I asked my doctor to have my thyroid checked and she refused to do a T3 and T4, she would only do TSH?

Question

My TSH came back 1.63 but research I have been doing suggests that the only accurate reading you can get is from T3 and T4 is this correct?

Answer 1

A free t4 and free t3 would have been a better test. Plus if this was your first TSH, your doctor should have done an antibody test, as many have te antibodies, but no elevation of TSH. Was this TSH done first thing in the morning? If not, its completely worthless. TSH is highest while we sleep, so you need to test first thing in the morning. Around 2 PM, TSH is at it lowst resulting in may not getting an early diagnosis. It happened to me. I tested in th afternoon and got a 2.6 reading. 9 months later I tested late morning and got a 6.8. It probably would have been even higher had I of tested at 8AM. The problem is most doctors only test TSH and tell their patients the test can be done anytime. It cannot.

Answer 2

The standard first-line investigation is always TSH only. If this returns an abnormal result, then the pathology lab will usually contact your doctor to ask whether she'd like T3 and T4 to be added to the request and the lab can then run those tests from the same blood specimen.

In states of normal health, T3 and T4 levels influence TSH levels through what's known as a negative feedback loop, which means that it's a self-correcting system. For example, if the level of T3 in your blood is too high, this information feeds back to the pituitary gland and TSH secretion is decreased. This has the effect of reducing (ie correcting) the heightened T3 level.

So it's for this reason that TSH only is initially ordered. Any abnormality in T3 or T4 levels will be reflected in an abnormal TSH level due to this feedback mechanism, and further tests can be arranged from there if necessary.

For the same reason, Medicare Australia will only pay for T3 and T4 to be tested if:
- an abnormal TSH result is returned
- a patient has a previously diagnosed thyroid problem
- a patient is undergoing some kind of treatment that may have side effects on the thyroid gland.

Answer 3

the usual procedure is doing the TSH only at first and if theres an abnormality, then they take blood sample for T3 and T4...Yours is normal so the doc doesnt feel d need for t3 t4

Answer 4

specific, you somewhat are. Your surgical operation generally has a phlebotomist, or a nurse, who takes blood samples, and which will inform you despite in case you have a thyroid concern or not. you're able to desire to make an appointment consisting of your healthcare expert today in case you think of you have a thyroid, or the different, concern.

Answer 5

Some doctors are just stubborn. She might do more if your symptoms warrant doing so. Or maybe you need to find a new doctor who will actually listen to you, or at least discuss the reasons you don't need the tests.

Answer 6

Get a new doctor. Remember you are paying her, and as such you hire her to do the job that you want. In effect she is an employee of yours.