thyroid deficiency

mr_rush

I take the view that GPs are exactly that, general practitioners, and if they have not taken a special interest in a particular illness they will only have a general overview of what a patient is presenting with and unfortunately some GPs drag their feet when it comes to referring the patient to a specialist.

It is wrong to think that just because someone is diagnosed with hypothyroidism they need referral to a specialist. Then what is the point of the GP - sore throat goes to the ENT consultant, asthma to the Resp team etc etc...

Hypothyroidism is (generally) a very straightforward condition and the vast majority of GPs are completely competent in managing it. There is rarely a need for a hospital referral.

TomsMom

mr_rush wrote: »

(I was told that in the time spent at med school [is it 7 years???] approximately half a day is spent on the thyroid - someone correct me if I am wrong)

No totally incorrect.
Covered on repeated occasions throughout med school and beyond. Who told you such rubbish. Do you think that 5 hours are devoted to thyroid in a lecture theatre and then you move on the the next organ/disorder and never come back to it?

Thank you for correcting me Mr Rush. However, there was no need to be quite so rude in your reply.

TomsMom

mr_rush wrote: »

I take the view that GPs are exactly that, general practitioners, and if they have not taken a special interest in a particular illness they will only have a general overview of what a patient is presenting with and unfortunately some GPs drag their feet when it comes to referring the patient to a specialist.

It is wrong to think that just because someone is diagnosed with hypothyroidism they need referral to a specialist. Then what is the point of the GP - sore throat goes to the ENT consultant, asthma to the Resp team etc etc...

Hypothyroidism is (generally) a very straightforward condition and the vast majority of GPs are completely competent in managing it. There is rarely a need for a hospital referral.

You have quite strong views Mr Rush and your first paragraph shows that you take a point to the extreme. Maybe you are a GP - if you are I do hope you are a good one who listens to his patients and takes symptoms into account and not just what the text book says.

You are obviously not a patient with an underactive thyroid that a GP has misdiagnosed as depression, CFS/ME or even epilepsy or a myriad of other complaints that many, many patients have over the years.

When you do suffer from hypothyroidism that your GP misses for 5 years or more and your health deteriorates to the point where you can do nothing because your energy levels have become so depleted and, if you were a woman you would not be able to do the daily household routine of getting up, personal washing, getting your children off to school, keeping house for your family and cooking, when you have put on a great deal of weight that no amount of dieting will shift, when your skin has become so dry that it flakes off your legs when you remove your trousers, when you have been put on the wrong medication for a misdiagnosed conditon and suffered side effects of it ....... and I could go on ....... then go to one of the thyroid charities or thyroid forums and tell your story, you will hear a great deal more, some horrendous.

As far as your comment "Hypothyroidism is (generally) a very straightforward condition and the vast majority of GPs are completely competent in managing it. There is rarely a need for a hospital referral." then I assume you missed my comment In the case of thyroid conditions, many patients are put on thyroxine and after repeated blood tests/dose adjustment they chug along quite nicely, it is those who still suffer symptoms and their quality of life is affected that the GPs should be hearing alarm bells and refer on.

ktb

My friend was recently diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer & there have been lots of thyroid conditions in the woman on Mum's side of the family so I decided to do some reading around the subject... Although dealing with a more holistic approach, I found this book fascinating.. http://www.drbrownstein.com/singleproduct.asp?id=787

moneysaver12

i got diagnosed 3 and a half years ago now. I find that sometimes i find i am either too hot or cold, i feel the cold a lot, and when my oh is nice and warm i will be really cold. I find that my memory is not good. I have asked my doctor about a natural form of the tablet and they tell me that they don't know what im on about. Im going to go back to them after reading the information from the link

ferretfriend

Does anyone know the procedure when changing from synthetic thyroxine (eltroxin f.ex) to Armour thyroid?

blue-kat

ferretfriend wrote: »

Does anyone know the procedure when changing from synthetic thyroxine (eltroxin f.ex) to Armour thyroid?

in my opinion changing over should be done under medical supervision.

I currently take a combination of 100mcg levythyroxine and 1 or 1/2 armour (alt days).
I started with 1/4 tablets of armour and built up, and decreased levythyroxine dose.
hth

Mojisola

ferretfriend wrote: »

Does anyone know the procedure when changing from synthetic thyroxine (eltroxin f.ex) to Armour thyroid?

This is useful information -
https://www.tpa-uk.org.uk/natural_treatment_for_hypothyroidism1.php

TomsMom

ferretfriend wrote: »

Does anyone know the procedure when changing from synthetic thyroxine (eltroxin f.ex) to Armour thyroid?

I presume you got your prescription/supply of Armour through a doctor (possibly private)? In that case he should guide you through the procedure.

It would be rather foolish to change yourself over from thyroxine to Armour without your doctor knowing.

gemold

mr_rush wrote: »

I take the view that GPs are exactly that, general practitioners, and if they have not taken a special interest in a particular illness they will only have a general overview of what a patient is presenting with and unfortunately some GPs drag their feet when it comes to referring the patient to a specialist.

It is wrong to think that just because someone is diagnosed with hypothyroidism they need referral to a specialist. Then what is the point of the GP - sore throat goes to the ENT consultant, asthma to the Resp team etc etc...

Hypothyroidism is (generally) a very straightforward condition and the vast majority of GPs are completely competent in managing it. There is rarely a need for a hospital referral.

DR speak in my experience. Lets hope you're not as dismissive and superior as the two post sounds and that the patients a point of view and some input into their own lives.

I have learned more from reading this site and have found more reassurance and practical advice than any professional has bothered to give me. Please read my story: (I know it's long but it has taken 3.5yrs to get to this point of being and feeling dismissed.)

