My own health is so much better but ... further in this drama that plays out with my 35 year old son, it's got to the point now where I have no choice but to virtually frog march him to his GP for absolutely every blood test going on the NHS. I think I have listed everything the GP can test for but would be so grateful if someone here could send me their list. Full Blood Panel, TSH, T4, T3, Vits B12, D, thyroid antibodies. Anything else possible on the NHS? He goes around in circles, can't think ahead, gets angry with me when I say he needs some medical help. When I was ill I begged for help. He ends up about every 2 weeks with zero money, so me, his father & a good friend of mine have been chucking money at him to make him 'go away'. I know his father & I have probably 'enabled' him (as a friend of my son's says) but he really does use extortion, emotional blackmail etc. For the last 7 months he's been going out with a really lovely girl, kind, not high maintenance, hard working, so my son can't be all bad. OMG I'm at my wits end with him, am convinced he's lacking in something, but he always blames something or somebody. Sorry a bit of a ramble but I'm somewhat emotional at the mo.
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marigold22
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You need ferritin. Otherwise the doctors will just test haemoglobin.
Also T3 is unlikely to be tested. You may convince the GP to test for it but the lab can refuse to do it.
To be honest with younger men the first thing that will pop into a GPs head is that they may be depressed with no physical cause, simply because it is common for men to have depressive illnesses but refuse to go to the doctor as it is not the manly thing to do.
Therefore you need to make a written list of symptoms from him e.g. how tired he gets, what makes him tired then ask him to show you his physical signs e.g. state of nails, state of skin, and also write that down. In the case of men unfortunately claiming issues with hair loss to a doctor is more useless than women complaining due to male pattern baldness.
Since you are "enabling" him you or your husband should go to the appointment with him and give him the list just before he goes in to see the doctor so he can hand it to the doctor.
With your thoughts re. state of nails, skin, a non GP would probably be better, eg nutritionist, homeopath, but I think I do need to start with as many blood tests as I can get x
The physical signs are to help convince the GP to do the blood tests as they can argue there is no clinical need to do them as healthily people don't have physical signs like brittle nails, horizontal ridges in their nails or skin infections.
Symptoms like fatigue and lack of energy are common in both physical health and mental health conditions, so showing the physical signs means the issue is probably physical.
Remember you have no right to demand a GP does the tests you need to convince them there is a clinical need to do them. Also as your son is reluctant to see the doctor he probably will agree with the doctor he doesn't need them.
My T3 does seem to vary massively. But I have until very recently continued with terrible brain fog, have messed around with my T3 dose, and have only been prescribed by NHS the 40mcg for around 18 months. My brain fog has now gone (hopefully for good), and really do think my son inherited my thyroid problem or got it from me during gestation. I was definitely hypo thyroid whilst pregnant with him, unbeknown to me.
Hi, thanks for your considered reply. Nobody in my family or his father's family had diagnosed thyroid problems, but I can now recognise it in my family - paternal grandmother, possibly both my own mother and father (so both sides). I've today been researching where to get a genetic test for Thyroid Hormone Resistance but now wonder if it's even worth it. It's only very recently I've learnt about it. My son has never had any visual signs of thyroid probs, eg goitre, only behavioural stuff. Do you know how to diagnose THR? Would a TSH, FT4, FT3 blood test identify it? But a GP would probably still say 'it's within range' !!
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