what blood tests do I need to ask for

[Vickieliz]

I've been on 200 levothyroxine for 12 mths and still free rubbish . I seem to have a year on a dose and then start to get symptoms again they only ever test tsh level and t3 I keep reading about t4 levels and t3/t4 free levels when asked my gp for these tests they said its not routine but I feel so rough and I know some things not right my last tsh test was 16 so they have increased my level to 225 daily and another test in 12 weeks but I'd like to know what tests to ask for and why
Thanks for any advice

[Barb135]

I forgot to ask if you know whether or not you have Hashimoto's...

[Barb135]

They should be testing Free T3 and Free T4 every time they test TSH, but we know that due to NHS guidelines, that doesn't happen very often in U.K.  Many times, even when doctors order Free T3 and Free T4, the labs don't/can't do the analysis.

Free T3 and Free T4 are the actual thyroid hormones, with Free T3 correlating best with symptoms, while Free T4 and TSH do not.  

Free T4 is the storage hormone and must be converted to Free T3 prior to being used. Not everyone converts adequately and if you don't your FT4 might be quite high and so could your TSH, but your FT3 would be very low and you'd have a lot of hypo symptoms.

Could you be specific about your symptoms?  You may be deficient in some vitamins/minerals, also.