[healthwork] well, that went better than expected

[kaberett]

In the sense that I tried Yet Another GP at my local practice (the one I saw for trigger finger, who was generally great), and he was good about it all.

He agreed that the five-unit drop in my free T4 between the last two blood tests, combined with the reappearance of all my wretched symptoms, was A Matter Of Concern, despite the fact that my results were all within the reference range. He rather apologetically said that we should probably increase my levothyroxine from 50ug to 75ug. I tentatively asked if it might be worth taking another look at my iron levels, and not only did he say yes, it turns out he generally ordered far more comprehensive bloods than I expected (he's checking B12, folate and vitD in spite of the fact that I supplement and there's no reason for me to believe any of them are inadequate at the moment, for completeness' sake). He also ordered another thyroid peroxidase screen, while confirming that seronegative autoimmune hypothyroidism is a thing and a negative result for thyroid peroxidase doesn't mean I don't have autoimmune hypothyroidism, and implicitly agreed that it would be Unsurprising if that were what was going on given my cluster of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.

He's also been very definite that we should definitely be doing quarterly bloods until this has all settled down (standard for hypothyroidism is... six-monthly? to yearly, once stable?).

I feel listened to and believed and supported, and I... am promptly going to latch on to him and keep making this his problem, locally. Thank goodness.

Comments

[azurelunatic]

Oh, *good*.

[redbird]

That sounds good. And good for him on ordering the vitamin D check. I had been supplementing, and it still came out at slightly below general reference levels. So I added another thousand IU, which got me into the (low end of) the normal range, and then the nurse practitioner said they're aiming for higher levels for people with MS than for the general population, so I'm taking three times what I was six months ago. We'll see what the next bloodwork looks like.

[kaberett]

Ha, yes -- but given that my last bloods came back with 90-odd units of vitD, and the NHS doesn't bother giving you supplements unless you're under 40 (though my out-of-area GP reckons anything under 80 can be symptomatic) and I've been at the same level of supplementation throughout, I'm not expecting any major changes...!

[redsixwing]

Here's to thoroughness and listening. I hope you and New GP can build a good relationship as well as a helpful practice.

[davidgillon]

Well yay for good GPs, and boo for wretched symptoms making you need one!

[oracne]

He sounds great!

[sebastienne]

Hurray for the good ones <3

[ewt]

Oh, good!

(I am, er, considering registering with a GP near where you are, because due to Complicated Housing Stuff I probably can. If so, would you let me know which GP this was?)

[kaberett]

Of course :-)

[niqaeli]

Oh, good, I am so glad you have found someone local who is not useless-to-harmful. <3

[divulge]

Oh, I’m so glad. <3

[cesy]

Hooray for good doctor!

[worlds_of_smoke]

oh, i am so happy that you found a good gp.

[silveradept]

We are very happy that you have a local doctor who appears to have avoided the concept of having a bad so far up their own arse they can't listen to their patient.

[sebenikela]

hooray for not-terrible doctors!

[jesse_the_k]

Great news. Thanks for a spark of positive.