

Sorry I don't think I was clear i was alternating 100mcg and 150mcg.i still feel really tired although my skin is no longer dry. I was thinking of continuing but doing 5 days 100mcg and 2 days 150mcg. Do you think that would work? I have an appointment on thursday with the other gp and I have all my blood tests results printed out. On a positive note my ldl cholesterol has dropped from 188 to 142 - range 0- 115.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to bluejoppo]

I wouldn't adjust dose until seen new GP, and got FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Do you have Hashimoto's? Autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high TPO or TG thyroid antibodies

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

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

If antibodies not been tested request that they are

High cholesterol is linked to being hypothyroid and should drop further as you improve on correct dose

[bluejoppo in reply to SlowDragon]

Thankyou. I shall see what new doc says, tests are always done first thing and fasting etc so far. I didn't even get to mention antibodies to go today - honestly he was not happy that I asked questions and challenged his answers!