Just Starting... Doctor? Prescription?

[thill1760]

Hello Everyone

I am new here. First day starting to deal with my many thyroid sounding symptoms. I don't know how everything works here yet. Any help is appreciated.

So Far:

- I reviewed the "Thyroid Check UltraVit" test at Medichecks and will get that at the end of the month

- I bought the book by Hugh Hamilton

- Is it possible for anyone to message me with a recommendation for a Norfolk/Suffolk (or Cambridgeshire) doctor? I am on the Norfolk/Suffolk border – 45 minutes from Norwich University hospital.

- *Mixed thoughts about going doctor route (history below)

Think l’ll very likely get better advice here, but I am worried about prescriptions (getting medication / trustworthy medication). Also dosing and, to a lesser extent, not being monitored. Although the GP is pretty useless and it is near impossible to get an appointment even if there was a side effect.

- Not sure what else to do currently, if anything

My History:

I am at the point where I am barely functioning. I have gotten used to the extreme tiredness, brain fog and wearing a sweater and scarf in the summertime, but the past 2 years it has progressed to where I find it extremely difficult to leave the house because of the social anxiety. And I am in floods of tears over my appearance (gone from Size 8/B cup to a Size 14/E cup bra, thinning hair, big, sad moon face, potato nose and all the rest).

I went to my GP various times starting 10 years ago and continued to try up to 5 years ago, before realising all my symptoms pointed to thyroid... Same story as everyone else. Although I explained I did have bad anxiety, I was offered (and encouraged) to take drugs for depression, which included a prescription slipped in that was supposed to help with my headaches, but was in fact a drug for depression – which neither helped my headaches nor anxiety. Apart from that, I was told I would have to pick off my symptoms one-by-one, waiting to see the separate specialist for each of the many symptoms. Would of course taken years on the NHS and likely not helped. A gynaecologist appointment was made, but mainly I was just given uncomfortable stares. Thyroid was never mentioned.

I'll just get upset if I reflect on that if I had gone for erectile problems I would have had a prescription for Viagra with no problem and would now even be able to get it over the counter at a reputable chemist.

My plan was to go private when I got the money, but still cannot afford to. After I've read so many stories of useless private doctors, I actually feel like I've saved myself a lot of aggravation... (I actually went private once long ago for my skin. The doctor ended up being an NHS doctor taking private on the side. The consultation was about 15 minutes. She charged me £425-450 for a Roaccutane prescription! I might have had urine or bloods... possibly.)

I found the good idea here that I could ask for recommendations of a sympathetic NHS doctor and ask my GP to send me to that one… Also I will try to change my GP to a female doctor I heard was good in a neighbouring town (if that's even possible).

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

thill1760

- Is it possible for anyone to message me with a recommendation for a Norfolk/Suffolk (or Cambridgeshire) doctor? I am on the Norfolk/Suffolk border – 45 minutes from Norwich University hospital.

You can email Dionne at ThyroidUK for the list of thyroid friendly doctors then ask on the forum for feedback by private message on any that you can travel to.

[e-mail]

We can't discuss individual doctors on the open forum so any information has to be by private message.

Have you got any results from tests done with your GP? We are legally entitled to our test results here in the UK so ask at your surgery's reception desk for a print out of past results (don't accept verbal or hand written ones). Some surgeries have online access for results so you could see if your surgery offers this and register for it. Post any results you can get, with their reference ranges, and we can comment.

Post your Medichecks Ultravit results when you have them.

[thill1760 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks... No I never got tests for thyroid or anything in that area. I kept going back and they kept trying to convince me I was depressed (or making it up) and saying I had to go to different doctors for each symptom GYN, ENT, Gastro etc. ... I had about 3 blood tests which were for things like anemia. I am anemic, so iron deficency came back as positive, but 'normal ranges' for everything else.

I finally gave up, as it was just making me worse and taking up time.

[penny in reply to thill1760]

You and many hundreds of others. I was lucky to find a lovely private doctor who adjusted his charges as I was short of money as not able to work much due to extreme fatigue. He even wrote to my GP reminding him that blood tests for tsh were a waste of time as a diagnostic tool. I had boils on my face for over 25 years and went to several private dermatologists and not one of them picked up that I was hypothyroid. I suffered for about 30 years with brain fog, terrible spots and then tiredness so bad I was unable to stand. Through all this I was slim and, for the first 15 years, working studying and holding down 3 jobs. At one time my GP did do some T3 tests and they were: 0.03; 0.01; 0.01; but nothing was said or done. I saw the wonderful Dr. Peatfield after my private doctor retired and he started me on T3 replacement.

I wish you luck.

[thill1760 in reply to penny]

Thank you so much for sharing your history Penny. My situation sounds similar. Except you are lucky with the doctor you found.

Just starting again (and at least this time I know it's likely thyroid - or something that is giving me textbook version of every symptom) so I am hopeful. I have to do something. It is that bad.... I just read about Cambridge Addenbrooke's Hospital and hope to somehow get connected with a doctor there, as it is a reasonable distance from me. xx.

[NWA6]

Oh thill1760 😔 you poor thing, I am so sorry. Your symptoms sound awful.

Do you have someone in your life that you can lean on? Is there someone that can be your advocate. Can you pass your problems to them so that they can do research, book appointments, research what testing you can do privately and arrange it?

Can you do the Medichecks testing? Quite often reduced in price on Thursdays through the ThyriodUK website.

Can someone go with you to the GP and tell them enough Is enough, it is often taken more seriously when another person can say how unwell you are. Print off the symptoms checker from Thyriod UK and tick every box that applies. Hand this to your GP. I can’t believe they’ve never done a thyroid check 🤒

It is so very difficult to fight for health and proper treatment when you feel the way that you do 😔

[thill1760 in reply to NWA6]

Hi Paula,

Thanks for your sweet reply. I don't kave anyone to help me unfortunately. But it honestly helps a lot to have the kind replies – especially from those who understand what it is like.

I have been thinking what I would say to the GP when I went back for at least 2 years now... I decided to try and change from my male GP, to a female one in a different town (if they'll accept me). And I will write all the symptons down, along with my feelings and dissappointment with them, so that it is clear and linear in addition to being emotive. (Hopefullly it gets through the stone most of them seem to be made of). I thought I would read it to her and leave it with her. If I cannot change GPs I'll still do that.

Printing of a Symptom Checker is a good idea and will save me some time - and look more like something the GP can relate to (anything that will get them to listen). LOL Thanks for the tip.

I am planning on getting the test at the end of the month on Thursday when its cheaper hehe - thanks

And again thanks for the kindness. It really is appreciated so much.

xx