How long for diagnosis?

[Natz36]

Hi

Just wondering how long it’s taken for a diagnosis?

I am not sure what’s wrong with me but i have lots of symptoms which I just know are not right.

Dry eyes in summer, raynauds, my lips have become dry also which I have never suffered with before.

Sometimes I get itchy feeling , my balance hasn’t been great,,lightheaded and extremely tired .

I am due bloods on the 9th of October but wondering what i should ask my doctor to also be testing for if I am concerned it’s my thyroid. I also have a swollen left eyelid? It’s not painful but it’s always swollen like puffy.

Thanks for any help advice

[fuchsia-pink]

FULL testing, which you can seldom get on the NHS is TSH, free T4, free T3, thyroid antibodies and key nutrients - ferritin, folate, vit D and B12.

Most likely they will only test TSH - which isn't nearly enough. And not do anything more unless the result is waaaay out of range. So you will see lots of posts on this forum about private blood testing (and results),

When they do take whatever they are doing, ideally you want as early a blood test as you can get (TSH is highest first thing) and a fasting test. If you are taking any supplements, stop them a week beforehand if they contain biotin, as this will distort the results. And make sure you get your actual blood results afterwards (and lab ranges, as these vary from lab to lab) rather than just being told it's "in range" or "normal" - you want to see what has been tested and where in the range the results are. Feel free to post the results when you get them, so people here can explain them to you. Good luck x

[Natz36 in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thanks

I wouldn’t be able to do any fasting bloods as I’m constantly dizzy lightheaded which my doctor is aware of.

I take no supplements as I eat healthy make sure I have lots of fruit vegetables nuts etc .

Will ask my doctor to have these checked as she’s very understanding.

Thanks for your help

[fuchsia-pink in reply to Natz36]

You may have some success if you tell her these are the tests recommended by Thyroid UK

[Natz36 in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thanks yes I will ask her .

Just hate it sometimes that they think they know my body better.

I’m scared because the exhaustion is terrible and my lips are worse in bed then I get the itching sometimes feel warm ☹️

This has been nearly two years now so I will say that I want these checked x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Natz36]

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

Extremely important to test thyroid antibodies as you have other autoimmune disease

Lupus and autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s) are often linked

Ask GP to test vitamin levels and thyroid antibodies and always get the actual results and ranges.

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning (and ideally before eating or drinking anything other than water.)

But if you need to eat you better do so...but ideally still get tested around 9am if possible

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

List of private testing options

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

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 ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

Come back with new post once you get results

[Natz36 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks I won’t be able to go private I’ll just go for the bloods the time I’ve been given .

My doctor is good and she’s doing everything she possibly can to rule things out as I’m already waiting to see a rheumatologist for suspected SLE .

Although I’ve not had the rash as intense as it was just before Christmas which I didn’t even know what it could be it was burning I felt sick and had swollen foot and left hand swollen.

Felt so sick it was horrible and I had the worse Christmas x