Follow up on letter & GP appt re remaining symptoms on levothyroxine

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila et al

Well good news /bad news that's about how I'd put it. Thank you Sheila for the

recent advice on what to ask my doctor to do now (my post 5/6 Advice pre

doctor's appointment please). Please could you send me a copy of the list of

endo's who are amenable to T3 or combination therapy despite 'normal' blood

tests. I live in the South East (Essex) but can travel.

I wrote my GP a long (3 page typed letter) which I'm happy to share with others

if they would like a copy. The gist of this was that despite 4 yrs of

levothyroxine, 2 endocrinologists & a battery of blood and other tests I still

have 'residual' symptoms (Hashi's) and I wanted him to work with me to help me

regain my full health & wellbeing without just treating the symptoms.

The gist of the conversation (it was very one sided with him doing the majority

of the talking) was that he was not prepared to offer a trial of T3 or T3/T4 &

suggested a 2nd opinion (again!! This'll be the 3rd!!) He said he was surprised

by my letter. That the practice often get letters from patients; some are hand

written but most start off OK and end up as a rant whereas I had obviously taken

considerable time, worded it carefully and had researched when writing mine and

it succinctly got to the point!!His surprise seemed focused around the fact that

I'd not found the consultant's helpful or amenable to other forms of treatment.

That as a GP he would be constrained by 'guidelines' but consultants had more

freedom as they could defend their decisions to prescribe other treatments on

the strength of 'research' citing the last one I'd seen as being heavily

involved in research!!

I replied that perhaps I'd just been unlucky then and had seen those who held

rigid views - the first endoprat I saw had said 'oh you're not going to ask me

for dried pig thyroid like all the quacks prescribe'!!!

However - my GP WAS prepared to ask for T4 AND T3 to be tested along with the

other tests I've listed below and to discuss them and decide on further action

when they are all back - he said some of them have to go to an 'outside' lab

which could take over a month. He also said he is likely to be challenged about

requesting T3 but is happy to defend this in light of my continued symptoms. He

saw little point in my getting a Genova test for adrenals at this stage though.

The other tests he's asked for are:

Electrolytes (my last potassium was at the lowest margin of the range.)

Thyroid - including T4 & T3

Vit B12

Folate

Serum FE

TIBC

FBC

RA Test

ANA (HEp-2)

He said these last 2 are to see if there is any other 'auto immune' reaction

going on. He isn't able to ask for the trace mineral tests (zinc, Magnesium ,

selenium, copper) but has asked for Vit D. He said interestingly he has

requested this for quite a few people lately and without exception they'd all

returned below the bottom of the range so he thinks this is a common deficiency

tho he wasn't saying this was the root of all my symptoms!!

So will now have to sit tight and wait - yet again............

If anyone wants to use any of my letter they are welcome - just let me know &

I'll email it as I couldn't get it to attach to this post. Hope it's reasonably

accurate He didn't question any of the content just seemed surprised the

endoprats didn't help and my ability to write an 'educated' letter!! Am not

holding my breath!!

Cheers All