help me not to get fobbed off at consultants

[prettypurpledaisy]

I have had an underactive thyroid for 11 years and have felt crap even when on thyroxine. I am constantly exhausted and unable to lose weight. I have blood tests which the doctor tells me are normal but still feel awful. I have been referred back to the specialist due to constant moaning. My appointment is next wednesday and I am worried I will be fobbed off and come away having acheived nothing.
Please help with what to say so that I am taken seriously. I always go in believing that things will change but sit mute and nodding while they tell me everything is ok.
Advice please.

take a list of questions and symptoms with you and make sure they answer them whilst you are there

Can someone go with you?

I always find someone else can ask/remind you of stuff and provide some moral support

Can you write down what you want to say,any questions you want to ask and take it with you.Maybe you could make a diary over the next week of when your symptoms are at their worst,what happens and how you feel.?

Agree with Wrinklytum's suggestion.

Do you know the details of your thyroid function test results ? Even though they fall within the normal range they may in fact not be normal for you. Any TSH level of 2 and above is classed by my Gp { who is extremely enlightened in matters of thyroid testing }and my consultant as underactive. It could be that although you are classed as having 'normal' results you still have an underactive thyroid. Could be something to ask your consultant about.

Ask them to up your dosage since the tests are not 100% accurate - they don't fine tune very well.

My results were indicating I should be on 75mcg but I felt better on 100mcg to which my gp agreed.

I will do that for the next week thanks for the suggestion. The problem being I don't think I will be taken seriously, my blood tests show my levels are within the normal range but I feel anything but normal. I am so tired all the time and that makes me ratty with dh and dc's.
I am such a wimp though when in front of dr! Dh has to go to work that day, my mum has offered to come but someone has to be here to pick up ds, so have to go alone.

Sorry missed the last two replies. I have been on 125mg per day but my last blood test showed up too high so my dosage has been reduced to 100mg and 125mg on alternate days. Last test showed 'normal'. I just feel awful. Thanks for advice.

Have a look here -

thyroid.about.com/cs/hypothyroidism/a/undertreated.htm

it may give you some ideas for questions to ask.

Sorry but despite trying several times I have still not mastered the art of doing a link.

Winetimeisfinetime thank you so much for the link, I am now armed with a full list of my symptoms which have not got better with thyroxine alone, and have some questions now about alternative treatments from another site. Thank you I feel much more confident to face consultant. I will probably still come away no better off but at least will not cry or just accept that I am 'normal'. Thanks again, will let you know how I get on on Wednesday.