Hi
I had my thyroids removed 7yrs ago and have only come across this forum accidentally and I am shocked at all the things I didn’t know. I was never given any advice regarding foods to avoid or how best to take my meds. And all the things I’m reading about different type of T3/T4
Eye openng isn't it!
I think a lot of the problem is that doctors are taught that treating thyroid conditions is easy, in fact they're not taught that much about thyroid at all. I remember one member mentioning that she had a relative who was a doctor who said that the time spent on thyroid during their time in Med School is one afternoon.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask them, members are always willing to comment.
I thought she said that afternoon was on the whole of the endocrine system. Which would be even worse. But, I could be wrong. 
You may well be right GG, whichever it is, no wonder treatment is so dire 
Absolutely.
There's no reason why you should know all about it - we don't do it in school! Wish we did. We all have to learn slowly and painfully when we find that the treatment we're given doesn't help us - not saying that it doesn't work, but we're often on a form of thyroid replacement that doesn't suit us, or we're not given enough, or something, so it doesn't help. And, we only tend to learn about it through desperation. So, don't beat yourself up about not knowing.
But, you'll learn. Reading these posts and the responses is a great education. And, I take it you now know how best to take your thyroid meds, and how to do the retests - if not, just ask. And, there aren't that many foods to avoid - we often read a load of rubbish about that! Soy is something to really, actively avoid. Artificial sweeteners and processed seed oils are something that everyone should avoid - but especially us. And, some people find they are sensitive to gluten and/or dairy, so best to avoid those, too. But, there's nothing much that specifically affects the thyroid or our thyroid hormone replacement. So, don't lose too much sleep over that.
Hi
Thanks for the reply, have started taking my pills very early morning at least 4 hrs before I eat, however I don’t know about a retest or what I should be asking my GP to test out with whatever they would normally check annually
Your GP will probably test what he wants to test even if you do ask him. For thyroid you really need:
TSH
FT4
FT3
TPO antibodies
Tg antibodies
vit D
vit B12
folate
ferritin
But, it's very rare to get all that on the NHS. And, often, even if the doctor does order tests, the lab will refuse to do them. Which is why so many people do private tests, so they know where they are.
But, anyway, when you go for a blood draw, you should make sure your appointment is early morning - at least before 9 am - and fast over-night. Leave a 24 hour gap between your last dose of levo and the blood draw. That way, you will get the highest TSH, and the most accurate level of normally circulating FT4.
When did you have your last test? And, when your last change in dose? Annual testing isn't the greatest way of doing it, but that's the NHS for you. A lot can change in a year.
I'm on 175 and that's what I have always been on, it's never changed, I'm due a test in the next few months, and have a new GP so will ask her if they can all be done, she can only say no
How much does it cost to get it all done private if she says no
She can indeed, only say no.
I've never done a private test myself, but all the details are on here:
thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/p...
But, I do know they have special offers every Thursday. So, have a look on the newsfeed and see if you can find this week's offer.
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