Just getting over my disappointment of my Endo visit today.
Would you believe that even though my Endo requested FT3 testing along with FT4 and initialled the test form to make sure it was done + the fact that my husband took me to the blood test dept of that hospital where my Endo's clinic is ,arriving 8.00am in the morning to get it done " in house " ........it was not done......just the FT4 !
I've waited 3 months for that appointment.How on earth can the specialists diagnose and treat their patients with that sort of treatment from the labs?
Needless to say he has reordered it to be done along with what looks like a full blood count + vitamins. Meanwhile he has changed my meds back up to 100mcgs Levo and will see me again in 6 weeks.......all a bit deflating.
This time, I suggest, double-check with the phlebotomist and get her/him to talk to a lab person if needed, and ring up the lab the next day to check they have done it. It should not take more than a day or two. Maybe even check with GP surgery by asking them as well if results have come through.
having had exactly the same problem in the past this doesn't in any way surprise me ..... it comes from the plebs within the labs that think they are above all and everyone and can override ANY order from a doctor or specialist WHEN they want to !!!!!! my own doctor reported the his lab with a formal complaint and it was investigated and now they carry out EVERY TEST REQUIRED as they are paid directly from the doctors / specialists fund , and they cannot request payment unless they carry out the relevant requests .....alan
hi there marfit , it will be more relevant [ and pertinent ] , as I found out , if the 'formal corporate complaint ' goes direct to the lab from your doctor ---- he is the one that actually pays them for their services --- it worked for us ..... and our gp has found that ever since his work/life has been so much easier ---- but then again I do have an absolutely superb doctor that knows the meaning of the phrase ' the CARING profession ' .....alan x
Hi there again Alan,I've had more time to sit down this afternoon and look through all my replies from last night.
Though my FT3 test was ordered by my Endo,I have made an appointment to see my GP on Thursday to ask why this is happening and to ask who we have to complain to(name and address etc.) as I don't intend turning out at 7.30 am each time to go to the hospital ,half suspecting that my test won't get done again......this could go on all year!
I need to know who it is that has the authority to reject these tests when they don't even know the patient or their symptoms.Our Doctors and Endos are being treated as though of no importance!! The lab staff aren't going to look after us though are they?!
My husband is seething and that won't do him any good ...having had major heart surgery in 2009 and a pacemaker since then,but they are things that don't matter to whoever denied me the chance to get properly diagnosed....do they!! If his health goes down,that places even more stress on me.We both need our strength to be able to support each other.I shall see what happens on Thursday.
please please get ALL of these points over to your doctor , if he/she fully understands the possible consquences of and extra costs involved [ extra patient visits, further medications etc. ] directly to them . maybe they , like my own gp will 'take the lab in hand ' and make certain that the pleb[s] at the lab that assume they are holier than all will not make decisions that have nothing to do with their remit or indeed their own decision to make .......alan x
Yes....I will make a lot of notes to take with me on Thursday Alan and I am so thankful for all the input by you all these last 24hrs.
I've been given new things to think about,that have previously escaped me.
Fortunately,like you,I have a good GP ( my Endo spoke well of him too) He is now listening and trying to help so at least if we manage to solve a few of these matters we might hope that we pave an easier pathway for the future.However,it is a pretty hard slog at the moment isn't it?
I am reminded of reading somewhere of Vincent Van Gogh saying to a passer by.....Is it all uphill ahead ......Yes my friend.....all the way.
very profound , if you think of the full context of the statement ,....I am just happy to have tried to help another ......all karma returns when it is given , and in a phrase that I always live by is SO THAT YOU SOW SO SHALL YOU REAP ......it really really does work .....alan xx
I'd believe it. I have never had my T3 tested even though my blood test forms (from my endo!) have asked for it every time but once. It seems bizarre that someone in a lab can over ride a consultant - and that the consultant allows them to do it. Good luck next time.
