Should i pay private to see an ENT quicker? - Thyroid UK

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Should i pay private to see an ENT quicker?

TwigwithaWig profile image
10 Replies

My hyperthyroidism is no better now than 1 year ago. I remain 2 stone under weight, my biggest concern. I am wearing a wig due to severe hair loss. Endo says my hair will stop falling out when my levels are optinal, no sign of that. 2 Doctors for seperate issues say my goitre needs removing and meds won't work until removed. I have had differing doses of Carbimazole and always opposite effect and need to reduce or stop for 6 weeks and repeat, repeat. I asked Endo yesterday about seeing ENT private as i am just getting older, 64, with time ticking and no quality of life these past 2 years. She said we normally treat for 18 months. That's another 6 months of my life being skeletal when thyroid removal Maybe my answer, Or not. Would you take the plunge and see an ENT private for piece of mind and quickness? From skeletal and hairless, may change my profile name😁

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TwigwithaWig
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10 Replies
Buddy195 profile image
Buddy195Administrator

Fedupoftrying, I really feel for you, as your weight and hair loss must be very different to cope with.

Having read your last post, SlowDragon & pennyannie offered you great advice about the importance of improving key thyroid vitamins. Please can you share what your levels are now & what supplements you have tried. Like others have said, key vitamins support thyroid health and it is essential that these are OPTIMAL, not simply ‘within range’.

I would consider pay privately to see an ENT specialist, but as a first step I would encourage you to address any ongoing vitamin issues.

Best wishes to you 🦋

TwigwithaWig profile image
TwigwithaWig in reply to Buddy195

Thankyou for replying. Where i am now:- Endocrinologist Aug, on 15mg Carbimazole, TSH 59.15 T4 less than 5.4 After 6 weeks no meds

Oct. TSH 0.02

T4 20.2

T3 8.8

6 weeks of 20mg Carbimazole

Nov TSH 19.3

T4 6.2

T3 2.6

Stopped meds on 24 nov for 6 weeks. Told I'm now over again and back on 20mg for 4 weeks then 2 weeks of 10mg. Just seems like a merry go round and I've had no improvement in a year. I take lots of vitamins inc magnesium. Endo shows no interest in vitamins but i know the importance f4om this group thankyou 😊

Lalatoot profile image
Lalatoot

I kept losing my voice and was getting nowhere with my endocrinologist. My helpful GP told me that endocrinology was really looking at hormone blood levels and that if I felt my problem was the physical structure of my thyroid and voice box in my case, then I needed a referral to ent. The wait was to be a long one. So I did my research online and picked an ent specialist within my area who worked for the NHS but also privately. I saw him within 2 weeks. It cost £200 for the appointment. He felt that there was nothing sinister needing immediate attention but he would like a camera down just to double check . Rather than charge me £500 more and do the camera privately that day he transferred me to his NHS list. 3 weeks later I had the camera down at my local NHS hospital and all was well. If I was you I would see ent privately.

TwigwithaWig profile image
TwigwithaWig in reply to Lalatoot

Thankyou, this is the sort of answer i was looking for, as surgery isn't always a must. I will keep doing my homework, thankyou.

pennyannie profile image
pennyannie

Hey there again :

I think you know you need to consider going private - as waiting and being in this limbo land is not conducive for anyone.

Be thankful you can afford to do this - though it probably goes against the grain - but that's a whole other conversation for another time.

TwigwithaWig profile image
TwigwithaWig in reply to pennyannie

Thankyou for your reply. I almost went private to see an Endocrinologist when diagnosed as severe and urgent, with no appointment in sight after 4 months. Price was £275 for a 20 minute phone call, no face to face, i declined. I started to recieve a 2 to 5 min call approx 6 weekly on NHS. Yes, i am fortunate to be able to afford a private consultation.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

What are your most recent thyroid and vitamin results

Test privately if GP unhelpful

Previous post shows dire vitamin D

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

How much vitamin D are you now taking

And what other vitamins

TwigwithaWig profile image
TwigwithaWig in reply to SlowDragon

Thankyou for replying. I've posted my results on my reply to Buddy195. I'm taking max strength vit D B12 C Iron and Magnesium. The Endocrinologist i speak to by phone shows no interest in my questions about vitamins, i continue to take them.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to TwigwithaWig

No vitamin results there?

Have you tested TPO and TG antibodies for Hashimoto’s

It’s possible to have Graves and Hashimoto’s at same time

Standard treatment then is block (Carbimazole) and replace (levothyroxine)

Aug, on 15mg Carbimazole,

TSH 59.15 T4 less than 5.4

After 6 weeks no meds

Oct. TSH 0.02

T4 20.2

T3 8.8

6 weeks of 20mg Carbimazole

Nov TSH 19.3

T4 6.2

T3 2.6

After October results 5mg or 10mg Carbimazole would have probably been best option

Or block and replace

TwigwithaWig profile image
TwigwithaWig in reply to SlowDragon

Thankyou, i thought more or less the same. Why give me 20 when i get over medicated. Anyway lets see if 4 weeks of 20mg and 2 weeks of 10mg makes a difference. She spoke of radio iodine few months back, but not since, don't think she's on the ball with me😳. If she actually saw the state of me she might think, oh my god, like my family, but, he ho, I'm just a number. I think you're spot on with your advice

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