Hi all, I had a spinal MRI test which flagged up abnormality in thyroid. My GP had me do a Thyroid function test and today I rang for the result. The receptionest said a result was recieved but my GP has ignored the result but requested further information on the sample submitted for testing. The receptionist would not elaborate on the ignored result or the further info requested. Has anyone heard of this before? It seems rather strange to me.Regards
Rob
It is perfectly possible that the GP requested either a "thyroid panel" or TSH, FT4 and FT3 - but the lab did only TSH.
When the GP got the TSH result it might have been high or low and so they have now asked the lab to do FT4 and/or FT3 as well. (Labs often retain samples to permit re-analysis without redoing the blood draw.)
It could mean you have a GP who actually understands. Or a lab which refuses FT4 and/or FT3 pretty much without regard to TSH or anything else.
Not good that you received no meaningful explanation. But should only take something like a day for the lab to do FT4 and/or FT3 if that is what was requested. And it might be better for the full set of results to be available before discussing - even if just at the level of needing one appointment to discuss them rather than one for TSH and another for the others.
There certainly are other possibilities but I'm trying to provide one scenario which might make sense.
Thank you this makes a lot of sense. I just couldnt see why the GP done what he done. Your reply has given me understanding of possible answer. You would think a Thyroid function test would cover all the options. I suppose like everything today it will come down to time and cost. Thank you for taking the time to replyRegards
Rob
You'd hope it would cover everything!
But it is a never-ending battle to get FT4 and (especially) FT3 done alongside TSH.
We see members promised all three by their GP, and even see that on the request - but only TSH gets done. Sometimes happens even when requested by a consultant.
Sometimes we see this happen and then the GP or consultant has to do another request - which definitely costs more.
Thank you for replying to me. It seems that the NHS is so greedy it has to cheat the taxpayer by charging multiple times for a test request. How many people must be out there undiagnosed because of a dept so greedy it levies multiple charges for a function test. I bet this is true in many depts of the NHSRegards
Rob
I actually don't think anyone gains from how it is.
Not even the companies who sell the testing machines and kits.
Absolutely everyone - patients, doctors, phlebotomists, labs, test suppliers - would be in a better place if it weren't so crazy. Also, researchers who end up having only part of the data for analysis.
The problem, as I see it, is hyper-simplistic cost savings. Someone sees a way of saving a pound within the narrow confines of direct and immediate cost of that test.
I suspect that the total cost of a single blood test such as TSH - appointment, blood draw, transport, return of results, etc. - might be around £20.
Add in FT4 and that might be £21. Add in FT3 and it reaches £22. So TSH-only "saves" £2 per blood test by dropping FT4 and FT3 and just doing TSH.
If that patient then goes to see a consultant who wants all three tests, that will have cost £20 for the first TSH-only test, then another £22 for all three to be done together. And possibly a second consultant appointment because the information was not available at the first one!
Yes, that is more tests. But the test suppliers would probably do better by supplying all three tests every single time. Nice and stable.
IBS, fibromyalgia and anxiety/depression are all common hypothyroid symptoms especially with autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s
Vitamin D deficiency extremely common too
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s
Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.
Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease
20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis
In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
support.medichecks.com/hc/e...
Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee
Thank you for replying to me. I do have fybro, ibs, vit d deficient, depression and anxiety amongst other things. 8 years ago I has a thyroid function test at the endocronolgy dept amd the specialist asked did i have a dog. When i daid i did he said that would account for the abnormal test result and signed me off back to the gp. Ffwd 8 years and an mri scan picks up an abnormality on the left side of my thyroid. Gp does another thyroid function test. Today I call for the result and the receptionist informs me they have a result from the test but the GP has ignored the result and requested further information from the submitted sample. The receptionist would not tell me the ignored result nor the further information requested. This seems odd to me, have you heard of this before?Regards
Rob
Good morning BreezyGeezer /Rob and welcome to the forum.
8 years ago I has a thyroid function test at the endocronolgy dept amd the specialist asked did i have a dog. When i daid i did he said that would account for the abnormal test result and signed me off back to the gp. 🤔🤯
I've seen (and personally been given) all sorts of 'weird' explanations for "abnormal (whatever that is?!) test results", both here on the forum and elsewhere but, that's got to be up there top of the league of mind-boggling and I'd love to see what greygoose particularly, with her forthright, acerbic, spot-on and lol comments re doctors/'specialists' knowledge (or lack of!), can add to that?!! 🙃😉
Meanwhile, I've just googled a combination of searches for if having a dog can make a human's thyroid [results] go out of whack/come back abnormal and, unsurprisingly, Dr Google definitely couldn't find anything!! 🤣
You've definitely posted in the right place though, Rob, to start getting some answers re what's been going on from this brilliant forum and you can't go far wrong by starting to work through what SlowDragon has posted. 👍 Also, just some other things to help you get the most out of this:-
* You are entitled to a print-out of all your results along with the ranges and they, along with symptoms obviously, are essential to start building a proper picture. So, please put in a request to your GP surgery for those printed results a.s.a.p. and then arrange to pick them up within a couple of days-a week.
* You are also now entitled to on-line access to not only your results but, to all your GP Records - i.e. SCR (Summary Care Record), consultations, history, the lot - though this may take a bit (or a lot) longer to get/set-up depending on where your GP surgery is up to with this, what access (if any/minimal?) you've been given up to now and will also require you to go into the surgery with 2 forms of ID (n.b. Best to do both these in writing to ensure you create a paper trail: the first requires just a simple note/email asking for the printouts of your results; this one doesn't require too much more other than being clear that you want on-line access to all your records and the need to take in the ID; and just come back here and do another post if you have any problems or questions).
* Last but, my no means least, please fill in your Bio with a bit more detail of history, symptoms and results with ranges in brackets once you get those, which will help the admin and other more knowledgeable members immeasurably.
Lab quite likely only tested TSH and GP requesting more testing from the sample
Standard practice
What time of day was test done?
8 years ago I has a thyroid function test at the endocronolgy dept amd the specialist asked did i have a dog. When i daid i did he said that would account for the abnormal test result and signed me off back to the gp.
This is odd……
.or endocrinologist just implying a dog might help with depression?
Could be similar to mouse or rabbit antibodies falsely affecting results ….but never heard of dog being responsible
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl....
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl....
This is odd……
Decidedly!...In fact I'm still doing this 👇 after the google search I did, which came-up with thyroid disorders in dogs, cats, etc., at the top no matter what way I searched/how I phrased it!
Even if interference is suspected then bloods should be rerun via different lab machines
Th consultant said that me having a dog affected the test somehow and whatever it was he was seeing in the test it was caused by the dog. I had mri recently on my spine. It flagged up abnormal growth on left side of thyroid. Gp done test came back negative and he was hoing to leave it there. I said well the mri flagged up something and i am self aware there is something there by just how the bavk of my throat feels and swelling so im not happy to leave it. He has reffered me to the E.N.T clininc now for further investigation
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Do my blood test results indicate a Thyroid issue? 
