I wish...

[Jazzw]

... you could test your thyroid hormone levels as easily as you can check your blood sugar. I'd buy a thyroid hormone monitor. I wonder if there'll ever be such a thing?

It's just having bloods done privately is so painfully expensive. I've been on my current dose of Nature Throid for nearly 4 weeks and I'm trying to decide whether to order a BH test now, or whether to raise my dose slightly (cos I still don't feel quite well) and test in another 4-6 weeks. It's that trying to work out whether I'm slightly undermedicated or slightly overmedicated thing. All I've got to go on is my pulse - which at rest is 69-74ish, and BP which is also pretty normal-ish, considering I'm 17st, at 130/80.

But it's the expense. I can't really afford to keep testing all the time. I know there's no price too high to pay for good health, but still...

Hurry up, science whizz-kids. I want one of those Star Trek tricorder things.

[HarryE]

Me too! It's flipping expensive being ill!

[Jazzw in reply to HarryE]

I know! Blood tests, thyroid medication, payments of Customs duty, vitamins...

[helvella]

Well, some time ago (about two years, now that I have looked), I posted here about a mobile phone TSH test. To the best of my knowledge not yet on the market and goodness knows the price if it were!

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Rod

[Jazzw in reply to helvella]

Well, yes. Probably similar to the cost of a DVD player in the late 90's.

I guess things are evolving though. I can get my iphone to take my pulse, for example, simply by covering the light from the camera flash with my finger.

So who knows, maybe next year?

[helvella in reply to Jazzw]

I fear that the actual mobile phone will be cheap (see Nokia 215 at just 29 US dollars for how low phones can get). But, like ink-jet printers, the consumables will cost a fortune. We already have a taste of that with the neat home blood sugar meters.

[Clutter]

Jazzw, Nice thought but I don't think DIY thyroid testing will be on the cards anytime soon. Why not raise your NDT slightly and then test in another 6 weeks.

[Jazzw in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter, I think I will. One and a half grains was enough over the Christmas holiday but now that I'm back to work with a 2-hour commute each way I'm struggling a bit.

[shaws]

Before the blood tests were introduced along with levothyroxine, we were given NDT and gradually increased until we were well with no blood tests. No one had any idea of the whereabouts of our hormone levels. This link may be helpful.

web.archive.org/web/2010111...

[Jazzw in reply to shaws]

Thanks Shaws. This bit made me think though:

Other researchers woke people on two nights. They then let the people to go back to sleep so that they wouldn’t be totally deprived of sleep. From partially depriving the people of sleep, their TSH levels significantly increased and remained elevated throughout the following day."[4]

Maybe that's what we should suggest to those folk who can't persuade their GPs to start them on Levo because their TSHs are "only" 4.5. Set your alarm for the middle of the night before you test!

[shaws in reply to Jazzw]

It might be a good idea.

[Spareribs]

not keen on the extra wrinkles 'tho... J

(I got more sleep when the kids were babies!)

[Jazzw in reply to Spareribs]

LOL, tell me about it! I suffer from terrible insomnia at times. Doesn't make sense, because I go to bed feeling like death (cos I'm so tired) but then everything starts to ache and I can't get comfy, and then I get cross...

Grr. Funnily enough, I can go to sleep no trouble in the middle of the afternoon. But my boss probably wouldn't take too kindly to that...

[greygoose in reply to Jazzw]

I'm exactly the same! Even though most of the other symptoms are abating and I feel pretty good. Thank god I'm retired!!!

[perks]

I said exactly the same to my sister the other day.. If they can do it for diabetics why are we the poor relations...

[nightingale-56 in reply to perks]

If they treated us better maybe they wouldn't then have many diabetic patients though! (Tongue in cheek).

[greygoose]

I'm sure such a thing does exist... And I'm sure I saw it on Amazon... But my memory is so bad, I don't know what I did with the link... Could be it got lost in the Great Computer Crash at the beginning of last year, but I'll have a look.

[Spareribs in reply to greygoose]

I bought a Thyroscreen home test for £12 - it tests TSH & indicates by 2 pink lines if over 5 ulU/ml. - not tried it! I did the ferritin one which indicated I was below 25, but I found the pipette a bit awkward if no blood flow. J

[greygoose in reply to Spareribs]

Just TSH? Of limited use, then. But, then again, it's how you feel that counts, and there's no blood test for that.

[Spareribs in reply to greygoose]

Yes we don't think much of the TSH - yet it remains the 'holy' golden standard for diagnosis - suppose it's OK to screen folk, or for those who have suspect symptoms but don't want another 'TATT waste of space, another hypochondriac' GP visit to be told it's all in your head (like moi).

I did ask for a blood test for depression last time....

[greygoose in reply to Spareribs]

A blood test for depression? Like it! What did he say?

[Spareribs in reply to greygoose]

he just glared at me....

(he'd asked my hobbies & if I self-harmed earlier)

[greygoose in reply to Spareribs]

What a moron! How dare they call themselves doctors! They know nothing about human beings! If you want a laugh, have a look at this :

thyroid.about.com/od/findin...

I think I've met them all at some point or other...