Big Thank you. Making a start on taking control of my health.

[Kerry-Girl]

Thank you to everyone who has shared their knowledge and own journeys.

You have all helped me make a plan to take control of my Health.

I was informed I had underactive thyroid in 2019 after a tough time getting the GP to take a blood test. All a long story and similar to others.

I accepted it would take 6mths to 9mths to get the right dose of levthyroxine, (50.75,100,75) but after going through more episodes of feeling unwell I decided to find a group to talk to.

I have learnt more in one week that in 10 months.

I have got a printout of my blood results. The practice only gave the first and last results. Will get the other 2 on the next trip to the GP.

I requested a full thyroid function test. GP does not do these because of research and guidelines.

GP has consented to a full blood count which include hormones and Vit D. As told I am probably menopausal too.

It is a start. I will pay for a test on medichecks for a full Thyroid test.

A colleague recommended booking a consultation with a endocrine first and to get my blood tests done with them.

My instinct is to go for medichecks as I have lost trust in the system.

What are your thoughts?

I will post my results and resent checks when I get them.

Thank you making my journey a more informed one. I am feeling more positive and starting to be in control.

Plenty of reading and research to get on with.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Kerry-Girl

If you book to see a private endocrinologist then they want to do tests, the cost of doing them with the endo will be more than the Medichecks test.

I would suggest you get the Medichecks Thyroid Check ULTRAVIT which is on special offer this month. Then post the results, with reference ranges, on the forum for members to comment. You may even save yourself the cost of a private consultation.

[Kerry-Girl in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you.

I will go through medichecks.

Just got a text from my GP my vitamin D is slightly reduced and I have been advised to start over the counter Vitamin D, dose 25mcg (also labelled 1000iu)

So not menopausal. I assume.

I have sent of hair sample for an a allergy test with too.

So the journey begins.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kerry-Girl]

What’s the ACTUAL vitamin D result

1000iu vitamin D isn’t enough for a well mouse

GP’s rarely know anything about importance of good vitamin levels when hypothyroid

GP should prescribe to bring levels to 50nmol. (But often don’t and frequently more effective to buy your own good quality vitamin D mouth spray by Better You

ouh.nhs.uk/osteoporosis/use...

Improving vitamin D to around 80nmol or 100nmol may help

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function. There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

Have you had thyroid antibodies tested by GP?

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 primary 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_...

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with hashimoto’s we frequently need higher dose of vitamin D than average

Getting all four vitamins optimal frequently improves how thyroid hormones work

We always recommend getting full thyroid testing including vitamins BEFORE seeing any endocrinologist

Come back with new post once you get results

[Kerry-Girl in reply to SlowDragon]

I do not have the results. Text message only from the GP.

I will request a print out at the GP.

I am arranged for a full thyroid and vitamin testing's.

I will post once I have the results.

Thank you for all the links.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kerry-Girl]

Get blood test on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday morning....as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before blood test

If taking any supplements that contain biotin (eg vitamin B complex) stop this a week before any blood tests as biotin can falsely affect test results

Come back with new post once you get results

[SlowDragon Administrator]

All Patients with autoimmune thyroid disease should have vitamin D tested annually (but rarely do)

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/286...

Vitamin D deficiency is frequent in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and treatment of patients with this condition with Vitamin D may slow down the course of development of hypothyroidism and also decrease cardiovascular risks in these patients. Vitamin D measurement and replacement may be critical in these patients.

endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/...

Evidence of a link between increased level of antithyroid antibodies in hypothyroid patients with HT and 25OHD3 deficiency may suggest that this group is particularly prone to the vitamin D deficiency and can benefit from its alignment.

[humanbean]

It should not be necessary to have a doctor's appointment to get copies of blood test results. If anything, it is likely to annoy the doctor because it would probably be viewed as a waste of an appointment.

Instead, deal with the receptionists. They should supply the results.