The Hypothyroid gardener

[VirginVegGrower]

If they're doing bloods, get them to check for anaemia too. Ask them to do T4, T3 and TRH and TSH or they'll just do one of the T's. And 'borderline' is a piece of carp - the 'line' is different for everyone. Oh yeah, and your doctor needs a slap....no illnesses with tiredness as a symptom FFS!!!

You deserve a better quality of life than you have SL, so get your exhausted butt down to doctors!

Jules

B12 too not just iron levels.

[Finedon.Dandy]

My own personal theory for the tawdriness of the medical profession in diagnosing Hypothyroidism is because, once you're diagnosed and on Levothyroxine, you are on it for life and this comes out of your GP's or local Health Trust's budget.

Jules

Too true - never thought of it that way - they now not only have to pay for that but also my asthma medication, hayfever treatments and anything else that I may need so it must soon mount up.

Mind you it doesnt explain why you have such a fight to get levels adjusted when you are on it too.

[julesapple]

Yes it does....higher level doses cost more. My previous GP spent ages trying to talk me out of going on to Thyroxine in the first place, and when I went to have my dosage increased he started again, trying to talk me out of that too. And yet, there are more health risks not being on the drug, or the right level of it, than not, so the only reason I can see is the financial one.

Fifteen months ago, a new surgery opened in our village and we were positively urged by our old surgery to change to the new one. We were a bit taken aback by this attitude until the BH worked out that, between us, we cost the surgery quite a few pounds per year. The old surgery was getting rid of patients who were chronically ill and keeping the more cost-effective healthier patients. We did change, but because we didn't like the doctors in the old surgery, rather than to save the old practice money.

We got a brilliant GP, she was just great and then, last Summer she resigned. Now we haven't a clue who we'll see and the doctors there now just want you in and out in 5 minutes or faster. They don't read your records and they haven't a clue about your medical history.

Jules

[VirginVegGrower]

What's the procedure for complaining "up" re: doctors? Maybe those of us with problems should do that. I've woken with a headache again this morning (not booze related). I must get this at least 60-75% of the week. Temp is 34.3 today, that's basal, whilst under a duvet and resting. Last night we had a roaring fire, everyone, except me was in t shirts. I had a jumper on and a throw over me and my feet were still like ice.
There are petitions re: thyroid which I think are trying to bring UK parameters in line with the rest of western world. I am signing...

[julesapple]

VVG, you are seriously poorly! I'm not being rude, honestly, I'm not. Your thyroid just isn't coping and if your medics don't see sense soon the damage to your system will be done. I'm nowhere near as bad as you are, and I was told four years to get back to how I should be having not been diagnosed for a long time.

Please get seen to very very soon! Don't leave the surgery until they do something for you. Can you self-refer to an endocrinologist?

Jules

[VirginVegGrower]

I am booked for Feb 13th and if I don't get sorted, you will all be reading about my trial in the papers
At least I've booked a half decent GP!

[VirginVegGrower]

VVG, you are seriously poorly! I'm not being rude, honestly, I'm not. Your thyroid just isn't coping and if your medics don't see sense soon the damage to your system will be done. I'm nowhere near as bad as you are, and I was told four years to get back to how I should be having not been diagnosed for a long time.

Please get seen to very very soon! Don't leave the surgery until they do something for you. Can you self-refer to an endocrinologist?

Jules

I don't believe so although I have picked up a Dr Skinner on the Thyroid pages. Might call!

[SlugLobber]

Just to update you all. I did have my appointment with the nurse today who was utterly lovely. After pricking me in three places (both arms and left hand), we had to submerge my right hand in hot water as my veins weren't having any of it, even with a paediatric needle. I've got a great sodding bruise on my hand to prove it!

She said it didn't say on her screen which levels they checked, but if they came back borderline or normal to come back and everything else could be checked.

I know I'm not anaemic - I considered that, but when I give blood, the test blob drops like a stone.

I've done quite well since Saturday. Felt fine on Sunday and not bad since. Is anyone else like that? Feeling ok sometimes, then utterly knackered at other times?

Anyway, I'd better get back to reading up on mucins. Have my research project approval meeting tomorrow, so need to swot up!

[lottie dolly]

glad you been SL,how awfull for you,hope your hand soon recovers,ref ups and downs,yes,it can be hours or days,it's a horrible experience,the nature of it is,you never know from day to day what effects are comming on,everyone suffering with this has different things going on,and indeed at varing levels,it's worse than the **** fairy on a visit i was a several years on so called boarded line,and no treatment,although i did learn that a gland compensates,and this is a drain on your system also,it seems peeps only get to know a few facts later on,like the medics want to keep it under the counter lol,yet a body i know only had slight problems,after chatting to me,saw her gp,and is now on thyroxin same as me,it seems to depend on what GP you got,

[Two_Sheds]

I was told by an EXPERIENCED Doctor that there weren't any illnesses where tiredness was a major symptom

He doesn't believe in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome then?

I don't have much time for doctors. My cancer was misdiagnosed for 4 months, by two GPs and a dentist, who all just gave me mouthwashes. The lump in my neck wasn't investigated at all until I finally managed to get referred to the Ear Nose & Throat team. I was rushed in for a biopsy and had major surgery a week after that, followed by 9 months of chemo/radiotherapy....it had been allowed to spread to my lymph system.

So girls, get yourselves checked, and re-checked until you get somewhere.

[di]

Sorry, TS...I don't like what you had to go through, just your last comment. If you're not happy with what the Doctor says/ doesn't say, either keep going back or find one that understands your problems.

I don't have a problem, as such, with any of the Doctors at my surgery, all I'll say is that some are better with some illnesses than others. Considering they're GPs, it's understandable that they can't know everything about everything, that's what specialists are for. I think they should have some sort of guideline for patients as to which GP is more knowledgable on which subject.

[Finedon.Dandy]

I've done quite well since Saturday. Felt fine on Sunday and not bad since. Is anyone else like that? Feeling ok sometimes, then utterly knackered at other times?

Oh yes - thats me all the time! There doesnt seem to be any rhyme or reason to it but I just know if I had the time (and energy ) to plot diet, mood, stress, energy etc I would find a patern and possibly then work out my triggers in order to potentialy avoid them. One day....

[polo]

Yep underactive here. Keep going and pushing at the doctors for a good endo appointment. It took me about 4 years to feel normal again but my endo was very obliging and was very amenable to upping thyroxine to really suppress TSH if I still had symptoms. Its also the only way to get t3 checked!! He even told me which local gp was best to register at. Now on 175mcg and have been for some time and no longer under the endo.

Take someone else to appointments to help - its too hard when your underactive to really stick to your guns.

Most of all, be gentle with yourself - keep going but dont get overtired

x

[lottie dolly]

well said POLO,4 years me as well,have also noticed on this thread 1 or 2 other the same time span,so this throwes another interesting point up,

[julesapple]

Anyone else suffering in this intense cold weather?

The house is like a furnace, but I'm freezing. I'm wearing fingerless gloves to type. I was okay until I had to go out for shopping and I got cold, really bone-deep achingly cold (even though I was so wrapped up I could hardly move!) I thought I would warm up once home and in the kitchen doing tea, but no, I was still frozen. Sat in bed now after a bath, in my flannelette nightshirt, fleecy cardi, gloves and fluffy socks and I'm warming up slowly, but hands are still icebergs.

I've never managed to get the better of this symptom

Jules