Have we got this wrong about our GPs having little knowledge?

[SarahJane1471]

I had an emergency appointment with a very young GP at my practice this morning ( you always know you are getting old when GPs look 12 years old 🤣).

She took some bloods for a suspected DVT in my calf and offered to take TFT bloods at the same time 😳. I nearly fell off my chair! We discussed that it was 10am and I had taken Levo 2 hrs earlier and had coffee. Ok she says I’ll book one now for you next week. I said I had just had some private tests and that it seemed a bit pointless just doing TSH.

Well, to cut a long story short. She said “yes” TSH was important to help diagnose but once you are having treatment it’s important for all tests to be done and that to make sure the labs tested them all she always makes a note on the form for all tests.

So at this point my jaw had dropped to the floor 😳😂.

This was a VERY young Dr saying all the correct things! She also agreed that the bloods should be done early and fasting!

Maybe we have got this wrong about Drs lack of knowledge 🤷‍♀️

PS. She did state that GPs have a little knowledge about alot of things and that’s why we have experts. 😬

I didn’t want to push my luck and say “ yeah ThyroidUK forum” 🤣

[BiscuitBaby]

That's great to have such an understanding, supporting gp at your practice. I hope she's not a locum. She sounds like a keeper. I think it is the luck of the draw. She maybe has or is related to someone with thyroid issues. I on the other had had a consult with a very young gp who referred me to neurology for functional neurological disorder after suggesting that doesn't mean "it's all in your head" . She then followed this up with a comment about being frustrated that I wasn't being believed. I informed her that up until that point I had never felt that I wasn't believed!!! Your Dr sounds like a gem!!

[Jazzw in reply to BiscuitBaby]

I was going to say the same—I bet either she herself has hypothyroidism or someone close to her does.

If not, then maybe we can hope things are improving. I won’t hold my breath though, just in case.

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

woop! Go young GP 👏🌱👏

[helvella]

We can always hope that something is changing in doctor training.

[tattybogle]

Hooray

i know people who worked in hospitals .. apparently they really like it when grateful patients bring choccy muffins and cream cakes in as thankyou .

I recommend you deliver some nice cakes to this lass at the surgery with a thankyou note for "her knowledge of thyroid treatment "

The other GP's will get to find out about it ... and they usually like a sneaky cake at work too.

I've often wondered if we are going about this in the wrong way with all this "evidence based stuff" and trying to educate them .. maybe we should just try plain old fashioned jealousy .

[helvella in reply to tattybogle]

...apparently they really like it when grateful patients bring choccy muffins and cream cakes in as thankyou .

Maybe they do!

But, an eternity ago, when I did a temporary job as hospital cleaner, it was very noticeable how they usually only went to ward staff - nurses, doctors, maybe the ward clerk.

There are porters, phlebotomists, cleaners, A&E and theatre staff, lab staff, etc., etc. who might not see any such gift of gratitude from one year to the next. However much they contribute to the patients' treatment.

(The odd nurse on a ward would go out of their way to offer to others. But this was very much the exception.)

I don't have an answer. Nor do I have an answer as to what might be much appreciated nibbles but not so sugar-heavy!

[tattybogle in reply to helvella]

As ever , people rarely notice the ones who really keep the wheels going round .

"let them eat cake " .... maybe that's what the recent discussions at Larry's the Cat's house suggested too.

[Delgor]

That's great! I have to say that the young GP I was assigned to 3 years ago was honest from the start and told me that I knew more about the thyroid than she did and she even took in some webinars in an effort to learn more. However, the downside of it all was that I was referred to the hospital endo who is deemed to be the "expert" but clearly isn't - if he had had his way I would be off all thyroid meds so that he could see what was happening (over my dead body)😍

[DippyDame]

Excellent!

I always quote old Ovid in these circumstances....but maybe a few cream cakes, as Tatty suggests, might increase the drip!!

Are the powers that be listening? I'm still not convinced!

