managed to convince the GP to test Folate, B12, Vit D, and Ferritin (asked for an iron panel but I'll take what I can get for now. Also I don't qualify for Vit D test apparently so it might not be done.🙄 )
anyway, Dr has said she's requested T4 & T3 but the lab will decide whether to do them.
My TSH is likely suppressed due to taking Erfa,so I'm assuming my T4 will be tested.
Is it a fair bet that T3 will only be tested if T4 is out of whack?
I've recently had thyroid bloods run on Levo only. Because my TSH was under range and FT4 was raised they did run FT3 also.
When I was on NDT, GP used to write on the request that I was taking T3 containing meds and then they would run the FT3.
If your TSH is suppressed I would say it's likely they would do FT3. That probably varies from lab to lab though tbh.
My TSH is 0.01 and the lab didn’t test FT4 or FT3. A nurse told my partner when he was at the surgery that I was ok as I was ‘in range’!
Do they know you're on a T3 containing med though?
Normally they're bouncing off the walls with a suppressed TSH. have you discussed this with your GP?
Nurses opinion not valid. lol
I’m on Levo only. That result was a year ago and I’ve just had another blood test at the surgery. TSH is much the same. I happened to mention to the nurse that I’d lost a stone over the past 18 months and she made a note for the GP. GP said she might reduce my Levo but would test FT4 first. I was impressed! I returned for the repeat blood test and it turned out to be a ‘full blood test’ but no FT4 had been ordered. I was not impressed. Haven’t heard anything more from the GP (and I’ve tested privately so I know my frees are in a good place).
It will be interesting to see what they test. Free T3 and T4 are never tested for me except for when I was first diagnosed. My TSH is often flagged as below range, but they never change my meds.
After a recent hospital op and blood tests during my stay (nothing to do with thyroid), my bloods came back as T4 above range, and TSH suppressed. The discharge note mentioned that this should be followed up. The nurse at my GP surgery requested a thyroid panel. I did tell her that free T4 didn't usually get tested, but she said she had no control over what was tested. Only TSH results came back - as bottom of the normal range.
My thoughts are that perhaps the GP has commissioned certain tests with the lab, and free T4 sits outside the agreement. I'm not going to follow it up as I'm feeling well and don't want a change in medication, but I thought I'd share - even when T4 was flagged as high, it didn't get tested.
Is that a thing - that each GP surgery has a contract with the local lab - or are you just considering possibilities?
I am just guessing. Many years ago (20+) I was involved with data collection for the NHS. Depending on their activity, GPs were then issued with a budget with which they were then able to negotiate contracts with whichever service providers they wanted. It was the beginning of GPs being able to shop around rather than be tied in to their local hospital etc.
I’m sure it has all moved on from then, but I suspect they still manage their own budgets and therefore have contracts with whomever they want. For instance, I’m now sent by my GP to Specsavers rather than the hospital for my hearing aids.
My GP said the computer wouldn’t accept requests for T3 or T4. It would automatically reject them. When I was admitted to hospital for something else the admitting dr said the same 🤷🏻♀️ Luckily she also asked my GP to refer me to Endocrinology who at last were allowed to test. What a carry on. Guess it’s down to individual trusts 🤷🏻♀️
Yes I think that’s what happened with me. Today I had to go for a follow up blood test (for anaemia). Perhaps stupidly I did mention that the free T4 was never followed up. This time the nurse did a phial for it and put in the notes that it was for FT4. She said we’d see what happens! I really hope it’s okay as I shall resist any change in my thyroxine! 
I shall report back if it actually got tested.
🤞they do it. It’s a ridiculous carry on. When I mentioned it to my Endocrinologist he seemed surprised!I said maybe it’s expensive 🤷🏻♀️ He said it’s definitely not.
Yes do let us know how you get on x
My results are in already! They tested everything again, not just my haemoglobin which was good to see. They did test my free T4, so the note worked!
T4 is back in range where it had been over, and is over half way through range. No free T3 test but then I didn’t mention that.
My TSH was suppressed below normal but they’ve said no action so I’m happy with that as I feel well and all other results are now back in normal range, though vit D low, so I guess I should start supplementing that.
my TSH is often under range ,and i have always had fT4 done every test since diagnosis in 2003.even when TSH is in range.... but fT3 is only done very occasionally (5 times in total before 2019 ) ....... sometimes it was done when fT4 was over and sometimes when fT4 was in range, one time it looks like the senior GP asked for it separately ...... but since 2019 it's not been done at all despite 4 very over range fT4's during that time. Seems to be very much a lottery. when it's done and when it isn't.
Hi Witchinghour,
My gp always does TSH and FT4 and has done for many years but I am not diagnosed with any thyroid condition other than multinodular goitre.
Though any recent tests requested by the endo clinic and ENT surgeon have included FT3 on every blood test.
From my limited experience it seems to be if requested for by a hospital clinic it gets done and processed.
My GP said the lab decide about T3 testing depending on the TSH & T4 results, so I sent off for a monitor my health kit (£29) and put the results in the online form for admin queries for the surgery ( and posted here for guidance) had a call with another GP who read the notes and said my request was reasonable (upward titration) it worked really well this time. 🦋💚🦋
Thank you everyone! I was just hoping to try and get away with not buying another test myself. 😂
Looks like I'm going to need to anyway just to be safe. 💰
After all that the lab tested TSH and T3! TSH came in at 0.02 so I guess they test T3 to check for hyperthyroidism.
I still have to do my own test! 🤣
How much T3 to T4
T3&T4 combo - continued ...
Latest Test results. What to try next.....
Does FT3 increase when T4 does?
