Blood Tests required

[Francis1957]

I last saw my Endo/Diabeteologist in Oct. 17 he decreased my Thyroxine to 75 from 100 and on T3 20mg the morning I had those blood tests I had told him that I had took my meds as usual so that had increased my readings but he said it makes no difference which I know it does! He had sent me off with a blood test form for HbA1c (diabetic since 1970) lipid profile (random) TFT-including FT3 & FT4 and U/E I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism as endo calls it I call it Hashimoto's ? in 1994 and I also have 2/3 other auto-immune diseases what other blood tests do I need to ask for the Thyroid for optimum levels I will ring his secretary to ask him to add more blood tests for me to have done, when he changes my doses he always makes me wait until I next see him which is usually a year until he re-adjusts them so as I have discovered I will be insisting on copies for my self, I have recently moved GP due to a house move and he doesn't seem interested if need be I will have my bloods done private if anyone can help I know this site can Regards

[shaws Administrator]

That is ridiculous to wait for his comments on a blood test taken one year previously. You need TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.

Your GP should test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. From comments on the forum most Endocrinologists are mainly diabetic experts rather than thyroid.

Others will respond soon. Usually, if hypo, we can have a higher cholesterol but it reduces as dose increases. It is also a clinical symptom but some doctors prescribe statins which shouldn't be necessary due to being on thyroid hormones.

[Francis1957 in reply to shaws]

Mine is a Diabetic specialist rather than a Thyroid specialist but because the Pancreas is a hormone producing gland he has the job to deal with anything to do with hormones, my doctor many years ago put me on statins even though my cholesterol was only 3.4 and is roughly the same now, when she first suggested it she said "I suppose I had better put you on it as all Diabetics should be on it " talk about one size fits all. Thank you for your quick response I will phone his secretary tomorrow and give her the list and see what comes back, he has told me in the past his hands are tied when I have asked to be prescribed NDT but he did give me T3 when I said maybe I was not converting T4 because I told him I would rather be living than just existing, because that's what I was doing before T3 but now he's dropped my T4 it takes a few months but I don't feel right again.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Francis1957]

That's why many of our members get fed up with the constant up/down of dose of the professionals that it takes patients a long time - if ever - to get back to feeling well or reasonably well. To give you, I assume, statins that is definitely what we don't need but they are apt to prescribe something for the symptom(s) rather than a decent dose of thyroid hormones.