T3

[Neet62]

My GP refuses to test for free T3 I’m taking 150mcg of Levo and literally just staying afloat! (Hashimoto’s) weight gain +++ and all the other usual symptoms. Advice please?

[fuchsia-pink]

Has s/he given a reason? Can you try a different GP? Do you have any recent TSH and free T4 results?

My GP only tested my free T3 when I was not doing well just on levo, and refusing to reduce my dose to get my bloods being where they wanted them - this is long before I knew about reference ranges, T3 or anything much. I am naturally quite bolshy but very polite, so I think it was largely to shut me up - and to protect the practice from his ignorance being a problem later down the line [lots of lawyers in the family ]

I had a bone density scan, which is always useful I suppose, because he was terrified that I was over-medicated and would have a stroke - and from there it led to finding poor conversion and NHS lio. Yes, I know I'm lucky and I'm very grateful.

Would your GP accept private testing, if you got it, and could prove poor conversion / low free T3? Or might it at least prompt him/her to getting an NHS result?

Good luck x

[Neet62]

Just says it’s unnecessary! All within “normal limits” but I know they’re at the lower end of normal, just antibodies are elevated (Hashimoto’s)

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Neet62

Even when a GP agrees to request testing for FT3, it's often the lab who makes the decision whether or not to test. I live in Wales and the hospital which processes tests for my surgery has done my FT3 for years (without it being requested) due to the fact that my TSH is always suppressed, so I think this may have been standard procedure at that lab. However, when my last test was done in February the FT3 test wasn't included even though my TSH was <0.02 so maybe they have changed to not testing FT3 now.

It may be that the only way to get your FT3 tested is to do what hundreds of members here do and that is a private test with one of our recommended labs which you can find here on ThyroidUK's main website:

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Whether or not you can use the result for further help from your GP is another thing.

[Neet62 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you 😊

[tattybogle]

I have decided that in future i will refuse to reduce dose unless GP can prove using FT3 test that my t3 is over range. So he will have to get it, if he wants me to reduce. As for the Labs sometimes refusing. that's his job to sort out.

I suppose you could turn that logic around and tell yours you intend to increase dose on your own, because you feel rubbish on your current dose.....unless he can show you you are at top of range for T3 currently.

And see if that gets you anywhere.

It might get you shouted at i suppose, depend's if you'd rather be shouted at , or pay for your own test.

i dont mind being shouted at when i'm not in the wrong and can't afford the alternative.

[greygoose in reply to tattybogle]

Doctors shouldn't be shouting at their patients. That's most unprofessional. I'd shout back!

[tattybogle in reply to greygoose]

I did

he said " but you'll die" !

so just to spite him , i haven't

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to tattybogle]

so just to spite him , i haven't

🤣

[greygoose in reply to tattybogle]

How do so many idiots manage to pass their exams to become a doctor in the first place? Beats me.

[buddy99 in reply to greygoose]

They shouldn't shout at patients but they do. Have been yelled at a lot, even for things that I thought were helpful information like "my TPO has been normal in the past but my TgAb is usually elevated" (said to a doc who told me I don't have Hashimoto's because my TPO is normal). I think they feel threatened when patients know about their condition and then need to throw around their authority, which is not real authority but power.

[greygoose in reply to buddy99]

Yes, they do feel threatened because they know they don't know much about thyroid. But, even so, if the garage mechanic repairing your car, shouted at you, you'd complain to his boss, wouldn't you? Why wouldn't you do that with a doctor? Time they realised they are not gods!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to buddy99]

buddy99

As you are coeliac and strictly gluten free it’s not unsurprising that TPO antibodies are negative

Many people find TPO antibodies slowly drop on strictly gluten free diet

Same problem here in UK with only high TG antibodies

NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO are negative and refuses to acknowledge Hashimoto’s on only high TG antibodies

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/303...

healthline.com/health/antit...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

So ...like thousands upon thousands of people on here ...you are going to need to get private testing

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

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Are you on gluten free diet

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)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last third or half of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Small selection of posts with results

healthunlocked.com/search/p...