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Can't Doctors See Past Diabetes?

C

carol43

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,198
Location
South Nottinghamshire
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I've been having trouble with my thyroid, fluctuating levels, tiredness, hair falling out, all the usual symptoms. Doctors have said your TSH is fine and that is all. So from taking advice from Thyroid UK I had a private blood test done. Sent the results and diagnostic to surgery and asked for a consultation. Appointment this morning, the doctor hadn't even looked at the results and just wanted to discuss diabetes, (HbA1C was 44 at last test, weight loss just over 3 stones) which was fascicle. . I brought the subject back to my thyroid results and I had to give her my copy. She said I shouldn't rely on them because different labs use different chemicals and there is nothing wrong with my TSH levels. Perhaps I am tired through diabetes - ggrrrrrr. B12 & Vit D were low so she has agreed a blood test.

How do we get doctors to listen to us and at least read what we give them. It has really upset me this morning, I don't like being ignored.
Carol
 
There is a website called 'stop the thyroid madness' that I think you may find useful. They advocate natural desiccated thyroid treatment rather than synthroid and treating according to symptoms rather than blood test results,me specially if they are only testing for T4, which I think is the norm in the UK.

Stopthethyroidmadness.com

Also, Dr David Brownstein is very informative about Iodine deficiency, which I think is an issue for many people.

Drbrownstein.com
 
Hello. I'm not experienced in the thyroid field but saw your post. I'm probably wrong but have your tests shown any iron deficiency? It was the tiredness thing that stood out for me.
 
carol43 said:
I've been having trouble with my thyroid, fluctuating levels, tiredness, hair falling out, all the usual symptoms. Doctors have said your TSH is fine and that is all. So from taking advice from Thyroid UK I had a private blood test done. Sent the results and diagnostic to surgery and asked for a consultation. Appointment this morning, the doctor hadn't even looked at the results and just wanted to discuss diabetes, (HbA1C was 44 at last test, weight loss just over 3 stones) which was fascicle. . I brought the subject back to my thyroid results and I had to give her my copy. She said I shouldn't rely on them because different labs use different chemicals and there is nothing wrong with my TSH levels. Perhaps I am tired through diabetes - ggrrrrrr. B12 & Vit D were low so she has agreed a blood test.

How do we get doctors to listen to us and at least read what we give them. It has really upset me this morning, I don't like being ignored.
Carol
Click to expand...

Carol, I managed too achieve breaking that constant link with diabetes by challenging it directly.

My total Cholesterol number is always high, but the constituent parts all very good. I refer to it as being "an inconveniently high total". Over time, I have discussed it with my preferred GP and she is now in agreement with my own interpretation of the results. One on occasion, however she was still wittering on about statins and how diabetics should have a total of x, y and z. My challenge was, "At which point am I given any credit or recognition for HbA1cs well below even pre-diabetes levels?".

Her response was, "Good challenge, I see what you mean. Would you like to come off the Diabetes Register?" She then explained I would remain "At Risk" so it would still be pertinent to have an annual HbA1c anyway. I still also have the retinopathy scans.

Sometimes I just don't think their thinking is challenged enough, although I usually try to be a bit more tactful than I was that time. It is incredibly frustrating though. Good luck with the thyroid challenges.
 
Hi Carol, I have had hypothyroidism (hashimotos) for 6 years now, I was diagnosed abroad but understand that the nhs considers a tsh of above 10 to be evidence of thyroid failure!!!
I would suggest asking for a print out of the results of your thyroid test as I think they have a habit of just saying its ok. I believe they should also take into consideration your symptoms if it's lower than ten.
Different labs may use different chemicals but they should give you a normal range and if your outside that then it should be addressed.
I had the antibody test, free t3 and free t4 abroad as well as the usual tsh, t3, t4, I could be wrong but I think nhs only test tsh, t3 and t4. British thyroid foundation do a good explanation of tests and results
http://www.btf-thyroid.org/information/leaflets/34-thyroid-function-tests-guide
first time I have put a link in so hope it works!!!
As far as I'm aware the nhs don't prescribe the natural dessicated thyroid treatment,but could be wrong. I had a friend ( in Australia) who had a combination of t3 and t4 she says it worked wonders for her but I think nice guideline for hypothyroidism is just thyroxine.
I don't think gp's really know that much about thyroid issues and how horrid it can make you feel.
I don't know if hair falling out is a sign of diabetes but it sure is a sign of undiagnosed hypothyroidism!!
Good luck with your GP, I call them gatekeepers.
Just before I was diagnosed with thyroid problem I felt like I had been slowly dying for two years I got every bug/virus going, no energy to the point of laying in a chair all day falling asleep when people spoke to me, my heart felt it was pounding out of my chest when ever I walked a few steps, went to gp who said it was my weight and tried to prescribe anti-depressants , which I refused. I told my daughter I really though I was dying, she took me to a&e I had pneumonia and my haemoglobin was 5 ( it should have been 14) . It was brought back up to 10 in a couple of days and I felt like super woman. When I saw my GP again she just said " you've been though the mill, haven't you". Moral of the story is you know your own body and you have every right to be heard and treated.
 
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carol43 said:


These are my results.
Click to expand...
Well, the results don't suggest hypothyroidism. With hypothyroidism you would expect the TSH to be high - not only is the TSH within the normal range, it is right near the bottom of the range. Also with hypothyroidism, you would expect the free T4 and T3 to be low - in contrast, these results show a normal free T3 and a raised free T4.

However, the the raised anti-thyroid antibodies (shown under immunology) could indicate a problem - it would be worth re-checking the TSH and T4/T3 after a few months to check whether hyperthyroidism is developing.

It's good that your doctor is following up the low B12 levels.
 
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