Update on “Must my NHS GP prescribe Levothyroxine?”

[WaystarRoyco]

First of all, thank you to everyone who commented on my post at the weekend.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

My appointment today got switched from a regular GP to the Managing Partner, for which I was grateful, as I felt if she wouldn’t see straight, no one else in the practice would. I felt so reassured after reading all your advice that I was able to be confident with her. I said, my endo is working one way; you’re working another: how are we going to proceed? She did give the surgery’s usual position which would be to reduce T4 because of low TSH. She also said my case was “out of the ordinary” because I take both T4 and T3. She re-read my consultant’s last letter to her in which he outright says he’s okay with my TSH being under range. And then she agreed to reinstate my NHS T4 prescription, and said if I have any further problems like this to let her know.

Hurrah!

So, thanks again. Next step, get a DIY test done and post results here to get feedback on dosages etc.

[GlowCoach Administrator]

Well done. Just goes to show we need to stick up for ourselves and what we need and that persevering works.

Hurrah!

[WaystarRoyco in reply to GlowCoach]

Thank you. I normally go into these kind of conversations with GPs completely on the defensive because I assume from the off they won’t support me. It’s a kind of PTSD thing from situations where they in fact didn’t. But from reading all the brilliant replies at the weekend, I felt so much more empowered and was able to talk to her on the same level. Makes all the difference!

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to WaystarRoyco]

That’s exactly how I feel/go into conversations with the GPs. I feel like they lumbered me with labels of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia when they should have been looking closer at the thyroid. Those labels cloud how they deal with me now and I’m sure they all think I’m a hypochondriac just seeking another condition for my list!! Well done for getting it sorted with her. I know how stressful it can be when you have a history of not being listened to or not being supported.

[WaystarRoyco in reply to JoJoloveschocolate]

I totally get you! So hard not to act like we’ve taken on their assessment of us. It shouldn’t have to be so difficult!

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to WaystarRoyco]

No, you’re absolutely right it shouldn’t be so hard or stressful. I feel like I have to make sure I don’t break down and cry in front of the gp because they’ll say I’m depressed, don’t get irritated or they’ll say I’ve got anger issues, don’t act like I know too much or they’ll say I’m fixated on something that’s irrelevant and push-back against me because they know that I know that they don’t know! I feel like I have to creep around them…stroking their egos like big, arrogant spoilt, overfed cats! It drives me upthe wall!

[WaystarRoyco in reply to JoJoloveschocolate]

Oh, I know. Crying or getting angry are my usual responses and then I come out wondering what on earth is wrong with me!?

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to WaystarRoyco]

It gets me all stressed just thinking about going to the gp.I’m learning to stick up for myself more. Last time I went to the gp I said I’d felt a postitive difference in my symptoms when my t4 went up from 9 to 11.4, but then started to feel unwell again a couple of weeks later, and when I re-tested it showed the t4 had dropped to 9.8 again. The Gp said “it’s not a SIGNIFICANT drop!!” I said “well it sure felt like it to me!!” His head spun around so fast I thought it was going to fly off!

[WaystarRoyco in reply to JoJoloveschocolate]

😂😂😂 Well done!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Brilliant…..well done 👏👏👏👏👏

[WaystarRoyco in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you! After all your info the other day, I felt like I was in charge, not them. So grateful!

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

Yay 👏👏

Smiling winking donkey

[WaystarRoyco in reply to TiggerMe]

Thank you 😂😂😂

[waveylines]

Brilliant! Well done you. Glad she saw sense and frankly they should be boughing to the Endo advice. She sounds supportive which is good news. 👏👏

[WaystarRoyco in reply to waveylines]

Thank you. I’m so relieved 😌

[HealthStarDust]

I have lots of GP partners at my practice and it has still been a mixed bag of experiences in between then and the regular GPs (salaried, locums etc.).

Glad you got it sorted.

[WaystarRoyco in reply to HealthStarDust]

Thank you!