Satisfactory. No further action required

[Jelley93]

These are the digital results from my blood test on 23/03/2022. The Gp sent me to the hospital last thursday concerned saying I looked dreadful etc. The hospital did tests and advised me to lower Levo dosage which I have done for three days now. Gotta go back Wednesday as they did other tests coritsol vit D etc. For them to put on this that my result is fine, surely isnt right. I know we have said T3 is the key result that they don't test. Thats why I have bought a T3 T4 TSH test. Will be interesting what the hospital says with the other results Wednesday. With going onto 100mcg I have noticed very slightly the off balance feeling is still there but isn't as noticeable. Touch wood

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What time of day was this test

How long before test was last dose levothyroxine

As you have already reduced dose levothyroxine…..you really need to wait 6-8 weeks to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3

Testing too soon after any dose change is waste of time and money

[Jelley93 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi slow dragon, this is the same test as before. They have only just listed it digitally. Reason I put it on here is due to the Drs note saying no further action. This is despite the fact I have been told to lower my dosage. The £26 test I bought is to check the T3 to see if that's the issue.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jelley93]

The £26 test I bought is to check the T3 to see if that's the issue.

Yes I realise that…..to get true reflection of your levels, as you have reduced dose, ideally wait 6 weeks to do test

Meanwhile get vitamin levels tested via GP

[Jelley93 in reply to SlowDragon]

Also test was completed at 845 am. No levo taken before test

[tattybogle]

Hi Jelley93 . The 'satisfactory'/no action required/ patient informed ' comment was probably put on to the 23/3/22 result by the GP when it first came back to them from the lab. 'satisfactory' meaning " GP considers it ok to allow you to continue on current dose .. even thought the TSH is a little bit under range " ....

Then later ... when you saw GP/hosp they changed their mind and lowered dose and " Result reviewed by Dr... " was probably added at that point . But they don't erase the original comments on medical records ... the further action of lowering dose should be recorded after this on your medical record .

So the 'satisfactory' comment is not unusual , or anything that need correction , it's just how they keep records. (its a bit clunky)

Since you have taken a reduced dose already for a few days .. you would be wise to wait for 6 weeks on this lower dose before using your private test.

Testing 'now' will mean you don't get a true picture of how it was before on 125mcg ,because three days on 100 will have changed it ....and you don't get a true picture of how it will be on 100mcg because 3 days is not long enough for it to rebalance at new level.

Blood tests are only really informative if done after taking a consistent dose for 6 weeks. TSH and fT4 and fT3 will all be changing in all sorts of directions in the first few week after you change a dose.. before eventually everything settles down again to some stability ... if you test too soon , you have no idea if it's the 'true' result for that dose or if levels will be quite different after a few days more .

So save your test for a few weeks , and then use it to see what your fT3/ fT4 / TSH are on 100mcg ....combined with symptom response, the test results will then help you decide whether to stay on 100mcg or go back up a little to 112.5mcg. (or go lower , but that is less likely)