Missed Diagnosis/ Management of thyroid

[SAUK]

Hello everyone

I have just received my medical records from my GP practise that I was a deregistered from about 5 years ago. At the time I had concerns with abnormal bowel movements and increasing weight. I was taken down the route of IBS, but had TSH and T4 tested. No one mentioned an link with thyroid and my symptoms, so I knew no difference. Looking at blood tests results now my TSH was 4.28 (0.3- 5) and T4 12.2 (8.8-18.8) If I knew what I know now I would have pushed for more investigate on my thyroid and prompted my GP to review guidelines.

I cannot help but wonder if this was looked at then, my thyroid problem would have been more under control and not ended up in the state it is now.

My question is has anyone experienced this? And if so have you complained about it?

I am not looking for compensation in anyway, but rather to highlight this was so easily missed and hope they can learn from it to help others not end up in a similar position to mine.

[JumpJiving]

I would assume that the GP saw that your levels were "in range" and hence decided no action required. All too common I suspect. I would assume that as they were "in range", unless you had blatantly obvious symptoms, that any complaint would not progress far.

Having picked up a couple of conditions as a result of a recent Medichecks Ultimate Performance test, I want my friends and family to get the same test done and take ownership of their own health instead of deferring to the local GP (who is only human, misses things and makes mistakes).

[SAUK in reply to JumpJiving]

Thank you

[SAUK]

Thank you

[Panya]

I have had a saga...... First asked for my thyroid levels to be tested fully 10 years ago as I had so many symptoms. I was told the results were 'normal' and felt a bit silly for having requested it. That deterred me from asking for another one for many years. I gathered my courage this year and requested another test. As instructed I phoned up and asked for the results - and was actually shocked to be told they were again 'normal'. Six weeks later I was at the surgery for a different reason and on a whim, asked for a printout of my thyroid results. To my astonishment my TSH was 65 (0.27-4.2) and T4 was 3 (12-22). Printed clearly above them it stated 'Results consistent with Hypothyroidism' and in bold text ' Arrange phone appointment Dr. ATS'. When I spoke to reception about this they were actually quite rude, treating me as if I was a hypochondriac misinterpreting the results; and it took quite an ugly scene before I managed to get an early doctor's appointment to sort this out.

There has since allegedly been an internal inquiry as to how such a mess-up could be avoided in future (what if I hadn't asked to see the report??). I wonder how many other clients they have who are walking around with undiagnosed conditions...

After this diagnosis I requested my medical records from my previous surgery, only to find that my T4 in the 'normal' test was 12.8 (the absolute bottom of the range) and TSH slightly elevated at 5.6. They never said a word about re-testing in a few months, or suggested I might be on the way to having an issue. I regret being so unquestioning about it now, and not acting sooner but just being told it was 'completely normal' made me very reluctant to ask for the same test again and probably cost me a lot of unnecessary damage to my body and loss of quality of life.

[ILR2019]

Yes. I am in the same position. Fed up with being fobbed off since September last year when I was diagnosed with hypo I decided to access my medical records and see just how normal 'normal' is only to find the increasing list and wosening symptoms of hypo that I have complained about for nye on 4 years could have been treated right from the get go.

Sadly my medical records only go back to December 2017 (I moved area last August) so obtaining anything pre December 2017 is a separate fight in itself.

I feel terribly let down. It is clear GPs have left me symptomatic and now under medicated due to their lack of understanding of both identifying and treating hypo, but also because they have all viewed each test result in isolation rather than taking time to view historically. I have my next GP appointment on 9th July. Thanks to this forum I will go (along with hubby for moral support) armed with an arsenal of info and I expect to be treated accordingly or I will be writing a written complaint and copying in my previoys practice. Like you Im not intetested in compo, only meds to make me better. The fact we have to fight to get tested, fight to get answers, fight to get treatment of such cheap medication is a disgrace.

[klr31]

Far too common for far too many people, I'm afraid.