Hello Barbara: I have used the same GP since 1984. He knows more and reads up on studies, etc...They found my adrenal tumor by accident when I needed an MRI of my back for sciatic pain. I did see an Endocrinologist Surgeon for it, but it is not a "Functioning Tumor" and is small. If the tumor makes extra adrenal horomones they call it functioning.
I am glad to know that a GP in your system can order tests. I guess that Commissioning groups is there to over see the doc's and make sure they are not doing tests that do not need to be done.
I know NDT like Armour Thyroid became hard to get in USA. I used to be on it. I wonder why NHS has a problem with it? Maybe it costs more? Some drugs here are not in the insurance plans formulary.
Well it is good to know how your system works. XO Shelly
Many years ago when I was a teacher I noticed the following symptoms: gaining weight at a fantastic rate, brittle nails, hair that was dry and wayward, dry and itchy skin, pains in joints, getting cold very easily, trouble swallowing from time to time and dropping asleep at the drop of a hat. (This even happened in school when I had to go to the 'sick room' for a nap in free periods and at lunchtime and once even happened in a lesson!!!). Looking up the symptoms I went to the doctor believing I was suffering from thyroid problems...and he sent for a blood test to be done. The results came back in the normal range so he told me I might be suffering from sleep apnoeia ...I went to a sleep clinic and there was nothing wrong. He thought that I might be suffering depression... I told him I wasn't depressed but certainly extremely frustrated that I wasn't being taken seriously!! Eventually he sent me to a neurologist at the local hospital in Nottingham. Yes... a neurologist!!! I managed to bully this poor man into giving me a therapeutic dose of thyroxin... hurrah! Within days I was feeling better. Then five months later I was sent to see an endocrinologist who did a blood test and took me off the medication. I was incandescent with rage about this and wrote him a five page letter about what I felt I was being condemned to... a half-life with all the former symptoms. Well - the symptoms didn't come back and I've been fine since then... thankfully. The dose must have 'kick-started' my system back to normal... my normal (not those of the tests). However, since that time 15 years ago my sister has had her thyroid removed along with her para-thyroids, my younger daughter has had thyroid trouble (she was losing weight massively etc) and was given medication and is now off it after her system stabilising and my older daughter phoned me last night to tell me that she'd got the same symptoms that I'd had and that her doctor has, thankfully, prescribed a therapeutic dose of thyroxin which she will be starting today. Clearly this IS an issue in our family and it was this that helped her doctor to give her the prescription...but I'm sure that there are many folk who are battling this terrible condition and whose doctors are NOT being helpful. My five months on the medication was enough to do the trick...so lean on your doctors and tell them about the terrific results that can sometimes come from taking a therapeutic dose!!