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Original poster

How can i tell the DR to give me a blood test

27 replies

Purplecrocsrock · 13/09/2018 11:10

I need a blood test, to check my thyroid and iron & zinc. I think i have hypothyroidism, my sister has it and all my symptoms match hers.
Everytime ive been to the drs for a blood test,she always says it isn't needed so how can i demand it to be done?!

OP posts:
FacelikeaBagofHammers · 13/09/2018 11:12

You could go get one privately - or else find another doctor.

Rungirl42 · 13/09/2018 15:34

I had hypochondriasis and they did one for me as I was so worried

pretendingtowork1 · 13/09/2018 15:36

GP here. Are you medically trainee? If not, you tell the Dr your symptoms and we decide if a blood test is needed. I have a responsibility to NHS funds not to order if not needed plus there can be real harm caused by unnecessary tests.

AmICrazyorWhat2 · 13/09/2018 15:40

Tell her that it runs in the family and describe all the symptoms you're having in great detail.

I have hypothyroidism and it was actually my doctor who suggested a blood test when I described my symptoms.

Be really insistent and say you need put your mind at rest, tell her it's really bothering you....and you'll just keep coming back complaining about the symptoms.

AmICrazyorWhat2 · 13/09/2018 15:43

pretendingtowork1

I see your point, but does it tend to run in families? I had no idea I had it until the blood test, just couldn't understand why I was so exhausted and my hair was thinning.

SinkGirl · 13/09/2018 15:49

🙄

If the OP does indeed have many symptoms of hypothyroidism and a family history and her doctor is refusing blood tests, then that’s significantly more harmful than just doing a blood test.

OP, I’ve had all the symptoms of hypothyroidism for many years. I’ve started doing private blood tests to try and figure out what’s going on since my GP has not been particularly interested in helping. I found I was severely deficient in vit D and folate, and my thyroid levels are up and down like a yo-yo. In private tests my TSH has gone from 5.95 down to 1.6 up to 3.8, I feel shocking. Finally convinced my GP to run a test on this basis and got the lowest level TSH I’ve ever had (1.4). They clearly think I’m bonkers at this point, it’s very frustrating.

reallybadidea · 13/09/2018 15:51

Hilarious Rungirl 🙄

Kaykay06 · 13/09/2018 15:56

Don’t think gps realise how bloody awful you feel being hypothyroid, I have no thyroid at all and only recently my gp is listening and helping (after almost 40 years of being fobbef off) & the only reason is because she is hypothyroid and understands how I feel, ask for a test to rule it out I hope it’s not as treatment is substandard

Original poster
Purplecrocsrock · 13/09/2018 16:02

I've got all the symptoms, I'm not overreacting, I feel exhausted day in day out, hairs falling out, balanced diet but can't lose weight, constantly freezing (even now with heating on full, and house coat on) my skin is dry, and my muscles are so sore!

OP posts:
ragged · 13/09/2018 16:26

What does your GP recommend you do about your symptoms? And have you tried all those things.

MyRelationshipIsWeird · 13/09/2018 16:39

What does your GP recommend you do about your symptoms? And have you tried all those things. ragged - you presumably mean has OP been on a diet to try and lose the weight, because of course that’s the first symptom they jump on and tell you it’s your own fault.

pretendingtowork1 taking a vial of blood does no harm whatsoever, except to your bloody budget. When a patient presents with symptoms and a family history that point towards a certain illness it’s a GP’s job to listen, not fob her off.

I was left exhausted and in huge pain for months by an arrogant GP, who dismissed my clear hypothyroid symptoms, family history, for I’d just given birth etc and told me to get to mother and baby groups, do more exercise etc (despite the fact I couldn’t walk 100 yards without being breathless and crippled with back pain). Turned out my TSH when they finally tested it was over 200. Yes. 200. With a normal range being under 5.

GPs need to learn to actually listen and have some respect for their patients.

MyRelationshipIsWeird · 13/09/2018 16:46

Purplecrocsrock I only got lucky when my usual GP was off sick and a locum agreed to the test. He felt awful for me when the results arrived.

Try to see another doctor if yours won’t listen. Or take someone else in with you to take notes and confirm “so you’re saying you won’t do a basic blood test to see what’s going on with thyroid function, iron etc?” (preferably a man as they all seem to take men more seriously Angry ). And yes, this works, as much as I wish it didn’t.

