GP appointment

[Nerminebeshara]

Hello,

I’m new to the UK health system and am wondering what I should expect at my upcoming health check. I have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and I’m on T3 and T4 (T3 privately sourced). My TSH is suppressed due to the T3. My free T4 and free T3 are where I want them to be and am feeling OK. I’m afraid the GP will definitely freak out when he sees my suppressed TSH and will definitely lower my T4 dose which I want to avoid at all costs. Any suggestions/ advice?

Thank you.

[Angel_of_the_North]

Expect to be told: to stop T3 as it is too expensive to prescribe on the NHS amd must be initiated by an NHS endo; that you are overmedicated because of your TSH. Don't expect to get free t3 tested or for your GP to know what antibodies or T3 are and do. Do you have to go via NHS? can't you get a private prescription from your previous doctor or one of the ones with a clue on the TUK List?

[Nerminebeshara in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Many thanks for your reply. I can afford private testing but what happens next? How do I get the GP to prescribe the dose of T4 that I need?

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Nerminebeshara]

You may not be able to. But see what happens with GP. You may have to buy your own meds

[Nerminebeshara in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thank you for the information. Let’s see how it goes.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

GP won't recognise "Hashimoto's" You will need to say autoimmune thyroid disease .

NHS won't run FT3 test

GP likely to freak out at suppressed TSH

Most Hashimoto's patients get private testing

Do you test vitamin levels?

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

Thyroid UK has list of recommended thyroid specialists, who do prescribe T3

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/About_...

[Nerminebeshara in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for your reply. What the next step after private testing? Do GP’s acknowledge the results?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Nerminebeshara]

See if there's any doctor at the local surgery who has particular interest in Thyroid.....unlikely but you never know....You might be pleasantly surprised

[humanbean]

In case your first two replies hadn't already made this obvious...

The UK treatment of thyroid conditions is abysmal and incredibly sadistic, and many of us treat ourselves by paying for our own blood tests (which doesn't require the services of a doctor, thankfully, and as long as you pay you can get all sorts of things tested). Ask for advice if you decide to go along this route.

Getting a diagnosis of hypothyroidism is also difficult and it usually won't get diagnosed until TSH is greater than 10. There have even been moves (which haven't got anywhere yet as far as I know) to refuse a diagnosis of hypothyroidism until TSH is greater than 20.

Another thing to be aware of is that some doctors tell new patients, or patients with very low TSH, to come off their thyroid medication altogether because they have to "prove" they are hypothyroid to the doctor before they (the doctors) will accept they are hypothyroid. Refuse to do this. It will make you extremely ill and you might never get your Free T4 and Free T3 levels where you need them to feel well again.

One good thing - which is true for now but could be changed at any time - is that people can order non-controlled drugs over the internet and import them for their own use. They might have to pay VAT and admin charges, but at least it can be done. Note that people can only do this for themselves and their immediate families, not for their friends and neighbours. And people can only import up to three months worth at a time. But customs officers won't have a clue what your dose is, so there is substantial leeway in doing this.

For a list of controlled drugs which can't be imported, see this link :

gov.uk/government/publicati...

Sadly, it isn't complete, but it's better than nothing. The drugs aren't necessarily all dangerous. I imagine some of them might be controlled because they can be used in making dangerous chemicals.