HOSPITAL ERROR

[fiftyone]

Last year I was admitted to hospital with huge palpitations. They diagnosed the problem as being on too high a dose of levo and they reduced it considerably. However, this diagnosis proved not to be correct and I endured several months of feeling quite ill until my original levo dose was reinstated. I strongly suspect the hospital did not check my T3. How can I be sure, if I am ever admitted to hospital again in a poor state, that doctors do not reduce my levo dose without first checking my T3 level. I approached a random GP at my surgery about this worry. Her reply: 'I don't know anything about T3.'

[Marz]

I doubt very much if the FT3 was tested as they possibly reacted to a low TSH. Your GP response says it all - sadly. You are legally entitled to copies of all results with ranges.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Never agree to reduction in dose without FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing

Do you have autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's, diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies?

Fluctuations in Thyroid levels can cause temporary "hyperthyroid" type symptoms

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. 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).

How much Levothyroxine are you currently taking?

Have you had levels tested recently, now that dose was reinstated

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

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet.

[greygoose]

None of them know anything about T3. They don't 'do' it in med school. Instead, they are taught that the FT3 test is irrelevant and unreliable, because it 'fluctuates'! lol Yet they don't seem to know that their precious TSH fluctuates throughout the day. It's an unbelievable situation.

Because I take T3 only and have no thyroid to speak of (Hashi's) my TSH is zero and so is my FT4. When I was in hospital - for something unrelated to thyroid - the endo came rushing into my room to tell me I had a pituitary tumour. I asked if she'd tested the FT3. She looked puzzled and said no, in a voice that said 'why should I?' I said, well, if you had, you would see that it's high, because I have Hashi's and take T3 only. I would like to think that that would demonstrate to her the importance of testing the FT3, but I doubt it.

[Kes8]

Can't speak for all hospitals but my local one they never test T3 in A&E and its only done in hospital when requested by consultant endocrinologist. In regards to not having dose reduced I always refuse until I've seen the endocrinologist and so its worked.

[Rita-D]

I've been diagnosed with breast cancer. My oncologist has said she cant monitor my thyroid function and that the endocrinologist should do this. I spoke to endo's secretary but he said he couldn't monitor me more frequently than every 6 months as he's doing less clinics. The oncologist wrote to the endo to tell him she expected him to monitor me and gave him my latest blood test results which showed my FT3 slightly over range at 24.5 (range 12 - 22), Endo rang me and insisted that I reduce levo from 150mcgs to 125mcgs immediately. He said FT3 not measured as it's unreliable. I'm on T4/T3 combination!!!! Give me strength!!! Looks like I'm on my own!

[silverfox7]

I've had breast cancer and I can't remember my thyroid meds entering into any conversation. Now intrigued!

I did have a bit of an issue once on Letrozole, several months later as I found levels low so put it down to that and increase my dose but several months later I decreased again and thought it more likely that it was the shock, worry and the operation that caused the issue rather than the medication. The media didn't mention anything themselves though.