Health screening

[Hypomadness80]

Hi all.

I'm having a health screening this Monday which has been organised by my work as one benefit we have.

One of their test is the thyroid function.

As I'm self medicating with T3, should I twll them I'm taking it?

Also, I'm worried that they will pick up on my TSH being suppressed and pass it on to my GP.

My screening is at 9.30 in the morning, so I will take my last dose of T4 24h before and the T3 at 4pm as usual the day before. Will that be enough to have a raised enough TSH and fall within their normal range?

Thank you.

[greygoose]

Absolutely not. TSH doesn't change that fast. I would just tell them you take T3 so your TSH is going to be suppressed, because that's the way it works, and hope for the best. You don't have to tell them you self-treat. And, do you really think they'd report to your GP?

Alternatively, tell them you don't want thyroid testing because you know that you are hypo, and it's being treated. You have to give your consent to these tests, they can't just test you for any old thing without your permission.

[Hypomadness80 in reply to greygoose]

Ok. Will do that. Thank you Greygoose.

[greygoose in reply to Hypomadness80]

You're welcome.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hypomadness80]

I would go with what greygoose has said about telling them that you have hypothyroidism and that it is treated and regularly monitored, so you don't want or need that test.

Do you know whether a copy of the report is sent to your GP? I would have thought that the information is for your employer and if any problems are highlighted then you may be informed and speaking to your GP suggested. I would actually ask this question because if they send a report to your GP, don't tell you and don't have your permission then surely that's against Data Protection regulations?

[Hypomadness80 in reply to SeasideSusie]

the test is not for work purpose. It's just a benefit we had this year that my company pays for. We could pick through several options and I picked the health screening. It's with VHI healthcare a health insurance company in Ireland.

In the questionnaire, they asked for the name of my GP. So I was worried they would pass on any issue to him.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hypomadness80]

OK, so that's different from when I went for a health check for a new employer, but that was many, many years ago. Never had one as a "benefit".

Personally, I would clarify with them whether or not they send a report to your GP. They may only want the GP's details as it could be normal protocol and may not contact them at all, but I would certainly check. And I would definitely tell them you want no thyroid test.

[Hypomadness80 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Just read through the forms, and a copy of my report will be sent to my GP.

[mandyjane in reply to Hypomadness80]

I imagine they are only going to test for Tsh and this is going to be worse than useless for you. Do you know what other tests they are doing in regard to bloods/ If not I would ask and also ask if you can request that the results are not passed onto you GP. I dont think you need to explain why. I am personally refusing all screening. I am trusting that my body will tell me when I am ill and need investigations and that it better for me to sit in my local park watching the squirrels than doctors surgery's having needles stuck in me.

[Hypomadness80 in reply to mandyjane]

They will be doing fasting glucose and haemoglobin A1C, fasting lipid profile, renal, liver and bone profile, and full blood count