I have just come off the phone from the gp (my old gp has left so it's like starting all over again with a new one) to ask for a referral to an endo ( from the list of recommended) Because I had done a thyroid blood test with medichecks she won't refer me as a 'finger prick' test wouldn't be acceptable! So I need to go have bloods done again at gp surgery. I asked her if then she would refer me as I'm not getting anywhere (t3 always bottom of the range) and she replied, we will see what your results are. I then said but this is what I'm trying to explain to you that I have been increasing every few months and I'm in the same position. Her response was the usual gp reply that we don't want you overmedicated and your tsh be too low 😫😫😫 I really do despair and feel so angry. Sorry I just had to vent as its like I'm stuck in this horrible cycle
I'm so angry!: I have just come off the phone... - Thyroid UK
I'm so angry!
it’s ok!! Vent away. I’ve been on this forum for a few years now and I STILL don’t get why TSH is such a big deal 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️
It's a good job we have this forum.. I'm so frustrated and it's like it falls on deaf ears when you try to explain something. There's no point even changing gp surgery as it's like groundhog day. Thanks for your reply Sarah 😊
That’s why I’ve now eliminated GP from whole process.
I self medicate with NDT, sort my own tests and adjust dose as / if needed.
I just can’t tolerate the endless bickering.
I think that's the only way forward It's gets me so anxious and stressed every time I have to deal with a gp!
Yes. They’re great at winding you up. Then they check your BP and try to dole out blood pressure meds if your BP is a bit high.
Pft
Hahaa yes! It really is laughable 🤣
They refuse to accept a finger prick test and will then order a heal prick test for a baby. The useless prick is not the blood test one.
😊
Oooooh it's good to have a laugh, especially when we all know how frustrating the GP TSH overmedicated route is. Thank you.
Oh! Jim! I'm surprised at you! 🤣🤣🤣
Maybe I was influenced by yesterdays edition of Desert Island Discs which delicately referenced Jill Scott's FOYFP comment to a German footballer during the European Championship.
Sorry, don't know what FOYFP stands for.
I had to think about it….,..
It's swearing hence you will need to google. You can buy the T-shirt! Seriously it was a good edition of Desert Island Disks with nice music and interesting person.
Maybe I'm too pedantic but i could never see how one could survive on a desert island, would have a chance on a deserted island. Never got round to suggesting they change the name. Sorry for going off topic.
Yes, you are too pendantic! lol It's not meant to be taken that seriously. It's just a very British way of saying to celebreties 'tell us something about yourselves and let us listen to your favourite music'. I like the the format, although I never listen to it these days. It's just not the same without Roy Plumley.
I'm off to google the rude words! lol
I love it jimh111 😂My favourite is FUBAR, which applies to a lot of things at the moment including our 'beloved' NHS & (it seems) the majority of Drs ignorance on understanding this dreadful disease and treating it (or even trying to). Sad, really 😢 But, yeh, I'll add FOYFP to my arsenal to use on a few - under my breath/silently, of course! 😉
A military term, SNAFU can also be added to your swearing repertoire.
😂👍🏽
I came to say FUBAR is my favorite too 😂 I hope you've been able to laugh a tiny bit too, Ladysmith.
Your doc sure sounds FUBAR & all the above when it comes to thyroid 🤪 xx
Haha yes, some of these gp's are in need of an RPG to knock some sense into them 😆x
😂😂🚀
That would just blow them out of the water! 😂
For years I went to a hairdressers salon called FUBAR.
I really was in need of a laugh today so thank you, that's so funny.
I've been through this. In my case I anticipated the finger-prick (place emphasis where one wishes) get out clause and had a blood draw at a hospital that also treats NHS overflow patients and another via medichecks Doctors Laboratory walk in phlebotomy in London.
One was reflective of me taking full levo dose. The other no levo for several weeks.
T3 levels rubbish in both.
After all that, I was still met with the TSH is God complex.
I gave up.
It's atrocious, how are you getting on now?
Better but still having to refine things. I just stopped trying to argue with doctors to whom I was invisible as a patient and went to a private doctor and NDT for a while.
Now on T3 with Levo but having allergy reactions to both. Pros and cons!
It's a long hard journey, I hope you can get sorted! I think the gp has the 'one size fits all' mentality, when every case is so different
I asked Dr years ago to refer me to endo! She told me no need, she knew all there was to know!
Don’t think our paths ever crossed again. I sort my own blood tests and T3!🙄
That was probably the best decision you ever made! At this point I'm seriously considering doing the same
I did that and refused to budge. Actually didn't even mention I was on T3 for awhile and casually mentioned it one day. Did private labs. Stocked up on T4 whenever i went on holiday to turkey & greece. Doc hates it but i take hubby with me to the appointments & he backs up how much better i am. Not my preferred route but i haven't dropped dead yet & quite the opposite in fact. 🤭
That's great that you have done that. . And feel better for it, .. good on you 😊
🤣🤣🤣🤣 bet she doesn’t need to do X-rays or scans either - she probably has a superpower that lets her see your innards without the middleman.
