Any advice on blood tests

[Una2m]

Hello all, thanks for this wonderful site. I'm pretty new here.

I had half my thyroid removed in July due to a tumor which turned out to be benign. I returned to the surgeon in Sept and she took bloods tests to see how my thyroid is functioning: not very well as it turns out (though I didn't get the results in print). I have some symptoms of hypo: freezing cold, dry skin, constipation. I am seeing her again this week for more bloods and possibly to discuss meds, although she's a surgeon not an endo...

Are there specific tests I should ask for? I'm imagining she will recommend levothyroxine but should I ask for a T3 T4 medication from the get go?

Thanks for any advice.

Una

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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

See if you can get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP. Unlikely to get FT3

Private tests are available

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 and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results

Link about antibodies

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

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Print this list of symptoms off, tick all that apply and take to GP

thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

[Una2m in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks very much for your response.