Nineteen months ago I had a blood test with a level of 4.9 (presume TSH)?
Despite the fact that I have numerous symptoms, my doctors won't treat me, as my levels don't fall within the NHS parameters. My condition has worsened to the point where I'm struggling to do the level of exercise that I need. When I went back to the doctor earlier this year, she tested me for iron levels, then for B12, which were both normal. After this it was suggested that I might have poly fibromyalgia, and a test for inflammatory markers also came back as normal. She decided that I must be depressed and prescribed antidepressants!
How do I go private, firstly for testing and secondly for a doctor and how much does it all cost?
Written by
Pastelart
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I can suggest a couple of things that you could look into before spending money on going private...
1) Ask for online access to your medical records including all blood test results and historical records. You are legally entitled to this but you will need to supply proof of identity.
2) Some surgeries aren't geared up for online access. If that is the case for you then you will need to ask for blood test results and any other info you want to be delivered on CD or some other medium. I would suggest avoiding paper - the pile might be rather big. If your surgery balks at giving you access, see these links for further info :
I always find that communicating with my doctors is always easiest in writing. Always get a receipt of posting. If you don't want access to, or copies of, all your data from the surgery then specify what you want in your request.
3) When doctors say any test result is normal what they really mean is that the result lies within the reference range. Using ferritin (iron stores) results from three fictional tests for patients 1, 2, and 3 as an example. The reference range for these tests is 13 - 150 ug/L.
Patient 1 : 13 ug/L
Patient 2 : 85 ug/L (approx mid-range)
Patient 3 : 150 ug/L
Doctors will say that all these results are normal because they are all in range. But the patient who is likely to feel the best is patient 2, and the patient who is likely to feel the worst is patient 1.
4) If you can get hold of your medical results, particularly for nutrients - vitamin B12, folate, vitamin D, ferritin, and iron are of particular interest to someone with a thyroid problem - you should copy the results into a new post and ask for feedback. Optimal is always best if you can achieve it, and it may make you feel as well as possible while you wait for your thyroid to stop working (which could take a long time).
5) As well as nutrients it is important to maintain information on how your thyroid is actually doing, and record your symptoms and how bad they are. It will help in the future if you have evidence of symptoms deteriorating.
For some useful links on the subject of symptoms :
Come back with new post once you get copies of results from GP
A TSH over 4 is not normal
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
Just testing TSH is completely inadequate
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 any of these vitamin levels and thyroid antibodies not tested yet
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 as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue to.
Can you see another GP at the practice - someone competent who knows about the human body?! Seeing another GP is a cheaper option or go private yes - I did and it was the best thing I ever did. Im well now after 10 YEARS of misdiagnosis!
Hi I am very sorry to hear about you issues. I wold suggest that you need to find out you TSH and T4 levels . Medichecks provide a very good Thyroid profile test for aorund 40 pounds, You can get a discount on Thursday. at the moment we dont really know what you levels are so we cannot comment as to what is going on.
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