Thank you and update

[Sleepy101]

I just want to say thank you to everyone on this site who took the time to read my posts and to comment, its been the support ive needed to not ignore my symptoms or accept crappy response from my GP (he's retiring thank god)

I used the recommendation from this site to see a private endocrinologist, I have thought about doing this for ages but because my NHS bloods did not hit the criteria for help I just put it off thinking I was being a difficult patient. I decided that after my weight gain of nearly 8 stone over 5 years even with healthier eating that I must have something else going on and it brought me to this site. After reading others experiences and realising that it was likely that I could have issues but not identified by NHS I decided to have a private Thyroid blood test, it was so helpful to have advice on where to go and what tests to have and also the interpretation of the results. I wouldn't have had the test if it wasn't for this site, and I also wouldn't have pushed for tests (suggested on this site) through by GP if it wasn't for this site. The comments told me exactly what to ask for and when to push for more tests. it gave me the confidence to be assertive and not just feel like a pushy/ difficult patient. I pushed for a cortisol test which showed issues and also my private blood test showed vit D, folate low and also Thyroid antibody's, my GP referred me to NHS Endo which wouldn't be for a year, he referred me for the weight gain and cortisol issues but told me its probably nothing. When i tried to mention my symptoms as a whole and also the antibody's he told me that only a quack would prescribe Levothyroxine for Hashis and low TSH (but not hitting the right number!) He ignored everything to do with my Thyroid. I then decided to go to a private endo, that was last week. I also have a lump on my thyroid and need a scan to check its not cancer. I am having 2 24 hour urine tests and also blood test but trying to get this through GP (not the one I've been dealing with before) I recently found out Thyroid issues and goiters are rife in my family history.

If it wasnt for this site and the support. I would still be told by GP normal blood test results within acceptable limits and diagnosis of fibro would was used to explain all my symptoms. No one ever even thought to look at my Tyroid, why would they? my blood tests were normal from an NHS perspective.

I am hoping that after the tests are done, I am trialled on Levo to see if that can help with all my symptoms. Although I have been able to go to work and not have a sick day for a 4 months that is unusual for me, normally I am so exhausted and run down I have bad sickness record.

Thank you again for reading this very long post and the support that is given for people who are fighting against a system that is failing Thyroid patients.

[JAmanda]

Please write again once you've seen the Endo and post your results and ranges too so we get the full picture! Good luck.

[Sleepy101 in reply to JAmanda]

Thank you. I will do because I still need to ad advocate to get right treatment so I will defo need advice I am sure. And it definitely helped me seeing other users experiences to know im not alone.

[penny]

Good for you. Best of luck.

[Sleepy101 in reply to penny]

Thank you 😊

[Sleepy101]

Update: my GP agreed to the tests. I had the thyroid scan today through NHS and they took a biopsy which I didn't expect to happen. I hear in a few days if its cancer or not. To think that through the GP and NHS I wasn't having anything recognised to do with thyroid. My GP wouldn't even look at my thyroid. I only have had this scan and biopsy because I went private and he noticed my goitre.