Diagnosis

[Gradge]

Hi ,Ive been feeling very tired for months sleeping 10 hrs at night + nap after work,dizzy spells with tingling in lips & fingers,lost an eye brow,itchy skin,low libido,running regularly but getting slower & mild weight gain,cramps in calf muscles,constantly turning up the heating as feeling cold. I tried a hypothyroid test frommAmazon which was negative. Tried calling Gp but they had no appts and Ive to call back on my day off next week to see if I can get an appt? Any suggestions? Does it sound like I have thyroid problem?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Gradge

I tried a hypothyroid test frommAmazon which was negative.

What was this thyroid test? What exactly did it test?

You need TSH, FT4 and FT3 testing as an absolute minimum, and better would be to add thyroid antibodies.

I would suggest you do a test with one of our recommended private labs, either the basic TSH, FT4 and FT3 and the cheapest is MonitorMyHealth:

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

Or if you want to include antibodies then either

Medichecks Thyroid Function with Antibodies Blood Test:

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

or

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Silver:

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

All can be done with a fingerprick test, and the Medichecks and Blue Horizon ones can be done by venous blood draw if preferred at extra cost.

Post results, along with the reference ranges, on the forum for members to comment.

Always advised here, when having thyroid tests:

* Blood draw no later than 9am. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, an increase in dose of Levo or to avoid a reduction then we need the highest possible TSH

* Nothing to eat or drink except water before the blood draw. This is because eating can lower TSH and coffee can affect TSH.

* If taking thyroid hormone replacement, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then last dose should be 8-12 hours before blood draw. Adjust timing the day before if necessary. This avoids measuring hormone levels at their peak after ingestion of hormone replacement. Take your thyroid meds after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.

* If you take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin (B7), leave this off for 7 days before any blood test. This is because if Biotin is used in the testing procedure it can give false results (most labs use biotin).

These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with phlebotomists or doctors.

[Gradge in reply to SeasideSusie]

Was a TSH test witha threshold of 5. I had taken it in the afternoon after lunch and coffee. I know I need to see my GP but cannot do so until late next week. Just wondering if all the symptoms are a coincidence ? I have not been diagnosed and hoped the self test would give me evidence to get an appointment with GP but they are kind of funny just now re appts during COVID. I suspect I have under active thyroid but really difficult to be objective with myself. Weirdest symptom is the loss of eyebrow which is bizzare though ties in with other symptoms.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Gradge]

Gradge

Please do one of the recommended tests following the suggestions on how to do the test.

For diagnosis of hypothyroidism you need the highest possible TSH, over 10 for Primary Hypothyroidism, over range with raised antibodies for a diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) or for Central Hypothyroidism TSH can be normal, low or minimally elevated with a low FT4.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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

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.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 down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

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...

[Jazzw]

I’m really sorry to say this but I think you may have paid for something that really wasn’t worth the money—those Amazon tests don’t even seem to tell you what your TSH actually is, just give you a yes/no answer.

And for thyroid issues, that’s not nearly sensitive enough.

See how you get on asking for thyroid function tests with your doctor.

Assuming a test is agreed to, try to get an appointment early in the morning as TSH will be lower in the afternoon and it can give the wrong information to a GP.

[serenfach]

Tell the GP receptionist that you are really ill, and if there is no appointment available, you will go the A+E. They really dont like this, and may just "slot" you in. The loss of an eyebrow is a classic thyroid problem signal. Good luck!

[Gradge]

Interestingly I have also had a bit of an achilles problem in recent months too. All falling into place and all I need is a diagnosis and some blood tests. I suspect my thyroid has been failing for some time now. Many of the symptoms I put down to getting old (54) - loss of memory,general tiredness,turning up the heating,muscle cramps,weight gain,slowing down when running!However I think I might miss my siesta or early evening nap if and when we get this resolved. I do understand getting the meds correct isn't always easy so this is the beginning of another journey.