Dear Endo, I take it all back ….

In the 10th week of a 12 week trial of T3 in addition to T4, I took my blood test form (which the Endo had given me at the beginning) to the local hospital for an 8am test.

Two days later I rang the Endo Secretary and asked about a follow up appt, and explained I only had 2 weeks’ worth of T3 left. She asked how I had been and I said that from around week 2 to week 7 I had felt better than I had for a long time but since then I had experienced some symptoms and thought I might benefit from an increase of some kind . Obviously she did not discuss the blood results with me.

I had spoken to the secretary on Friday afternoon . On SUNDAY afternoon the Endo rang me to discuss how I felt, and the results. T3 is now in top 25% of range and T4 is in bottom10%. Said, if I wanted to, I could try adding 25mcg of T4 and retest in 10 weeks. TSH is undetectable - as it has been for years but it’s irrelevant. He has given me another ‘script to last for another 12 weeks.

He was pleased that I felt better and couldn’t have been more accommodating or reasonable. This is not a private consultant - I have only seen him via NHS - he apologised for calling me on a Sunday but he was working from home as his clinics are so busy and he had picked up the test results and messages from his Secretary.

In my area (Staffs) I have to applaud our hospital staff. Last Monday I called my knee consultant’s secretary to ask for an appt - and I received an appointment that same evening for 4 weeks hence.

They have been extraordinary and I’m grateful to them.

[Barrister]

Sounds like your Endo is a keeper!

[Hidden in reply to Barrister]

😂 sure is !

[Josephineinamachine]

So pleased for you!! He phoned on a Sunday… who would have thought? I’d marry him for sure. 😊 are you going to try increasing T4 now?

[Hidden in reply to Josephineinamachine]

😂😂😂 good advice - but it would be more cost effective if I married a vet ….🐎🐶🐭I’m staying on 20 mcg of Lio and going to increase the Levo from 100 to 125 mcg and see if it makes a difference .

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hidden]

I hope your new regime will suit. If you don't have all of your symptoms resolve, you can phone Endocrinologist and let him know.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Yes, I have asked that I remain under review and all prescribing to remain with Endo until I’m comfortable with the dosages and this doesn’t seem to be any issue. I dread prescribing going back to the GP tbh, they are becoming more of a problem than a help in so many ways just now .

[FancyPants54 in reply to Hidden]

Well vets are pretty good at treating thyroid conditions in animals, often better than doctors do for us. So that arrangement could work out very well for you!

[Hidden in reply to FancyPants54]

They certainly do ! Would cost me a small fortune however 😬 NI contributions regrettably don’t cover vets - so it would have to be a wedding 😂 think I’ve missed that boat there

[ClareP5]

Great news

[lisabax]

It’s so lovely to hear something positive. Thank you for sharing and I hope you continue to feel better

[Raventhorpe]

WOW!!lovely to hear some good news for a change, definitely a keeper.

[Hidden in reply to Raventhorpe]

He is 😊 - but I’m also v grateful for all the support and advice on here - it massively helped me to articulate my situation and understand what I was experiencing . Might never have got this far otherwise

[Yeswithasmile]

Wow!! On a Sunday? And accommodating? And listened? Have I slipped into an alternate universe?? Lol.

Good for you Fancymare. So pleased for you.

[Hidden]

😊 yes, immensely cheering : what a difference it makes

[asiatic]

I had a similar great experience when I contacted the secretary of an NHS Endo I hadn't seen for 2 years as I felt I needed an increase in Levo. He phoned me back an hour later. Makes me wonder if Secretaries are the fairies with the magic wands.

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to asiatic]

It is a much under-appreciated role.

[Hidden in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

Couldn’t agree with your more : and what a difference they make to how you feel

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to Hidden]

Yes. Have a friend whose father led the obstetric dep’t of a large U.K. hospital. He and the whole family put his secretary on a pedestal because she was so important to the running of his job and the department’s work and worked with him for decades. She knew everything and everyone - as all good secretaries do.

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

Not a literal pedestal!

[NWA6]

I might have to move to Staffs 🥳

[Hidden in reply to NWA6]

A much under-appreciated county ! Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on my doorstep: 30 min from Symphony Hall and Bham Rep: , 1 hour from RSC : and 35 mins from The New Vic : and right on the hub of the Mway network to anywhere ! 😊

Struggling with GPs tbh though

[knitwitty in reply to Hidden]

"Struggling with GP's "Don't be greedy , you can't win them all!! ( only joking -so glad you have. great endo !). Some of us are unlucky enough to have unhelpful Endo's an dGP's !!

Would you please PM me the name of your endo as I have sisters in Staffs and if they follow the female family tradition of becoming hypo it may be helpful for them to know the name of a good endo.