Well that was a surprise, GP requests it every time but it’s never been done before.
Our local hospital lab has run FT3 on my latest bloods. Different old school GP (I saw about something else) said ‘we can ask for anything’ and I laughed and said that’s very unlikely, but there it is.
Flying pigs 🐷 next!
Fab! Nearly as good at the Monitor my health (NHS) tests, what what? Except you don't have to pay for it. Good news!
Golden girl 😲
This is your Christmas miracle! 😀
I cannot get my surgery to record my privately done T3 test on my NHS notes - they only list the TSH and T4. 🙄 At least I don't get harassed about my suppressed TSH any longer - guess you just have to count your blessings!😅
Fabulous Regallotment,
I also get FT3 tested twice a year ..... just a shame this health authority and another local health authority suddenly withdrew my T3 meds several years ago .. twice!!
But they continue to test it even when they won't supply it 🤷♀️
But they continue to test it even when they won't supply it
Whereas I still get T3 prescribed on NHS alongside levothyroxine …..but can’t get NHS to test Ft3 …..even with suppressed TSH
Just moved area…..so now in different ICB area…..same situation…..only TSH and Ft4 tested last week
Bl**dy ridiculous, isn't it!.
Your only consolation SD is testing T3 is cheaper than having to buy it 😬
Snap! Mine has always tested FT3 but used suppressed TSH as an excuse to withdraw T3. Then when I self sourced T3, they used suppressed TSH to remove T4 (now reinstated.)What is wrong with these people!
Oh my word. What a journey. It's surprising we don't die from the stress!
I’ve had my T3 tested by my GP and local hospital lab for over 5 years. They do it every 3 months without fail. Think that’s down to having an eminent private endocrinologist and now the NHS are prescribing my T3 also so they must test if they are prescribing.
Well done let’s hope it continues.
Having the same endo as you ….i still couldn’t/cant get Ft3 tested ….and only tested roughly every 18months
Must be as I have a very good GP surgery then. But my sister in a different area gets hers tested regularly now too under the same private endocrinologist as me/us.
Could you possibly name this prominent endocrinologist please
Not on forum, please. Send by Private Message/Chat.
where are you lucky people who get this done? I gave up trying as every time hospital lab didn’t do it even tho gp requested it! (Devon)
Hereford
My GP will only test TSH now, says if you are on thyroxine there is no need to test anything else.
Oh dear, welcome to the dark ages... 🙄 Sometimes I have the feeling medicine is making big steps backwards instead of small steps forward...😢
My T3 suddenly started being tested about 3 years ago …. don’t think it’s down to GP as I never see the same one twice …. whoever I see just ticks TFT on the blood form as they always did. I count myself lucky but it shouldn’t be down to luck, should it?
I had bloods taken at gp surgery saw my endocrinology doc chatted about results 2 weeks later at gp surgery was told the bloods had not gone off to the lab so what the devil was my endo talking about was she looking at last years results? Who knows I only use her as she gives me prescription for t3 on nhs
Brilliant! I've been told the same......& sure enough they've done all 3 twice consecutively so far......how long it will last but am taking the good whilst it's on offer!! 🤣😂
Hi Regenallotment,
In the past when Ive asked 3 different GP's to include FT3 , on my side very helpful one said and checked in my presence that it wasnt on the 'permitted list' ...whatever that is.
The 2nd one said we are not allowed and only an Endocrinologist can request that.
The 3rd said its too expensive and you dont need it its not relevent.
Having said that, my Endo at the time a Prof on 4 seperate consultations over 2 years requested FT3 as part of his consult, 4 times they were omitted to his fury. I asked him why he couldnt get his requests sanctioned...he had no answer.
On his 5th request I did the blood test that morning and when I got home I rang the Pathology department processing the request and said my Endo has requested FT3 /FT4/TSH can you guarantee that the FT3 will be done this time. Turned out I was speaking to the Head of Pathology and she said "no I wont, because you dont need it, your TSH is in range". When I asked what grounds did she have for overiding a Prof request she simply said "because I know better" .............I kid you not !! I said it has been specifically requested because I have elevated TPO's and Endo is trying to calibrate my medication. To which she replied "Oh I didnt know this and I didnt know you had Hashimotos ".........it beggers belief.
Well done for you Regenallotment and long may it last , it gives us all hope.
Every best wish, G.
Sanctimonious arrogance and bah! This type of thing grinds my gears! Well done pointing all that out!
On 2 or 3 occasions the lab at my hospital in Chester didn’t do the T3 test even though it was clearly on the blood form. I even had a photo of the form one time. I too called pathology. Their answer that is wasn’t on the blood form. When I pointed out it was and I had a photo of the form they quickly rescinded and did it. The nurse who does my bloods every 3 months without fail was furious with them. I’ve had about 25 t3 blood tests now via my GP surgery since I started on T3 6 years ago. They’ve only missed about 3 of them. My hospital in Halton always checks t3. Really they must check if you’re on the medication I feel. TSH alone checking is inadequate always.
I think it also depends what your TSH result is. I have been prescribed T3 for 20+ years on the NHS as I had my thyroid removed. They don't ask for the T3 at the Doctors when they do the blood test, but the Lab always does it as they panic when they see my TSH is 0.004!
Ah interesting, mine was supressed this time, for the first time (despite my best efforts) so that must be why. They’ve asked me to restest in 12 weeks. That suits me 🙏
Hi, yes if you are on T3 it does suppress the TSH. I think probably if you are being given T3 there is no need for the Thyroid to be stimulated to produce more. But that's just my opinion!
But maybe that's the way it works for me as I don't have a thyroid to stimulate anyway!
The labs never test my T3 even though I’m on T3 treatment. The answer from the surgery was that the lab only test it when the TSH is abnormal. My TSH is regularly 0.01 which the surgery insist on my making an appointment to discuss my “abnormal TSH”, so this is patently a ridiculous answer.
I had TFTs done at the end or November and yet again T3 was not tested, so I rang the surgery and made another appointment for a thyroid blood test and I insisted that T3 is tested since I am on T3 treatment. Success!!! When I saw the nurse she said she had to ring the lab to ask them to test it before she sent the bloods off.
What a ridiculous state of affairs that a lab (a service provider) can override a GP or endocrinologist (the service user). Isn’t it the service user that determines what they need?
The NHS needs to remember what they’re supposed to be there for and that is to help people to get and stay well!
Thyroid Test - no FT3 by GP
Rang gp surgery 🤦♀️
FT3 testing.
