T3 or Not T3

[megiyat]

hi to everyone ,

I had so many helpful replies to my question on T3 from bodybuilding site. of course everyone was correct, there is not mention of any content of t3 or its quantity on the information leaflet. I bought it because it was labelled T3 in huge label and as bodybuilders are dosing up and down with various things I thought there may be some help in it, ah well £22. down the drain. could have been worse. As everyone asked about my latest test results I had a test 12 feb, fasting etc at local hospital but what an argument to get the doc to request more than tsh and t4 tests, she would not entertain at all doing a vit D test (explaining my last one last yr was within range and it was very expensive) so i accepted what she was willing to do, that was Tsh, T4 T3, Folate, Ferritin,b12 dont have results yet, my GP got a Handwritten letter from her and only the TSH and T4 results, I rang to get the rest and hospital said could not give to me, had to go back to GP, rang GP and they said, if hospital doc ordered the tests, it was not their remit to request them, so call them back and tell them to send to me, GP doesnt want request them. Rang the doc secretary and she said couldnt send to me, just GP has to ask, I explained all the above, and she said she would ring my GP, now I have no results yet, another test at GPs 8weeks later and I bet they will only test the usual.I asked secretary, Do I have to go through Freedom of Information Act to get these or are you just going to send them, no reply. unbelievable, no wonder nobody knows whats going on, Oh I also asked hospital doc for RT3 and she said, I cant request that I dont know what it is ! was told fasting was not recommended anymore. I could see she was getting annoyed with me. Thanks to eveyyone here for caring for people, the medical professionels dont.

regards Megyat

[greygoose]

Unbelievable!

But, even if she knew what rT3 was, it's unlikely she'd test for it, because it's very expensive and totally unnecessary. It doesn't give you any useful information. rT3, even when high, is not a problem.

[megiyat in reply to greygoose]

hi greygoose,

thank you, it didnt really interest me for the rt3 test thats why i didnt push it, but the fact she didnt know what it was is what i found ridiculous. she said I didnt have to fast or change anything before the tests, but i noticed when she gfave me the docket for the blood test room, she had not ticked either the fasting or non fasting box, so I ticked it, fasting, and then the nurse who took the samples, said, why fasting? I explained why, and she sai oh no, thats not true, we do not recommend fasting anymore for any tests, only one actually, I said is that for diabetes (glucose) she said No, not even that anymore, I asked why, she said, oh when people comes fasting it is very difficult to get the blood sample easy as the veins are not up. So, you come on this date, and have your breakfast as normal, if you want you can not take your eltroxine before test, or I can do them now, as you are here, (that was about 16,00) so I said No I want mornings, so I ot a time for 8.45 and I went fasting anyway, they didnt ask, anyway, GP seemed to think I should go to 75mcg everyday and retest inb 8 weeks, but as I said, they wont take samples for the rest, so I will have results from hospital (hopefully) for the extra tests, and the follow up will only be for tsh and t4 so I will not know if any of the others have changed, Is it likely they will change or should they>?

thanks

[greygoose in reply to megiyat]

If you've had an increase in dose, the FT3 should rise a little - hopefully!

I really don't know about the fasting thing. I always do fast. I live in France and the lab opens at 8, so I'd have to get up very early to have my breakfast first. They don't take any blood after 10 am, anyway. And, if you're in hospital, they come round taking blood about 6/7 o'clock, long before breakfast is served, so you don't have any choice. But, I've never done a test after eating, so I don't know first hand if it makes any difference. The truth is, I think, no-one really knows!

[Hidden]

It is my understanding that when you have a blood test it is your legal right to have a copy of your results.I have blood tests via an Endocrinologist at hospital and his secretary sends results in the post now as they are no longer able to e mail them.

When tests done at my surgery, results are available to be printed by the GP or Receptionist.

[megiyat in reply to Hidden]

yes that is true, but what is supposed to happen and what does happen are quite different, some of these secretaries and the doctors are not interested or familiar with the changing rules for their patients right to information, I know they have to give them to me, but the fact that I had to ring around for proof to a person for what I know to be the case is pretty annoying. anyway, Il get them sooner or later. even if I have to make a request under FOI and that way they will have to give me every record on me in that hospital from every clinic, which is quite a lot of copying and printing, and I get to see what they have said about me, Ha ha.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Even if a GP requests Ft4 and Ft3 tests ...if TSH is within range then Laboratory won’t run tests

Hence literally 1000’s of UK patients forced to get tests privately

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 you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood 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)

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

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

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

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