WHY DOESN'T MY DOCTOR TEST MY T3??

[Lori707]

I was just diagnosed with Hashi's and hypo and just started Synthroid. My endo doc never tested my T3..just my
T4(Free), TSH, Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) and Antithyroglobulin Ab.

At the visit the doc told me to come back in 3 months and gave me another lab script to take 2 weeks prior to my next visit. The doc didn't check off T3 so I asked him why. He just said it doesn't matter and wasn't necessary.

???? I don't get it.

[blsdnsvd]

I think that we can all say that at some point. My endo doesn't test either and her excuse is because my levels are getting better and if they were not, then she will test...I requested the labs from my gp and she did them, then i faxed them over to my endo so that she will see....

[redheadaussie]

Many doctors are not allowed to test for it unless they have a darn good reason for doing so! Here in Australia most blood tests are covered by the government. ONLY if the doctor is really concerned will they do certain tests. Only if you ask will they do the Free T3.
  Some doctors also have no idea of what the Free T3 is so they don't test you.
Do insist on getting it done or just tick it yourself!  Make sure it is FREE T3!!!!

[Lori707]

Thanks! I'll be looking at these sites.

[compnet]

Seems common around this board that docs aren't testing it.  With my doctor, the form didn't even have a FT3 to check off.  The first time I asked for it, i thought he did it, but didn't.  The second time, heh, I wrote out a note "Free T3" circled, with "(NOT TOTAL)" and all highlighted.  He agreed to test it and had to write it in.

You can insist on it, tell him the fee is okay with you, tell him you know a lot of people on a forum with the condition that have better managed their condition by testing it, print up articles where doctors say it is good to test, push push push.

Here's some sites that comment using the Free T3 and Free T4:

http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/hypothyroidism.htm

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/02/21/Fatigue-Dry-Skin-Gaining-Weight-See-Why-Youd-Better-Check-Your-Thyroid-.aspx

http://www.altsupportthyroid.org/tsh/tshrefs2.php

http://www.tpa-uk.org.uk/dommisse_article3.php

Try printing them up and highlighting those areas.