Seeing my doc about underactive thyroid - what should I ask him?

[shivermekimbers]

I've been called in to see my Dr following an abnormal result on my latest thyroid test and I want to make sure I ask all the right questions to get the best treatment. I've had hypothyroidism all my life (diagnosed at 6 weeks old). As a child, I had to go to the hospital for check-ups and dosage monitoring every couple of months but once I reached 16, I was handed over to my GP for care and since then have just had a yearly blood test and usually just get a call to say everything is fine, carry on as normal. Couple of times I've had my dosage adjusted but no major reviews. So although I've lived with an under-active thyroid all my life, all my info basically comes from what I was told ages ago as a child and I'm now 29 years old.

Now I've been considering TTC at some point in the near future so have started to look in to it more as I'd like to make sure that everything is fine first. I've also been struggling with undiagnosed depression, anxiety, and problems with concentrating and I feel like it's likely related to my thyroid.

From my reading, it seems that many GPs aren't that great at treating thyroid conditions so I want to ask the right questions. If you've been diagnosed recently, you may be particularly helpful! I've had this forever but my lack of knowledge and the fact I do feel out of whack physically and mentally means I feel like I'm newly diagnosed. Help!

[ilovefrozenthenewfilm]

Ask for a referral to an endocrinologist, yes your GP can manage yearly bloods etc, but if you are having new symptoms & want to Ttc you should/could see a specialist.
How much thyroxine so you take?

I take 125mg & that has not changed since diagnosed at 17 & through two pregnancies.

[ilovefrozenthenewfilm]

There are good sites out there like thyroid uk - & people who are knowledgable on the numbers that come from blood tests so ask for a copy if your blood tests including the break down of TSH and T3 T4 cause they show/mean different things -

[seagull70]

Go to a website called 'health unlocked' and register with them - you'll have a choice of forums so go to the thyroid one.

Ask for a print off of all your latest blood results and oust them on the forum along with the 'ranges' and a list if your symptoms plus current dosage of your meds.

They are wonderful on there and will help you to ask the right questions of your GP x

[shivermekimbers]

Thanks ilovefrozen. I'm on 150 at the moment. I've never seen an actual copy of the bloods results with the numbers so I will ask for that. Is it fairly easy to get referred to an endocrinologist?

[shivermekimbers]

Thanks seagull, never heard of Health Unlocked before but just checked it out and the thyroid forum does seem very useful. I'll post my numbers on there when I get them

[RockinD]

Yes come and join us on Health Unlocked.

When you get copies of your results you will find out whether your GP is keeping you optimally medicated or just keeping your TSH within the, mostly fallacious, reference range.

If you are looking at TTC, you need to know that the NICE Guidelines say your TSH needs to be under 2 and if necessary you need to wave that at your GP once you've seen your results.

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroidism#!scenariorecommendation:7