NHS Testing

[GW1000]

Hi - those of use lucky enough to be prescribed T3 on the NHS:

Does your endocrinologist test T3 and T4 or just TSH? I know too many just rely on TSH but to the extent that they don’t even test T3 or T4 when you’re on Liothyronine? I had a monitoring test that seems to only have been TSH.

I will test through MMH but just wondered how common it is. When just on Levo I was usually given a T4 value as well.

[DippyDame]

TSH is not a reliable marker unless initially diagnosing hypothyroidism...pre medication. It is a pituitary, not a thyroid, hormone.

Without testing FT3 how can they work out a need to initiate T3 treatment

FT3 is the most important result followed by FT4....medics generally don't understand this.

[Hashiboy]

Hi GW1000 my GP orders a TSH, T4 and T3 test when I tell them I have an endo review. I’m prescribed 15mcg liothyronine and 100mcg levothyroxine. I always check with the person drawing the blood that T3 has been requested . Been pretty lucky with my practice they are happy to prescribe and happy to do tests, probably happy not to see me and let the endo manage me.

[Fluffysheep]

My endo is in a different ICB to where I live. The blood requests he sends me through are actually for FT3 only.

However, I also ask my GP to do the three tests (and explain every single time why I need FT3 testing) as I find that if I use only my endocrinologists at my local blood testing centre, he never ever gets the results.

The local lab don't really like testing FT3 levels, however they will do it if one of the other levels are out of range. Both my TSH and FT4 are, so they do tend to oblige and do the test (and also tend to phone my GP surgery in a panic, and in turn I often get a call from them in a panic and I have to explain yet again that I am on T3 only medication, and that my results are perfectly normal).

I access my results from the patient online system, then email them through to the endos secretary.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

I get T3 prescribed on NHS

I can’t get anything other than TSH tested ….so no longer waste time with NHS testing

GP happy to accept private test results

[crimple]

GW1000, I have always had T4 andT3 tested since being diagnosed as a poor converter by the local Endo and getting T3 prescribed alongside levo.

I do always get the nurse to check they are on the bloods form and I also do medichecks x 2 per year

[HandS]

Hi, my NHS endo tests THS, T4 and T3 - have just moved to 6 monthly testing from 3 monthly when he first prescribed T3

[Zephyrbear]

I am prescribed T3 (Liothyronine) through the NHS and am reviewed by an endocrinologist (I’m in Wales, they are in England) every 12 months or so. I’m sent a blood form each time and TSH, FT4 and FT3 are always tested. This has been going on ever since I was first prescribed T3 in 2011. I also do a Medichecks test on the same day as my NHS test (my daughter is a midwife and she does the draw for me) so I can cross check the results as well as have those results before the endos.

[megarub]

I get liothyronine on the NHS but have to pay to see the endocrinologist.

He tells the GP what tests to do - FT3 FT4 and TSH.

The GP surgery mostly mess this up and only do TSH so I do my own private blood tests which the endocrinologist accepts

[GW1000]

So interesting to hear the different variations! Good, though, that actually most are testing all three.

I will query it before the test next time and see I can convince them to at least request it. An FT3 request from a GP was turned down before but I’d hope it would be done if from an Endocrinologist.

Thanks all!

[serenfach]

My GP practice is not allowed to test T3. Even if they request it stating "on lio" on the notes, the labs wont do it. The consultant told me he was not allowed to test it either, but would "beg" the labs. ITs TSH and T4 only.

[blondpalomino]

Hi, I get T3 as well as T4 on the NHS as I had my thyroid removed 25 years ago. In those days they were happy to give you T3 as it wasn't so expensive! When I get my blood taken at the Doctors, they usually only ask for the TSH, but that is so low - 0.004 usually - that at the lab they probably panic and do the T3 and T4 as well, which are usually within the guidelines.