Thyroid and neck pain, overheating and B12

[Jogloryanne]

Just seen my GP, first face to face in a very long time.

Spoke about my thyroid pain and neck pain, my overheating, B12 etc and with out asking I’ve got an appointment for a scan and a referral to an endocrinologist!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Recommend getting FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done BEFORE consultation

When were vitamin D, folate and ferritin levels last tested

Can see you are supplementing B12

Remember to stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS as biotin can falsely affect test results

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

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 .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Is this how you do your tests?

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

[Jogloryanne in reply to SlowDragon]

Last vitamin D, folate and ferritin tests done in March and all within range. I’ve only ever had TSH tested before

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jogloryanne]

Last vitamin D, folate and ferritin tests done in March and all within range

Please add actual results and ranges

We need OPTIMAL vitamin levels, not just somewhere within range

[Jogloryanne in reply to SlowDragon]

B12 590 ng/l 180 - 2000

Folate 13.1 ug/l 3.1 - 18.3

Ferritin 90 ug/l 13 - 150

Vit D. D2 & D3 lvl 92.0

What levels would be optimal?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jogloryanne]

They look good

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jogloryanne]

Obviously just testing TSH is completely inadequate, especially after RAI

Low Ft3 is extremely common on just levothyroxine

Essential to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together at each test

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Have you tried lactose free diet for post nasal drip?

100mcg levothyroxine not a high dose

Strongly recommend getting full thyroid testing done BEFORE seeing any thyroid specialist endocrinologist

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 .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

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

If you can get GP to test vitamins 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

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...

[Jogloryanne in reply to SlowDragon]

I think I will need to arrange a full test.

I’ve tried several brands of Levothyroxine and had terrible trouble with Teva, Actavis and accord. I’m now on Wockhardt brand and have no problems, my GP writes Wockhardt only only prescriptions. I feel the post nasal drip is under control with the nasal spray.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jogloryanne]

Suggest you use Monitor My Health test

Minimum 6-8 weeks on constant unchanging dose and brand levothyroxine

Always test early Monday or Tuesday morning and post back via tracked postal service

Only test as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test.

Stop any supplements that contain biotin a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS

Come back with new post once you get results

[PointOfReference]

Great result

When I had similar overheating my GP signed me off work for stress. I didn't need to be signed off, I needed a B12 test. But I didn't realise that at the time.

Hope it works out with the endo

[Jogloryanne in reply to PointOfReference]

The male Dr told me there was nothing medically they could do for my overheating and I should just slash myself with cold water!!!!!

[PointOfReference in reply to Jogloryanne]

Yegads!!

We know when something isn't right dont we? We're not children. But some GPs talk to us as if we're crazy. You've made some progress though

[Jogloryanne in reply to PointOfReference]

Yes and mainly through sites like these and my own research. I was shocked at how good the Dr was today, she was young and a trainee so I got lucky

[Lalatoot]

Ask her to refer you to ENT. I have had neck pain and voice loss for over 2 years and endos seem just to deal with the hormone side of thyroid. GP has just referred me to ENT.

[Jogloryanne in reply to Lalatoot]

Thank you, I may suggest this, the hospital has just rejected my GP’s referral for a scan so not sure what happens now.

[Lalatoot in reply to Jogloryanne]

Endocrinology have not examined me or given me a scan for my voice loss or throat pain and they are pretty useless which is why the GP is going to ENT.

[Jogloryanne in reply to Lalatoot]

Ok thank you, as soon as I get through to speak to my GP I’ll definitely mention this