??????? seriously ?

[Jodiedebs]

So my new Gp decided I was draining the NHS by taking T3 so as you may remember they refused to prescribe it even though endo first prescribe it 4 years ago and previous GP had no issues prescribing it, long story short they asked for a blood test as I argued if your refusing to prescribe me T3 ( I don't convert ) I will likely need my T4 increasing from 75mcg ( I take 10mcg T3 ) she didn't understand why I'd need an increase but I had the blood test .. just went in for a copy of the bloods to be told you can't have one unless you pay for it and the GP left a note saying.. THYROID NORMAL .. 1.7 ..... I obviously asked what the heck was 1.7 ??? She said your thyroid is 1.7 🧐😳😫 I have zero idea what she's talking about and my endo needs a copy by tomorrow so il have to pay even though that's ridiculous iv never paid for a copy of my thyroid bloods ??? Also I followed the protocol of taking my meds at the times needed for a true result and my blood test was before 9am . I'm losing the will here and will probably go with mefichecks but my new gp won't respect their results 😏

[greygoose]

I guess she means that the TSH is 1.7 and doesn't understand that that is not 'your thyroid'! Doesn't sound like she understand very much at all. Is there no-one else you can see?

[Jodiedebs in reply to greygoose]

They are completely clueless

[greygoose in reply to Jodiedebs]

Yup.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Just testing TSH is completely inadequate…..but increasingly common to be only test done on NHS

Anyone on T3 MUST have Ft3 tested and most on T3 will have extremely low or suppressed TSH when adequately treated

when were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested

Was test done BEFORE changing dose

Never reduce T3 by more than 5mcg in one go …..and obviously you would need dose increase in Levo at same time

Retest 8 weeks after changing

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)

T3 ….day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

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...

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

Just TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 test - £32

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

10% off code here

thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

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...

[Jodiedebs in reply to SlowDragon]

They refuse to test my T3 il just go to medichecks and show them the results its ridiculous

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jodiedebs]

Yes ludicrous isn’t it

I get T3 prescribed on NHS …..but impossible to get Ft3 tested

Test privately

Monitor My Health is cheapest for just TSH, Ft4 and Ft3

Test vitamin levels (and antibodies is autoimmune) once a year via Medichecks or BH

[JumpJiving]

Can you access your test results online? I thought all surgeries (in England, at least) were required to allow free online access to results by now.

I feel your pain re. GP not respecting MediChecks results. My GP practice put my life at serious risk in December because of this. My MediChecks results were so serious that MediChecks contacted me to say that I needed to see a doctor within 6 hours. Not only wouldn't my GP see me (the receptionist tried fobbing me off until the next month's worth of appointments were released, even after her speaking to a GP), but when they eventually realised that I wasn't going to roll over and go away, they insisted on repeating the blood tests 24 hours later, a delay that could have killed me. Once the results of the repeat tests came through, the GP finally realised the legal situation - I still think (as I already did) that the GP practice I use is little more than a repeat prescription service, but now they at least do what I tell them I need for that particular condition as I am still a millimeter away from taking action against them.

MediChecks tests probably not only saved my life in December, but have additionally provided historical data that the hospital has made use of since then (the doctor in Same Day Emergency Care loved my spreadsheet of historical results). Why my GP practice is so territorial & defensive, rather than supporting patients who are pro-active about their own health, I do not know. It sounds like your GP is of that mindset too unfortunately.

[Jodiedebs in reply to JumpJiving]

Oh.my gosh , I hope your OK now ? I still have a supply of my T3 so il be taking it regardless but GPS in UK are completely clueless about thyroid disease

[Brightness14 in reply to Jodiedebs]

They are in France too, nothing new there.

[JumpJiving in reply to Jodiedebs]

As well as being hypothyroidal, I now also have adrenal insufficiency, another condition that falls under endocrinology. Believe me, if typical GPs and endocrinologists are poor at anything thyroid-related (which they are), they are even worse at anything adrenal insufficiency-related (whether caused by Addison's, pituitary problems, or steroid use). Thus far, the health professionals I have encountered who know the most about adrenal insufficiency are my dentist (really!) and a registrar, rather than the consultant, in endocrinology. My endocrinologist has massive self-confidence, but so far I've seen no evidence to back it up, and some of the things he suggested when I saw him are downright dangerous. As for the GP practice...

[Espeegee in reply to JumpJiving]

I think both of you need to go armed with the NICE guidelines that are for medical practitioners to read and apply. Here's a link to them - nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...

[Marz]

You could try Monitor My Health for testing. They are a NHS lab in a NHS Hospital. Not a lot for your GP to object about...

[Sparklingsunshine]

I have never heard of patients being charged for test results, access to paper current and or historic medical records can incur a charge due to the time and resources taken, although this is at the discretion of the practice, but not test results! That's absolutely outrageous.

[crimple]

Jodiedebs you should not be charged for a copy of your results. Also can you get access to your health info on line? Most decent surgeries use systemonline, you get a code from GP reception (take some ID) and then you can see your test results and previous results and order your prescription.

[serenfach]

Under Data Protection law, you have a right of access to your personal data - including your medical records. You cannot be charged. If they refuse again, ask for a copy of this data by making a subject access request, and tell them you will report them for breaking Data Protection law.

Most blood testing within the NHS is now done by private companies.

Ask them how much money they will be saving by you becoming ill, seeing other specialists and a stay in hospital. I would write to the practice manager as it is him/her who would be in trouble with DPA, and ask not only for your notes (all of them, make them work!) and reinstatement of your T3 as they cannot withdraw any drug on cost alone.

[Jodiedebs in reply to serenfach]

They say its the surgery policy and protocol to charge and there's nothing I can do ,

[serenfach]

Policy is not law. There is something you can do - report them. Tell them you are going to report them first and see if they change their minds. They are breaking the law and can be find a lot of money!

Alternatively drop your MP an email (theyworkforyou.com to find MP email). He/she will sort them out pretty quickly without your name getting involved.

[thyr01d]

I think the surgery might be able to charge you for printing out or copying out your results but as everyone else has said, you have a right to know your results free of charge. They must therefore provide them, and if not willing to allow you online access, which is great once you get the hang of it, you can ask them to read the results out to you off their screen for you to write down. The last surgery I was with was really awkward in the same way, it's rotten for yours to be like this with you, best of luck.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to thyr01d]

Charging for printouts no longer allowed.

Too many didn't charge 10 or 20 pence a sheet - which might have been reasonable - but zoomed up to £10 even for a single sheet. Which was then banned.