Hypothyroidism diagnosis

[Pinklover]

Hi. What are the alternatives tests for diagnosing hypothyroidism? Can it go undetected in blood tests?

[Marz]

What tests have you had done and do you have the results ?

Click onto the link below - everything Thyroid including the tests required !

thyroiduk.org

[SlowDragon Administrator]

First thing is, do you have any actual blood test results? if not will need to get hold of copies.

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet

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 you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

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

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

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

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 you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

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_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

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

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies ...so an ultrasound scan of thyroid can be helpful

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[jimh111]

TSH, fT3 and fT4 are the basic tests. The definitive test is to observe the signs and symptoms and if they suggest hypothyroidism to carry out a trial of thyroid hormone. Most doctors won't do this, they treat the numbers not the patient. It also makes sense to seek out and exclude any other condition that could cause similar signs and sysmptoms.

[Pinklover]

Thankyou. All this information is extremely helpful. I am having most of the symptoms since the past 2 months and i've been dumbfounded as to what's wrong since my blood test for thyroid was normal, although i am not aware about what particulars were tested. After reading your comment i have asked them for a printed copy of my blood test. I've been told i have low iron/ferritin. Because of the covid situation my gp has asked me to just stay put and does not seem to be taking me seriously at all. I've ordered the self-testing pacl from medichecks for a thyroid monitoring blood test since it includes TSH, FT3 and FT4. How long would the whole process take (delivery, testing and finding out the results)?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Pinklover]

Hope you included B12, folate and vitamin D testing too

Low iron/ferritin common when hypothyroid

[Pinklover]

Also, are these tests accurate?

[jimh111 in reply to Pinklover]

They are accurate. I've never used them! I had my doubts initially because the sample size is so small and there is a possibility of user error. Over the past few years I have noticed that the results from the home kits have been similar to blood test results from the NHS.

[BadHare]

My blood tests are NHS normal.

The Barnes basal body temperature test (take temperature in bed each morning before doing anything that might raise it) confirmed my suspicions that I was hypothyroid so I self medicate. I suspect I have secondary hypothyroidism as I have a pituitary tumour.