Blood tests, T3 and talking to GP

[Slowrunner1208]

Hi & happy new year,

I started a trial of T3 at the end of November (privately sourced) and was planning on testing my bloods in February. It’s still early days but I do feel ‘better’.

My GP has called me in for annual blood test next week, a 1.00pm appointment as no early morning ones available. This makes following the recommended testing protocol impossible.

I haven’t told my GP about taking T3, past experience doesn’t make me think this will go down well. I feel anxious about this already!

Should I postpone the appointment for a few weeks? If not, is there a different protocol of taking my levo and T3 that I can follow for a lunchtime test?

Should I get my own bloods done, as planned in February, as this guarantees it won’t just be TSH tested? Also allows me to test ferritin and iron which I’m working to improve.

Any advice on talking to my GP that will enable me to continue with the trial before dropping levo? I’m assuming my TSH will be very low.

Additionally I’ve just tested positive for Covid so imagine this may impact any tests next week.

Thanks for any replies!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Definitely cancel next week

Covid is a great excuse but you don’t actually have to give a reason

Wait and get FULL thyroid and vitamin tests yourself as planned in Feb

Then take results into GP at annual review

[Delgor]

I was going to say the same as SlowDragon purely because viruses and even colds (which are actually viruses anyway) can skew your results. Hope you feel better soon!

[Slowrunner1208]

thank you SlowDragon and Delgor good advice to follow. Great to be able to check in here when I’m feeling lack of confidence and needing some wisdom 😊

[Sparklingsunshine]

Tell your GP you got Covid followed by cholera and bubonic plague lol😆, anything to delay the inevitable . Joking aside though I've heard Covid can skew thyroid health so waiting for the dust to settle seems wise.

Does your surgery offer early morning blood tests if you book well in advance. Or does your local hospital have a blood taking unit you can use.

At mine I can book online and appointments start at 8am. I live halfway between my surgery and the hospital so always use the hospital. Its much more flexible.

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

What ever the results, refuse to lower your dose based on TSH only, if you don't agree they can't do it, tell them you would like to be treated based on fT3 & 4 results and symptoms not TSH which Thyroid UK have explained is the correct treatment, you are not over medicated if these are within ranges 🤗

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

I've switched to answering using this post else we are dragging the other one off on a tangent.... it's your folate level that was also too low, are you taking a decent B complex to sort this out?

[Slowrunner1208]

thanks so much TiggerMe I’ll start a new post when I have results 😊