I went for a blood test yesterday morning (8.10am). I didn’t eat or drink beforehand and I took my last dose of T4 24 hours before and T3 10 hours before.
I requested T3 and so did the doctor saying the consultant had asked for it. It’s not there. Could it just be delayed and come on Monday?
Is there anything that can be seen from what’s there?
Thank you very much.
From my experience if the lab don’t feel it necessary the lab won’t do it.
I think it’s unlikely you’ll get it as a later result. Sorry but I think you’ll need to do your own.
Thank you! How very disappointing. It means I’ll have to do it all again, privately.
I know. It is disappointing. One can’t help but wonder how they can over rule requests 🤷♀️ They don’t know the details but that’s what happens. You probably know already but monitor my health is the cheapest for t3. Good luck.
I don’t understand how they can over rule either. It comes from a consultant so how can they decide not to do it!
I agree. In my experience a consultant's request is not overruled.
I think it depends on the consultant. My endocrinologists tests are never overruled but gp and gastro and rheumatologists have.
I don’t get it but then I don’t get a lot of things that go on in this world 🤣. I pick my battles. You know the one where it’s says give me the courage to change the things I can/can’t and wisdom to know the difference…. 😊
I have never had it been refused before. Perhaps it’s just delayed. The allergy test results aren’t there either. I’ll call first thing on Monday to check what’s happened. Thank you
I requested T3 and so did the doctor saying the consultant had asked for it. It’s not there. Could it just be delayed and come on Monday?
Unlikely. They can all be done together, mine are when I have a GP test and are all usually back the next day. The lab can ignore the request if they feel like it if TSH/FT4 are in range.
It’s amazing they can ignore a direct instruction from the GP and a consultant. I’ll have to do my own, unfortunately.
Cheapest for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 is Monitor My Health which is an NHS at Exeter hospital which offers this test to the general public for £26.10 with code here:
thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...
Thank you very much. I’ll speak to the doctor on Monday and see what can be done there. I also had allergy testing done and that’s not come either.
Looking at previous posts, you said GP won’t test vitamin levels so you need to test these as well
Cheapest is Medichecks
all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally before 9am last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
On T3 day before test split daily dose into 3 smaller doses, spread through the day at approx 8 hour intervals, taking last 1/3rd of daily dose 8-12 hours before test
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options and money off codes
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3
£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Thank you very much indeed. I didn’t split my T3 the day before. I took it all 10 hours before (25 mcg). What difference would that have made? I’ll look into the various options for private testing but I’ll also have a last go with the GP. I’m just not sure how I’d do the private test. When I had covid I tried to do the antibody test. I got about two drops of blood despite trying extremely hard to get more!
Thank you very much again.
Both Medichecks and Blue horizon offer private blood draw (at extra cost)
You should always split T3 the day before test…..taking half or third of daily dose 8-12 hours before test
T3 only remains in blood 12 hours
Last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
SlowDragon, which of the above is best for an iron panel test please
I can’t see your full reply but I know you wrote something! Thank you - I will contact my GP on Monday and see what she says.
I just said I had a similar experience and luckily my GP requested it again
If your GP doesn’t contact you, you could contact the surgery and ask. They can only say no
Medichecks do full iron panel test
Medichecks iron panel test
medichecks.com/products/iro...
Stop iron supplements a week before test
Test should be fasting early morning
Don’t eat steak the night before test
Thank you SlowDragon
Or liver I presume. It’s for hubby actually. I’m pleased to say mine are ok for the time being
Yes….no iron rich food night before
I would definitely ring your surgery and ask them to contact the Lab stressing that, as you’re taking T3, it’s imperative that your FT3 is measured. It will depend on how long the Lab keeps the blood sample. It’s absolutely disgraceful that the Labs have the power to ignore requests from GPs/Endos.
I will do that for sure. It is disgraceful indeed. How can they over rule a doctor, let alone a consultant. I do wonder if it’s still to come because I had allergy testing done at the same time and those results haven’t come through yet.
I wouldn’t wait to find out. Speak to your surgery first.
I will call first thing on Monday. Thank you
But if last dose T3 was 24 hours before test, it won’t tell you much anyway
Last dose was 10 hours before test.
That’s ok then 😁
Is it okay even though I took the whole dose (25 mcg) all at once 10 hours before? Thank you
Well that would give false high Ft3 result
Always split T3 into two or 3 smaller doses spread through the day on day before test
Thousands upon thousands of U.K. patients forced to test privately to make progress
Testing full thyroid and vitamins once year via Medichecks or Blue horizon
Testing just TSH , Ft4 and Ft3 via Monitor My Health (NHS) private testing service after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine or T3 £26.10 but has to be DIY fingerprick test …
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
I had this problem. In the end the consultant had to send me a blood form and then had it done at GP surgery . They’ll only do TSH here in Yorkshire even when GP asks for the lot. It’s disgraceful.
It’s really unbelievable that they can do that. At least you got yours done in the end.
Hi!My T3 is always days later…
That is interesting to know! It is still not there but perhaps that is a blessing given that I didn't take the T3 correctly the day before. How many days later does it usually come? Thank you!I have only just seen this which is why I haven't replied before now.
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