Should I go back to GP?

Hormones
1

I have been treated for depression for over four years - I have been placed on various anti-depressants, none of which seem to have worked.

Just over 18 months ago we moved and I had to register with GP, he did some blood tests at the time and contacted me as I had low ferretin stores (I had mentioned to him that I had been having problems with my periods - very clotty and heavy for some time) and a borderline underactive thyroid.

I had to go back after 6 months and have my blood tests repeated.

I went back and at the time I was experiencing problems with my breathing - I was very short of breath. He contacted me later that day as one of the tests he had done indicated that I may have had a blood clot - fortunately, this was not the case - I was admitted to hospital for a couple of days and they found nothing wrong. My medication had just been changed from effexor to prozac and it was thought that it the breathlessness may have been a reaction to prozac. So I was weaned of prozac and actually made the decision to come off all of my anti-depressants I haven't taken any since, I don't feel any worse - but I don't feel any better either - but why take them??

A few days after this I was contacted again by my GP as my TSH was 8.32 and I had significant antibodies at over 800. He concluded that as I had been 'unwell' when the blood tests were taken they were not conclusive, so I had to have the tests taken again. This time my TSH came back as 4.31 - so he concluded that no further treatment was required - but as my TSH was still borderline i should have further blood tests in another 6 months.

I was quite - no very confused by this, so I went to see him as I felt I had 'symptoms' of an underactive thyroid:

Depression

Anxiety

Panic Attacks

Forgetfulness

Bad concentration

Heavy Periods

Pins Needles in wrists/hands

Constant Tiredness

Dry mouth (I have had a 'white coated tongue' now for as long as I can remember!)

Dry Skin patch - but only on one arm which has been diagnosed as ezcema (this has only just recently started)

I am always cold - heatings on, coal fire - but I still have duvet wrapped round me

Sometimes I feel that I can not swallow my food properly and othertimes I gag even when i am not eating - but I have put this down to anxiety

I am regulary feel that I am 'coming down' with something, i.e aches/shivers/cold/general rough feeling (hope you get the picture) but nothing 'develops'

He concluded that my 'symptoms' very non-specific and ordered further blood tests (sorry, can't remember what these were - but nothing thyroid related) and they all came back ok.

So after another 6 months, I have just had the tests taken again - my TSH is now 5.08 and the only other thing that was mentioned was that my ferritin levels although within range are low at 30. This time he has concluded that all my tests have come back within normal range - no mention of further tests to be done in the future. Antibodies weren't tested as my thyroid is now normal (But, they are slightly higher than when i was told they were borderline - so have ranges changed recently?)

I am still 'suffering', but am I right to question my GPs diagnosis?? Is it all 'depression' related and the fact I had borderline results is just a co-incidence?

Another nagging 'thought' is that many years ago around the time I became depressed I had to see a GP who wasn't my own, I can't remember what I went to see him about - but he looked at me and felt my neck and told me to go and see my own GP and have my thyroid tested - I did this - but at that time they came back fine too. Is it possible, that I have been treated for depression for this amount of time - when in fact it could have been thyroid related??

Incidently, my sister suffers from Hashimoto's Disease and 2 of my cousins also have thyroid related problems - my late mother had fibromyalgia (I don't know if this is relevent?)

I think the question I am trying to ask is should I pursue this with my GP, I feel very awkward and embarrased about questioning his diagnosis!

Anyway, any advise would be gratefully received & I apologise that this is soooo long

2

After ten years of having the same symptoms that you describe I moved house and hence G.P He took one look at me and tested my thyroid.The levels were so low that he said I was close to thyroid coma.Go Back and ask to be put on a low dose of thyroxine,He may do this in the hope of just shutting you up!My old Doctor was convinced that I was Just an anxious female that needed propping up on prozac.It is your health,do not be afraid to ask for the medication.Good luck!

3

Your story is terrible. I feel so sorry for you. I feel that your doctor is not the best for you as he goes on numbers, not symptoms. Can't you see another doctor in the group, perhaps? The TSH level needs to be under 1 to feel normal and your level is in the process of going up. You could ask the doctor to refer you to a specialist (endocrinologist, I think). You don't have to feel so unwell.

Low iron can be a symptom of being hypothyroid. I think your doctor is particularly bad on hypothyroidism. I think you have been hypothyroid for the four years (at least) you were treated for depression. They usually think you are depressed or menopausal.

Keep informing yourself about hypothyroidism and be your own expert on your own body.

Best wishes

Ger

4

Hi,

If you were in the USA, you would be treated for hypothyroidism as even a TSH of 5 would be regarded out of range.

0.3 - 3 is the reference range in America. I really don't understand why we can be treated in one country but not another.

Reference:

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, January 2003.