Any Tips/Advice for Vascular Surgery Appointment coming up…?

[MsWhistledown]

I have been referred to see Vascular Surgery and my appointment is in a few weeks. The physio I am seeing for neck and shoulder pain asked my GP to refer me due to frequent left sided pain in my neck arm and shoulder blade and also facial symptoms on left side. She wants to make sure there isn’t anything more suspicious going on.

I have disc degeneration in my neck which is the likely cause of the majority of my pain. And I have a history of chronic migraine sometimes accompanied by facial symptoms .

I am not too worried I don’t think I have any heart or vascular problem's. Especially as some of these symptoms have been happening for many years. But I applaud the physio for being more thorough than any GP/Specialists I have seen in the past for these symptoms.

What I’m worried about is what the consultant is going to say about me being on T3 only. I have been advised to bring a list of medications I am on to the appointment. I haven’t told my GP I am on T3 now so I expect that will also get back to the surgery. Reading many posts on here I have seen people have had bad experiences with specialists being ignorant about the thyroid and thyroid results.

I also suspect they will do blood tests and one of them will be cholesterol. I have no idea what my cholesterol level is but if it is high I expect they will try to get me to take statins! Which I do not want to take.

Anyone have any experience of being in this kind of position? How did you handle it?

Thank you.

[Sparklingsunshine]

I expect many of us who either self source or get T3 privately are going to find ourselves in this situation. I've been self sourcing T3 since December, I take combi therapy. I haven't had an NHS blood test since last December but my surgery has pencilled me in for thyroid review next April.

So eventually the poo will hit the fan, however I also had suppressed TSH on Levo only so its just what happens with me. I've got no intention of going back on just Levo so I'll sign a disclaimer accepting responsbility for all the evils associated with a suppressed TSH ( according to doctors) if necessary.

As for statins I've emailed my surgery and told them I'll never take them, so its on my record. As an adult with capacity you decide what goes into your body, not them.

You can politely but firmly decline them and follow it up in writing. Also you dont have to agree to any cholesterol blood tests either. Ask that that one isnt tested. I will be declining those in future. No point testing if you have no intention of taking statins.

[MsWhistledown in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Thanks Sparklingsunshine. That is helpful and helps me draw up a game plan before I see them.

I expect my being over weight will be brought up as an issue as well. Better prepare myself for that inevitable conversation yet again 🙄🫣😆

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to MsWhistledown]

Yes doctors love pointing out weight issues as though they are the axis of all evils that befall us. However my observation is that many healthcare staff are obese, including doctors, who allegedly should know better. So what's their excuse?

Clearly if it was that easy we'd all be thin. Also do they think folk dont know they are overweight? They point it out like its some startling revelation people were previously unaware of.

[Fruitandnutcase]

I have declined statins for years now. They keep ‘offering’ them and I just say no thanks. I tried them once many years ago before the side effects were known about and after a week my leg muscles were so weak and painful I could barely walk plus I felt depressed so never again. Good luck with the consultant - keep us posted.

[MsWhistledown in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Exactly Fruitandnutcase. I have heard of all the side effects etc so will decline if offered.

My dear mother had cholesterol through the roof around 20 years ago. The Doctors really tried to put the fear into her telling her she was a ticking time bomb and could have a heart attack any time. Thankfully she didn’t listen and refused statins and got her cholesterol down naturally. She really doesn’t worry about her cholesterol at all. She is almost 88 and has never had any heart problems before, then or since and she is hypothyroid. So, I’ll take a leaf out her book.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to MsWhistledown]

What they dont tell you about statins is that they can cause dementia and type 2 diabetes. My attiude is we're all going to die of something, none of us are immune to the Grim Reaper and I prioritise quality of life over quantity.

I'm personally not fussed about reaching 90 plus. They can try their stupid scaremongering all they like. Similarly that suppressed TSH causes osteoporosis and Atrial Fibrilation. Am I bovvered? No.

[MsWhistledown in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Totally agree with you 😀

Still working on getting that quality of life but would rather that than live a long miserable one where I hadn’t the energy or health to actually enjoy it!

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to MsWhistledown]

As someone once said I'm here for a good time not a long time 😄. I cant think of anything worse than living until I'm in my 90's but hating every minute. I went through it with my late mum. She couldn't wait to shuffle off, she'd had enough.

[MsWhistledown in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Love that saying 😁

Bless your mum. 💕

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to MsWhistledown]

Yes her last decade was very difficult for her and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. It makes me very sad when I think about it. Not what you want for a loved one.

Doctors are obsessed with " saving lives " but I wonder if they ever consider what quality of life someone will have afterwards.

[MsWhistledown in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Sorry to hear that Sparklingsunshine.

I think quality of life is something lacking in many avenues of this modern world. It is neglected at the many stages in our lives in modern society.

[tattybogle]

low / supressed TSH can be seen as a safety issue for aneaesthetists when giving General Anaesthetic, so a low TSH result can sometimes result in delayed /cancelled operations while dose is adjusted.