Test message from GP

[Kimkat]

Just had this text message from my Gp this morning. I had an appointment with him on Monday to discuss my recent bloods, with the hope of another increase in Levo to just tweak my levels. He seems really nice, I’ve never seen him personally as he’s quite new to the surgery but what annoyed me was the conversation that I had with him on Monday, made me think that he obviously didn’t realise that it was me that asked for the last increase in January and said that his decision to up my meds had paid off and as my bloods were now normal! You couldn’t make it up. Now as far as I know I dont have any thyroid left, after two partial thyroidectomies and RAI 3 years ago, what I would like to know as well is, is how do they know if your thyroid is completely gone and if there is any left, what is the chance of it kicking in/growing more nodules?? Any explanations would be welcome.

[ Image edited by admin to remove name of doctor. ]

[tattybogle]

I do wish gp's would learn to use the proper terminology. i mean it's obvious that what he means by 'tip you into the overactive range' is.... 'would take your fT4 over range' But the proper term for that in this case is 'overmedicated', not 'overactive' (as you presumably don't have any thyroid left to be 'active' , let alone 'over active')

Using 'overactive' just confuses people into thinking they are in danger of hyperthyroidism which is nonsense if they don't have a thyroid.

I wouldn't worry about nodules/thyroid magically coming back to life etc..... the blood results are as expected due to the dose increase YOU suggested.... (what a cheek, assuming it was their idea .. as if. )

In this instance it was maybe unfortunate that you showed him the full private test, as the fT4 is near top of range so that will be what he's going off to say 'no increase for now'.

Had he only seen the TSH that is 2.75 [0.27-4.2] it would have been easy to argue for another increase.

But since he's now seen the fT4 , it won't be so easy.

fT3 4.1 [3.16.8]

fT4 20.9 [12-22]

(Mind you he might have seen fT4 from NHS testing too, if they did it )

Do you know the actual results for the February bloods he refers to .. did they include fT4 or just TSH ?

Did you leave 24hrs after last dose levo before the private test ? if not this would explain fT4 being near top of range .

July is not to far away ... just make sure the next fT4 is not too high , and then assuming TSH is still above 2 you can push for increase to 100mcg then.

[Kimkat in reply to tattybogle]

He did have the feb results as well but I did say to him that being ‘within nhs range’ doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s ok and if it is, why do I feel so yuk! Yes I did leave a gap before having bloods, I always do, only water and no food until after testing. What annoys me is that the endo says the same thing on Friday 🙁

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Most recent results shows low ferritin and folate

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Presumably you are now taking daily vitamin B complex and working on improving low ferritin by increasing iron rich foods in diet

Are you on strictly gluten free diet ....or tried it

If not, get coeliac blood test done before cutting gluten out

[Kimkat in reply to SlowDragon]

When I mentioned my vits and minerals to the endo he basically told me that’s not for me to be bothering myself about and I should be very careful with iron as it could make me ill. Waiting for my allergy test to arrive .

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kimkat]

Rare as hens teeth for endocrinologist to see the difference between vitamins somewhere within range and an optimal level

NHS only tests and treats deficiencies

Never supplement iron unless full iron panel test for anaemia shows low iron