need help finding a good thyroid doctor in Queensland , Australia

[Loui2]

Hi, l am trying to find a knowledgeable good G.P to treat my Hashi.T. My current doctor doesn't want to do anything even though l am symptomatic. She seems to have little idea on the subject and keeps saying that l must have something else wrong and though she says l have Hashi's.
My TSH last tested 3 weeks ago was 1.6  after being 2.7 the week previous.  (0.40-4.0)
My FT4 was 13 pmol/L  (10-20)
My Anti-thyroglobulin was 140 U/ml.   (<60)
My Anti-Thyroid Perioxidase was 1100 U/ml.   (<60)
She did not order FT3 :(
My daughter was recently diagnosed and is on thyroxine meds.
My son also has an auto immune condition and my dad has pernicious anaemia.
I am 52 yrs old and have increasing health issues that are getting quite debilitating. I am having an ultrasound of my thyroid today but with Easter upon us, l won't get results till next week. I feel my current doctor is clueless and won't do anything regardless of any results.
If anyone has any suggestions or knows of a good doctor in Queensland, Australia- l would appreciate the feedback.
Many thanks in advance :)

[Loui2]

Hey,
Really great to hear you have a doctor who is able to see what needs to be tested and treated and acts accordingly YAY!. I hope you continue to improve in health and I am smiling with you :)
Cheers

[Hammrd]

Hi Loui2, I am in Brisbane (51 yrs old ) and found a fantastic Dr (Dr Abrahim Patel) from the Park Rd Medical Centre at Milton, Brisbane, Queensland 07 3368 1100.
On my first App I was offered NDT if I wanted it and he tested me for many things, way more than I was thinking of.
Tests included were : Cortisol, Thyroid Tissue AB, TSH, Free T4, Free T3,Reverse T3,Testosterone,FBC, SE E/LFT, SE HDL, SE C-Reatice Ptotien, ESR, DHEAS, Iodine, Cumulative Serum Biochemistry and a full Cumulative Blood Examination.
It was confirmed that I had "Hashimotos" and also "Wilsons Temperature Syndrome" on top of that, I have now been on T3 only....(I had been on T4 only for 21 yrs) for nearly 3 weeks now and my hair is growing back thick and black  after more than 20 yrs of hair loss, My Med Resistant High Blood pressure was gone after a day and a half on T3 only, I have lost 3kg from 87 kg in 2.5 weeks also, I am sleeping well again and most of all have some good health to look forward to.

[Loui2]

l am still having enormous trouble with Drs  in Qld. l have in the last few months added diagnoses of Coeliac Disease and a Parotid Tumour to the list of my ailments. l now have numerous food intolerances as well as a cancerous nodule on my thyroid that Royal Brisbane are reluctant to deal with because of my current health problems!
l have also Adrenal Fatigue which my GP hasn't a clue what it is let alone how to treat! As l am  Level 2  retired RN, l seem to have more knowledge than my doctor, how really sad that is to be told - l done know what an illness is by your own doctor!!
l even struggle to get tests done as my doctor does not see the need to test for progressive results or any new problems.
l have given up worrying now cos l am not well enough to fight the the inadequacies of the medical profession here in Qld.
My story will add to those who end up developing further auto immune problems and their associated conditions - hopefully not Lymphoma.
Qld doctors should be ashamed!!
Keep up the Good Fight  and remember you are not alone.
Cheers.

