No TSH test

[NWA6]

Well well well, I’ve just had my first NHS tests since Aug 2019 and they’ve not done a TSH test.

Brief history - I fought with my GP services for around 10yrs because I never felt completely well on Levo and sometimes utterly knackered and bloated. Eventually I went private, added T3 and have been well ever since.

They have requested two or three times that I have a blood test with them but yada yada yada, I haven’t bothered as I continue with my private testing where I feel fully in control.

I booked with receptionist and asked that she put a note on for the doc to do Vits/mineral tests. Ofcourse I got the usual, I’ll put a note but it’s up to the doc to decide what’s best (gah!! This is what I hate, no collaboration on my own health 😞) Anyway I was surprised at just how much testing was done. FT3 and FT4 as expected but no TSH - have they given up? Realising it’s not relevant? Would be great and a step forward if that’s the case.

I also have Full blood count and Bone profile. All good except my MCV is slightly over. My blood cells are always on the large size, this is normal for me, I’m always about 0.1 under the top range. Now I’ve gone a bit over. No B12 or folate result back yet so I’ll wait and see if they do come in.

Hope everyone is well or on their journey to wellness 🤗

[PurpleNails Administrator]

This happened to me recently. Just FT4 & FT3 was tested. You’d have thought the lab would have automatically tested it but it wasn’t done.

It hadn’t been requested so I thought it was out of line when the nurse blamed the lab for neglecting to test the TSH.

My TSH has always been under range so I though perhaps they had just given up but the subsequent request has it listed.

[Tythrop in reply to PurpleNails]

So is your tsh under range with hypothyroid? This interests me as iv had low tsh/low T3/lowT4.. not treated by gp due to rhubbish NHS protocol based on TSH alone.

[PurpleNails Administrator in reply to Tythrop]

I have a hyper functioning nodule, so at diagnosis I had undetectable TSH. borderline high FT4 & FT3 almost double the normal range. (4 years previous I’d had a test showing undetectable TSH, hadn’t been advised). So although my thyroid levels were elevated for many years it was not as high as typically seen with Graves (eg 3 or 4 times normal level)

I’m treated with carbimazole. My FT4 & FT3 are currently 50% & 20% within range . I feel ok, although Im temped to reduce dose very slightly and allow a rise in levels my endocrinologist is keen for TSH to rise it’s been over 2 years with my levels consistently in range and my TSH hasn’t risen into range.

I’m really hoping on my next test it might be in range. If the FT4 & FT4 don’t get tested by lab it will be annoying but expected.

Once you been hyper, especially for a long time the TSH can take longer to respond. I’m sure you are aware but In technical terms it’s referred to as HPT axis downregulation. (hypothalamus–pituitary–thyroid). In affect the feedback sensor has given up!

[NWA6]

Scrap that, the TSH came in with the B12 and folate I’d been waiting for. Oh well, not so forward thinking as I thought 🤗