Endocrinologist visit last week- sorry long message

[Guest guest]

I had an appointment with an endocrinologist last week.

The person talking to me asked me why I thought I had a thyroid problem. I

reeled off and showed him a symptom sheet with lots of ticks on it !!.

I showed the result of the T3 urine test which was very low and went through my

medical history ( lots of ops).

He was intersted in the urine test as he turned out to be a biochemist not a

consultant...he wanted to know how much the test had cost. I told him that I was

not prepared to tell him as it was my business and that if he wanted to know to

look at the Genova website. We got into a discussion about NHS blood test and

ranges and I was quite insistent that just because I was in a " normal range "

that I was still unwell.

The problem with the urine test is that it is just a snapshot in one period of

time was a response, well surely that goes for blood tests as well I said....

I asked if my swollen tongue was a symptom of a thyroid problem.....not really

he said a swollen tongue also indicates a low vit B12 problem. Well my nhs b12

blood test has come back in the " normal " range I said so it cannot be that then

can it,,because as you say these tests are very accurate, so what is causing the

swollen tongue...no answer.

We had very lengthy conversations and he said that there are lots of other

causes for my symptoms like my fibromyalgia. I think that it is not fibromyalgia

but a thyroid problem I stated. I dont like this fibromyalgia label.

He then brought in the consultant who after another discussion about blood tests

and how they calculate the ranges for blood tests decided that he would redo

some tests. TSH FreeT3 FreeT4, calcium, hormones and thyroid anti-bodies as he

said that they had never been done by my gp....

He said that my liver tests were fine and i said no they are not. My cholesterol

is high and another test is high. Oh yes he said the Plasma gamma gt level is

high....but that test is very sensitive ??

There was no physical examination apart from checking my neck. I was weighed (

it had gone up again) and my blood pressure was high ( 164/82)which he commented

on. I explained that I was in pain with the fibro! and that when the blood

pressure cuff blows up it caused excrutiating pain in the muscles of my arm.

I now have to wait for all the blood test results to come back but if they are

normal then there will be no treatment on the NHS. I could get in trouble with

the GMC if I prescribe medication when your blood results are within a normal

range he said.

I said that years ago before doctors relied on blood tests that they would use a

patients symptoms to help diagnose thyroid problems and that it seems to be a

bit of lottery because different countries use different ranges. The biochemist

said that it was because they use different units of measures.

I could go on but you have probably heard enough....sorry, just getting even

more frustrated.

Any comments or suggestions are very welcome.

Dawn