Can anyone please help as I am so confused

[Janet1802]

Hi all & thank you for adding me. I really need help. I have all the symptoms of thyroid problems, thinning hair, brittle nails, fatigue, anxiety, low self esteem, etc etc. I also have a brain injury, and spondalytis, which adds to my problems, but not brittle nails, weight gain etc. When I take vitamin B I feel slightly better and my nails begin to grow, as soon as I stop taking vitamin B, nails etc. become brittle. My biggest bug bare is I also cannot lose weight and despite staying on diets rigidly, only lose a couple of pounds. I want to have a blood test privately as my GP isn't very supportive. Can anyone please recommend which test I can have, where to go, or medication I can take to help? I really am at my wits end and welcome any advice anyone can give me. Thanks. PS. I also have to have gluten free produce.

[Peanut31]

Hi Janet1802

If you suspect a thyroid issue, and it could well be, I would test via either Medi checks or Blue Horizon.

It’s simple to do, order the test over the internet, they send you the test kit, you then send it back in the bag provided or go to the post office for special delivery.

Always test on a Monday, Tuesday latest Wednesday, so your blood test isn’t sat in the post box over the weekend etc.

I’ve attached a link for Blue horizon, this test covers everything including vitamin levels as well. It can be done via a finger prick test in your own home.

bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/t....

Medi checks also offer the same (check it is a finger prick One).

If you enter THYROIDUK in the discount code box you should get 10% off any tests that are not already discounted.

Blue horizon have already discounted them.

Make sure when you do the test, you do it as early in the morning as possible. No eating beforehand and drink water only.

Once you obtain the results post them on here with ranges and the experienced members can help.

Best wishes

Peanut31

[Peanut31 in reply to Peanut31]

Try this link, first one wouldn’t work.

bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/t...

[Janet1802 in reply to Peanut31]

Thank you so much. Couldnt get through to bluehorizon so went with medi check. Cant wait to get started. Thank you again

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Janet1802]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin at £99 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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

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 .

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

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

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

List of hypothyroid symptoms

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