I have a few symptoms that point in the direction of underactive thyroid like feeling cold, depressed, weight gain, tired, muscle aches, irregular periods, dry skin and generally feel like crap most days
I know it may not be thyroid and could be something else so just want to rule out one at a time so thought test for thyroid first
having looked online at a certain company for private blood tests (not sure if I can mention name) they offer a few different ones and wondered which would be the best to order the +3 or +6 test which one would be best to see if it is underactive I don't know the foggiest about all this so any help would be much appreciated
I would go to my gp but they don't always listen and read that sometimes blood tests are refused and these symptoms have been going on for a few years now, and I'm just fed up of it and feel I need some answers
Thanks
Written by
mmgmum
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I would choose one of the thyroid profiles which includes TSH, FT4, FT3, thyroid peroxidase antibodies, thyroglobulin antibodies, ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate.
We have recommended labs and I'll give you a link. Many members have used them. I shall also give you a symptoms list. Usually recommended is TSH, T3, T4, Free T4 and Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. If cost is a problem I'd miss out T3 and T4 in favour of the Frees. Blood tests should be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and if taking thyroid hormones you'd allow a 24 hour gap between last dose and the test.
If it's the same company I'm thinking of, it might be worth getting the +11 for £99 which includes all the major nutritional deficiencies such as B12 and Vit D at the same time and crp which can help determine if any inflammatory issues. Many people are deficient in these and will cause symptoms such as tiredness so for the difference in price, would be useful to rule out?
However, I would still suggest you try your doctors first and see what you can get from them even if just general blood count, it can provide clues and leaves you with more cash to try other things and the better ones will often check your thyroid function if tiredness is mentioned - they seem more likely to do this if you mention other family members have thyroid issues lol
Yes, it's good to rule things out one at a time but so many things cause these type of symptoms? It always good to rule out the basics first too if you haven't already like diet/water intake etc. Other suggestions which can be done without cost or tests are a six week elimination diet to rule out any food intolerances, gluten and dairy being the most common but sometimes other.
You can check if your diet contains everything you need using a website like cron-o-meter, unlike some of the others which are primarily about weight loss and track only the main things like iron, this one tracks every single tiny mineral and even water and whether you're actually eating enough so if you complete it for a few weeks, you can see if anything you're obviously low in. I found it useful anyway
Blood Glucose levels and blood pressure can be checked for free in many pharmacies. I suppose any clues you can get from anything are helpful and the more you can rule out, the easier it becomes also. I find it's the smaller symptoms that help me work out what's wrong, such as I get breathless and dizzy when my iron's low, my heart rate goes up and my bones hurt if vit d deficient etc. Is there any pattern to your tiredness or other symptoms, certain times during the day or after eating or days when they're worse etc.
Good luck, I hope you get to the bottom of it soon
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