I am lucky enough to have a lab at my disposal. What b/t's would you recommend at a deeper level to get a diagnosis on a thyroid problem

[bythesea]

[helvella Administrator]

What sort of thyroid problem? It matters!

Rod

[bythesea in reply to helvella]

Mostly aching ( for approx 25 years now), gets worse in the cold weather, had a large goitre removed last year but still have smaller mutli nodular goitre left, tired all the time, trouble concentrating, irritability, don't wake refreshed from sleep, weight gain unable to shift with diet/exercise, feel run down, sluggish, lethargic and not alot of interest in everyday things. Not on any medication.

[Heloise]

stopthethyroidmadness.com/l...

[bythesea in reply to Heloise]

Thanks heloise- will be going to the library later

[Heloise in reply to bythesea]

Hi by, look at the ACTH test at the bottom of this list. It mentions fatigue so maybe it's more of an adrenal issue. Low B12 might fit your symptoms as well.

[bythesea in reply to Heloise]

Thankyou, its a job to pick your way through all the info so this helps

[Hidden in reply to bythesea]

If you've got a lab and you can do any test, I would recommend these alongside serum B12 and folate:

Active B12

MMA

Homocysteine

biolab.co.uk/docs/vitaminB1...

biolab.co.uk/docs/homocyst.pdf

[bythesea in reply to Hidden]

Cool, thankyou. I will have to see to what extent they're able to run these.

[Heloise in reply to bythesea]

You are absolutely right and it's unfortunate that doctors aren't trained well enough to walk you through it and perhaps your lab doesn't do some useful tests like an iodine loading test or an adrenal saliva test. Since you had a goiter, iodine might be your problem.

Your question was about thyroid, though, so I think the gold standard is to compare your TSH and how it relates to free T3, free T4 and reverse T3 (although I am not sure if this is only for people who are actually taking hormone).

Since people who are hypo often have deficiences, tests for B12, vitamin d, folate and ferritin are of interest.

It's a complicated disease and most of us are not well treated and end up treating ourselves. Is that what you intend to do?

[bythesea in reply to Heloise]

Thanks again. I would like to get a proper diagnosis from an endocrine specialist, as in all these years I was only told I had Fibromyalgia and just left to get on with it. I'm not convinced and can't believe that thyroid isn't involved in some way. I also have ongoing digestive problems and fibroids !

[Heloise in reply to bythesea]

I see, I'm not in the UK but I think there is a preferred list of endos if you are in the UK somewhere on this site. I've been reading blogs for many months and some of the endos are not helpful either and you've already been fobbed off with that fibromyalgia diagnosis. Let us know about your journey, it will be helpful to others.

[bythesea in reply to Heloise]

yes, I will do as it was such a relief to find this site ( felt some of the madness lift straight away !) need to do some more research first though. Thanks again

[tegz in reply to bythesea]

Go easy on the B12 if having fibroids- I know it can increase the growth of polyps if they pre-exist.

Just a heads up! [but B12 still matters]

[PinkNinja in reply to tegz]

Now that's something I didn't know! Thanks for the warning. I shall make sure to mention that when talking about B12 to female members (and please pull me up if I forget!)

[PinkNinja in reply to bythesea]

You can fill in this form on the main Thyroid UK website to request the list of which Heloise speaks

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/forms/...

You may want to also ask for the NHS list as well as the private list

[bythesea in reply to PinkNinja]

That's great. Thankyou