High folks, any help and advice greatly appreciated. I have most of the symptoms of an underactive thyroid, the main one being food intolerances. I have now enlisted the help of a private dietician who is very good. She has written to my GP requesting a referal to a Gastro to see if I have diverticular disease, she is doubtful, but just to rule it out. Also to check if I have histamine intolerance and to ask for a thyroid test to be carried out. Knowing our doctors, it will just be a TSH test - they won't even check T4 unless TSH is abnormal. Is this the usual practice? The dietician was very surprised when I told her I last had a test (TSH) in May of last year and only recently, when I requested a thyroid test, told me I didn't need one!! He has no idea what my symptoms are! I have been taking nutri thyroid 3 to 4 times a day and find they help. If my GP does agree to me having a test , how long before the test would I need to stop the tablets?
What can I eat!!: High folks, any help and advice... - Thyroid UK
What can I eat!!
You would need to stop Nutri thyroid minimum 6-8 weeks before blood tests
What other 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 and thyroid antibodies
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
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick 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 down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Also vitamin D available as separate test via MMH
Or alternative Vitamin D NHS postal kit
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.
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
List of hypothyroid symptoms
thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...
Come back with new post once you get results