Blood Test protocol and the uphill battle...

[nuggetnet]

Hi All,

I am still having a nightmare with my hypothyroid, almost a year on. As, I'm sure a lot of you are. My GP is being less than helpful and actually told me on my last visit that I would "have to cope" with my symptoms if the last dosage increase she gave me (up to 100mcg) didn't help or brought my TSH down too low (I was at 2.6 before the increase). I got better for a while but not my symptoms are starting to come back and I'm due for another blood test next week.

Is it possible if getting a blood test with a nurse, to ask her to give me a full test for TSH, T4, T3, plus Vits and ferritin etc? Or does it have to get authorised by the doctor?

Additionally, can you advise on the levels I should be asking for to get a full a picture as possible?

Like us all, I'm really trying to get as healthy as possible diet and such like but if my levels aren't optimal then it's almost like peeing in the wind right!?

Isn't it such an exhausting battle to fight? And to think I was pleased to be diagnosed last year because I finally found the reason for feeling ill. If I'd known at the time how difficult it was going to be to get well again and how awful my doctor would be, I would probably not been so pleased.

I'm determined to feel like myself again but it really feels like a never-ending fight!

xx

[Hidden]

Hello nuggetnet, your question about the nurse I don't think would work. The labs seem to control the tests and I couldn't even get it from the GP. When I go for a test the doctor has already put it on the computer screen so that the nurse can follow his instructions accordingly. It seems that if your TSH is within range the labs won't test for anything else.

My last test showed that my TSH had come down to below the reference range after a couple of increased doses of levothyroxine, and you have guessed, they wanted to decrease my dose even though I still felt terrible.

Of course the catch 22 is that the GP won't refer you to an endo if your TSH is within range (well they won't in my area at least) but you may be lucky. However, I didn't want my dose decreased and asked for a referral to a private endo and I have an appointment at the end of this week - so I am hoping to find an answer.

I am sure someone more experienced will be along soon to advise you on what might be going wrong for you - there appears to be quite a few things as you probably already know.

[clarence2013]

I got a private blood test from blue horizon bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/c...

[nostoneunturned]

It would be very useful if you would please post results of your blood tests plus the specific ranges for each item tested as labs use different ranges. Perhaps you will post them all when you have your next blood test? You probably know that you are entitled to be given copies of blood tests if you ask for them.

It seems from what you say that the GP is using your TSH as a measure of whether you risk being tipped into hypothyroidism by levo increase, but it is the T3 which indicates finally whether or not someone is hyperthyroid.

Dr Toft's "Understanding thyroid disorders" about £5 from chemists/Amazon. It is a BMA publication plus Dr Toft is a past president of the British Thyroid Association.

This is on P 88:

Your GP.......a dose of thyroxine that raises the FT4 and TT4 to the upper part of the normal range and reduces the TSH level in the blood to the lower part of the normal range,

...In some patients a sense of well-being is achieved only when FT4 or TT4 is raised, for example 30pmol/l or 170nmol/l, and TSH low or undetectable. In this circumstance, it is essential that the T3 level in the blood is unequivocally normal in order to avoid hyperthyroidism.

Can't advise on whether you can ask the nurse re tests as the doctor normally will be in charge of those.

You will find very useful information about just about everything thyroid related including foods to avoid, medicines products, ditto on the main sie.

thyroiduk.org