Having just visited my GP, I have been left feeling I can no longer trust his judgement. I have been Hypothyroid for 4/5 years (a different DR's practice diagnosed this) and the last few months have been worse then when I was first diagnosed. I listed all the symptoms to my GP, weight gain (never happened before) aches & pains, fatigue, not sleeping, feeling cold, nails breaking, croaky voice......and asked if he would increase my Levothyroxine from 50mcg to 75mcg....to which he replied, "we need to do a blood test to find out what is going on" so I said when it comes back normal which it probably will, what then, this was when my mouth dropped open, the fact I had said that made him think that I was depressed.......which I totally denied, he said without the blood test results we were wasting time talking about it.......this is a man who is mid 40s not about to retire, so should be clued up with thyroid problems, he also mentioned increasing my medication without needing it could cause Osteoporosis.......also if I wanted a 2nd opinion after the results come back I could, he couldn't refer me to an Endocrinologist if the test results are normal, I could go private......to say I was dissapointed is putting it mildly.....I had the blood test at the hospital after GP's appointment so should get the results either Friday or Monday of next week.........I have started taking B12 and Selenium to try and boost my immune system.....so watch this space, if anyone has any advice it would be most welcome.....
A GP I thought I could trust......: Having just... - Thyroid UK
A GP I thought I could trust......
((((hugs))))
Has your vit D been checked? Mine is very low at 47 and that can cause fatigue, hairloss etc etc etc. I have been taking them for 5 weeks now and still dont feel any better though, so am waiting for private bloods to come back whilst changing GP's!
I hope your bloods come back to show that your are not 'within normal limits' and then you can get your treatment adjusted xx
I too am getting fed up with it being classed as depression. I am not depressed, I do go out till the exhaustion gets too much.
Take care
Ann xxx
Hi ChemicalAngel,
Just wondered what VD3 dosage and what brand. I started taken quite a low dose of VD3 (2000 ius) and felt the effect immediately. By that I mean I felt brighter. The joint pains and tiredness did not go away for some months and I still have issues a year later. MRI shows bone is improving slowly. My reading was about 15 and is now 60.
Regards
Lin
Unfortunately, you have yet another GP who has no understanding of how to treat thyroid gland problems. Your symptoms sound very very hypo and the reason I believe (I am not medically qualified) is that your dose of 50mcg is too low. It is a starting dose.
The response of the doctor is enough to make one feel depressed because you are getting no feedback from him on how to recover your health.
If you email louise.warvill@thyroiduk.org and ask for a copy of the Pulse Online article by Dr Toft, ex President of the British Thyroid Association. Question 6, I believe, is the one you want to circle for your GP and send it to him before your next appointment.
This is what happens with too low a dose and we have to be determined to get well and they should not force us to self-medicate. Cursor to the question dated November 20, 2002.
You will find other topics at the top of the page but some links within may not work.
Don't despair, here's what I suggest:
Get the booklet "Understanding Thyroid Disorders" by Dr Toft in association with the British Medical Association. Dr Toft is very highly regarded in the establishment medical world, has been president of the British Thyroid Foundation and is even surgeon to the Queen in Scotland. So your GP can't dismiss him!
The booklet may be found in large chemists and is available on Amazon for under £5.
On page 98 it says:
Q "I feel better when I am taking a higher dose of thyroxine than recommended by my doctor. Is this safe?"
A "There is considerable debate about the correct dose of thyroxine. The consensus is that enough should be given to ensure that levels of T4 in the blood are at the upper limit of normal or slightly elevated and those of TSH at the lower limit of normal, or in some patients undetectable." It then mentions over replacement risks.
SO..... The consensus is that you should be not just anywhere in the "normal" range but at the upper limit.
When your blood test results come back as for the actual results and what the lab ranges are. If you are near the upper limit then whip out this booklet and show your GP.
Although too much thyroid medication may increase the risk of osteoporosis so do many other common drugs including anti depressants. If you google anti depressants and osteoporosis you'll find information on it. But I was never once warned of this risk when I was diagnosed as depressed (before they finally found I was hypo) and I was given anti depressants like smarties. If your doctor offers you anti depressants again I would mention the osteoporosis risk with those too!
Best of luck, hope this helps.
Hugs,
Totoro.
Dr Lowe has said elsewhere on his site that some patients when they have had a bone scan, their bones are in a better state than before.
This is a link
Hi mg51
Did you take your levo before you had your blood test. If so, this could tip you into the 'normal' range. If you haven't taken your daily dose, you may well find a difference and you are out of range. Advice I've seen on here is don't take you meds until after your blood test.
I've also learnt that time of day can make a difference - 8pm is said to be the best time for an average reading - apparently TSH drops through the day and is highest at midnight. Having a later blood test could also be just enough to pull you into 'normal'.
Just a couple of thoughts which could help change a 'just in range' result to 'an out of range' result...
Good luck.
Hi
My results have always been in the 'normal range' although always at the low end/borderline. My GP didn't feel comfortable increasing my meds but was more than happy to refer me to an endo for another opinion, she even said she try and pick one that was appropriate to me.
Don't get me wrong, she's not been great and likes to play safe but she does help as much as she feels she can. Your GP could refer you too if he wanted, so think it's definitely time to change GP.
Good luck
Its not the osteoporosis my doc keeps banging on about, in fact he's never ever mentioned that, its always I am at a massive risk of having a heart attack or stroke, from what he classes as being over medicated! Even wanted me sign a disclaimer at one point many years ago, to which I refused!
Thank you everyone for your comments, I have increased to 75mcg myself to try for a month and keep a diary of how I am, taking B12 and selenium and will let you know how my results are when they come back xx
As already mentioned, your vit D levels need to be checked as well as serum ferritin, serum iron, folate and B12. I see that you are taking B12, what dose are you on?
You need the result and reference ranges for these tests.
Having low iron levels will affect how well your thyroid meds are working. Don't accept the term normal for these tests. The range for serum ferritin is wide so even if you are at the bottom of the range you will be told that your result is normal - Maddie
Hi - The type of B12 you are taking is important in order to get the best absorption. The methyl form of B12 is recommended for this. I take 1,000 iu's per day.
Selenomethionine (yeast free) is the best form of Selenium for absorption.
50mcg of thyroxine is usually regarded as a starter dose and it seems that many GP's do not realise this and cause more problems for the patient. This happened to me until I realised what was happening and started to do some research. I hope that you can educate your GP - Maddie
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