Plodding on!!

[Choirgirl1]

Not been on here for a while, but have a bit of Tim on my hands and am trying to sort my body out!! I am still on 100 mg levothyroxine per day and still borderline so doctors say that's ok 😏

I am also going through hot flushes and menopause symptoms at the moment. I feel that I need to find out what vitamins and herbal remedies may help? I have just bought red clover but not taken it yet but am I ok to take this with thyroxine ?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Only supplement after testing and see what’s low

do you have any recent 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.

Frequently GP only tests TSH which is completely inadequate

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

Do you have Hashimoto’s

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

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 .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

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

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Add results and ranges if you have any

Or come back with new post once you get results

[Choirgirl1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for all your advice, gratefully received, I will phone the doctors.

[penny]

I’m intrigued by “have a bit of Tim on my hands”; which bit?

[Gingernut44 in reply to penny]

penny 😄 I was going to ask what Tim thought about it. Sorry Choirgirl1 I know we shouldn’t mock, it must be lockdown fever, I apologise

[Choirgirl1 in reply to Gingernut44]

🤣😂 haha it's these fat fingers and predictive texts.

[Choirgirl1 in reply to penny]

Haha, one one is enough!!!🤣