Appointment with doctor

[sobs1962]

Been to the doctor this morning and he actually agrees my Levothyroxine dosage needs increased and is going up to 75mcg starting immediately and expressed my concern about my blood clotting test result and kidney blood test being abnormal and have been assured that they will liase with haematology regarding my blood taking longer to clot than it should and whether the result, is to be expected when taking clopidogrel or whether action is required. Reasonably satisfied with the result of the consultation. As far as my kidney function is concerned he says that unless the EGFR result gets to 60 or below then there is no actual cause for concern and also pointed out that the tests show,that my vitamin d levels may be deficient as another test called ALT isn't at the levels it should be and they will test that along with my thyroid levels in 6-8 weeks time,so will continue taking actimel daily in the mean time. Sorry for long post but just relieved that I didn't have to fight to get action taken and hopefully things will start to improve probably slowly but you can't have everything I suppose,I just want to have more energy so I can get outside and get some exercise as don't have the energy at the moment.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Good to hear you are making (slow) progress

Make sure you get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

How much vitamin D are you currently taking?

Actimel - you mean the pro biotic ?

[sobs1962 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, but it only gives you 33% of your RDI, so will probably go back to the Better you vitamin d +k2 as stopped taking as advised by doctor as my vit d levels were way over range back in January.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to sobs1962]

How high was vitamin D in January?

[sobs1962 in reply to SlowDragon]

It was at 172(50 - 125) so told to stop taking the supplement as wouldn't derive any further benefit from continuing with it and haven't taken it since only what vitamin d is in actimel and I don't remember to take it every day since my stroke, but doctor said that another of my blood test results show,that my vitamin d level may be too low and it will be tested along with my thyroid at end of June, beginning of July,once I've been on 75mcg for at least 6 weeks, but must remember to stop my vitamin b complex 2 weeks before as I believe that my results have been affected by taking the supplement which is likely showing my TSH is lower than it actually is14(0.35 - 5 50) and my FT4 higher than it actually is 12.5(10.0 - 20.0) and needless to say ft3 not tested.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to sobs1962]

You only need stop vitamin B complex one week before test

Instead during that week you can take a separate folate supplement and a separate B12 supplement

[sobs1962 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for that which folate and b12 supplements would you recommend?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to sobs1962]

I use Jarrow methyl folate and Jarrow B12 sublingual lozenges or Cytoplan B12

Cytoplan offers 10% discount to Thyroid U.K. members

thyroiduk.org/discounts-on-...

[shaws Administrator]

I am glad you had a good consultation with your GP who has put your mind at rest and seems to be doing the right thing by increasing your dose and also checking other important symptoms.

As your dose is going to be slowly increased you should begin to feel an improvement in your body because if our body is low in thyroid hormones or vitamins/minerals our body cannot function as it should do,

Once we're on an optimum dose that relieves all symptoms we can relax and not worry so much.

[sobs1962 in reply to shaws]

Thanks for reply and I feel more able to relax as didn't get a fight from the doctor that frankly I expected, typical my brain working overtime, adding 2 and 2 together and coming up with 5,but because I read so much on here about doctors being worse than useless, that it's made me a bit paranoid to say the least.

[shaws Administrator in reply to sobs1962]

No - comments haven't made you paranoid but wary.

I think the majority on this forum are wary as they've read comments from doctors or Endos that don't make sense for us, the patients.

I am now well on what suits my body and if you click on my name it will take you to my 'page' (if you wish) to read about my background to be, finally be diagnosed.

[sobs1962 in reply to shaws]

Just read your profile and my story is similar, in that I stopped taking my Levothyroxine as the 25mcg dose I was taking was totally inadequate and my TSH went up to 96,after a few months,despite doctor advising against me stopping it. Thyroid blood tests have been all over the place in the last 2 years and eventually in March 2022, they halved my dosage from 100mcg to 50mcg and now my TSH has gone from 0.03 to 14 and the drastic cut in dosage was due to me losing a lot of weight, lost nearly a stone and now reduced clothing size,from 14 to 8/10, but dose,reduction too drastic and we're almost back where we were when originally diagnosed in 2002. Somebody, somewhere, needs to start training these doctors much better as people have and will continue to die due to their incompetence and the fact people are paying exorbitant amounts for private and equally incompetent care is ludicrous, it makes me so angry !!!

[shaws Administrator in reply to sobs1962]

You've had an awful time and it's not surprising that you are furious/angry.

GPs have so much non-knowledge about how to diagnose and treat patients who've hypothyroidism. It's a nightmare really. What would we do if we didn't have connection to the internet (I dread to think).

Well, 'one of the GPs in my surgery phoned to say:-

your TSH is too low,T3 too high and T4 too low..

I said "Doctor my TSH is low, because I take T3 alone and my T3 is high because I take T3 only. My T4 is low because I take none,

GPs response:- : but T3 converts to T4

No doctor that's wrong it is T4 that should convert to T3.

[sobs1962]

Sorry to hear that, hope your blood tests, justify that, if not keep at your doctor as let's be honest, they often get it WRONG !!!

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I’m glad your consultation went well sobs1962 and hope that your symptoms improve in an increased dose of Levothyroxine.

[sobs1962 in reply to Buddy195]

Thanks, but just have to try and be patient, something my mental health makes it very hard to do.

[Charlie-Farley in reply to sobs1962]

Hi sobs1962, Hidden

Always keep in mind, being inadequately treated can play havoc with your mental health. Read my profile and you will see, by my own admission, I was at one point suicidal and can honestly say once I got my meds on a level life got better. I also argued for dose increases whilst in range. They cannot argue against 'Spock Logic' it would be irrational to do so.

😉

[Lulu2607]

Hi sobs1962. Glad you got a sympathetic Dr. Hopefully you'll see an improvement in your symptoms once the increased dosage starts to work. It may also help improve your kidney function.

[sobs1962 in reply to Lulu2607]

I'm hoping that once my thyroid is functioning better, the rest of my body will follow suit, as it has such a huge impact on the rest of the metabolism but doctors seem to conveniently forget that .

[sobs1962]

Post your results, including ranges usually in brackets after result Example TSH 14 (0.35 - 5.50), sorry if I'm telling you something you already know, not trying to teach my granny to suck eggs, honestly.

[shaws Administrator]

I think it's best if we post our results, with the ranges, as I have had actual nonsense stated to me by the GP. I said to him 'I am sorry doctor, but that is incorrect.

[shaws Administrator]

That's good as all of the results also give the ranges. Ranges are in brackets after the result and they enable members to respond to the query.

[Charlie-Farley]

🥰👍. Be kind to yourself and keep strong Luna .

[Charlie-Farley]

😘👍