Upcoming Test Results

[Bunnyhopps]

Hi everyone....I have arranged a full thyroid and ferritin/folate test through Medicheck on Mon morning at 9am....earliest I could get. I know to not take my thyroxine for 24 hours before and only drink water on the morning. I have been on 75mgs for 8 years for Underactive Thyroid but I feel back to the start as I am gaining weight(just like I did 8 years ago) and I am so tired. I have been dieting and walking everywhere...no alcohol...no sugar...gluten free(most of the time)and I am gaining weight!!!! I kind of understand more about my thyroid since joining this forum but will someone be able to help me fully understand them if I put them on here next week when I get results....please? I think I need to 'up' my thyroxine as I have done periodically in the past 8 years and I have felt so much better but as soon as I have bloods done....doc tells me to only 75mgs. So I do and I am always told....no further action....after bloods. My Vit D is low so I am taking a supplement...I dont take any other vitamins. TIA.😊...this group is such a massive help so thankyou.

[shaws Administrator]

Many people who are on levothyroxine are surprised that they have gained weight without changing their diet. Unexplained weight gain is also a clinical symptom of hypothyroidism as our metabolism has slowed right down. The following might be helpful:

webmd.com/women/ss/slidesho...

[shaws Administrator]

Don't worry because many of our members are more knowledgeable than many doctors. It would surprise many the remarks we can get from the professionals, expecting them to be more knowledgeable.

I had to diagnose myself (and I consulted many doctors and was given many diagnoses and none were right). I even had an op to remove a 'web' but then after being diagnosed as hypo realised that the 'web' would have been an enlarged thyroid gland!!!

[Bunnyhopps in reply to shaws]

Thankyou so much. I will post my results on here as soon as I receive them. I will also keep reading other people's posts as I learn something each time.😊

[shaws Administrator in reply to Bunnyhopps]

We do have to educate ourselves and I have found out that few, if any doctors know anything about how to treat/deal with hypo patients. I have had some stupid remarks made to me by a professional and I told him he was completely wrong.

I was very fortunate to consult with two of our excellent doctors - both now deceased and it seems that the 'modern' ones know absolutely nothing about how to diagnose/treat patients without any blood tests at all but going by our clinical symptoms alone. Modern doctors do not know any clinical symptoms whatsoever.

It would be interesting to know how much the NHS pays for blood tests, which would not be so high if doctors were 'trained' as they used to be. Instead of 'old wives tales' we would have 'old methods of diagnosing those with dysfunctional thyroid glands' instead.

[Bunnyhopps in reply to shaws]

You are so right and until I was diagnosed 8 years ago I would never have believed how little GPs know about thyroid issues. I remember once seeing a female GP at my surgery who had a bit of a reputation for being 'blunt'. This was before I came across this group. I went armed with info I had found on 'google' with a view to the GP upping my Thyroxine. She was totally horrible....she told me I was stupid for getting my info off internet and that I should only listen to the doctors. I told her that with all due respect....I had been listening to the doctors for the past 4 years from when I was diagnosed in 2013 and I still didnt feel well! I told her I had upped my meds on the odd occasion myself and I felt so much better.....but she still wouldnt agree to upping my dose. I asked to see a specialist Encro at my local hospital....which I waited 8 months for an app....and this was way before Covid....and he basically agreed with my GP....and told me NOT to google anything and NOT to self medicate. I can remember feeling so alone and desperate.....then around a year ago I came across this group. I then realised I wasnt alone....neither with my condition or my thoughts on trying to understand more about my thyroid. This group....and all the lovely informative people on here.....have basically changed my life! I still havent got an increase in my levo but I feel more informed than ever before(although I still arent an expert...lol) but I am hoping after my bloods from Medicheck on Mon I will be able to see if my T3 is ok too as my GP doesnt think that exists!😳.