Thanks for all your replies.I was really choked.However,my Endo has fully signed this form and I don't think he will overlook this as he seems to think there may be a case for Some T3. Meanwhile I will go on to 100mcgs Levo for a couple of weeks before testing
On the light relief side......I wrote a poem...Who Needs A Thyroid ? some months ago, just to maintain my sense of humour.I plucked up courage to show him today! He instantly laughed and asked if he could keep it to use on a slide show!!!!!!!!!!
thanks APSsnotFab (lerve the lumley) interesting stuff - methinks I shall awake/envoke my labrat friend, and ask what the new protocol is (or whatever name they call it now) J x
Thanks once again ....I'm touched by the number of responses I've had from you all ...you're a super group.
I feel now that I will make an official complaint as something has to be done about the overriding of GP and Specialist requests.It is undermining their authority and these lab technicians don't even know the patient let alone their symptoms!
WHO NEEDS A THYROID?
My history is there on computer,
My well being's all on the screen,
Every test that I do comes back normal,
I'd love to know - what does that mean?
Doctor,my muscles are aching,
My energy levels are low,
Lack of confidence really disturbs me
And I've lost all my Get up and Go!
But your TSH level is "Normal"
It's there on the screen,it says so,
But doctor, I live in my body,
My symptoms are all that I know.
I'm told I should get a T4 test,
T4 should convert to T3,
But I'm telling you everything's " Normal"
And T3 means nothing to me!
How can I get him to listen?
I'm puzzled - it's all very strange,
Perhaps I should change my appearance,
YES! That's what I'll do ,I will change......
Good Morning! How can I help you?
I need a recharge 'cos I'm flat!
I think I've contracted a virus,
Is it NORMAL or can we cure that?
M D September 2013
I also did a cartoon at the bottom .....I had changed to a picture of my face within a computer screen.....but I don't know how to transfer this to this page.
Please bear in mind,this was written last year and thankfully I now have my GP on board......I think probably because of this support group and all the information I have gained .X
I dont really know - I just found it so comical (tinged with sadness because your situation is/was so common amongst people on here) that it would make a good addition to the magazine but I suppose that is entirely up to thyroiduk and the powers that me there and nothing to do with my personal opinion.
Moggie x
Yes..I take your point Moggie and I don't think I'm the type to push it.
I think it is wrong to take your blood for purposes other than what you've been told. I don't know if anyone remembers the controversy over HIV testing in the 90s and how it became really important to be clear about giving permission for testing - ? They can't test your blood without your consent so why should they be able to take blood for a test you have specifically consented to and which they then refuse to do?
If they don't intend to test your t3 they should tell you and I don't care about the issues with the lab vs the gp. They need to sort that out and do the tests they say they intend to do or stop offering them.
It makes me so cross when people are treated like their time and care are not important.
An interesting argument. Certainly you have to provide consent. Simply turning up with a form, holding your arm out and allowing them to draw blood is usually regarded as consent - but surely, I'd argue, only for the testing you know about. If you have a form which states, say, TSH, FT4 and FT3 then they do not do those tests, it could be argued they have obtained the blood without proper consent. (Of course, there is wriggle-room if only one tube of blood is taken, it would be so much clearer if there were one tube for each test. Then they would have taken a tube for the sole purpose of disposing of it - clearly not what any patient would be expected to consent to - and even clearer if they never do FT3 testing so could not argue "only if TSH and FT4 are way out"!)
Exactly! If you are consenting to a specific set of tests and they take your blood but do not do the tests then what does it mean to give consent? I'm not saying that this is not legal (though I feel an argument could be made) but I feel at the very least it is immoral and disrespectful and not transparent or truthful. It is not in the spirit of the NHS or conscientious care.
This is an interesting point of view,because I know that last time they only used 1 tube for FT3/FT4 testing.
When I go in a fortnight's time I shall make sure that they do a separate tube for the FT3 test.
If my Endo needs to confirm whether my FT4 is converting into FT3 and getting into the cells as it should do,then surely they are hindering his work and he won't rely on TSH results I know.
What use is the FT4 result if he doesn't know what it's doing?
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