Do I need a thyroid blood test

[caz59]

Hi, I’m hoping for some advise from the forum thank you.

I have a lot of health probs the main being Lupus and Heart Failure. Have also had a heart attack in 2006..

I’ve been having symptoms of late they being putting on weight half a stone in 2weeks, very very dry skin flaking off stomach, legs, hands and face are extremely dry. I’ve bought the heaviest body and face creams I could find but, the dryness is not going. I drink a lot of water, juices but not fizzy drinks, decaf tea and occasional coffee. My hair is coming out in handfuls especially in the shower. My eyebrows are dwindling. I am also very slow in movement, I tend to get confused and forgetful. I am feeling so tired and fatigued that I am getting down about it all.

I know the health probs that I have can make me feel so fatigued and down but this new set of symptoms I am really noticing in myself.

Any advice would be much appreciated. If anyone thinks I could be having thyroid probs, I will see my GP and hopefully look into it more. Thanks in advance.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3, TT4, TPO and TG antibodies, plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

It could be other medications interfering with thyroid or vitamins

Eg if taking aspirin and a PPI (proton pump inhibitor)

If you can not get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting.This gives highest TSH and most consistent results

[ITYFIALMCTT]

Just to second the advice from SlowDragon. As you already have an auto-immune disorder, it's plausible that you might develop auto-immune thyroiditis and it would be sensible to have your thyroid hormones tested as she outlines.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Caz59

Checklist of signs and symptoms of Hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Print and tick any that apply to you.

Take to your GP to discuss your symptoms and request a thyroid function test, ask for TSH, FT4, FT3, Thyroid Antibodies. Also ask for Vit D, B12, folate, ferritin, iron panel, full blood count. You may not get them all.

Ask for a print out of your results (we are legally entitled to them here in the UK) then make a new thread and post results with reference ranges for members to comment.

Have blood drawn as early as possible in the morning, no later than 9am and fast overnight - don't discuss that with doctor or phlebotomist.

[caz59]

Thanks for your input guys. I went to my GP and explained my symptoms, my GP has suggested I have blood test for thyroid. Here is the request :

Thyroid function test, freeT4(=) and that’s it. Other requests are : cholesterol, HBA1C. I did push for the freeT3 but he said I didn’t need it. Will see what comes back. Thanks for your advice.