Medichecks Recommendation needed 🤔

[Aslangal]

Hi All

I’ve read about Medichecks on here, the various tests they can do etc., so before I spend out - I would appreciate any advice anyone can give. 😀

I’m awaiting blood test result printouts from my GP which I can collect tomorrow. Over the weekend, I’ve been doing some research and reading. Common things keep coming up in my story - high cortisol levels and adrenal fatigue. From what others have recommended on here, a test should include:-

TSH

T4

T3

FT3

VitaminD

B12

Folate

Ferratin

TPO & TG Thyroid antibodies

Anything else? Medichecks do one test for all these. Currently offering a discount.

Cortisol Testing: They have variations on saliva, urine and blood testing. Any recommendations either way? Anyone ever used them? Thyroid UK recommend them and they get a donation from every test ordered if you mention them.

I see my GP in 2 weeks so I want to go fully prepared to appointment.

I bought this book on Amazon and found it helpful. (Be Your Own Thyroid Advocate by Rachel Hill) I was shocked to read today that the NHS refuse to test FT3 and TPO/TG antibodies?? This latest blip in my condition has been going on now since a blood test on 12/8! We are now hurtling towards 12/11 and no further on.

By the way, I had radioactive iodine treatment 12+ years ago so having these tests is still appropriate? Can someone tell me - if I had RAI I can never go hyPER can I?? I’ve tried to find that answer online but to no avail.

Apologies for long post!

Thanks

Lynn

[greygoose]

No, without a thyroid, you can never go hyper. You can become over-medicated, but that's more easily fixed. You just reduce your dose.

Also, if you have no thyroid, not much point in testing TPO/Tg antibodies. They won't be there.

And no point in testing T3, little in testing T4. It FT4 and FT3 you need.

So:

TSH

FT4

FT3

vit D

vit B12

folate

ferritin

Shorter list.

It's usually the saliva cortisol test that people go for. With DHEA.

[Aslangal]

Thanks @greygoose. What is DHEA?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Cortisol Testing: They have variations on saliva, urine and blood testing. Any recommendations either way? Anyone ever used them?

You would be better off getting a 24 hour adrenal saliva test from Regenerus or Genova Diagnostics, also recommended by Thyroid UK and with a donation to their funds. There is very little difference in price.

Both Regenerus and Genova test cortisol plus DHEA (which is produced in the adrenal glands, as is cortisol). Both are important for a full picture.

Regnerus and Genova also have proper reference ranges. Medichecks has some of their ranges starting with a low limit of zero, when you think about it these reference ranges are supposedly from healthy people and if someone really did have a level of zero I doubt they'd be healthy!

They also plot your results on a graphic as well as giving the numerical results, so you can see at a glance if you follow the normal "curve".

For both of these labs you order with ThyroidUK as your "practioner". I use Regenerus as they email you directly and you can immediately obtain your results by logging into your account with them. Genova email the results to ThyroidUK who then send them on to you when they have received your consent form which is on TUK's website. Details here:

Regenerus: thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/r...

Genova: thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/g... Click on the link to the pdf and the adrenal test is END01.

[Aslangal in reply to SeasideSusie]

Great thank you!