Persistence!

[SarahJane1471]

it was when I said “ please tell me you don’t go along with the TSH mantra “ and she looked surprised and replied “ not at all it should only be used as a guide for diagnosis “ 😳😳😳😳. I nearly punched the air with joy 🤩

To be fair my regular GP ( chief GP) is not that bothered about underrange TSH. Although I’ve not had the discussion about VERY underrange yet 🤷‍♀️

[1tuppence in reply to SarahJane1471]

Wow! Just Wow! Hope springs eternal...... clearly your GP is a "find"...... let's hope she's got fellow GP's on the same page Delighted for you.

[SarahJane1471]

well I’m about to find out what it’s like being treated in an NHS hospital as I have a DVT in my leg and I’m on emergency blood thinners and on my way to hospital 😳🤦‍♀️🤣…. Watch this space

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to SarahJane1471]

Keep us posted 🤗🙏🤞 a chance to educate more perhaps? 😉

Remember to take snacks

[Delgor]

Just saw your post - hope all goes well for you and you will be back here again soon. Take care!

[SarahJane1471]

All a bit weird really. Pain in my calf for a week that has spread up my leg. Called GP yesterday morning.Within an hour was seen by GP had blood test, 5 hours later on blood thinners, called this morning by hospital and told to come in by 1.30 🤷‍♀️. Pain now up into groin 😳. I think it will be some sort of scan and then decision on treatment. Who knew that two of the causes of blood clot are chronic long term stress and low blood pressure ☑️☑️

[Delgor in reply to SarahJane1471]

Since being on this forum I have learnt so many things! Unfortunately chronic stress is probably at the root of many illnesses and it's learning how to cope with it which is of paramount importance - not always as easy as it seems especially if you are of an anxious nature like me. Hoping everything goes smoothly for you - take some deep breaths - sending you a hug😙

[SarahJane1471 in reply to Delgor]

Thankyou. All good with scan done very quickly. Confirmed clot in calf. Now waiting in strange area called Ambulatory Care 🤷‍♀️think it’s going to be a loooong wait 😬

Ps they gave me sandwiches 👍

[Delgor in reply to SarahJane1471]

Sorry for late reply - it's all happening - son in accident with cracked ribs so grandparents needed for young grandchildren. Good news that you've had the scan and result plus sandwiches😁 Your'e probably right about a long wait but at least you are in the right place which is a big something these days. Will be thinking of you and hope you get the attention you need real soon🙏

[SarahJane1471 in reply to Delgor]

🙏hope your son is ok ❤️

[Delgor in reply to SarahJane1471]

😱I'm sure he will be fine in about 3 or 4 weeks🙏

[SarahJane1471 in reply to Delgor]

broken ribs very painful 😣

[arTistapple]

Contrarily I fear for this wonderful new GP. I hope to heck you live in an area where the endocrinology bods are up to scratch too, otherwise the GP will be thoroughly dissatisfied fighting all the politics.

[SarahJane1471]

Well , I’ve always been a champion for the NHS. Any treatment/ops have always been first class. AND FREE!

So yes confirmed DVT. Blood thinners for 3months/take it easy/ no flying for a month.👍

But wow! Talk about thorough. I’ve had every blood test ever invented (joke), chest X-ray/scans/breast exam. Whole thing 😳. Apparently a very healthy specimen apart from a DVT.

Bravo NHS👏👏👏👏👏👏

Three hour wait but that didn’t matter because they were bloody brilliant!

[tattybogle in reply to SarahJane1471]

looks like your 'cake bill' is going to be expensive this month

i've always found them ace for acute stuff too . 3 hours is pretty good when you consider how much trouble they are in .. some places you could have added a '0' on the end .

Glad to hear you are 'a fine specimen'... did you get a sticker to say so ?

[SarahJane1471 in reply to tattybogle]

🤣no sticker, lots of blood thinning tablets

[tattybogle in reply to SarahJane1471]

Yum ...