Yesterday I had a return visit appointment for something other than my thyroid.
During the visit I told the doctor that the blood test taken the week before after a change in dosage was useless because only TSH and T4 had been tested, and that to make any sort of sense of it I needed T3 as well which would have been the same as the previous test. I wanted to compare results to find out if the reduction in my Levo had made any sort of difference.
I mentioned that I was thinking of doing a private test of those three, but that if I did I would be concerned because I had heard that doctors dismiss private results. She replied that was because most private labs were not authorised…I think that was what she said…anyway you get the gist.
Then to my great surprise she told me that if I wanted T3 tested she could arrange it. So I made an appointment.
Woo Hoo!👍
Written by
Ellie-Louise
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'most private labs were not authorised…I think that was what she said'
Yes, this is still a typical belief. Years ago, when private testing was only just becoming available, there may have been some justification. But now it's totally outdated. Most, if not all labs doing the private tests are also doing NHS tests, as well as private health sector testing.
The most blatant example is MMH (Monitor My Health), which promotes the fact that it is an NHS lab. monitormyhealth.org.uk
Do keep us updated on this. Although your GP is requesting the FT3 test, there are still some labs that over-ride the request. This is one reason why the direct to customer testing companies have been so successful!
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
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