Endocrinologist needed - Bath/Bristol area!!!

[Nancy2020]

Living in Bath/Bristol area and finding it impossible to find an endocrinologist!! Help please!! Thank you x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Email Dionne at Thyroid UK for list of recommend thyroid specialist endocrinologists

[e-mail]

BEFORE seeing any endocrinologist, but especially if paying for private consultation...we recommend getting FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing first

Have you done this?

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase (or brand change) in levothyroxine

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

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

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)

If/when also on T3 or NDT make sure to take last half or third of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

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 (doesn’t include folate)

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Thyroid plus vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks - JUST vitamin testing including folate - DIY finger prick test

medichecks.com/products/nut...

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...

private testing kit includes antibodies but no vitamins

letsgetchecked.com/gb/en/ho...

Blue Horizon Full thyroid test but not including vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

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...

Possibly cheapest option for getting all tested via DIY finger prick test

TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

Medichecks - JUST vitamin testing including folate - DIY finger prick test

medichecks.com/products/nut...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Add results and ranges if you have any

[Nancy2020 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for all that information - much appreciated x

[HashiFedUp]

Private or public??

[Batty1]

I had to read the title twice ...lol I thought your Endo needed a bath..lol

[Hidden]

Have you tried The Bath Clinic? They have most specialists.

[Nancy2020 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks - will do!