Understand: Hi to everyone well i’m still no... - Thyroid UK

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Understand

Thelostboys profile image
26 Replies

Hi to everyone well i’m still no wiser my blood results have come back and honestly it was terrible talking about them over the phone.The doctor who phoned and it wasn’t my dr .I have not even had a face to face conversation with him.I was told by a doctor who i’ve never heard before and i don’t think he had a clue what he was talking about. My thyroid is fine he didn’t tell me anything about it but the only thing that came back wrong was a lack of iron.I tried to explain to him about things i have read from this group about Vitamin 12 the levels my thyroid was but it was absolutely hopeless.He says everything is alright in other words i don’t think he had a clue what he was talking about i am so mad. He is leaving me a prescription for folic acid and iron tbs honestly i could cry the doctors where i live are useless. But the only good thing that came out of the phone call was i have got a actually face to face appointment because he said he doesn’t know what to do 🤬

Should i buy B12 myself.

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Thelostboys profile image
Thelostboys
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26 Replies

Yes a lot us have to buy our own supplements. NHS rarely prescribes them unless they are very low. I get B12 jabs every 2 months but still supplement B12 in between. Tbh they are pretty cheap.

Thelostboys profile image
Thelostboys in reply toSparklingsunshine

Thank you the test said it was fine will it be dangerous if i buy my own and take them ⭐️

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply toThelostboys

will it be dangerous if i buy my own and take them

No, taking vitamin B12 at high doses is not dangerous.

perniciousanemia.org/b12/fo...

perniciousanemia.org/b12/le...

perniciousanemia.org/b12/le...

stichtingb12tekort.nl/weten...

stichtingb12tekort.nl/engli...

I don't have Pernicious Anaemia and can absorb B12 in tablet form.

I always buy B12 supplements in the form of methylcobalamin, and at a dose of 1000 mcg per tablet, and I take one tablet about three times a week. I also take methylfolate at the same dose and frequency.

Thelostboys profile image
Thelostboys in reply tohumanbean

Thank You ⭐️

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

First get copies of actual results

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

This currently only applies in England, not across the whole of the UK. Nether Scotland nor N.Ireland have released an NHS app for patients. (Scotland supposedly due in December '24.) Wales has an app, but only for booking appointments, repeat prescriptions and amending personal details

Link re access

patients-association.org.uk...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

In reality some GP surgeries still do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

GP has acknowledged you are anaemic and folate deficient, otherwise he wouldn’t have prescribed iron and folic acid

You need to see actual results

And see what B12 result is BEFORE starting folic acid

NHS will only test and treat vitamin deficiencies

If B12 is right at bottom of range…..eg 185 (180-680) they won’t treat

You need to know the results before starting on any B12

Was vitamin D tested?

Low vitamin levels suggests your thyroid is inadequately treated

Was TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 tested

Thelostboys profile image
Thelostboys in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you i had a full blood test to see what vitamins were lacking he said my B12 was fine.I really am confused i’m new and don’t understand a lot of the terms.But when i go back i will write a list of what i need to know ⭐️

Sparklingsunshine profile image
Sparklingsunshine in reply toThelostboys

NHS idea of fine is not the same as patients idea of fine. If your B12 is literally at the bottom of the range they'll say its fine. In reality doctors know very little about vitamins and nutrition. They dont cover it in training and most dont see them as important.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toThelostboys

he said my B12 was fine.

Get copies of actual test results and ranges

Then come back here with results

If B12 below 500 you need to start supplementing

humanbean profile image
humanbean

i don’t think he had a clue what he was talking about

There is a possibility you were not talking to a proper doctor. You might have been talking to a Physician Associate who has a lot less training than a doctor.

Thelostboys profile image
Thelostboys in reply tohumanbean

No he was a proper doctor at the medical clinic ⭐️

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply toThelostboys

That's depressing, under the circumstances.

Sparklingsunshine profile image
Sparklingsunshine in reply toThelostboys

Physician Associate's work at GP surgeries, increasingly so do paramedics and physiotherapists. This trend will continue, there was a report out recently saying you are increasingly less likely to speak to an actual doctor.

Now this isnt necessarily a bad thing, the paramedic I saw was exemplary. But it is something to be aware of. Too few doctors and too much demand.

Thelostboys profile image
Thelostboys in reply toSparklingsunshine

Since covid it has been almost impossible to see a doctor face to face.You have to book a consultation over the phone.

Cornwaller profile image
Cornwaller in reply tohumanbean

Most GPS know next to nothing about b12 so a Pysician Associate is unlikely to know less!

Milburn13 profile image
Milburn13

As Slow dragon said you need to get the actual levels. The NHS only get us to normal which is their 'fine' and we have to get ourselves to optimal So it's best to aim to get your t4, T3, TSH and iron, bit b12, folate and vit D all to optimal. Its so difficult to get the right help on the NHS. Good luck

Thelostboys profile image
Thelostboys in reply toMilburn13

Thank you it is difficult to get the right help from the doctors. I don’t think mine knows much about thyroid issues.I wish i could afford to go private ⭐️

Milburn13 profile image
Milburn13 in reply toThelostboys

There are some cheaper private options, I've heard someone say they have a good private thyroid doctor who charges £50. It's worth asking on here and Thyroid UK can also email you a list of private practitioners if you email them. My GP told me to go private as she wasn't able to help me with my thyroid and said she'd prescribe me what the private doctor recommended although I'm not sure I'd get NDT but I did get some T3 on the Nhs

Thelostboys profile image
Thelostboys in reply toMilburn13

Thank you i will check it out.

eeng profile image
eeng

I have read that b12 is one of those vitamins where the body just excretes any excess it doesn't need, so it's not dangerous to supplement yourself. Hope that answers your question.

Thelostboys profile image
Thelostboys in reply toeeng

Thank you yes it does.

Sparklingsunshine profile image
Sparklingsunshine in reply toThelostboys

I get jabs on NHS and supplement in between. My levels are through the roof but B12 is water soluble so excess just gets excreted in wee. Its virtually impossible to overdose.

Thelostboys profile image
Thelostboys in reply toSparklingsunshine

Hi does the vitamin B12 help at all a lot of people mention it.Thank you.

Sparklingsunshine profile image
Sparklingsunshine in reply toThelostboys

I have pernicious anemia so need the jabs but yes low levels of B12 will make you feel awful, can affect conversion of Levothyroxine and if left low enough for long enough can cause permanent neurological problems. So its very important.

Thelostboys profile image
Thelostboys in reply toSparklingsunshine

My doctor has given me vitamin B9 and folic acid i have absolutely no idea why does anyone know if these are any good. I have googled both of them and it says not to be taken if you take Levothyroxine. I’m going crazy here if the doctors are too lazy to look things up i don’t stand a chance ⭐️ thank you.

AtoZ24 profile image
AtoZ24

I saw a physician associate recently and she was far more on the ball than many GP's! Very thorough, and actually listened to what my concerns were. Many are young and keen to learn more about things so it's an opportunity if you can to educate them !

Thelostboys profile image
Thelostboys in reply toAtoZ24

I have read a lot about the situation and learned a lot from this page.I think i could educate them.

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