Private GP or Endocrinologist?

[Erainy]

My apologies for such entry level question but when you are so tired and your mind is not working at its best, I'm struggling to make decision. When you get your thyroid test result, which (Private GP or Endo) would be best to consult? Any advantage/disadvantage aside from consultation fee? I'm not including my NHS GP because he told me that I have a normal working thyroid based on the NHS TSH blood test.

[shaws Administrator]

That question is similar too 'how long is a piece of string' unfortunately.

Thyroiduk, have a list of sympathetic doctors so I should think there's more chance with being treated optimally. Email Dionne at Thyroiduk.org.uk - email below who has a list:-

[e-mail]

[silverfox7]

Sorry have to smile! As I was reading your post the opening sentence of Shaw's was already tripping off my tongue. Sadly we find good and bad everywhere so personal recommendation gets a few more ticks. So I'm also agreeing with the rest of shaws reply.

[humanbean]

You would save money and time by not going to a private GP or Endo. Many of them fob off patients in just the same way as the NHS does. In fact, most private GPs and Endos usually work for the NHS as well, so they are the same people that NHS patients see.

Your best bet to start off with is to spend money on private testing which you can order yourself and the results are delivered back to you and nobody else. Then you can research the results, copy the results and ranges into a post on here and ask for feedback, and if there is something a doctor should see then you could show the results to your NHS GP and use them to make a case for treatment.

The companies that are usually recommended on this forum for thyroid testing are Blue Horizon Medicals (BH) and Medichecks (MC).

bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/t...

medichecks.com/thyroid-health

The best tests to start off with are the following :

bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/t...

medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

The two tests aren't identical - the BH test includes a Total T4 test, the MC test doesn't. The BH test includes CRP and Serum Vitamin B12. The MC test includes CRP-hs (high sensitivity) and Active Vitamin B12.

MC has special offers on every Thursday, BH has special offers occasionally. Register with both companies and you'll get emails. Also watch out for announcements on here.

It is important to have the tests done a particular way, despite what the companies themselves may claim :

1) Take the blood in the morning between 7am and 9am (no later!).

2) Stop eating and drinking (except water) for 10 - 12 hours before the blood draw. Drink water freely in the hours before the test so that you avoid dehydration and make it easier to get blood out. (Note that there are different opinions on this, but most of us fast.)

3) You aren't on thyroid meds but if you were, take the last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours before the blood draw. If you were taking T3 or NDT then the gap is 12 hours.

Be consistent and stick to these rules for every blood test.

The reasons for these rules are :

a) TSH has a circadian rhythm. It is highest during the middle of the night and lowest in the afternoon. Since treatment from doctors relies on the TSH we aim for consistency, and the highest possible level during normal waking hours.

b) If you were taking thyroid meds then getting tested too close to the time you took your meds could give a false impression of how high your levels were for Free T4 and Free T3.

The cheapest way of getting blood for the tests I linked above is with a finger-prick test. Ask for advice on this, I've never done one. There are various tips and tricks that people use to get enough blood to come out for the test.

With both companies it is possible to arrange a phlebotomist to take blood for you, but this costs money and it probably won't be possible to get the test done at the time you want.

[Erainy]

But I need to see someone who could writee me a prescription because I think the German webiste asks for a prescription?

[humanbean in reply to Erainy]

There are ways and means of getting hold of some types of thyroid meds without a prescription. But do you know for certain that you need thyroid meds? And if you do how do you know? You might have problems with (for example) low iron and ferritin, or low B12. Hypothyroidism shares many symptoms with vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

[Erainy]

My FT3 is in negative range. The thing is I want to buy it from a legitimate source because I heard that if you buy meds from the black market, the quality is either not so good or even contains harmful chemicals etc.