I hope you can bear with me on this one. Following on from my last post re prep for my GP appointment I was dissapointed with the general way the consultation went (they were new to the GP practice ) Although I didn't expect him to agree to testing my Vit D, Folate, Ferritin I did hope he would agree to my cholesterol. They told me that I would not be eligible for this & would need to go private. They advised that the cholesterol is an annual check on the NHS. & I'd already had my cholesterol checked this year. They questioned the relationship to hypothyroidism. They clearly said that cholesterol was not connected to this condition. I explained it could rise if hypothyroidism is undertreated & due to my thyroxine reduction 6 months previous I would assume it would be checked too. It was 4.9 which he said was not good but I thought if you were under 5 you were ok? There was nothing of concern flagged up on my last test. Has anyone any thoughts on this?He was suggesting that I'd need a further reduction & that I should have been retested 6-8 weeks following the last reduction. I drew his attention to the Endocrinologist letter saying 6 months before retest to allow my body to adjust to new dose. We had a difference of opinion in relation to being overmedicated as my last T3 result was in range ( had dropped slightly following reduction) My T4 was slightly elevated, this was a surprise as I had reduced my thyroxine by 25mg. I had been ill so my result may have been affected in some way. I have now booked a further NHS blood test so we shall see what happens next. They did agree to retesting T4, T3 & TSH so all was not lost.
It's all very frustrating as I did open the appointment by indicating that since my reduction I was now experiencing what I consider to be hypo symptoms e.g cramps, tiredness, weight increase & 2 asthma episodes. They took no notice of my opinion & referred to the Endo letter stating there are risks to bones & heart with overtreatment.
I've now a copy of Dr Tofts Article which I will print off for reference.
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Seabird4
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Thank you for your reply. I don't suppliment with B complex now I'm aware about biotin affecting results. I have 8 weekly B12 injections. Yes I can test for Vit D & full iron panel myself.
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg)
Post discussing how biotin can affect test results
High cholesterol is caused by low T3, not by eating too much butter, as doctors think. Cholesterol is made in the liver and the liver tries to keep the level stable by reducing what it makes when you eat too much, and vice versa. But, when T3 is low, the body cannot process cholesterol correctly and it tends to build up in the blood. But, as doctors don't even know what T3 is, for the most part, nor what it does, I would be very surprised if they knew that. Besides, they just want to prescribe statins!
It was 4.9 which he said was not good but I thought if you were under 5 you were ok?
You're ok if it's 6.9. High cholesterol is a symptom, not a disease. It does not cause heart attacks or strokes. But artificially reducing it with statins can lead to heart problems. Your whole body needs cholesterol for repair and regeneration. Your cell walls are made of it, as is your brain and your sex hormones. It protects you when inflammation damages the artery walls. Remove the cholesterol with statins and you remove that protection.
So, if I were you, I'd drop the subject of cholesterol before your doctor starts wanting to put you on statins!
Thank you for clarifying that point on cholesterol for me. I knew there was a connection somehow & thought it would support my argument not to reduce my thyroxine dose again if it had risen. I'll leave it for now as I have read on here that statins are to be avoided if Hypo. Whatever happened to holistic medicine.
Never thought about it in that way as such but you have a point there. I just want to look at things logically and use the information I've gleened from this forum to keep well and enjoy life.
Well I'm not a pill taker and always avoid taking any unessesary meds. I've had a few suggested to me in the past e.g. anti depressants when in fact I was grieving & had undiagnosed Pernicious Anemia. As you can imagine I didn't agree with that suggestion.
Much appreciated Charlie-Farley Great to have these link in my pocket library to refer and quote from. I'd never heard of that study either. I always feel more empowered having info to back up my case.
Your GP cannot over rule your Endo Consultant. Ask for a referral to Consultant. Your thyroid blood tests should be taken at 9am before you take your meds or food. I’ve had same problem with my GP but after speaking to consultant he wrote to my GP and now I go once a year to the hospital for my thyroid blood tests and they go direct to consultant which stops my GP in interfering with my levothyroxine. You are also right that if you take bloods too soon after a medication change they will be inaccurate. My Consultant said you need a minimum of 8 weeks, preferably longer before retesting. Hope this helps.
Thank you for sharing your experiences Irishacres. This GP had never met me before (practice recently changed to NHS) & I appreciate it's difficult for them to get to know patients however I do believe that any discussions has to be two way & take into account the patient's knowledge and views about their own health. I am most grateful for all the knowledge etc. on this forum it's such a vital source of info & support for me. I think my 'aide-mémoire' note I had in my hand surprised him but it was just for my reference.
I have my bloods booked for next week, fasting bloods before 9am so we shall see what happens next. The consultant is based 45 miles away but the local hospital will take my bloods. It used to be at the GP practice but it seems that a new system is being developed since covid. The GP practice wanted to reduce my thyroxine again to 125mg straight after my last result but I politely said no and the Endo said wait 6 months and retest. That would have been a reduction of 50mg in 6 months with no mention of adding T3 or any other treatment plan. A bit scary really.
I have been in Levothyroxine for 30 years. I only had B12 because of gastritis. The GPs annoy me because I know the symptoms and my body better than them. But still they think they know better even though my consultant told me to go by how I feel. My TSH has been at <0.01 since diagnosis and never changes they therefore panic every time I have a blood test. That’s why my consultant has told me not to have blood test for thyroid at GPs and go to hospital so he gets the results directly.
Thanks for sharing it always helps when you don't feel on your ownI've been at this too for 37 + years and was mostly settled for a number of years as the GP knew me & we could talk but now it's all change. Recently my TSH was 00.02 but now 00.03 they have also changed the test range too which doesn't help. I'll have to sit at the PC and get a full chart done so I can keep an easier track for reference. I'm getting the feeling that there maybe a wee battle ahead but I was a red head so I'll have to draw on my Irish/Scots blood in readiness 🏴🍀🧿🌞🥃🥃& of course the invaluable support from this forum.
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Pointless GP appointment
Endo appointment prep
Help before GP appointment
Update on “Must my NHS GP prescribe Levothyroxine?”
Advice ahead of GP appointment