[Pachelbel]

STOP THE THYROID MADNESS  and THYROID PATIENT ADVOCATE-UK, both are  EXCELLENT Internet for patients and Doctors.   I did the round of Doctors in Brisbane for 25 years and finally FORCED to (do much medical research)  self-treat sons & self, & we are all  vastly improved as a consequence & am now seeing a Specialist Overseas who has the same illnesses - Hypothyroidism & Hypoadrenia as I want to make sure as much as is possible, that the lack of Diagnosis (15 years) and poor treatment does not do any further damage,  and also AUSTRALIA is behind in this area of medical disorders!! I lived in Brisbane during all this time and went back to my old home town of Sydney & saw a few Dr's there but.....                    HYPOADRENIA the Dr's are NOT trained to recognise - except Cushing's & Addison diseases re Adrenals - but nothing in between (Hypoadrenia).  And as the Adrenals are much involved in this thyroid illness I its vital  to attend to ones Adrenal Glands. I am hoping to find a Brisbane Dr for one son who is back in Brisbane after many years Overseas but it appears from this site that nothing much has changed in Briz/Australia in this area and also the Lab tests -= John Howard signed off on NO T3  Blood tests IF the TSH test came back as within the Reference Ranges.  And the TSH test is FALLIBLE and sadly the medical world uses this as its Gold  Standard.  Even the Inventor of the TSH test sad that Doctors should use Signs & Symptoms then follow up with a Blood TSH Test.  Hope this is of help.  And I found endocrinologists' hopeless in this area - good at Diabetes I believe & this is a world wide reaction from Thyroid patients!

[Red_Star]

If you want to see an endocrinologist you have to travel to Brisbane.  My endocrinologist is Dr Christopher Strakosch who works at Greenslopes Private Hospital.  I don't know of any GP in Rockhampton who would treat hypothyroidism unless the labwork was clearly abnormal.

I just wanted to add that Dr Bontula used to work at North Rockhampton Medical Centre (not Alma Street Medical) but is now working up at the Base Hospital.  And QML's free T4 reference range is once again 10 - 20 pmol/L.

[Jmacdonald]

I'm in emerald and having same dramas.. I need a dr who will prescribe thyroxine or someone who actually has a clue??? Please help if you have any current info of dr in rocky or surrounds and a decent endo?

[hashigirlqld]

I see this is a couple of months ago but just in case anyone is still reading ... there is a new Thyroid Website with heaps of information and great links.  Information about Doctors in QLD and around Australia.

http://thyroidqld.com  some of you might be interested or helped by some of the information on the site.  :)

[Red_Star]

Ahh well ask the doctor for a copy of the report next week. Frustrating though. :)

[Loui2]

I had the US done at CQMI Stock lands cos the one you go to couldn't do it till after Easter so l needed to go elsewhere. They would not give me the results :( spoilsports. Will have to wait now till Tuesday.
Hopefully all is well.

[Red_Star]

Did you have your ultrasound done at Rockhampton Regional Radiology in Aquatic Place? I go there for all my ultrasounds and CT scans. They have the report ready by the end of the day and i go and pick it up so know what is going on before the doc does. :)

Most nodules are not cancerous but there are certain ultrasound results that increase suspicion of cancer. If suspicion is high for cancer, an fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy should be done. Any nodule over 1cm should also be biopsied as they have the potential to be cancerous.

[Loui2]

Same here with swallowing. I've had my doc give me the speel  about Medicare and lab costs - l think she thinks she is paying for it!!
Can you tell me me what happens with nodules - l noticed while having the scan  there were a few nodules, some large some small. I want to make sure my doc does the right thing.
Thanks for all the info so far- its been good.
I may need to try another Dr l guess - really sick of having to chase new docs. Oh well - l'll get over :)
I'll let you know how l go on Tuesday after seeing the doc for scan results.

[Red_Star]

If i had to recommend a doctor who is laid back with lab testing, it's Dr Bontula at Alma Street Medical. I handed him a long list of labs and he was fine with testing them all. Other doctors act like i'm charging them for the lab tests! I figure this has something to do with Medicare auditing. Just say you have a lot of symptoms and you would like to look at your free T3 levels.

[Red_Star]

I know right. Small world indeed!

Yes you are covered with the patient travel subsidy. This is from the brochure:

Travel subsidies:
Commercial - Air, bus or rail - fully paid at lowest available discount fare
Private vehicle - $0.30 per kilometre

Accommodation subsidies:
Commercial $60 per person per night
Private (family or friends)$10 per person per night

I see Dr Barnard at Alma Street Medical. My throat doesn't hurts but right now it feels like when i swallow there is a lump in my throat. I had a small suspicion the free T4 reference range might be an error as no lab in the world goes as high as 30 pmol/L. It depends if you want to be retested. If so, 8 to 9am (fasting) is the best time to do so.

