I need help. I have asked my doctor twice now if she would do a t3 test on me, and she has refused twice saying I dont need it.

[Christielle]

How do I find an NHS doctor who will do this test? I live in North Ayrshire in scotland. I have terrible skin problems and swelling and have been on the same dose of levothyroxin 100mcg for 10 years. I was first diagnosed in America and have since come to Scotland after marrying a lovely Scotsman. We are at our wits end. It is just now that I have come to understand that i need to totally change my diet. But with the doctor saying my blood test show normal, how can I get her to listen?

[galathea]

Why don't you just get it done privately? you can get absolutely everything thyroid, checked for less than £100 and you deal with the lab yourself...... All very well trying to convince a know all doctor, but if you get it done and she is wrong, you will have grounds for complaint.

[marram]

galathea is right, Christielle, if you go here: thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin... you will see that Blue Horizon will even send you a home testing kit which includes little lancets to do a fingerprick test like the diabetics do, and a little phial with anti-clotting agent already to use. You send off in the prepaid envelope and your results will be emailed to you a few days leter. You can ask for the 'intermediate thyroid test' in the 'home blood test' section, and don't forget to put the TUK10 code in to get a discount. (if you are not already signed up, it is free to join)

[Christielle]

Thank you both so much for your responses. Money is always an issue. I will talk to my husband about it. Cheers. I will try it. thank you

[Bears010 in reply to Christielle]

Hi Christielle

How funny, I have literally just got home from posting my test to the lab. I too couldn't get a t3 test. The one from blue horizon is total £67.7? (Brain fog prevents last number recall, sorry) for free t3 only with code TUK10 as cost was an issue for me too. It came with absolutely everything you need and very clear instructions, I was very impressed. I was very nervouse about doing it, but have been such a pin cushion most of my life it was very easy and quick to do.

Di

X

[shaws Administrator in reply to Christielle]

A T3 blood test from Blue Horizon is about £20.

[Bears010 in reply to shaws]

My mistake sorry! I have now looked it up with the tuk10 its 9.45 but there are other costs like a 29.95 one off fee (if you order more than one test at a time you only pay once). So the total comes to 39.40. The more expensive one was with Genova.

Thanks for correcting me Shaws, I should have checked before posting.

[Christielle]

wow, thanks for your help everyone xx

[Jane104]

I'm in Central Scotland and they always give TT3 on my results (can't get Free T3), but I'm not sure if this is because my TSH is suppressed or whether it's done as routine. It may be that the lab refuses to do T3 if your TSH is within range so GP doesn't see any point in asking for it. I used to get that in Tayside - in fact if TSH was in range they didn't even do T4 but that was a few years ago. I don't see why they can't write on the form 'possible conversion problem' or similar and request T3. I have also in the past just asked the phlebotomist or nurse to request it on the form at the time the blood's taken.

[Bears010 in reply to Jane104]

I asked the nurse too but most wont unless authorised by gp. Printed request forms prevent additions.

[Christielle]

I have to say, that since I have had this, disease, or what ever we are to call it, I have never recieved more support than I have right now. Im serious.

I am at my wits end here. My skin has always been severly sensitive. Recently, I was sent to a Dermatologist and he said I have severe dermographism and urticaria, and I have other skin problems. I just break out with itchy dry patches and if scratched turn into sores. I have periods when I am retaining water, and I have been putting on inches. I am on my eliptical trainer twice a day 3 to 4 times a week, but I cant get my weight back under control. I dont eat fat, at all. I eat fruit and meat. and just yesterday I decided it was high time I kick the artificial sweetner kick I have been on for years (which I am sure has done me no favors).

It wasnt until I did further research that I understood that this is all most likely to a change in my Thyroid. But I just couldnt get the gp to listen, she just keeps saying your blood test levels are normal. Yet, I dont feel normal. I have another appt with her on the 16th. I need to arm myself with literature to take with me. I wont let her fob me off again. She needs to listen. I need her to hear me, for all the other people sakes in my position as well. If I am not getting help then that means that others are suffering too.

It isnt right that people suffer because the doctors cant be bothered to re-educate themselves on such matters. When something isnt working, something needs to change. End of.

Again, thank you to all who responded. You have made me feel better knowing I have other avenues. I will give my doctor one more chance to make this right, then I will take matters into my own hands. I will order the test and do it myself.

Once I do that, and if it shows things are not as they should be, how do I get the meds to raise my dosage? Should I take the findings to her? Is she ablidged to listen and perscribe the correct dosage? whew

[marram in reply to Christielle]

There are no guarantees that she will listen, unfortunately. You can maximise your chances of being treated by doing the blood test as early in the morning as possible. that is when your TSH is highest, and the higher the TSH the higher the chances.

