Disasterous GP appt vent ...

[dizzyarmadillo]

Had my long awaited phone consultation with my GP today after having symptoms of hypothyroidism since March and sub-clinical test results.

Was armed with all the evidence and advice given to me by all the kind people on here, but doctor just wasn't interested at all.

Just kept repeating at me that my TSH is only a little elevated and my T4 "is nicely in range" and 'eventually' I might get problems. Tried to point out I'm having problems now but apparently they're nothing to do with my thyroid as I'm "in range".

I suppose the only upside is that he's ordered me a full blood count to check my iron and vitamin levels to try and understand why I'm so exhausted all the time 🙄

I'm just so upset to have my concerns brushed off in such a manner.

Any suggestions for moving forwards? I can't afford private medical treatment and insurance won't cover current conditions.

[Jazzw]

Oh, Dizzy! I’m so sorry. Just looked at your bio and can see that post-treatment for Graves your TSH is around 5.0 and has been for several tests in a row.

So you aren’t imagining this at all. It’s awful—they just don’t have the training or even the inclination to look things up.

Don’t let it drop. See if you can get another appointment with a different doctor. When you have Graves, the pituitary axis can sometimes be affected long term meaning that your TSH probably won’t rise as high as it would in someone who’s never had huge amounts of T3 sloshing about.

If not—and yes, this is worst case scenario—there’s always the potential to self medicate. But you shouldn’t need to have to. You absolutely should be allowed to have a trial of levothyroxine to see if it helps.

Have they ever tested FT3?

[dizzyarmadillo in reply to Jazzw]

Thanks Jaazw, sorry it's taken so long to reply - I had a bit of shutdown over Christmas and New year.

BUT! I sent a request to my surgery for a second opinion, and a much more sympathetic nurse practitioner has given me a trial run of levo, which is a massive relief (it's only 25mg, but it's a start). I think my shiny new goitre might have helped with the convincing 🤣

They've never tested my T3 as my T4 is "normal" (if on the low side).

[Jazzw in reply to dizzyarmadillo]

It’s a start—well done for persevering (it can feel like it’s just not worth it when you feel so low…). Fingers crossed this is the road forward to them taking it all more seriously x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You need vitamin D, folate, B12 and full iron panel test for anaemia including ferritin

Plus coeliac blood test if not already on strictly gluten free diet

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

[dizzyarmadillo in reply to SlowDragon]

I am supposed to be having a FBC plus iron and B12 tomorrow, am working on the rest.

I don't currently take any supplements as have had no issues with vitamin or iron levels previously.

[humanbean]

the only upside is that he's ordered me a full blood count to check my iron and vitamin levels to try and understand why I'm so exhausted all the time

A full blood count (FBC) will tell you if you are anaemic. (Doctors check the haemoglobin level.)

But you can have iron deficiency without anaemia. The iron deficiency should still be treated whether you are anaemic or not.

People can be anaemic with low B12 and/or low folate too.

But an FBC won't tell you about vitamin or mineral levels. You might get some clues from some of the results, but to confirm what the FBC is showing you need to test the actual levels of vitamins and minerals, not just do an FBC.

Years ago I used to be told by some doctors that they would test "full bloods". It wasn't until I bought a copy of my full medical records that I discovered that "full bloods" usually meant they would test an FBC. It was just a con they used to save money.

Even when they tested ferritin (iron stores) they were happy if it was in range. But ferritin can be raised by inflammation, and can disguise low iron. That was another thing I discovered. I had my serum iron tested by a hospital in 2010 (the only time in my life until that point that it had been done) and it was below range. But since my ferritin was in range it was assumed that my iron levels were fine. Not always true!