Refusal of early blood test appointment!

[Golli]

I’m due a routine Thyroid Function Blood Test tomorrow and my Doctors surgery won’t give me a 9am appointment…….stating “ Not needed for thyroid bloods…You don’t need to fast”….. the usual total lack of knowledge about Thyroid issues ,

I’ve tried to put forward my knowledge of this in the past and was sometimes able to wangle an early appointment, but they’re digging their heels in now and no way will they comply.

My appointment is at 11.45 … question is:

Should I bother fasting .?

Should I take my thyroxine tomorrow morning or wait until after blood. test?

Will be grateful for any advice.

[PurpleNails Administrator]

do you know what’s being tested. If TSH only then the timing is why it recommended around 09.00.

If FT4 is being tested, it’s highest about 3 hours after taking, so delay until after draw will show a lower more realistic level.

Doctors aren’t taught the importance & they don’t account for these variables. testing everyone when necessary would be difficult to organise .

if it a difference between being in range or high enough out of range it might be relevant to you.

Could you say you had a reason to cancel & wait for an appointment at the time you need?

[Lalatoot in reply to PurpleNails]

The problem is that the surgery will not hand out first thing appointments to thyroid patients however long they wait for one. My surgery is the same.I have my bloods taken around 2pm always as a result of the surgery's policy. That way I can compare like for like, can always get that appt time and it fits in perfectly with my dosing regime.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Lalatoot]

I would email or write to the practice manager sending some evidence of TSH circadian rhythm and insisting on an appointment thats suitable to you. I've not heard of specific health conditions being refused timing for blood tests before!

[Lalatoot in reply to Jaydee1507]

Jaydee, I would not go down that route. Why? It would make comparisons with my last 5 years of blood tests void as I follow the same protocol. A 2pm blood test is perfect for me - that allows me minimum disruption to my dosing routine - it leaves a 16 hour gap for levo and an 8 hour gap for lio. And it saves any arguments with the surgery which keeps things sweet for when I need to stamp my feet.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Jaydee1507]

I think it's down to individual surgeries. Some will do what they can to accommodate early appointments for working people, regardless of what the blood draw is for. But claiming you 'need' it for a thyroid test rarely goes down well. The reason for early blood draw is something only patients properly understand, so it's often best to find another plausible reason for your early appontment request.

As Lalatoot implies, consistency in time of blood draw is important so that new results can be compared reasonably accurately with previous results.

[Golli in reply to RedApple]

Thank you for your response RedApple.

Yes it make sense to have consistency in timing. If I fail to get an early appointment, in future I’ll try for same timing ones.

[musicaljune in reply to Golli]

Would you be able to get to your local hospital for an appointment instead?

[Golli in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thank you for your response , but knowing my practice manager and GP , this would not go down too well.

[Golli in reply to Lalatoot]

That sounds sensible Lalatoot . May consider this for future appointments.

[Golli in reply to PurpleNails]

Thank you for your response PurpleNails. They usually test T4 and TSH . I’ve tried cancelling before for an early appointment but no joy. They keep all the early appointments for diabetics etc and fasting bloods (no idea a thyroid patient ideally should fast) . In the past I’ve done private tests but can’t afford now as retired.

Just hope result won’t make GP make a ridiculous decision about dosage. 😞

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Golli]

I guess I'm very fortunate, my surgery only offers a fairly limited phlebotomy service, they "encourage" us to use the blood taking unit at my local hospital, which suits me just fine as I live halfway between the two and I can manage my blood test appointments online. I can book from 8am till 4pm weekdays and Saturday until lunchtime. Its very efficient.