Is it worth going to GP (again)?

[LostTheMarble]

This may be long so apologies in advance!

Ive had ‘something’ ongoing for the past couple of years. My hair is thinning to the point of balding in places, periods going on for a couple of weeks (three weeks last month) despite being on the pill and taking it the same time every day. Without the pill they’re much heavier. I’ve had my thyroid tested, it was showing unusual results (afraid cannot remember which way around but of T3/T4 one was borderline high other borderline low which apparently means the start of thyroid issues in the gland?). Last doctor messed up the blood test by not ordering the T4 and therefore said I was apparently fine for another year. Again it was about as borderline as you can get for a ‘normal’ result. When I explained the previous doctor wanted to look at both T3/4 he shut me down and said to wait a year.

As a separate issue, I developed an abscess on my nipple a month ago. Had antibiotics and it seems to have cleared up, though still getting a burning sensation. I’m having constant cramps that feels like my period is about to start, pain in my lower back and now the pain has spread to my hip. It’s only ever on the left side, and radiates towards my belly button. I had a female hormone test 18 months ago which came back normal (not showing to be peri). Had a HPV positive smear a couple of years ago, the follow up was clear.

It feels like there are so many smaller issues, I don’t know if it’s all part of one bigger picture or if this is just something that’s ’typical’ of heading towards 40? I don’t want to (or simply can’t) go to the doctors with a list, they’ve been quite dismissive so far. Only ever had phone appointments for the thyroid discussion so they haven’t physically seen how bad the hair thinning is alone. I’m just quite fed up of being in increasing pain just to be told it’s normal or due to stress factors.

Low iron (below 70 even though Drs say much lower is ‘normal range’) can cause awful hair thinning, as can low B12/folate and low vitamin D. Have any of those been tested? Although many GP’s now no longer test vitamin D.

Have you have a scan to investigate your heavy/long periods? Could be fibroids, which are really common in women between 30-50.

Re the pain, can you self refer to physio at your surgery?

Is an at home thyroid test kit an option? I think there are a few now that get good reviews, you could take the results to your GP if they are abnormal. You could also write to the practice manager and say you aren’t happy that a test was missed and you’ve been refused it, see if that gets you the blood test sooner, or is changing surgery an option?

See a different GP, tell them you feel like you are being fobbed off and are being expected to put up with your symptoms, and enough is enough.

My iron is persistently low, all tablets seem to do it give me a stomachache in all honesty. But even with low iron, it doesn’t seem to explain everything else that’s going on. Even my eyebrows have fallen out, seems extreme. I wake up with a persistent pain in my left side, I’m eternally grateful for the heated seats in my car because I’m not sure how else I’d do the school runs in the mornings with the pain I have! I do need to change surgeries, the one I’m at is infamously bad now, they built a huge new building and don’t have consistent doctors to meet demand. Never see the same one twice. It may be fibroids - I have had three children (and three M/C), nothing ever brought up in the many many ultrasounds I’ve had over the years. But may have developed since having my youngest! Over the last few weeks I feel like I’ve aged 50 years, achey and tired. But as I’m a parent to SEN children I’m wary it will just be put down to ‘stress’ again. Thank you for the responses.

Edit to add: after my first post this morning, I found my period had started again, 1.5 weeks after the three weeker finished.

I did try the finger prick test at home but despite several stabbing attempts (followed the directions exactly), barely got any blood out to fill the vial and it was noted as invalid.