Guest guest Posted October 29, 2011 Report Share Posted October 29, 2011 Dear Caz Is there any chance you could change your GP to one that actually cares. This doctor will only cause you more ill health. What you need to do is to write a letter to this man and ask him to acknowledge in writing to you that he has read the letter and placed it into your medical notes and to arrange a date for the requested blood tests to be done. You should not go to see him to ask him face to face, especially as you already know he will refuse you. A doctor can deny conversations, as these are done in private between you and him behind closed doors, but he cannot deny the written word, this is why it is so important to write questions/requests etc down. First, you need to list every single one of your symptoms, not forgetting the signs you are showing. You can check these against those in our web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk under 'Hypothyroidism' and then 'Symptoms and Signs'. Next, take your basal temperature for 4 or 5 mornings before you get out of bed and if yours are 97.8 degrees F (36.6 degrees C, or less) then you must list these too. Next, list any members of your family who have a thyroid or autoimmune disease as this can run down the family line. Next, ask for the following blood tests to be done to check your thyroid status: TSH, free T4, free T3 and tests to see if you have thyroid antibodies. These are called TPO and TgAb. Ask that when the results are back, these are made available to you, together with the reference range for each of the tests done. Next, ask for the following specific blood tests to be done to see whether any of these are low in the reference range. These are iron, transferrin saturation%, ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin D3, magnesium, folate, copper and zinc. Should any of these be low, the thyroid hormone your gland is producing will not be able to be properly utilised at the cellular level, where it matters. If you think your GP will say there is no such connection between low levels of these specific minerals and vitamins and low thyroid, then copy out the references listed below to the research and studies already undertaken to show that there is. Next, tell the GP you want a second opinion and a thorough clinical examination of a doctor of your choice, and give him the name and address of who you choose. (Dr Skinner does need a written referral from your GP). Last, remember to ask for your letter to be placed into your medical notes and for a date to be given for the above blood tests to be done. If there is a Head of Practice, send a copy of your letter to him/her also and keep a copy yourself. Remember to date the letter too. Meanwhile, do you have the results of your last thyroid function tests you had done and the reference range? If so, post them here on the forum and we will help with their interpretation. Hope this helps Luv - Sheila I`m not on any medication for Thyroid, i have been on and off the forum since 2009, my GP wont take any notice if i mention thyroid and my symptoms because all my TSH have come back in " Normal " range (they range from 0.19 to 3). I`m going to go see him once more and ask for all the bloodtests suggested on here, tho i dont think he`ll even agree to that, so if not i`m going to make an appointment for Dr S, my parents know how ill ive been, and are helping me with costs. Can i go and see Dr S without a referral? as i`m not sure my GP will referr me. Thanks Caz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2011 Report Share Posted October 31, 2011 Hi Caz - good luck, it is always best to work with your doctor, and if he is willing to read through whatever you send to him and discuss possibilities with you, then all to the good. However, as doctors are so badly trained when it comes to endocrinology, you would be best off being referred to an endocrinologist. There are many on this forum who have been driven to self medication - and the majority of them are doing really fine. However, it is a fact that once a member has found the right treatment and got back their normal health, they have no need to stick around here anymore as they just want to get on with their normal everyday lives as they no longer need help and support. If you are left with no choice but to self medicate with natural thyroid extract, then please read as much as you can about hypothyroidism and the associated conditions that go along with that. Ask your GP also to give you a full thyroid function test before you start, that should include TSH, free T4, free T3 and TPO and TgAb tests to see whether you have thyroid antibodies. Ask also for your levels of iron, transferrin saturation%, ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin D3, magnesium, folate, copper and zinc to be tested to see whether any of these are low in the reference range. If any are low, no amount of thyroid hormone can be fully utilised at the cellular level until whatever is low has been supplemented. You should also complete the three Questionnaires that you will find in our FILES SECTION. You can access FILES from the Menu on our Home Page of this forum thyroid treatment .. On the Page that opens, scroll down the FOLDERS to the one entitled 'Medical Questionnaires. Once you have completed those, let us know how you scored. Also, whilst still in the FILES SECTION - open the one entitled 'All Natural Thyroid Extract' and check out the document entitled 'How to Use Natural Thyroid Extract. That should tell you what you need to know. Also in the FILES SECTION is one entitled 'Internet Pharmacies' and there you will find a list where you can buy the different brands of desiccated thyroid extract. Any more questions, just shout! Luv - Sheila I know this sounds weird, but i actually like my GP and get on ok with him, i just feel as if he either doesnt know anything about Thyroid at all, or has his hands tied, he IS the head of practice. I am going to do what you suggest, i`m going to post lots off info to him FIRST, so he can read thru it. if push comes to shove could i try Amour off my own back, without being monitored by a GP? Has/Does anyone on else on here do that? Is it dangerous? I`ve had enough, all i do know is that i AM NOT prepared to live like this for the rest of my life. _,_._,___ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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