How often for labs?

[yankeeRN]

It has been six weeks since I had any thyroid labs done.  I am presently on PTU 50 mg three times a day.  I had been down as low as 50mg daily till about Sept 2012 and then gradually up to the 50mg three times a day (according to labs)  My last free t3 was still slightly elevated at 4.5 (2.0-3.5), total t4 8.1 (5.3-12.3),  tsh<0.001 .   I have been on the 50 mg three times a day since Oct 9, 2012.  I feel pretty good  overall and fine in the head though a little short on patience. I am just wondering how often these labs should be checked?  I thought someone once told me every 6 weeks.  I sholdn't have to be the one to ask my doctor to have my labs checked at a certain frequency (unless I don't feel right--for that I take full responsibility) ..should I?  I see the Endo on Tuesday and I will bring multiple questions--once again.  My family md has been handling things otherwise. So how often does it make sense to have my labs routinely checked?

[yankeeRN]

Thanks :)

[FTB4]

You cannot look at it that way, You can't just let this "Clown" off the hook from doing his job, because others have it worse than you, that might be the case with someone who just has to complain about something or they are just not happy, but you have a right to complain, if he does his job right, you feel better, if he does not, and you feel miserable, then that rests soley on his shoulders, and your pain and suffering is his FAULT, you need to get on his butt, or find another MD, Most of us have been through what you are going through, I am having issues with my MD right now, I think the world of her as a person, and try and be diplomatic with her, but sometimes you have to be aggressive with them, their ego gets in the way of your health. If we have to get pushy to feel good, then thats the way we have to be, They work for us, you or the insurance you pay the premium on,  pays them, Insist on the right tests when you want them, he is not paying for the tests. You are. Go ahead and Vent, you have a reason too, and then do the same to him.  Best Wishes FTB4

[yankeeRN]

Hmmm sad but true---I feel like an experiment--things went according to plans at first and now that I had a set back but might look ok  compared to when I was at my worst then I am not perceived as believeable by my md.  At one point he kept saying  , "Well your total t4 is still in range though at the top of the range."  I asked him to do the free t3 and he calls me a little more than 12 hours after I had the lab drawn all concerned because that was almost twice what it should be---Hmm maybe that IS why I don't feel quite right.  I would love to ignore all my symptoms too believe me it is a pain in the neck to be a slave to a pill three times a day. I don't have a choice .....I have to listen to my body because all just gets worse.  I would love for  these doctors to walk a day in a thyroid patient's shoes--might be enlightening.  Sorry --just venting.  I know there are much worse things then having thyroid probs--ie the person paralyzed etc

[FTB4]

I could see the 3 month span if you just had hyper or Hypo without the autoimmune factor, but if you have Graves or Hashi's you are under constant attack and nothing stays the same all the time, so you would think (OH Maybe not?) that the MD's would realize this and test closer together, I feel as though we (with thyroid disease) are all at a circus, and the Doctors are the Clowns!  Bring in the Clowns! Bring in the Clowns! lol
FTB4

[yankeeRN]

Thanks FTB4.  I thought that is what I heard.  I feel like I get such resistance from my doctor to monitor my labs at least every 6 weeks so it made me wonder again if I was asking anything out of the standard of care .  I also feel that I should not have to TELL my doctor what to do or how to order things--I have enough things to worry about just trying to stay healthy.  I know that I need to speak up if I don't feel right but it would also be nice not to have to work so hard to get what I need to be monitored closely.  Before I was diagnosed with the Graves I almost never went to the doctors except for yearly physical so I was a pretty inexpensive patient for the md practice but now that I need something and am costing the practice more I feel like the lab tests are being rationed--I do have a good insurance. I just want to stay healthy and the only way while I am on the PTU is to monitor my labs.  I had been up and down so I just don't feel that I have been stable enough to spread out the time between labs--that got me into trouble this summer when I went hyper again.   I am starting to feel like I have to get aggressive to get what I need.  

[FTB4]

Mine have always been every six weeks, and I think most MD's go 5-6 weeks between labs. Regards FTB4