Thank you to everyone who responded to my post re tingly feet and functional neurological disorder! Had appointment with Dr this afternoon. She wants to refer to neurology for a nerve conduction test and "a few other things" didn't ask about the other things. I might have cried!
I said I felt my lingering issues were thyroid related. She said my tsh was "under control" so it can't be. I told her my t4 was nowhere near top of the range. She did agree to ask for t3 to be checked but she said it might be knocked back if she can't do it. She then went on to say she wouldn't know what to do after that!!! She is also going to test something else. I think she said it was the thing that transports t4???!!?? I'm not sure. I can't remember now.
The earliest appointment is 9.20am. Is there anything I need to do or not do before this test or is it the same as t4?
As always your help is appreciated!
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BiscuitBaby
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It should be ft3 that is tested and it needs to be done at the same time as ft4 and TSH. Only by getting all 3 done from the same blood draw can you look at how they are in relation to each other and how well you convert.
HiI thought that. They normally only test t4. That was done 20th September results are
T4 15.7 pmol/ (L 8.0 - 19.1)
TSH < 0.01 mU/L (0.35 - 4.94)
I am on 150mcg a day. I felt pretty good on this for a while till recently. I'm amazed gp even considered t3. I won't be able to get them to do t4 again after such a shirt space of time. I thought I was converting ok as I was doing quite well. It took a long time to get my t4 to budge from the lower end of the scale even though tsh was going down. Its been suppressed for a while now. I have a funny feeling that my t3 will come back in range. I'm not nearly as bad as I was when I was on a lower dose and I'm not suffering as much as some of the folks on here who need t3. I could do with a bit mor t4 but they won't give me it. They'd rather imply I was hysterical and send to neurology!!!
In range isn't good enough. It needs to be at the optimal level in range. How do we judge what the optimal level is? By looking at symptoms but also by looking at what the TSH is and if it is 1 or under then we look at where ft4 and ft3 are in relation to each other. This can only be done if the results come from the same blood draw as levels fluctuate.So if ft4 is say 60% through its range but ft3 is only 25% through its range then it highlights a problem as they should be closer %wise.
Lalatoot Thank you. Its nothing short of a miracle she's testing t3 at all. Thyroid care is just a disaster! I am just going to have to go with it and see what happens. But thank you your response makes sense. I didn't think of it like that. God knows what's going to happen if t3 is low. She's already told me she doesn't know what to do next. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm her project straight after med school!
Only an endo can prescribe t3 in the first instance so she would need to refer you. My GP practice will not test t3 as a rule as they say at gp level they are not meant to initiate treatment for it. They do check it though if the other bloods are way out or if you are on t3.
Most doctors including endos haven't got past page 10 of thyroid for dummies so your doctor is not alone in knowing very little.
Put your results up when you get them and we will help.
My opinion and I have had all the tests as have had it 20 years is that it is hard to get them to give u T3, the T3 test is the same as the T4 prep wise, the T3 helped me for a bit but did prove difficult to source and in the end the Endo (private) the GP and another doc forced me to give it up s it too controversial - sometimes wish I could go back on a small amount - but then is ,my body need it or going process it. Who knows. Rest and pacing helps me when diseases have turned from thyroid to M.E and then on top IBS and bladder pain syndrome. I believe iron or ferritin would help me but no idea what body needs just cause u fantasise about something working does not mean it will. And in my case body is broke. And sometimes I try vitamins..........it is horrible that these things even exist.
Waste of time JUST testing Ft3, it must be tested with TSH, and Ft4
How much levothyroxine are you currently taking
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription
What was last Ft4 result and ranges
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
Make sure you stop any supplements that contain biotin a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Low vitamin levels common as we get older too
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 and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
I was taking folate a while back, prescribed by gp. Until just before the test above I was taking thorne basic b. I am also taking vit d with k2 I can't remember the combo and the writings really small. I can't read it. My b12 was tested in October it came back over range. Folate not tested again. They are so bloody random there!!
My vit d was tested about 5 or 6 months ago and was about 80 I think. It was in the low/normal. It will be higher now as still supplementing.
My antibody tests come back off the scale. They've been done a couple of times. Same each time.
I always get same brand. Accord. Seem to be ok with it.
If I do private tests does my gp have to go with the result or can they ignore it?
Once antibodies have been shown to be present there's no need to keep testing them. They fluctuate. They don't cause your symptoms.Some GPS will accept private test results, others won't and get very defensive.
I would actually be reassured that you are being referred to neurology, as you will be tested for several conditions that can have tingly and numb feet as one of their symptoms. Never assume that your thyroid issues are the cause of everything, as you might well find that an underlying condition gets overlooked. One of my daughters, who has Hashimoto's, recently experienced pain, numbness and tingling in her feet, and underwent extensive private neurological testing, including a nerve conduction study and a brain MRI. You are fortunate to be taken notice of and offered these tests, so welcome them with open arms! I hope they will provide the answer.
HiThank you. My only concern is the gp has thoughts of functional neurological disorder. I think that's why she wants more than nerve conduction tests done. I will just have to wait and see what happens. Waiting lists are huge so it will take a while anyway. I hope your daughter is OK.
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