Hi. I'm new to this site and looking for some guidance. I have several symptoms associated with an underactive thyroid, and I have had several thyroid tests, via my GP, over the years, but each time, I have been told the results are fine. I had just about given up, but fortunately stumbled across ThyroidUK. I have received the extensive information pack, which has left me with many questions. I want to have a comprehensive test(s), to confirm once and for all, whether or not, I have a thyroid/adrenal/hashimoto/genetic condition etc.
I'm confused by the many tests and companies that offer them, so can anyone recommend the best comprehensive tests, that will provide a definitive answer.
I take supplements for vitamins and minerals, so initially, want to concentrate on comprehensive tests for thyroid/adrenal/hashimoto/genetic condition etc.
Any guidance is much appreciated.
Thanks
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seapearls
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For full thyroid/vitamins there is a combined bundle which is good value, it covers the full thyroid panel including antibodies plus the important core vitamins. The two most popular ones here are:
You can use code THYROIDUK for a 10% discount on any test not on special offer but the ULTRAVIT test is actually on offer until midnight tonight, see healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
You can't use the 10% code with this special price.
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.
At the moment they only offer the fingerprick version or "arrange your own blood draw" because phlebotomy services have been temporarily withdrawn. If you know a friendly nurse who would do the blood draw for you that would be fine, otherwise you'd need to do the fingerprick version which is equally as good as long as you fill the tube, if there's not enough blood they wont be able to do all of the tests in the bundle.
Here's a video of how to do a fingerprick test (the kit has changed slightly but the principle is the same:
and here are some tips on doing a successful 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.
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.
As for adrenals, you would need a 24 hour saliva test which measures both cortisol and DHEA. Testing DHEA as well as cortisol helps with determining stages of adrenal fatigue if present. This test is offered by Regerus or Genova Diagnostics and you would need to order this with ThyroidUK as your "practioner". Details here:
I use Regenerus because they email you direct when the results are available, with Genova they send the results to ThyroidUK who then send them on to you when they have received your results request form.
As for genetic conditions, I would hang fire on that for now, see what the thyroid/vitamin tests show, post results on the forum for members to comment. Then if necessary do the adrenal test, and finally if necessary the genetic test.
Yes, after a lot of confusion and some of their staff telling people they only need one vial and others saying you need two and sending out an extra one, they now seem to be managing to do the test with just one vial, but there's an awful lot come back with one or two tests not being included, folate being the most common one.
Thank you for the detailed advice, which is very much appreciated. I look forward to finding out, once and for all, whether I have a dysfunctional thyroid condition. I shall feed back when I have the results.
Further to the super-duper reply by Seaside Susie, i would add that i’ve used the Medichecks finger prick tests for thyroid testing and found them quick and easy to use, and accurate in comparison to my nhs tests. Hope that helps
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