What tests to push for? Advice needed?

[Brownie65]

Hi I am finally seeing an endo next week privately as too long to wait on nhs. Have all the symptoms of thyroid inbalance or problem with adrenals or cortisol? What tests do I need to push for to make sure everything gets checked as been so I'll for long time. Also will an endo ur seing private for a consultation then c u at his nhs clinic or not? Worried how much the tests will be. It's took me 2 years to get gp to give his support for me to see endo because my tsh levels are normal according to him. Any advice would be helpful thanks.

[Clutter]

Brownie65, You'll have to pay for tests ordered by a private endo.  You may find it less expensive to order tests from Blue Horizon or Genova via thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

TSH, FT4, FT3, thyroid peroxidase antibody and thyrogobulin antibodies are the thyroid tests required.  Blue Horizon's Profile 10 includes some vit/min tests.  Ferritin, B12 and folate are worth testing.  VitD can be done via City Assays.

NHS tests serum cortisol.  Members recommend saliva cortisol testing via Genova but you'll need to know that your endo is familiar with saliva testing or he won't be able to interpret the results. 

If your endo also works in the NHS he may agree to transfer you to his NHS clinic but I don't think it is obligatory.

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I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

[Brownie65 in reply to Clutter]

Thanks for your help I appreciate it.

[sparkly]

Hi Brownie, same advice as Clutter about blood tests from Blue Horizon. If you can afford order the thyroid plus 11 as this includes vit d.     

Shame your appointment is next week as won't have timee to order bloods and be done in time for appointment. Possible option is to put back appointment till week after as having bloods already done will save time with a possible diagnosis.

I saw my consultant privately at first and did just that, so there and then after a thorough examination and recent results ( only just above range) was diagnosed. 

My examination bagged it for me, slow ankle reflexes, cold to touch, low pulse and not sure if my breathing rate played a part also.

Hopefully your consultant will give you a thorough examination and not just go off blood results.

Good luck 

Sparkly xx

[LuciaAsturias]

I had a similar experience to you with six months of bad health symptoms, begging the GP and every single specialist I saw to please test my FTF ...Most of them didn't even listened and the one that did, at pain management clinic, ordered the FTF and phlebotomy lab didn't run it, x2... exasperating! 😣 So, end of February I left a message with my GP reception would he issue me with a private referral to get my FTF bloods ASAP. GP called me within hours to say it wasn't the done thing, but that definitely the NHS would not test my FTF with my TSH showing within normal range and that I needed to find out the consultant name that would do it, cause the practice had never been put in that situation by a patient before. .? Grrrr. ..

I've thankfully got private health insurance through my job and the advisor answering the insurance helpline knew straight away I needed an endocrinologist and they themselves searched for the consultants and hospital available nearest to my home address.

If you live in the northwest, let me know. My endo saw me 1st time 7th March. Took full bloods, even repeats, plus the FTF.

Saw him again on Monday for my first follow up and the FTF showed I was correct all along with my suspicion my illness had something to do with my dad's family history of hypothyroidism - I've been found to have autoimmune thyroiditis with subclinical hypothyroidism.

Just collected my 1st prescription and reading the leaflet before taking my 1st 50mcg daily dose.

Good luck! !!👍