Hello - this is my first post on here and I'd really appreciate some advice.
I have Hashimotos (diagnosed 18 months ago after years of being dismissed by GPs and endos despite symptoms since my early teens, usual story). I also started with psoriasis when I was 12. I finally convinced my GP at the time to test me and sure enough my thyroglobulin antibodies were elevated. He tried me on the minimum dose of Levothyroxine (Teva) but it actually seemed to send me hyper: racing heart, sweating, pounding headaches, so he said it was safer to take me back off it and monitor my thyroid levels. So back to just testing T4 and TSH every six months.
I'm gluten free and tested negative for coeliac (but was avoiding gluten at the time so who knows?) and also tested negative for pernicious anaemia in 2017.
Since the summer my symptoms have been getting progressively worse. I'm knackered, getting palpitations, dizzy spells and brain fog. Libido has been completely dead since I had my little boy 6 years ago; it was a traumatic birth and my health took a real nosedive after that. An endo (I saw them privately and paid a lot of money) diagnosed me with CFS ,again in 2017, but I wasn't convinced hence my taking a load of printouts from Thyroid UK to my doctor along with my partner for backup! That's what finally got them to do a 'proper' thyroid blood test, and I was told the results were perfectly normal. Luckily I asked for a copy, saw the antibody readings and took them back to wave at my GP. It really shouldn't be this hard. Anyway, I'm actually carting an electric heater around with me from room to room because I just can't get warm. This was the case in summer too. I was until recently seeing a nutritional therapist who put this all down to SIBO and histamine problems, but I know it's my thyroid. I also have the sensation of something being wound around my throat.
So... I've just taken delivery of the Medicheck test. I want to look at my vitamin levels as well as thyroid hormones so will no doubt be back here with the results. I've been diagnosed with B12 malabsorption in the past (2010) but they stopped giving me quarterly injections in 2012 when I was pregnant and refused to restart me on them once the baby arrived. No idea why. I take B12 sublingually instead, same with D3. My iron levels are always at the very bottom of the 'normal' range too. I've avoided taking vitamins for a week in readiness for the test.
Anyway: I'm here to ask about the that. I've gone for the finger prick option. Does anyone have any tips about getting my circulation going? It seems like quite a lot of blood to squeeze out of a tiny hole, looking at the two tubes. I'm just a bit concerned I won't be able to get enough out! There's always a bit of a circus when they're trying to find a vein for blood tests (they're tiny apprently) and I know this is just a lancet in a fleshy area but I really want to get this right.
Apologies for the long post. I'm just looking for a bit of advice and, ideally, reassurance!
Shame you didn't go for the Blue Horizon Plus Eleven, it's only one microtainer but virtually the same test.
I wrote a post this morning about this, I'll copy and paste my reply here:
Some people find them easy, some find them almost impossible.
I've done many fingerprick tests so have learned a few tricks. This is what I do
* Be well hydrated, drink plenty of water the day before, and before you do the test.
* Some people take a shower before hand, some run up and down the stairs to get blood flowing. Personally, as I can't run up and down the stairs, I circle my arm round, windmill style.
* Have a bowl full of hot water, dip hand in and out, swish around, hand needs to go red. If blood flow stops, you can always swish round in the hot water again.
* Stand up to do the test. Make sure your arm is straight down when collecting the blood. Either use a small step stool to raise yourself well above the work surface, or put the collection tube on a lowish shelf.
* Prick finger on the side, not the tip. I find that half way between the nail bed and tip is about right, or maybe slightly nearer the nail bed rather than the tip. I use my ring finger, but middle finger is next best for me.
* Do not squeeze your finger to get the blood out, it can damage the blood and it may not be usable
I've recently done 2 tests. The first one there was very little blood coming out which was unusual for me so I used a second finger and between the two I gradually filled the tube. However, when I checked the prick site for the first finger the actual cut was very small and as I've had some of these lancets fail before I put it down to that. When I did the second test this week this is what I did
* Prick my finger as usual, make a very slight twist with the lancet whilst blade is still in the finger. I'm not talking 90 degrees or anything, just a very slight twist to make the cut just slightly bigger, it doesn't hurt or cause a blood bath! This made a big difference, 11 generous drops of blood filled the tube in less 2 minutes.
If you supplement with Biotin, or a B complex containing it (B7), leave it off for 3-5 days before doing any blood tests as it can give false results if biotin is used in the testing procedure.
Post your results, including reference ranges, when you have them and members will comment
Susie, that's fantastic. Thank you so much for responding so quickly and thoroughly - it's really helpful. I think I'll do the test on Monday morning. It's a bit of a logistical challenge as my partner leaves for work very early, I have to get a six year old ready for school then dropped off and our tiny Hebridean post office has the one daily collection at 8.45am!
Anyway, thanks again. After struggling for so many years it's great to be part of a community who understand this awful and complex thyroid stuff.
Wow, that's an early post pick up, mine is 4.30pm. Anyway, it's best to do the test as early as possible. Give yourself plenty of time, you don't want to be interrupted and waste the blood! And relax, you can do it!
Another tip, send your sample back by Special Delivery - Guaranteed Next Day by 1PM. It will cost about £6.50 but it ensures it's delivered the next day, which is what the lab recommends. On the off chance that they don't deliver by 1pm the next day you can claim the fee back as long as you have the receipt with the tracking number. Medichecks emails you to say it's arrived, and you can always track it on Royal Mail's website, they have a special tracking page.
Oh, and do it before eating breakfast and having coffee or tea. Just have evening meal/supper the night before, then water only until after the test, this gives the highest possible TSH which you need for a diagnosis.
In future, before allowing your doctor to take you off Levo, suggest that you try a different make. There are four to choose from that can be dispensed by the NHS in the UK. Lots of people do badly on Teva.
See this document for more info on the Levo available :
I read that Teva isn’t good for some people. I’m hoping once my results come back that my doctor will be open to trying me on another brand (I’m with a different practice now as we moved up to Scotland a year ago).
Thanks for the link - fingers crossed I won’t have to use it to try and persuade him. I’m so used to thyroid appointments being a battle that I just assume I’ll end up pleading my case. It’s so exhausting.
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