I know there are great ones out there. I had a fab gent for years who would look at test results but also base treatment on symptoms/ how I was feeling. It’s taken me over 6 weeks to talk to a doctor about them reducing my medication, and I was met with hostility. Or maybe I was hostile. Someone was.
I started the call saying since my reduction 6 weeks ago I’ve put on so much weight regardless of my good diet and exercise and that I’m exhausted but trying to push through. I explained I don’t eat much (max 1500 calories a day- it’s a lot of food though because I don’t eat meat) and that I do yoga mon- Thurs, do a 4-5 mile power walk on these days and a big hike each week (2 weeks ago was 13 miles)
I said the only variable that had changed was my meds and that I shouldn’t have to work so hard to maintain weight, but I have to as it’s jumped up so much.
He said: “what do you want to do about it?”
It kind of stumped me so I said that’s why I was calling. He then started to talk about my cities health trainers and I should go to them for advice on diet and exercise. That did annoy me.
I’m no PT or dietician but I am meticulous on tracking food 6 days a week (I have one day I don’t bother if I’m meeting friends) and exercise. He said I was overtreated and he didn’t want to do more harm than good and I should reduce my meds. I explained I had 6 weeks ago.
He couldn’t say liothyronine.
He then started asking why I was even on it? How over medicated means it will ruin my bones and my heart. I explained my Rocky relationship with thyroxine and how my endo went down this route with me together. He kept saying I was over medicated and that once it’s out my system I’ll feel better so he wasn’t sure what my concern was.
I explained my concern. My medication was reduced based on their golden blood tests without asking about how I was feeling. Do I want to be over medicated? No. Did I have symptoms of such? No. My heart rate is low ( was in hospital 2 weeks ago for a chest infection, I’m asthmatic, and my heart kept dropping so they didn’t want me leaving).
Anyhow. 30 mins later I had a conf call so had to go and he knew I was annoyed and said he was concerned about my mood. I explained my mood was fine but I’ve worked hard on my body and health and it’ll leave me because of one blood test and not being heard by a person I’m asking for help. He apologised, said it was a miscommunication and didn’t realise I’d reduced my meds 6 weeks ago so will do a blood test again tomorrow. He’s still suggested the health trainers who I have contacted, but not sure what they are going to tell me any different to what I know. God, that sounds cocky.
Ranty rant over x
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pennyrose
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If they don't want us to become hostile , they shouldn't keep p*ssing us off by not listening to anything we tell them.
I'm not an 'expert health trainer' either .. but even i know that someone who's feeling well enough to do that much hiking will have a lot healthier bones and heart than someone who's had their dose reduced to the level that it ultimately leaves them feeling too crap to walk to the shops.
Thank you! He’s wrote on the notes about the “miscommunication “. It will be a bit embarrassing if my thyroid comes back fine but I can’t see how it will. I took my full dose (70mcg) before my test (silly me) but they discounted that.
Will see what the health trainer says. I know how to lose weight, I dropped 2 stone over the past couple of years while my thyroid and body was good. It’s creeping up and I want to nip it in the bud.
Have you had any more recent blood results? [last time, I can see that free T3 was quite a long way over-range]. Key nutrients all good? But to reduce or hopefully eliminate this "your heart and bones are at risk" mantra, I'd ask for a dexa bone scan, to give you a benchmark of ho things are now, so you can track how things change in the future. Or don't.
Not yet, have my blood test tomorrow. For that blood test I was in for blood pressure check, so I’d taken my full dose (70mcg) that morn (I’m T3 only and have tried splitting doses before but I struggle/ forget etc).
I take an iron and a high strength vit D supplement and have 2 monthly b12 injections for pernicious anaemia.
Oh, interesting on the scan! Also, if he’s worried why doesn’t he suggest vits etc to counteract any negative impact? So frustrating. He just didn’t listen, he kept assuming I hadn’t amended my dose or that it had just happened. My concern was how crap I feel after 6 weeks and how crap I’ll feel if I have to wait another 6 weeks to review x
I feel for you!! ‘I’m concerned about your mood’!! Honestly. That’s gas lighting. You’re fine, you’re just depressed?! I would have found it hard not to rant at him, let alone on here.
We all know so many people that suffer ‘miscommunication’ with the gp from their miseducation.
I wont bother with the gp anymore. The last time I did she went on about how hard she worked during lockdown and that I had wasted my money on blood tests. No she wouldn’t raise my levo based on those tests. 🙄. She turned me into a horrible gloating person who felt smug when my endo (who I had also contacted the same day) requested she raise my dose based on same tests.
All I can say is at least you have a blood test. Let’s hope it’s evident you need your dose put back. 🤞🏻🤞🏻 and feel more like yourself soon. Hats off to you for pushing yourself through all that exercise though! I’d be 😴 in between! 🤣.
Honestly! My endo was so strict with the GPs and gave them specific guidance on how to manage my condition, so I referred him to that several times. The “mood” thing killed me- I said I don’t think advocating for myself makes me defensive and that, no offence to him, I’ve found I understand my condition better than many GPs. That is cocky 😂
Will see what happens after tomorrow, I could have a large egg in my face!
I wouldn’t have even said ‘no offence’ because I’m bitter and want them to be! They do a job they get paid to do. They may have to be jack of all but presented with someone who has a valid concern with your history of being hypo and advice from an endo, why can they not be logical and give a considered approach? It’s always just computer says no.
I think you were spot on. You are striving for good health and the gp attitude is offensive and obstructive. Will he test t3? I do hope he does or what is the point?
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Waste of time/money (just a wee rant)
sick of battling with GPs
Go home its just psychological. We are A & E. GPS have no control here we say what goes 
Rant!
Rant.
