Re my post in april about blood results. I called the surgery to request a phone consultation with GP to discuss my blood test results and was told the first appointment to speak with a doctor would be in june unless it is an emergency. I told her it wasn't an emergency but I consider it urgent and that I was responding to a message from a doctor requesting dose reduction but the receptionist wouldn't budge. I emailed the GP with some information given to me here and requested another test to include t3 and t4 and explained why that was important but I have had no response so far. I also requested B12 D folate and ferritin are tested. I know reception got the email as the email was not returned to me unsent. I don't know what date in june she was going to offer as I said straight away I was not prepared to wait that long, could have been the end of june for all I know. I will wait till friday and if I haven't had a response from GP I think I will do the NHS private thyroid function test but not sure how that works or if the results are sent to the patient or the GP.
Update: Re my post in april about blood results... - Thyroid UK
Update
If you can afford, I would test thyroid levels, antibodies & key vitamins privately annawan. I use Medichecks (which are often discounted on Thursdays). I feel empowered doing this as I can get all the information I need & post on the forum if I need advice. I email my private test results to my GP (& endocrinologist), although some members report that some GPs don’t accept them & will repeat basic tests at the surgery. Very best wishes.
Ty I will probably have to go for the cheapest option at the moment
As Buddy195 has already recommended…would strongly recommend you get thyroid and vitamin testing done yourself
Previous post
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
You’re gluten intolerant, frequently anaemic and had RAI
Always do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Remember to stop taking any vitamin supplements that contain biotin a week before all blood tests
Come back with new post once you get results
I will because it doesn't look as if my GP is going to be any help
Hey there again :
Well I went through the exact same situation in trying to get the appropriate blood tests run through my surgery back in 2016 and had a face to face with my doctor and was fully prepared with my reasons and research papers.
Begrudgingly she arranged for the lab to run a T3 and T4 at my cost and wouldn't consider running the vitamins and minerals and asked why these were even necessary.
It just so much less stressful arranging everything through one of the Private Companies as listed on the Thyroid UK website - we all owe, at least this, for ourselves to start our own recovery.
The NHS work to guidelines that sadly seem to ' fall short ' for thyroid health management, let alone those of us who have ' lost ' this major gland through a medical intervention.
If you get the full thyroid panel at least you will be able to see where you are in all this and have the ability to do something about it yourself, while you wait for NHS appointments and further consideration.
P.S, My doctor was the Thyroid Lead at my surgery :
All my papers were " lost " - more than once, at both the surgery - delivered by hand to my doctor and at the hospital - delivered by registered post and signed for.
I have never received any explanation of my health issues post RAI thyroid ablation and now self medicate.
TY It's down to me then to get to the bottom of what has gone wrong. Stories like yours don't fill us with confidence in doctors and I trust them even less now. I think I will change surgeries as clearly the GP'S are still working from home.
It may not be just your surgery as it seems there is a growing discontent throughout all areas of the NHS as to waiting times and face to face appointments in primary care.
You could run the full thyroid panel yourself, and you can arrange a nurse to visit you at home to draw the blood for you.
Once with the results and ranges forum members here can advise of anything that you can do for yourself whilst you wait for NHS appointments - this was what I did long before the current NHS issues.
You might like to start reading up yourself - Your Thyroid and How To Keep in Healthy is written by a doctor - Barry Durrant -Peatfield who wrote for patients to equip themselves and it is an easy, sometimes funny insightful read and still a ' goto ' for me :
I think you have had RAI thyroid ablation so guessing you have Graves so Elaine Moore is a very worthwhile website to dip into elaine-moore.com
A doctor range me to tell me that 'your TSH is too low, T3 too high and T4 too low.
Yes doctor, that's because I take T3 only, so T4 will be low and T3 appear higher. GP: "but T3 converts to T4." "No doctor that's not correct it's the other way around.".
annawan
I think I will do the NHS private thyroid function test but not sure how that works or if the results are sent to the patient or the GP.
I think you are referring to Monitor My Health. This is an NHS lab based at Exeter hospital. Even though they are an NHS lab they are private tests which they offer to the general public, they are sent to you, nothing to do with your GP nor is your GP named when you order the test. It's the same as ordering tests from Blue Horizon, Medichecks, Thriva, etc.
The basic TSH, FT4 and FT3 (the only thyroid test they offer) is £26.10 with discount code, details here:
thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...
As it's an NHS lab the results may be acceptable to your GP but there is no guarantee.
Warning a bit of a rant
Access Blood Results in Northern Ireland - Help Required Please.
Not clinically indicated
Still waiting on endo to contact me
