Hello, I think I’m going to have to order a test online rather than the Gp; I also want to know my ferritin, Vit d and folate/b12 anyway too.
I’ve never done it before. Which would be the easiest one for a beginner at the moment?
How does it work; Is it a finger prick? I’m not sure I could do a proper vial and needle!
I’ve looked on TUK, just still confused. Leaning towards thriva but wanted experiences.
Thanks in advance!
SeasideSusie has given lots of recent advice on testing at home. If you click on her profile page and look at her responses to posts you will find a wealth of really helpful advice. Good luck x
haggisplant
Only fingerprick or "arrange your own blood draw" testing is available at the moment, home phlebotomy and clinic blood draw have been suspended.
The two most popular tests with members for the full thyroid and vitamin panel are:
Medichecks Thyroid Check ULTRAVIT medichecks.com/thyroid-func...
You can use code THYROIDUK for a 10% discount on any test not on special offer but check on Thursday as they do have special offers every week and the UltraVit test is quite often discounted.
or
Blue Horizon Thyoid PREMIUM GOLD bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk... (previously known as Thyroid Check Plus Eleven)
Both tests include the full thyroid and vitamin panel. They are basically the same test but with the following small differences:
For the fingerprick test:
Blue Horizon requires 1 x microtainer of blood (0.8ml), Medichecks requires 2 x microtainers (total 1.6ml)
Blue Horizon includes Total T4 (can be useful but not essential). Medichecks doesn't include this test.
B12 - Blue Horizon does Total B12 which measures bound and unbound (active) B12 but doesn't give a separate result for each. Medichecks does Active B12.
Total B12 shows the total B12 in the blood. Active B12 shows what's available to be taken up by the cells. You can have a reasonable level of Total B12 but a poor level of Active B12. (Personally, I would go for the Active B12 test.)
Blue Horizon include magnesium but this is an unreliable test so don't let this sway your decision, it also tests cortisol but that's a random cortisol test and to make any sense of it you'd need to do it fasting before 9am I believe.
**
TIPS FOR DOING FINGERPRICK TEST
* Be well hydrated, drink plenty of water the day before, and before you do the test.
* Some people take a shower before hand, some run up and down the stairs to get blood flowing. Personally, as I can't run up and down the stairs, I circle my arm round, windmill style.
* Have a bowl full of hot water, dip hand in and out, swish around, hand needs to go red. If blood flow stops, you can always swish round in the hot water again.
* Stand up to do the test. Make sure your arm is straight down when collecting the blood. Either use a small step stool to raise yourself well above the work surface, or put the collection tube on a lowish shelf. One member uses an ironing board so she can get the perfect height.
* Prick finger on the side, not the tip. I find that half way between the nail bed and tip is about right, or maybe slightly nearer the nail bed rather than the tip. I use my ring finger, but middle finger is next best for me.
* Do not squeeze your finger to get the blood out, it can damage the blood and it may not be usable
I've recently done 2 tests. The first one there was very little blood coming out which was unusual for me so I used a second finger and between the two I gradually filled the tube. However, when I checked the prick site for the first finger the actual cut was very small and as I've had some of these lancets fail before I put it down to that. When I did the second test this is what I did
* Prick my finger as usual, make a very slight twist with the lancet whilst blade is still in the finger. I'm not talking 90 degrees or anything, just a very slight twist to make the cut just slightly bigger, it doesn't hurt or cause a blood bath! This made a big difference, 11 generous drops of blood filled the tube in less 2 minutes.
If you supplement with Biotin, or a B complex containing it (B7), leave it off for 7 days before doing any blood tests as it can give false results when biotin is used in the testing procedure, and most labs do use it.
Medichecks video on how to do a fingerprick test:
youtube.com/watch?v=w2JzToZ...
**
When doing thyroid tests, we advise:
* Book the first appointment of the morning, or with private tests at home no later than 9am. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If we are looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, or looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction then we need TSH to be as high as possible.
* Fast overnight - have your evening meal/supper as normal the night before but delay breakfast on the day of the test and drink water only until after the blood draw. Eating may lower TSH, caffeine containing drinks affect TSH.
* If taking thyroid hormone replacement, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then last dose should be 8-12 hours before blood draw. Adjust timing the day before if necessary. This avoids measuring hormone levels at their peak after ingestion of hormone replacement. Take your thyroid meds after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.
* If you take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin (B7), leave this off for 7 days before any blood test. This is because if Biotin is used in the testing procedure it can give false results (most labs use biotin).
These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with doctors or phlebotomists.
Thank you for your very detailed reply Susie and sorry for the late reply! The Gp had lined a test up at Xmas so I’m getting on on Friday. I may do an online one at some point in the near future anyway though.
I missed my dose on Monday morning but took it just before lunch. It won’t affect it too much will it?? I didn’t think so.
haggisplant
You should take last dose of Levo 24 hours before test, if taking T3 or NDT then last dose of that is 8-12 hours before test. Don't leave off thyroid meds any longer than that or take them any closer to the blood draw. The difference in time of your Monday dose wont make any difference to your test on Friday.
Yep thanks, I always miss the morning dose when having a test. I’ve also stopped my b vit complex. Thanks again!
I've found medichecks very good and my endo actually recommended them
Hello, just reporting back, Gp had lined up tests at Xmas (buckets!) and I had them. Tsh waaaay out for some reason; I can only surmise that since periods have resumed after having my son, and I’m about a stone heavier than I used to be (which is a good thing for me) that it’s that. 6.55!! It’s very odd for me as I would have betted only a tweak needed. 125 is my usual dose, pre children I was on 150/125 alternate days.
Which Thyroid Brand
Hillcross brand?
Which brand of liothyronine?
Which brand of Levothyroxine?
Teva Brand
