What tests do I ask for ?

[ladywear]

My GP said my thyroid blood test result was very slightly borderline and therefore I will not be given medication. However she diag nosed me with auto immune thyroid because she says I have a diffuse goitre in my neck. Do I need more specialised tests to confirm this diagnosis? I read something about antibodies.....I am sure she won't have tested for those...do I ask to tested for these. Don't know how she knows I am auto immune without those tests. Confused.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

ladywear

Thyroid antibody tests for autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) are

Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) and Thyroglobulin (Tg). Raised TPO on their own are indicative of Hashi's. Raised Tg on their own can be Hashi's but can be other things.

What are your "very slightly borderline thyroid results"? Can you post them with their reference ranges. If you don't have them, pop along to your surgery and ask for a print out, we are legally entitled to our results here in the UK (don't accept verbal or hand written results, mistakes can be made).

[ladywear in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you. I will request a copy of my results so I can post on here.....my GP said my T4 was slightly low but means nothing to me.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ladywear]

Don't worry. Post results, with ranges, and we can intepret them for you. Hopefully you will have results for TSH, FT4 and, with a bit of luck, FT3.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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)

ask GP to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins

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

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 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.

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_...

Come back with new post once you get results and ranges from GP

Frequently necessary to improve low vitamin levels by supplementing, but always getting these tested first

[ladywear in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much x