Advice please from you lovely people please.

[Jillymo]

Some will rember my previous post with regard to my private blood test results. I had taken no medication and they were done fasting early morn. Blood taken 9th May

TSH

2.15 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.2 R 0.27 - 4.2

FREE T3

3.7 pmol/L 3.1 - 6.8 R 3.1 - 6.8

FREE THYROXINE

9.9 pmol/L 12 - 22 R 12- 22

On advice and with the consent of my endo I increased my levo by 25mcg.

My Dr insisted on doing another thyroid panel. Bear in mind I wasn't aware the nurse was coming and had taken my levo and eaten.

Serum T4 12.6 pmol/L { 8.0 -17.0 }

Serum TSH 0/090 U/mL { 0.38 - 5.33 } Below ref limit

He is telling me he would not have acted on my private results and I should not have increased my meds ! 🤔

Any thoughts would be welcomed as I am now very confused ? At presnt I am taking 100mcg of levo.

[greygoose]

Well, if you'll allow me to shut the stable door after the horse has bolted, you should have refused the blood draw as you didn't know about it and weren't prepared. They cannot force you to have it, that would be assault.

But, as you've had it, you just have to try and convince your doctor that it wasn't a viable test.

What time was the blood draw? Because that is what affects the TSH level, and why your TSH is so low. But doctors don't know that. How long before the blood draw did you take your levo? If it was about 2/3 hours before, that is what has caused the higher FT4 - although lord knows it's only 51.11% through the range! But he is fixating on the TSH - silly man! For some reason that I cannot fathom, doctors seem incapable of understanding that the length of time between taking your last dose of levo and the blood draw will have an effect on the result! Seems logical enough to me but they just don't get it.

So, those two excuses are not going to work. But try telling him that as you didn't know you were going to have the blood draw - his fault entirely - you didn't stop your biotin, so the results are nul and void! However, if he is incapable of understanding that a blood test that shows under-range T4, and only just in-range FT3, means that you need an increase in dose, then he's not going to be much help with anything. He's just too ignorant, basically, and shouldn't be allowed to treat hypos.

[Jillymo in reply to greygoose]

Hi,

I couldn't refuse because he wastesting me for other things and doing a blood smear. On top of everything else he has diagnosed me with polymyalgia rheumatica - ho joy.

The blood was drawn about 10.30 am. I have a endo appt on the 4th of next month albeit an afternoon appt I wont ruddy well take my meds or eat. and see what his blood draw shows.

It's like dealing with ruddy Hitler. They seem to have very little or no compassion for how we feel on a daily basis.

[greygoose in reply to Jillymo]

They don't believe how we feel on a daily basis! They think we're all making a fuss about nothing and it can't be that bad.

But you could have refused the thyroid tests and just had the rest. That is an acceptable thing to do. There's no law that says you have to have all the tests the doctor orders, and if they do them without telling you, after you refused, that is again assault.

[Jillymo in reply to greygoose]

I had other issues going on helth wise and wasn't aware he was repeating my thyroid levels. I were battling with him not to retest my B12 beause I am supplementing and didn't want my B12 stopped as they would say it was over range but the pillocks cant grasp that one either !

[greygoose in reply to Jillymo]

There's so much they fail to grasp. Sigh. It really is an up-hill battle. And they are the ones with all the power! Not surprising so many of us self-treat!

[tattybogle]

well , assuming you had only just started taking the extra 25mcg when GP did his test ( how many wks ? 2/3 ? )..... then GP should not be acting on his blood tests either , because they were taken less than 6 weeks after a dose increase, the TSH has definitely not had enough time to settle. ( NHS guidelines agree that is too soon , and recommend 3 mths )

.... and even if it's 3 wks , that's barely long enough for the new fT4 level to have stabilised.

and obviously since levo was taken pre-test the fT4 will also be showing a bit higher than it would if tested correctly ( but NHS don;t agree that this matters)

So ., request GP waits 3 mths and tests again, to see the true result of your dose increase on your TSH/ fT4 ... and also more importantly , for you to see how it feels when you've been taking it for at least 6 wks .

[Jillymo in reply to tattybogle]

The increase had only been a week ! I am seeing my endo on the 4th of this month hence my post where I can take onboard what you lovely people have explained to me.

Its like dealing with a load of imbaciles.

[Wheat]

hello Jillymo, unable to comment, but sending hugs and best wishes x🥰

[Jillymo in reply to Wheat]

Nice to see you to see you nice. 😘

That diagnosis yesterday of polymyalgia rheumatic came as a bit of a blow. Yet another string to my bow. ☹

[Bertwills]

It doesn’t help your situation but I’ve always been surprised that vets choose to test hypo dogs 5 to 6 hours after their dose. Actually I’m jealous as it’s a much easier regime. The dogs aren’t starved either. Probably part of the picture is that they don’t just test TSH but T4 too. Vets like to see a T4 level a little above normal at the test.

[Jillymo in reply to Bertwills]

I have always said we would get better treatment at the vets.

[Bertwills in reply to Jillymo]

I think that’s true & a kinder end too.