Help please

[Sally021265x]

I have for the last 2 years been taking Thyrogold 150mg which I believe equates to 135mg of T4 because of lockdown I have been unable to afford to order any more

On Friday I called my GP and explained that I had run out of the thyro gold so could he prescribe Thyroxine until my financial situation improves

I had my bloods done on Friday last and just had a text to say that everything was fine nothing about my prescription

I have phoned and spoken to the GP this morning and he was so rude that I actually ended up putting the phone down on him he stated that he was unwilling to prescribe me the thyroxine even though apart from the last 2 years I had taken it for 30 years

He stated that the only thing he would do leave me the results at reception I asked him could he possibly email the results to which he replied no you can collect them from the surgery

After I put the phone down on him I got a text message with my results can anyone please help

TSH 13 (0.27 - 4.2)

Free T4 8.2 (12-22)

I normally have my blood work done through medichecks but again I have not had any done over the last year due to lockdown

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Sally021265

Obviously your results show that you are hypothyroid and in need of thyroid hormone replacement.

I expect your GP is being unhelpful because you took things into your own hands and self medicated. Did your GP know you were doing this and agree? Is it the same GP as you've just discussed things with?

Many years ago, when I started seeing a private practioner and stopped using Levo and started using what the practioner prescribed, my GP said she would no longer have anything to do with my thyroid, not even do blood tests.

Can you perhaps speak to a different GP?

[Sally021265x in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes the gp was made aware however when I said today that I had been taking NDT he asked me what that was ?

He was really not interested and asking me why I thought I knew better than the NHS

I tried to explain that in over 30 years it was the best I had felt taking the Thyrogold

So he just said to collect the results and give these to whoever it was I had been getting my meds from

I could ask to speak to another GP but because he’s the head practitioner there I think another GP will just go along with what he has already said

I told him surely they can’t just leave me with nothing but again he just said to contact the person I had been getting my meds from with my results

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Sally021265x]

Sally021265

Mmm... this is a difficult situation.

The GP is obviously distancing himself from this because you went down the Thyrogold route.

When patients do this it's a good idea to still collect your paper prescription for Levo but not have it dispensed, that way if there is ever a problem you have no difficulty getting Levo again. However, in your case it's too late.

Maybe ask to speak to the Practice Manager, it may not do any good but they are there to help patients with any problems so I would suggest this as your next step. If that doesn't help then maybe contact PALS or the Clinical Commissioning Group or whatever the equivalent is in your area.

The only other alternative I can think of is that you obtain Levo from an overseas online source, this is likely to be cheaper than Thyrogold or any of the other glandular alternatives.

[Lalatoot]

I would get back onto the surgery. You need thyroid hormones. Your TSH is high and your FT4 is below the bottom of the normal range. It is as plain as the nose on your face but then some GPs are just blind.

[serenfach]

Ask him to put it in writing why he is refusing you the normal treatment when the TSH is way out of the range. He has a duty of care and is not fulfilling this. By putting it in writing, he may change his mind, or if not, you have a stick to beat him with through PALS etc.