Please help me present my case to the next doctor for "why" I need this bloodwork.

[Easylover]

Hello to everyone on our forum. Thank you for all your time n care n input of personal knowledge so the rest of us can grow n come up to speed.My last visit w the doc didn't go well. I wanted her to test for b12, d3, n ferritn. Plus, the antibodies. She refused to do it. Her argument was it didn't matter because it is "treated " the same.

I said, I have a right to know if I have hasimotos or reg. Thyroid disease.

She wasn't open to anything but her way. At the end of the consultation, I politely asked her if she would " think about it"? She said, "I don't want to talk about it". Whatever. All good. I am not going back though She did order ex rays I needed. All good! I mean I'm frustrated n tired n second guessing myself that I even do anything right because I didn't get my blood test because the thyroid panel was on and it STRESSES ME OUT! They do w their interpretation of the results. Gosh, starting over, longer drives, more doors to knock on hoping one opens!

Question: How would you present your case to the next doctor or just forget about it, Why it matters that B12, D3, ferritin and anti bodies be tested ? How does it matter in the treated of my hypothyroidism? Thank you!♡easy

[FallingInReverse]

First, have you called your insurance and asked if it’s covered?

Even if Medicare/medicaid, you should be able to get the requirement and frequency for what’s covered.

I’ve done that before - in which case you don’t have to convince them you need it, you simply have to tell them that it’s covered and it’s just a blood test not a prescription, and so no risk for them to do it. In a way you can ask them for the reason they WONT do it instead if the other way around.

Also - I recently found a workaround at an Urgent Care. My 18 year old daughter just aged out of her pediatrician, and technically has no doctor. So I called up a local Urgent Care and asked if they are allowed to prescribe a blood test even if I don’t have an actual Primary Care doctor on file.

I noted that my daughter had been getting regular blood tests , but isn’t able to go back to that doctor, and so while we look for an actual PC doctor could they do blood tests for her every 6-8 weeks.

They were happy to.

So thats worth a try.

Remember at this point, you want the blood tests. You don’t really need the treatment part. You can cross that bridge when you come to it. So stay focused on the blood test and maybe give that a try.

[Easylover in reply to FallingInReverse]

Thank you FallingInReverse! She did give a reason why she wouldn't test vits n antibodies. She said she'd lose her license¿¿¿ I thought she was lying which just made everything worse. I dont think they will just test my list of vits n antibodies wothout THS, T4 and at least this doctor I left tested T3. I really don't want those things tested because they act like I'm over medicated because my TSH is suppressed due to me taking NDT.

I think you have some good ideas that I will use. But I'm still interested in why me knowing what my Vit B12, D3, ferritin and antibodies levels are matter so I can debate my argument. Which is WHY do I need know if i have Hosimotos of Regular thyroid disease in my own quest for optimum Health?

[tattybogle]

because (as stated in various guidelines for prescribing T3 to patients with ongoing symptoms on levo)

other causes of of persistent symptoms while taking levo need to be ruled out , and deficiency in B12 / Vit D / Ferritin are clearly stated to be alternative causes of symptoms eg this one for example states " exclude comorbidities : nutritional deficiencies eg Iron . B12 , Vit D " "Suggested investigations include: FBC, U&E, LFT, Calcium, HbA1c, Ferritin, B12, vitamin D, "

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

see Fig 1

[Easylover in reply to tattybogle]

Thank you very much so!!!!

[greygoose]

You need to know if you have Hashi's due to the way that Hashi's 'works'.

As I'm sure you know, it is an autoimmune disease where the immune system tries systematically to destroy the thyroid by attacking it.

When the immune system launches an attack on the thyroid, the dying cells release their stock of hormone - T4 and/or T3 - into the blood. So levels of FT4 and FT3 rise sharply, mimicking hyperthyroidism.

If you happen to have a blood test at that point, your doctor will freak at whe s/he sees those levels, and accuse you of 'abusing' your thyroid hormone, and lord know what else, and want to slash your dose. Because s/he hasn't a clue how Hashi's 'works' and has no idea what's going on, and talks about 'difficult cases' and 'mysteries'. So, it's good that you at least understand what's happening - one of you should!

These high levels are only temporary, and with time the excess hormone will be used up/excreted and you will become hypo again. So, the best 'treatment' for a Hashi's 'hyper' swing is not carbimazole, as some doctors thing, it's stopping your thyroid hormone replacement until you feel hypo again, and then resuming your normal dose.

[Easylover in reply to greygoose]

Thanks again GreyGoose. I think you are one of the most informative. Bless you 🌸 Easy

[greygoose in reply to Easylover]

Thank you.

Oh, and I forgot, if you have Hashi's you are more likely to be a poor converter and gluten-intolerant.

[Easylover in reply to greygoose]

Thanks again. So GreyGoose, please tell me why my vitamin levels matter and is B12, D3,ferritin enough?

[greygoose in reply to Easylover]

Two mSoain reasons why your vitamin levels matter:

a) if they are low they are going to cause a lot of symptoms. Low vit D will cause joint pain, among other things; low B12 can cause neuropathy, dizzy spells, pins and needles in hands and feet, and a whole lot of other nasty symptoms. With low ferritin, you can lose your hair and suffer terrible fatigue... The list is endless.

b) your body won't be able to correctly use the hormone you're giving it if your nutrients aren't optimal. Everything works together so you have to get all dem ducks in a row!

B12, vit D folate and ferritin are the core nutrients that we recommend getting tested as a minimum, and a lot of people have a hell of a job just getting those tested, let alone asking for more. So, that's the first step. Then, if you find you need to supplement, there are the cofactors to consider:

B12 and folate should be taken with a B complex because the Bs need to be kept balanced.

Ferritin should be taken with vit C because that helps with absorption.

Vit D should be taken with magnesium because magnesium converts vit D to the form that the body can use. And also vit K2-MK7 because taking vit D increases absorption of calcium from food, and the K2 makes sure it goes into the teeth and bones and doesn't build up in the soft tissues.

So, when you've got that lot sorted, you can think about other things. Selenium, for example, which is essential for conversion but not good to take if you don't need it.

Zinc and copper. They have a see-saw-like relationship, if one is high, it causes the other one to become deficient. Hypos usually have one too high and therefore one too low. It's usually zinc that is low and copper high, but you can't count on it. Therefore best to get them both tested.

Calcium is a good thing to keep an eye on, but if you're taking vit D it's unlikely to be low.

No point in testing magnesium, the results are not reliable. Just take it.

There are plenty of other nutrients, of course, but we need those in such low quantities that we're unlikely to be deficient.

[Easylover in reply to greygoose]

Hi GreyGoose, thank Y♡U for explaining that in such detail n easy to understand! Easy

[greygoose in reply to Easylover]

You're welcome.