underactive thyroid advice please.

[SpaceCadet]

ive had underactive thyroid for 5 years and was boderline for many years before hand.
my tsh range is anything from 1.2 to 2.7, i feel at my best at around 1.5.
i take 150mcg a day, recently i moved house and the new surgery ordered a repeat thyroid test, the result was 1.5 which was good and i was feeling well, the gp then said i had to reduce my thyroxine to 100 mcg a day, i was not happy with this and asked why i was being reduced when my thyroid was at a healthy level, the gp said i was heading towards underactive and insisted i reduce, changing my repeat script.
against my better judgement i had no choice and reduced the meds knowing my levels would go up to about 3(or spo i thought) then id have to up it.
since then, i became ill with pluerisy and have become so tired to the point of non functioning, i went for a repeat tsh and today the surgery have rung and its 8!
i said right do i get to up my levels, she said no, the doctor wants to see you, but we havent got any appts for 3 weeks!
so im meant to soldier on, on an incorrect dosage of thyroxine for 3 weeks!, its little wonder ive been feeling so dreadful, at least i know now, shopuld i ring and demand an urgent appt?
or will i be ok, to waiut for 3 weeks?
any advice from anyone in the know or fellow thyroid sufferers appreciated.

Ring and demand an emergency appointment.

I was overactive for 3 years and in January
I was given radio iodine to "kill" the thyroid as medication didn't work.

I have felt so poorly since having the radio iodine, struggling desparately with thyroxine levels, and just feeling so dis-heartened with the treatment.

Luckily my GP is great, I can ring any time and pretty much see straight away, I would certainly not risk going 3 weeks if your levels can be sorted by a GP visit.

Please post to let me know how you get on.

Thinking of you.

angelsmummy, i just phoned and it said the surgery is closed for staff training..arrgghh! will have to phone back at 5, when they open..am not happy at all.

omg that sounds awful (you've had a right time of it recently haven't you, you poor thing!)

yes I would insist on an appointment. That is ridiculous - you can't wait 3 weeks.

im glad its not just me being unreasonable..i thought 3 weeks was a long wait.
i cant beleive they havent done a new script

Do you have a consultant as well as your GP? If so try his secretary?

I live in an area where the surgeries close for this staff training, its so damn annoying.

My sil worked in a doc surgery and she told me they have to keep so many appointments each day for emergencies, the catch is they aren't "allowed" to "ask" if its an emergency, its up to the patient to say "I NEED to see a doctor today"

Good luck.

angelsmummy-i dont have a consultant, havent been treated by a hospital.
the surgery dont give out urgent appts though unless you tell them what the appt is about, then they get the triage nurse to ring you and she will probably decide its not urgent.

Really stress to the triage nurse how poorly you are feeling.

Does your surgery do the same sort of thing as mine where you can ring or be at the surgery for 8.30am for an appointment the same day? You aren't guaranteed to see your own GP but its a start?

Do you live in a Surestart area? They might have a nurse practioner who can help?

no to all of those im afraid angelsmummy-i will just have to ring and beg to be seen.

I have another way...its a bit naughty but usually works.

Ring and ask for a home visit. 9.9 times out of 10 the receptionist will ask "can't you get to the surgery", at that point say that you might if you could get an appointment!

At worst you will at least get to see a doctor even if its at home.

Waiting for 3 weeks is ridiculous! And so is their general attitude.

Also, the DR could easily up your levels by writing an extra prescription without seeing you today, and still keep the appt in 3 weeks to see how you are doing.

Ring and ask for a Dr to ring you back about your results. Be firm.

If they refuse, ask for them to out a copy of their complaints procedure in the post to you as you will be making a complaint as you feel your pre-existing condition, which was perfectly under control at your previous Dr's, is being mishandled.

I have an underactive thyroid too and find that I am more sensitive to changes in my dose than the accepted time frame. I even notice if I forget to take one tablet.

frayed knot, thanks-the surgery opens again at 5, im going in person and im going to demand that a script is done there and then.

SC, good for you that you are going down there. I take synthroid myself and my doctor's never mess with my medication, I go for bloodwork every 4 months to be sure I am on the right dosage. If you can speak with your doctor, see if they can also check your Humane Growth Hormone levels. This is a separate test that they can do with your bloodwork (think they need to freeze part of the sample). If your levels are really low, this will also explain your lack of energy, etc. You will be able to take supplements to help, but it is important to see what your levels are like now so that they can monitor your improvement. I hope you feel better soon.

hi spacecadet. i hope going to the surgery works. FWIW I would ask to be referred to a consultant for any future appointments. I think they have to refer you if you ask and you have a recognised underactive thyroid. Your GP sounds to be not an expert in the field. Then also in future, you will always have the consultants secretary to speak to.

also, TBH, if i were you and you have no joy with the surgery, i would personally self medicate and up your dosage to the previous amount (just cut your current 100mcg tabs in half. you know better than anyone when you are not getting enough medication, and obviously it is not too much for you. (have you got any thyroid left???)

back from the gps and i now have a script for 200 mcg, however, the doctor still wants to see me as they arent happy with my t3 levels apparently.

Glad you got the dosage that should help you, I'm struggling on 150 at the moment, but its difficult at the moment as for some unknown reason I don't seem to be absorbing the thyroxine as I should, its hard to get a balance, hope you are feeling better very soon x

angelsmummy-i frequently have the problem or appearing to have low tsh, but low t4, suggesting that although its being proiduced, its not circulating properly.