In the 3 years of being diagnosed I've ever been sent for a scan of my thyroid 🤷♀️ of course why would I when they have x-ray vision! 🤣
Ladysmith53, having laughed at jimh111's response, I needed time to consider your Post before replying to you. There can't be many in this forum who haven't experienced similar.....and oh YES! it is frustrating...and also frightening to feel unsupported by those who are in charge of our medical care. Are there any endos near you ..on the list...who would see you/ do a Zoom consultation, without a GP referral? Worth exploring?
Hi 1tuppence, appreciate your reply, I rang the only endo near me last week and he is no longer taking on any more private patients. He does NHS too, so this is what I wanted to get out of the discussion with the gp today. Also I don't think he can prescribe t3 anyway as I pm'd a lady the other day that lives in my vicinity who is seeing this endo, and she said she would probably have to buy it as he can no longer prescribe t3.So I really don't know what to do, it is scary, I know I have fantastic support and advice on here but I really feel on my own at this point, I have no partner/ husband or family to discuss it with and friends don't really understand aa they think i look the picture of health. So I just don't say anything 🤷♀️
Ladysmith53, I understand how you feel alone with this, and how friends don't really understand. It's hard to understand something we haven't experienced ourselves. And, not intending to be contentious, nor saying this is how it should be, perhaps this non-personal experience is behind the lack of support we feel from medics? Empathy is putting ourselves in someone else's place, and we're best able to do that if we've experienced whatever it is that's happening/not happening.
This forum, and the generous wonderful folk here will hear you, and offer support, as you know. You are not alone here, and you can come as often as you like/need. Hugs xx
Awww thank you for that 1tuppence, I appreciate everyone and the fantastic support on this forum 🫶xx
Yup. Everything from making gluten-free cakes to managing the menopause! Who said it was just a thyroid forum?
I am so angry too after 45 years of no thyroid following thyroidectomy. I saw a locum gp last year who said I was very sensitive to levothyroxine so it was important that they didn't go by the blood levels so strictly. Her mother was on thyroxine so I assume she knew more about it because of that. She said my named gp would take note of it. But when I saw him he still trotted out the lines about tsh, osteoporosis blah blah blah. As usual I was speechless as what can you say to them?I have in recentyears followed what they've said so I can prove how I feel on the dose they change me to but it makes no difference, they are not interested if I feel bad as long as the blood results are within range. From now on I tell them one thing and do another. So much for having a good doctor/patient relationship 😡
It's crazy... there is no duty of care. Do you self medicate now?
I am sticking with what makes me feel well now and may reduce the dose before the next blood test presumably in a year to be sure but it makes me feel rubbish even if I reduce by 25mcg 3 days in a week. Now I've proved this to myself that's all I need to know. I asked for a Dexa scan when he mentioned osteoporosis so that's in a month. May as well have all the ammo I need for the next time 🤞it's ok though 😂
That's a good plan! That's what I'll do if I don't get the answer I need from the gp. Hope the scan is all good👍😊
Hiya Ladysmith53,
I can't offer you any help BUT if it is any consolation you describe perfectly my relationship with my surgery and my GP.
When I first moved to Cornwall my GP was a guy and I had a great relationship ... all very blokey and we both had a 'Monty Pythonish' sense of humour. He was late 50's early 60's. Then he took retirement ( he saw what was coming). His replacement was a woman, mid to late 30's I guess. We never got on BUT the thing is I don't need her very much and in fact the last time we had a face to face meeting was in April 2022 when she gave me a cortisone injection into my right shoulder. In this post CoVid era its all telephone consultations and as a result I just can't be bothered. It might suit GP's it doesn't suit me ... I drive buses, so its shift work, my life cannot possible revolve around a GP phoning me when it suits him/her !
The other thing I now encounter from NHS is ........... well you're 78, you should be at home with your feet up, waiting for god! You shouldn't be galavanting around narrow Cornish roads in a double decker bus with up to 102 youthful (and not so youthful) students on board. As far as I'm concerned .... if god wants me he's gonna have to wait at a bus stop for me to come along !
I've even considered changing GP surgery .... but here down at the pointy end of Cornwall ... there aren't any ........ it doesn't matter though does it ....... Rishi Dishi Sunak says Britain is gonna get 40 new hospitals in the next 7 years.
Yeah right 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Thats my rant over. May the force be with you.
John
what a man you are John !
Only way to cope in this ‘progressive’ world , we’ve lost so much knowledge and humanity for our fellows citizens . GP’s up there on top of that list ,
Sorry grumpy day ,
Thanks John for your reply, yes it does sound very familiar.... as it will to many people on the forum. The force is with me... I'll fight another day 💪
👋👋👋👋👋👋👋
So my 'duff ' endo and I part company!
HELP FOR DAUGHTER STILL NEEDED PLEASE !!
Thyroid 
I am so angry 