If you can’t see another doctor at the same practice, as a last resort maybe try ordering the tests yourself.

Blue Horizons or Medicheck are usually recommended. Whether they will take the results from these seriously who knows, as I eventually left NHS ‘care’ as it’s shit.

Good luck.

ineedtostopbeingsolazy · 13/09/2018 16:52

Pretendingtowork she's asking for a blood test Hmm

ragged · 13/09/2018 17:11

OP will have a better chance of getting the blood test she's sure she needs if she clearly explains that she's tried all the things GP suggested & they haven't helped. Doctors work using decision trees, OP needs to divert the decision tree back to the test she wants.

MyRelationshipIsWeird · 13/09/2018 17:47

But when you tell a GP that you’re not sitting on your arse eating donuts all day, that you are bone achingly tired and can barely life a fork to your mouth, they say “have you tried eating less and moving more?”. Thyroid disease is sadly not rare, and yet it gets overlooked and undertreated for so many people. A simple blood test and some cheap meds can absolutely transform a patient’s quality of life, but when they don’t even listen to the symptoms and put 2 and 2 together, won’t give a blood test - even when you spell it out for them and ask for it - because apparently we’re all too thick to work out what our symptoms might be, they are ruining people’s lives.

Original poster
Purplecrocsrock · 13/09/2018 18:09

I went to the drs, he said i need to try and lose weight, said ive done it already and showed him Myfitnesspal- and my activity tracker for sleep and exercise.
He has agreed to a blood test, next one available is the mid october! Woo

OP posts:
SinkGirl · 13/09/2018 20:27

Make sure you book the test for first thing in the morning and make sure you’re fasting - thyroid hormones fluctuate through the day, afternoon is the worst time to test. Even if you have to wait a bit longer to get an early slot, it’s worth doing.

ragged · 13/09/2018 20:34

OP, Please come back and update us after you get your blood test results.

MyRelationshipIsWeird · 14/09/2018 00:29

I went to the drs, he said i need to try and lose weight. Surprise! What a dick. Glad you got the blood test though. Hope it’s going to test full thyroid function not just TSH, which is fucking pointless. Also should be checking iron, Vit D and B12. Can you call and ask what they’re drawing blood for?

Original poster
Purplecrocsrock · 14/09/2018 10:49

They are checking ferritin, b12 folaye, 'thyroid function tests' and Vit D

OP posts:
Original poster
Purplecrocsrock · 14/09/2018 10:52

Folate sorry- also got booked in at a community hospital for the blood test so i don't have to wait another month, test is on monday :-) will update! Is it usually same day results?

OP posts:
MyRelationshipIsWeird · 15/09/2018 09:09

That’s great. When you get the results ask them for the actual numbers and the reference ranges, not just ‘Normal’. Then you can see if you’re borderline on anything, such as Vit D which you can easily boost yourself.

Original poster
Purplecrocsrock · 21/09/2018 14:25

I got the results- Vitamin d extremely low even though i take a supplement daily, so hes prescribing me some more, folate is also low, and my TSH is borderline, so hes ordering a retest in 2 weeks time for that

OP posts:
ltsnotok · 21/09/2018 14:29

If your tsh is borderline, you absolutely must have ft4 (and preferably ft3) tested. Tsh is useless to diagnose on its own. What about antibodies for hashimotos (autoimmune) if it runs in the family?

MelonBuffet · 22/09/2018 00:54

There’s a few threads on here about supplementing vit D adequately (often the ones they prescribe are nowhere near strong enough to build it up to a sensible level). Have a read of some of them and hopefully you can get some good advice. It’s almost a relief to know that something so easily fixable is wrong isn’t it?!

And yes, agree with PP, TSH is generally considered pointless without the other thyroid tests. Even at a borderline level it can make you feel utterly shit if the other numbers are out, so would be well worth pushing for a full thyroid test and antibodies if possible.

TSH test (thyroid stimulating hormone) doesn’t even test the thyroid, it’s a test of the pituitary gland’s ‘demand’ to stimulate the thyroid into making more hormones. It’s all very well the pituitary shouting for it, but if your thyroid is knackered it can’t make it!

FWIW in the uk a TSH level of under 5 is considered ok - under 10 and they’ll watch and wait for it to go over that. In other countries and with proper treatment, under 2 is the goal.