Gp refusing thyroid test

[catsmummel]

Hi guys, had my thyroid tested at beginning of January. All ok. Now, im super tired, + am gaining weight weekly. Have rung my Gp surgery, but because its only 2 months since i had bloods, they`re refusing to do it again so soon. Any advice would very gratefully accepted. Thankyou.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Do you have your results from the previous test? Ask GP reception for a printed copy and post them here.

When testing, book test for 9am or as close as possible as this is when TSH is highest. Do the test fasting and take Levo AFTER the test that day.

When hypo we get low stomach acid that means we cannot absorb vitamins well from our food. For thyroid hormone to work well we need OPTIMAL levels of vitamins. Have you recently or could you ask your GP to test levels of ferritin, folate, B12 & D3?

[catsmummel in reply to Jaydee1507]

Hiya, thanks for your reply. Ye, ive wondered if its a vitamin thing as well. I also have chronic long term gastritis, so that would make sense. Will try asking them , see waht they say, Thankyou.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to catsmummel]

You are legally entitled to a printed copy of your results. If you are in England you can get the NHS app and ask GP reception for access to online results. Not all GP surgeries are able to do this yet however.

[FancyPants54]

ask for a full iron panel test and vitamins B12 and D. These could give you a steer. Low levels of all will cause you to be tired.

[catsmummel in reply to FancyPants54]

Hiya, trhanks for replying. Ye, i will do, Thanks. Somethings definitely not right. Thanks again .

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

catsmummel

They may be willing to repeat the test after 3 months. Alternatively you could do a private test with one of our recommended labs.

If you just want TSH, FT4 and FT3 and are happy to do a fingerprick test then Monitor My Health is the cheapest and as it's an NHS lab at Exeter hospital the results may be acceptable to your GP.

Medichecks and Blue Horizon are also popular and offer fingerprick tests but also venous blood draw at extra cost.

Check out the labs and discounts offered here:

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

What were the results of your GP test in January? Can you post the result plus the reference range (ranges vary from lab to lab so it's important to include them so we can interpret your results). If you don't already have the results you may have online access to them if you are in England, if not then ask the receptionist for a print out (never accept verbal or hand written results, mistakes can be made, always get a print out). In the UK we are legally entitled to our results.

[pennyannie]

Hello Catsmummel and welcome to the forum :

Do you have the results of this first thyroid blood test from January ?

If you have online access to your primary care medical records as they will likely be sitting in there somewhere :

We need to see a TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 result and range - though the T3 maybe missing - plus any antibodies that may have been run - probably looking like a TPO readings :

If you haven't access you can as for a written print out / copy from the receptionist and allow a few days for this request to be actioned and suggest you will collect in say - 3 days time.

Then simply start a new post with whatever you are given and we will try and unscramble and explain what it means.

[catsmummel in reply to pennyannie]

Hi there, Thankyou. Its been a long time since my tpo`s were checked, + they`ve ever done my t3, even though ive asked. My last result is tsh only, it was 1.39 That`s all they did. 😔

[catsmummel]

Hello there. The only test they did in Jan was tsh.....it was 1.39 Normally they do a t4, but not this time. I questioned it + was told the gp never asked for it. I was pretty disgusted t be honest, but nothing i could do.

[pennyannie in reply to catsmummel]

It's not so much the GP 's fault but that the laboratory work to certain rules :

There is a system of ' cascade ' blood tests -

if the TSH is in range - the lab stop there :

and maybe once every couple of years at a yearly thyroid function test - run a Free T4 :

If the T4 is not in range the Lab will then run a Free T3 :

The tests are limited - and why many of us now arrange our own tests privately :

Were your TPO ever positive and over range - though not everybody always has over range TPO as clinical symptoms should also be taken into account.

[catsmummel in reply to pennyannie]

Yes, my tpo`s were very high lst time had them done. Must be 5 + years since theyve been tested though.

[pennyannie in reply to catsmummel]

So it's very likely that you are dealing with a thyroid auto immune disease and by the sounds of it suggest you start reading up around the research and work of Dr Izabella Wentz

thyroidpharmacist.com

[catsmummel]

Hi everyone. Ive just ordered a thyroid test kit from Moniter my health. It does tsh, t4, t3, + antibodies. At least i can get a better picture with that . Thankyou everone for you swift + helpful replies.👍

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to catsmummel]

Monitor My Health only tests TPO antibodies

Request GP test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

When were vitamin levels last tested

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus both TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes both TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Just Thyroid includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies -£49

randoxhealth.com/at-home/Th...

If you can get GP to test vitamins 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...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65 

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies) 

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here 

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.