I understand well that cost can be an issue, and I do really hope that she will listen. Another point which might be useful - can you contact your old doctor in the US and see if a letter could be sent?

Do you have your blood test results from the GP? If you can get them, put the actual figures on here with the ranges and someone will be able to make some suggestions from the figures.

Take care, Christielle, XXx

Marie

[Bears010 in reply to Christielle]

It's important to eat well. No junk food or anything with artificial sweeteners. It is also important to have enough protein i.e red meat (with some fat) or you're minerals will be deficient. Vegetable and fruit juiced at home will help too. I have managed mine this way and although weight loss is difficult it's usually not impossible unless everything isvout of kilter. Even with the best diet going it is important to supplement see other posts on this site.

Good luck

[Christielle in reply to Bears010]

Thank you. I'm trying so hard to give up the sweetners. I rarely eat junk food and I'm on my treadmill 2 x day for at least 4 days a week. But I try to do it everyday. Juice contains so much natural sugar and calories. I gain weight so quickly

[Petrosky in reply to Christielle]

Hi Christielle, You poor creature. Like me you are dealing with an unsympathetic GP who fobs you off.

I would like our forum to help you to find a doctor in your area who is au fait with Thyroid problems. In my case I live in Dublin in Ireland and would also like to know about a suitable doctor (anywhere in the country). I realise that as the site is UK based you may not be able to help. me. One thing that comes through in the forums is the constant urging to get correct readings. Fine, BUT what does one do when

one has them ? ie. I may learn that my car needs say a "sprocket gizmo". I can get one but I shall need a mechanic to fit it. If my mechanic is not qualified to fit it and I cannot I am stymied. Sorry for labouring the point but this is where we both find ourselves. I never realised this illness was so all consuming and so awful. You have my prayers for getting some help.

[Christielle in reply to Petrosky]

I wondered about the tests too. Once I get them, do I take them to my doctor? Can anyone tell me? I feel I am getting worse. I have terrible urticaria every night with dermographism. The dermatologist put me on several meds for allergies, but then I developed horrible burning pain in my gallbladder area and up through my chest. I stopped taking the med and tonight I had the worst bout of itching and I hives I have had yet. So I had to break down and take the alimenzine. It is a sedative allergy med to let me sleep.

[tegz]

You may need time for the effects of all those sweeteners to clear your system irrespective of your thyroid status. They don't help you to be healthy, tbh.

Have you had the usual B12, Iron and Vit D tests done? - they are all important under treatment for thyroid.

[Christielle in reply to tegz]

Hello, no, they havent done any test for B12 or Vit D. So that is important too? ugh....right, so, the tests I need are the free t3 and the vitamins test too? thank you

[tegz in reply to Christielle]

You will have to go privately for the T3 tests, quite likely.

Your GP may agree to do antibody tests as you are still unwell.

It will also take time for the effects of any altered vitamin status to affect your overall health and reaction to the meds.

If that is OK ,then you need to consider whether a friendly Endo is needed to pursue T3 adding to /replacingT4 - this seems to help many, but not all, from reports here.

Then there's the option of NDT, which is also used well by many, but will again usually mean hunting down options for treatment -as it has T3 in it and GPs won't prescribe due to their advice as 'unreliable' dose-wise.

See numerous post on here - if you can search.

[Christielle in reply to tegz]

Thank you Tegz x

[morebeans]

I live in North Ayrshire too, and am on a T4/T3 combination. I get my free T3 checked along with TSH and T4 fairly regularly at my GP's surgery. I also see a terrific endocrinologist in Ayr (privately at first, but now on the NHS). Personal message me for more specific information as I don't think we're supposed to name names in the forum

[Tinks96 in reply to morebeans]

Hi I wonder if you could please help me with advice as to which specialist you had success with in Ayrshire? I'm from Ayr, and I've not had any success with gaining a diagnosis, as 'bloods show as fine', though I've been unwell for a few years and signed off from work for as long. Symptoms point towards hypothyroidism, and I also took along information about low basal temp and resting pulse monitoring to the local endo, though without any success.

Many thanks for all your help.

[morebeans in reply to Tinks96]

Not sure that we're allowed to nameDoctors on here, so have PM'd you

[Jose24]

Morebeens please could you help me. I'm on 300mgs of levo and

Feel rubbish all the time. I push and push myself and just make stuff worse. Doctor won't entertain t3 testing as he says I'm fine.

[morebeans in reply to Jose24]

Will reply to your personal message