tests

[kimbo]

hi im of to gp monday evening to see if i can get referred to a private doctor, if this fails can you advise me on what blood tests to ask the doctor for to see if im converting the T s i have hypothyroidism. thanks

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Theresa,

The last results you posted were pretty much a standard full blood count (FBC) and had nothing specific to thyroid.

In order to have much of an idea of what is happening you would need free T4 and total T3 (and of course they'd do a TSH test). But you'll be lucky to get these done without your GP taking specific steps to ensure the lab actually performs them.

On blood test forms there is typically a box for TFT (thyroid function test) which would imply TSH and only doing any other tests if TSH is out of the reference range.

I am not clear at the moment what you are taking? And why you specifically think you might have a conversion issue?

From what I have read, it seems that we perform conversion in the thyroid, liver, kidneys, brain, skeletal muscle, hair follicles, and probably many other tissue types. Although a blood test showing low T3 (with adequate T4) would suggest a possible conversion issue, if the conversion issue is within specific tissues then a blood test is unlikely to be revealing.

Do make sure that you have any blood tests as early as reasonable - and before taking any medicines.

All the best

Rod

[RedApple Administrator]

How much thyroxine are you currently taking? Have you had a thyroid test done recently - if so, can you post the result?

[kimbo]

hi been to see gp tonight, he is doing tsh and t3 bloods, he said i dont need b12 etc and did not gibe me an explanation why not, thyroid and fasting blood test week thursday so will post test results as soon as i get them x

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to kimbo]

Thanks for posting back. Look forward to the results when you get them.

Rod