Private blood tests

[Rval]

Can someone advise what blood test i need NHS will only do TSH so I need to do it privately

Thank you

[Peanut31]

Hi

It depends if you just want your basic thyroid checking or include your vitamin levels and antibodies to confirm if you have an autoimmune disease.

If it’s just basic thyroid then it’s

TSH

T3

T4

medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

Best Wishes

Peanut31

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Rval

You would be best getting a full thyroid panel to include thyroid antibodies, these generally aren't done at GP level. And for a little extra money you could include vitamins and minerals too which are very important where the thyroid is concerned.

This one does TSH, FT4, FT3, Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies, Thyroglobulin antibodies:

medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

and this one includes everything previously mentioned plus Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin:

medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Could I just ask please - when medichecks send you results do they give you a diagnosis? Eg do they name what thyroid condition that you have?

Hashimoto Graves etc?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Jackrussell1

They can't give an official diagnosis. They report on their findings and possibly word it something like "Raised TPO antibodies can be indicative of autoimmune thyroid disease - Hashimoto's". I have no idea about the Graves antibodies, I've never seen anyone post a Medichecks test with results for those on the forum.

I've also seen here that some doctors' comments can be better and more informative than others, they seem to have more than one doctor who does the comments from what I remember.

I can't say for certain exactly what they say because I've never had raised antibodies, I had my diagnosis of hypothyroidism over 43 years ago, and I only monitor my levels with them so I don't ask for comments.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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.

It's possible to test vitamin levels as well as full Thyroid including both TPO and TG antibodies

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting.

When on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after test. If also on T3, make sure to take last dose 12 hours prior to test.

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

I had TRAB test and endo said that I had Graves

How does he know that I definitely don’t have Hashis?

Is the TRAB enough to diagnose Graves on it’s own?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

If you have raised TRab antibodies that confirms Graves' disease

You can have raised TPO or TG antibodies as well with Graves

Or raised TPO and/or TG antibodies can be Hashimoto's

It is possible to have Graves and Hashimoto's together apparently

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

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

Low vitamin levels are very common with Hashimoto's

What are your main symptoms?

Both Graves and Hashimoto's, many patients find strictly gluten free diet helps

See these links - Amy Myers site good on Graves as she had Graves herself

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first and vitamin tests before trying gluten free

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

Private testing for suspected Graves - TRab antibodies

medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

Did you get vitamin D tested?

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

I have been going gluten free for about 5 months until the other night I had a rather large bowl of pasta (not gluten free) Well boy did I suffer. I had to go out to Tesco’s for Gaviscon as my food tube was burning intensely plus burping repetitively for the rest of that day and part of the next. I was like this all the time before I knew my thyroid levels were above normal in January this year.

My main symptoms are dying down but I know they are always lurking.

I just about had them all from head to toe - heat surges, shedding hair, ridged nails, tremor, nervousness, stingy eyes with occasional styes, joint pain, muscle depletion and weakness, dry skin, flesh disappeared? breathlessness, heartburn, elevated heart rate.

Going to have a health check (MOT)

that includes thyroid, folate, ferritin, vitamin B12 and D so hopefully be able to supplement more carefully than I have been doing up until now.

Thank you so much for the advice.

Only for this site I would know very little about thyroid. Thank you 😊