To cut a long story short I am looking to get the full thyroid blood tests done privately. I have recently had NHS blood tests as GP thought I could by hypo.
Test came back 'fine' but as I now know it is not conclusive. I don't know the exact number and I normally get print outs but haven't due to inability to get to the surgery. Could anyone advise if normal thyroid tests would indicate HASHIMOTOS?
I am having repeat ESR blood test done next week plus CA125 as my ESR was raised - again I don't know the number.
Many thanks
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consolationprize
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Could anyone advise if normal thyroid tests would indicate HASHIMOTOS?
You would need to test thyroid antibodies - Thyroid Peroxidase and Thyroglobulin - if they come back raised then that suggests Hashi's. Just testing TSH, FT4 and FT3 wont indicate Hashi's.
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
Are you currently taking any vitamin supplements?
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)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
Thank you. Over the last 5 years all said vitamins etc have been low. I've had b12 shots, take folate etc. Due to a mix up last year I was not told my ferritin was low as it was in range - just - and I didn't get a print out. It was 15 ugl and the range is 10 - 291. I've felt rotten for so long but put it done to working long hours and toying around the menopause. I am fed up of going to the GP and complaining I am very fatigued etc. Now my ESR is raised and I have hypo symptoms. So who knows! Thanks again
NHS only tests and treat deficiencies...so if ferritin is 11 GP would say it’s fine ....even though it clearly isn’t
Improving low, but within range, vitamin levels is down to us as individuals .....pity doctors don’t explain that to patients
We ALWAYS recommend getting actual copies of results and ranges.....or if GP won’t test....testing privately
Heavy periods are classic sign of being hypothyroid and obviously can lead to low iron and ferritin. Also low iron levels tends to result in heavy periods, exacerbating the problem
Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
Low iron and/or low ferritin frequently linked to hair loss
There is a high (approx 40%) prevalence of B12 deficiency in hypothyroid patients. Traditional symptoms are not a good guide to determining presence of B12 deficiency. Screening for vitamin B12 levels should be undertaken in all hypothyroid patients, irrespective of their thyroid antibody status. Replacement of B12 leads to improvement in symptoms,
As you have B12 injections it’s recommended also to supplement a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) may be beneficial.
This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too between injections
Igennus Super B is good quality and cheap vitamin B complex. Contains folate. Full dose is two tablets per day. Many/most people may only need one tablet per day. Certainly only start on one per day (or even half tablet per day for first couple of weeks)
Or Thorne Basic B or jarrow B-right are other options that contain folate, but both are large capsules
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
I have been self injecting B12, taking folic acid but will look at folate though with a b vit, taking Vit D, vit mk7 K2, vit c and make sure they are taken at optimal times and without conflicts. All quality vits without fillers etc.
After all this there is still something amiss and agree with you that it is up to us to try to solve the vitamin puzzle. I wish gps would look at optimal levels instead of within range. May solve many health issues. Again thanks for all the info. The b12 deficiency etc is very interesting looked at with hypo.
Again, many thanks. This is very interesting as I have ,over the last few weeks, developed acid reflux on a daily basis. I have had it on occasion but not on a daily basis.
I have just ordered the Blue Horizon Thyroid 11 test as it included iron and TIBC. Will send the sample back at the beginning of next week. Thanks again for explaining and all the links. .
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