[Loui2]

Small world huh!! Being in Rocky you know how hard it is to get good health care! I go to Scotvale medical who are now at Red Hill centre.
Mandalay was where l use to go but my last doc left to have a bub.
I had my last lot of blood tests at QML only 3 wks ago and they used the T4 level (10-20). Don't know what to think there.
I am on a disability pension so l may be able to get some travel subsidy???? I have a back that is breaking down - lots of nuts and bolts hold it together after a head-on smash years ago and now it is causing me grief again just to add to my state of health - must of broken a mirror l think lol.
Anyway, who do you see now for a GP? I am wondering if l should request follow up blood tests??? Did your throat ever hurt? My hurts all the time - weird huh. Should l ask for free T3 and what would l need to say as why l want it done? I don't really have a handle on any of this as yet.
Wow - you are in Rocky - awesome.

[Red_Star]

I live in Rocky too!  I've seen nearly every bulk billing doctor at Mandalay Medical Centre and Mt Archer Medical for one reason or another. Just because we live in the beef capital of Australia doesn't mean we should have to put up with a lot of bull hehe.

My last lot of labs at QML were done on the 8/02/13 with the new free T4 reference range. If you decide to go to Brisbane, there is a Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme to help pay for the costs. The paperwork is at the travel office at the Base.

I had my free T3 tested twice. I requested free T3 from a GP and the second time Dr Strakosch requested it without asking. *gasp* :)

[Loui2]

Hi Red_Star. I'm in Rocky. My labs were done at QML. They listed the old range for Free T4 so my GP thinks it's normal. She is one of the many oversees Dr that come to regional Qld to work. Not a lot of choice in quality care here. I had  thyroid ultrasound done yesterday and are waiting results after Easter - did notice l had a few nodules though and l think it was enlarged as well. Guess my doc will try and explain that away as well. I feel cruddy and don't have any energy at all and l feel like l have a brick stuck in my throat. Sorry to winge :(
Should ask for another lot of blood tests on Tuesday? If l ask for free T3 as well do you think that will show anything? Also l will request a referral to an endo - we only have Dr Andrew Cottrell up here.
Is there anything else l can do to stop this thyroid madness as some call it??
Thank you for your help, l feel that my Dr thinks l am nuts!!! She looks at me like l am :)
Looking forward to your feedback -cheers

[Red_Star]

Hi, i'm from Qld too.  I could not find a GP to prescribe thyroxine when my TSH and free T4 were in range, regardless of elevated thyroid antibodies. It was only when my TSH rose to 6mU/L (free T4 - 13 pmol/L) that i started Eutroxsig.

I had my labs retested in february at QML pathology and noted the free T4 reference range had changed from 10 - 20 pmol/L to 15 - 30 pmol/L. From your lab results, it looks like your TSH is not responding appropriately to free T4 levels. I would recommend testing thyroid labs with QML as a low free T4 would be a valid reason to start thyroxine.

I am currently seeing endocrinologist Dr Christopher Strakosch (75% rebate from Medicare). He's a nice doctor and prescribes both synthetic and natural desiccated thyroid hormone. I did request reverse T3 but he wouldn't test for it as he told me this could be worked out by other labs (not sure if that is possible though).

[Loui2]

Thank you for your response. Your help is appreciated. Cheers.

[Barb135]

I agree that you have Hashimoto's.  I also believe your FT4 level is way too low and even without an FT3 (shame on the doctor), it looks like you might benefit from a trial dose of replacement hormones. You definitely need a different doctor.

I've sent a message to a member who lives in Australia; might even be Queensland, but I'm not positive of that.  Hopefully, she will be able to help, but of course, I'm sure when she will get my message, so it may be a while before she responds.