Endocrine/thyroid screening in Brighton/West Sussex

[vamg]

Hi, can anyone recommend a private clinic for full screening without having to get GP referral, would be most grateful, vamg

[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. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw). This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?

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.

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_...

Previous post from a year ago

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Alipaula in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for the information, I shall try thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing, just hope they don't ask for a GP referral, I tried a BMI hospital but they said I couldn't self refer! vamg

[helvella Administrator in reply to Alipaula]

Lots of people use the labs mentioned on the Thyroid UK site without a referral.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Alipaula]

Thousands of us on here get private testing through Medichecks or Blue Horizon

Always do blood test early morning and fasting ONLY on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. Post bloods off immediately after blood draw. Results emailed to you 2-3 days later

Come back with new post once you get results and ranges

You will see many posts with Medichecks or Blue Horizon testing results

Will see if I can find a good one to add here

Here's one

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

And another

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

And another

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Coconutty]

Blue horizon use Spire hospitals so if you buy a test from them that needs a blood draw you can go to the Spire in Hove on Montefiore Rd. or just get a finger prick one.

[Alipaula in reply to Coconutty]

Thank you for that info - I wanted to have a full blood test not just a finger prick so I may try the Spire in Hove.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Alipaula]

You order the test with Blue Horizon and choose how you wish the blood to be taken then arrange the phlebotomy.

There is a BMI hospital in West Sussex that does phlebotomy for Blue Horizon - Goring Hall. Charge is apparently £35/

bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/l...

This test covers everything listed above

bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/t...

Medichecks also use the same hospital for their phlebotomy

medichecks.com/find-a-clinic

and their version of the same test - Thyroid Check ULTRAVIT - is on special offer at the moment (I think it's until midnight on 29th April)

medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

So the saving of £20 will pay towards the blood draw.

[Coconutty]

To clarify you do the same for the Spire in Hove, order through the blue horizon website as SeasideSusie described. If you’re in Brighton itself hove might be more convenient than goring.