I'm a married mum of 2 boys and a girl - 5.5yrs, 3.5yrs and 20mths. I'm a secondary PE teacher and I love my job, my school and my department (I'd never get up otherwise).

I have a wonderful family and couldn't imagine coping without their support.

The thyroid stuff:

A goitre appeared just before the birth of my second in late 04. After the birth and a scan and FNB I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's and told my levels were fine.
I However never thought I recovered from the pregnancy and birth but ended believing the the GP and Endo that it was my job and my 2 little ones that were the problem (yes this word was used) so I just got on with it thinking I just had a body that was nest to useless.

Pregnant with my 3rd I thought I'd made a big mistake as I felt so low and tired. I had my precous daughter but her first mths are a blurr of exhaustion, pain and mood swings - all was put down to p.n.d. - I was told to choose what type of mother I wanted to be and maybe stop working or change my career.

I returned to work after mat. leave because I love my job and see no fair reason why I should not have a full life even if it is difficult sometimes. I felt things were amiss but have never had the courage to argue with the GP and Endo.

Goitre suddenly grew and FNB showed some suspicious cells and I was advised to have it removed. Was also told that as I had always been border-line low I'd prob need thyroxine sooner rather than later. Yes, like I said earlier - I'd always be told I was fine and the results were fine - lies or just not bothered.

Other than being told things were in my head or of my own doing they had told me nothing of the thyroid and it's effects and the symptoms to look out for.This made me angry/sad/baffled... I'd put up with so much, not knowing it was or could all be related for almost 3yrs I'd thought the drs would surely tell me if there was a prob and foolishly didn't ask if anything I felt other than my weight could be related. I was oblivious to the list of symptoms and went along with the tuts and self induced theory of exhaustion - my 3 babies under 4 and my job.

The goitre was removed June 07 and I was put on 50mcgs in the October. I had repeat bloods done in December and was told they'd be in touch if there were any probs. They didn't get in touch. I started to feel worse but as they didn't get in touch I thought I'd wait to see if I improved.

Mid Jan 08 I put in a repeat prescription for excema creams for my dry and sore and itchy skin that no-body bothered to relate to the thyroid - and was given 2 scripts in return - 1 for creams and 1 for 100mcgs thyroxine and another blood test form!
The increased script had been issued on 14th Dec 07 and had been waiting for me in reception for 32 days - no-one had bothered to inform me despite their assurance they'd be in touch if necessary.

Bloods late feb were apparently fine (just 5 weeks after the incr. in dose) - TSH 2.34 and T4 13.4. I however feel as bad as ever, although my skin's not quite as dry as it has been.

I managed to get a drs appointment today - like the holy grail - a man I've never met before - described my symptoms and how I feel and was told I was probably depressed and needed a couple of weeks off work. "Your TSH is in range and that's what's imprtant."

I tried to stand my ground but he said he was not prepared to make me T4 toxic and I should wait til at least the end of May/June before checking levels. According to him it'd take months and months for things to decline. He instead gave me a form for blood count and ferritin levels.

I also mentioned about again having an uncomfortable swallow and how my multi vit tablets feel like they get stuck... not interested. I held out my cold hands he ignored me and I felt foolish. I mentioned how my periods now lasted for 12 days and my sudden spotting in between last 2 periods he asked if I may be pregnant and when I said no carried on talking about any possible stresses in my life.
I told him the only stress I felt was trying to deal with all my symptoms topped off by feeling dismissed - he told me many feel like this when they are down.

You tell me?
Hot flashes on face that feel like they should look scarlet, like bad sunburn, but there's nothing there.
Sudden bouts of twitches around eyes.
Acne, on scalp face and back.
Throbbing like tooth ache in my knees and ankles and around my wrists.
Clicking and crunching in most joints.
Dry itchy skin on my arms and shoulders.
Pins and needles in the soles of my feet in the morning.
Tiredness and lethargy without warning.
A flat feeling - disinterested in everyday 'stuff'.
Very irritable and quick tempered for reasons I can't even see/remember.
Difficulty following conversations or paying attention for very long - tuning out.
Not able to answer in discussions - working things out and thinking of the answer randomly later.
Fogetting what I was going to do - within seconds of going to or being asked.
Preferring to watch my children play rather than doing things with them.
Generally feeling dumb.
Paper work is all over the place, leave a mess where ever I go as can't seem to finish a job.
Sudden pmt - physical and moods - and spotting in between periods (new).
A lumpy thick sensation on left side when swallowing.
A zingy feeling shooting up left side of throat to ear.
My multi vits get stuck deep down in throat and sometimes wont shift for 5 mins or so.
Very sluggish in the late afternoon early evening but not dropping off til 12am+
Husband has to shove me awake as sleep through 2 alarms.
Don't like napping in the afternoon as I wake up trembling from the inside - very odd sensation.
Cold hands and feet and sleeping with jumper on top of PJs, sometimes have hot water bottles if legs are aching.
No energy or motivation to exercise despite it being my way of life - this I do find sad, not even using stepper at home now.
Absolutely no sex drive.
I even dared to mention the way I often see spiders or movements in the outside corners of my vision - but there's nothing there.

He was staring then turned back to the computer. I was obviously taking up his time.
The end. I came home and cried - oh woe is me

Despite feeing assertive and proactive by insisting on an appointment I now feel worse and am also doubting how I feel and my sanity.

I'm a young at heart, fun, lively, active and sporty but it seems that was another person and another's life... the life I live is upon waking a planned and considered exsistance and even then my body lets me down.

...but apparently I'm fine! It's okay to be unwell as long as the results and the computer says otherwise. Especially considering I have "(generally) a very straightforward condition and the vast majority of GPs are completely competent in managing it."