Doctors referral

[bunnyrabbit93]

Hi all,

So I had my blood taken last Tuesday (8 weeks booking appointment ) and as expected my thyroid was raised and on the report I received in my maternity notes it says this consistent with hyperthyroidism and t3 thyrotoxicosis.

Anyways I was told to contact my gp to see what they want to do. Called and the doctor was very dismissive I had told her I was concerned and had been getting heart palpitations frequently and I know it's normal for pregnancy but I've been feeling very tired despite and good night sleep and was worried it was linked she said I have to referee you to a endocrinologist and rushed me off the phone.

As I have had this problem before just not as bad I knew all the consequences and was eager to get referred quickly I was expecting an appointment to come through the post Monday Tuesday.

Today I called to check if the request has been sent and was told it was only done today nearly a week after the appointment !!

AIBU to expect something to me urgent and quite distressing to be done a bit sooner ?

You aren't unreasonable to want it doing sooner, but I think that's not a bad turn-round time really.

Even if the GP had referred you the day she got the blood results back (?Wednesday) you wouldn't have had an appointment in the post by Monday!

IME it can take days if not weeks for hospital departments to receive, process and prioritise referrals, let alone send out an appointment.

You say "AIBU to expect something to me urgent and quite distressing" - with all kindness and respect, this isn't terribly urgent for the GP to prioritise against all her other work, so I think for it to be done 3-4 working days after is reasonable.

Hope you get sorted soon and feel better. Congratulations on your pregnancy

Slightly off topic but did the midwife or the GP take the blood test?

That's a pretty reasonable turnaround I think your expectations of an appointment within a couple of days was unrealistic

Unfortunately in these situations while it feels urgent and distressing to you it's just one of many things your GP has to do & you're just one of many people she's referring elsewhere.

On the plus side the fact she hasn't rushed it through would suggest she doesn't think it's anything major

This is actually quite a big deal depending on how overactive you are.
My dsis had to take beta blockers and a variety of other medication whilst pregnant. Then she had a thyroidectomy whilst pregnant. Obviously, surgery and anesthetic is a massive undertaking when pg.

How many weeks are you? I suggest you chase this, with GP and midwife too.

Also, I am HCP. GP will not always recognise the risks, you should definitely have an ECG too.

Yes it was the midwife that did my bloods.

I probably am expecting a lot but I also know how serious it can be. I wa referred with my daughter and the numbers were lower as I said and I got a letter from the hospital within a week of my blood results coming back. So I think from that I feel like it's a situation that would be taken more seriously. I wouldn't of minded if they said I just haven't got a appointment date but the doctor sent off the paper work the next day or even the day after not a whole week. Bearing in mind they send minimal notes as they don't have my history

Thank you all for your help :) x

I hope you get your appointment soon. As the midwife sent the blood test though, it is technically their responsibility to deal with the result, and there's no reason why he/she couldn't have made the referral. This is standard GMC etc guidance. Most hospital antenatal units will have a joint endocrine and obstetric clinic. GP's often get left to deal with abnormal test results, from tests that other HCP's have ordered, which may be why your GP sounded so rushed - it was probably extra work on top of their own. Obviously this is not your problem though, just a bit of a failure with the system.

The GP may have actually waited to speak to a specialist to wait to refer you to someone who is an endocrinologist who also specialises in pregnancy.

Two week turnarounds are for life-threatening illnesses, it's usually for cancer, or the types of illnesses that would land you in A and E repeatedly.

If you have had this problem before, why did you not follow it up earlier?

Hi all

I got a letter through the post for a appointment on the 26th so the receptionist must have got it wrong that it was only sent off yesterday.

Thanks for all your help