Bloods

[dodge1979]

Hi all

Got an appointment with my endo this Friday

Changed my dose to 150mcg of levo on the 3rd April

He has not sent me a list of bloods to get done

What should I request cheeky

Thinking of the following

TSH

Ft4

Ft3

Tt4

Tt3

Rt3

Vit d

B12

Folate

Ferritin

[Judithdalston]

What about two thyroid autoimmune antibodies (TPO and TgAb), unless you already know you are Hashimoto’s, have autoimmune thyroiditis? Wouldn’t bother with RT3, it’s an expensive test, and if negative just suggests something is up but could be lots of things nothing to do with thyroid problems! Even T4 and T3 not needed, stick to TSH, FT4, FT3 and 4 vits/ mins.

[dodge1979 in reply to Judithdalston]

Hi Judith

Do I need tpo and tgab

I don’t have a thyroid

[Judithdalston in reply to dodge1979]

To tell the truth I don’t know; tho even those who have had thyroid removed sometimes still have some gland I believe. Have a search across the forum ‘related posts’ to see if anyone with thyroid removed has Hashimoto’s too.

[jgelliss in reply to dodge1979]

I had TT too and my Dr runs labs with Tg and TgAb . They are very important markers for those of us that had TT .

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Total T3 isn't really any use, it's Free T3 that tells us what we want to know.

rT3 isn't much use either, it may tell us our rT3 is high but it wont tell us what is causing it to be high, and there are very many reasons for high rT3, not all to do with the thyroid. Unlikely to be done on the NHS anyway.

The others are all important.

There's also not much point in testing 3 or 4 weeks after a dose change, it's too soon and wont give a true picture of hormone levels. Levels need to settle and that will take 6-8 weeks after a dose change.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw). This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any dose, or brand change in Levothyroxine

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

[Nasasteve2]

The most you can expect from the NHS is a TSH And possibly a T4 test unless the Endo specifically requests anything else it won’t happen if your TSH is anywhere near normal the tests will stop there and go no further. I spent 6months trying to get them to test the lot and the NHS won’t unless an endo tells them to and even then they do it under duress. The only way to get a full work up is to pay for the tests yourself and send them off yourself.