NHS no longer testing T3??

[NinjaKnitter]

I have hypothyroidism following a partial thyroidectomy in 2016. I’ve not felt ‘well’ since then and have battled with my GP to raise my Levothyroxine.

Earlier this year I paid for private TSH, T4 and T3 testing which showed that T4 and T3 were low and I was allowed a 25mg increase in my Levo. Blood test in 6 weeks and they would test T3 as well to make sure I’m converting HALLELUJAH!!

Went to have said blood test last week and they didn’t test T3?? Spoke to doctor, she said she’d request it again, went yesterday to be told they no longer test T3 on the NHS?? Looks like I’ll be having that done privately again then. How can they treat a condition without all the facts, blows my mind!!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

The lab will usually only test FT3 if TSH is out of range even if GP requests

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 or if under medicated

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

Is this how you do your tests?

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

Medichecks currently have an offer on until end of May - 20% off

thyroiduk.org.uk/index.html

[NinjaKnitter in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you Slow Dragon. I have had the full raft of thyroid testing done before as well as the vitamins, iron etc. I’m now supplementing the ones I was low in.

I always do my blood tests in the way I’ve learned from this lovely forum.

I wish I’d known about the Medichecks offer I ordered mine yesterday typically.

One of the main issues I have with my GP is that he believes that TSH is the ‘important number’ and mine is suppressed by the long term oral steroids I take for my asthma.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to NinjaKnitter]

So you had research link added in this previous post showing TSH is affected by steroids

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Vitamins need regular retesting, at least annually, especially as your are all low (common when under treated)

How much Levothyroxine are you currently taking?

Did you get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested?

Email Dionne at Thyroid Uk for list of recommended thyroid specialists

please email Dionne at

[e-mail]

Likely you will need to go over GP to get correct treatment

Come back with new post once you get results and ranges on latest test

Did you try strictly gluten free diet

[NinjaKnitter in reply to SlowDragon]

I did show this research to my GP but got a vague ‘mhmm interesting ‘ reply. I have regular blood tests for all levels as I’m supplementing and I’m in the upper ranges of each one.

My antibody tests came back as normal, I saw the results, not elevated.

I’m on 100mg of Levo at the moment.

I haven’t gone down the gluten free route yet purely because it’s such a big undertaking and I’m disabled so my husband does all the cooking, shopping etc as my carer. I feel guilty adding even more to his workload.

I will be back with results next week. Thank you so much for all your advice xx

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to NinjaKnitter]

NHS rarely tests TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

So you may have only had TPO antibodies tested

Hopefully then your GP agrees TSH is likely unreliable and you must have FT4 and FT3 tested in future

He should put "central hypothyroidism " on test form when requests FT3 testing. Then lab might do it