Introduction as i am new. Hi !

[RoyalCorleone]

Hi Folks i joined middle of last year when i was experienced symptoms i have done my best to outline in my profile bio. Seeking the advice of the good folks on this forum on the quickest route to a test and diagnosis and beyond.

Many thanks.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Have you had any tests done with your GP at all? If so do post them, along with their reference ranges.

Even if you've had some tests done I doubt if everything we need to see will have been done so what you need to do first is get a full thyroid and vitamin panel :

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid antibodies

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

We have recommended private labs which do them all as one test bundle and you can do it either as a fingerprick test or for extra cost venous blood draw can be arranged.

The two most popular companies are :

Medichecks Advanced Thyroid Function test - medichecks.com/products/adv...

Check the forum tomorrow as Medichecks have one thyroid related test on special offer every Thursday. If it's not on offer then you can get 10% discount - see here:

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

Alternatively there is this one which is virtually the same although it does include cortisol and magnesium tests:

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold - bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

30% discount available with discount code here:

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

Once you have the results then post them on the forum for members to comment.

When doing thyroid tests we advise :

* Do test no later than 9am, this is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. You need the highest possible TSH for diagnosis.

* Nothing to eat or drink except water before the test, this is because certain foods may affect TSH, as can caffeine containing drinks.

* If you take a Biotin supplement or any supplement containing Biotin then leave it off for 3-7 days before the test as biotin causes false results.

If you decide on a fingerprick test and want tips on how best to do it, please ask and I will post them here.

[RoyalCorleone in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you very much for the swift and detailed response, i have use medicheks in the past and will probably pick those guys. the other company seems to have poor reviews online after a quick search.

Havent even bothered with my GP as they all went missing and i had to wait over a week just to get a phonecall. And E was unfortunately even worse haha. If i get the results up here then id feel more secure about taking the advice of those who have been through the ringer whether that be recommending private gps, endos etc, assuming what i have falls into this category.

thanks for your help and i will jump on this asap.

[RoyalCorleone in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi there I had a follow up question if you could help. Can I request these tests if I got to A and E I am concerned with some of the heart pain I’m feeling and I don’t wish to wait that long. I have order the rest from medicheks but I know the turnaround can be a while. If I’m heading to A and E anyway can I get it done there or ?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to RoyalCorleone]

RoyalCorleone

If I’m heading to A and E anyway can I get it done there or ?

As I don't work in a hospital it's not a question I can answer with any certainty. You can ask but whether they will agree to do them I just don't know. And if they did whether they would give you the results along with the reference ranges again I don't know.

I have order the rest from medicheks but I know the turnaround can be a while.

Medichecks turnaround time is very good. If you send your sample back by Royal Mail's Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm Next Day, and make sure you don't request Medichecks Doctor's comments, you may get the results the day they receive the sample, or the following day. If you request Doctor's comments it's an extra 24-48 hours. The comments aren't worth having, you will get better intepretation of your results here on the forum.

[tattybogle in reply to RoyalCorleone]

They may do TSH , (and possibly fT4 may then get done by lab if TSH is out of range ), but they'll only do TSH if they think hypo or hyper thyroid is indicated by your symptoms. (Eg. if you had constantly fast heart rate and were sweating cobs, or extremely slow heart rate and were freezing cold )

Very unlikely to do others . And 'requesting' blood tests at A&E won't go down very well. They'll think you just came in to get blood tests., and if they think that , they won't take your heart concerns so seriously.

Also for the purposes of diagnosing hypothyroidism... the TSH should be tested early AM , because TSH Level lowers throughout the day. So unless you happen to be in A& E at 8/9 am, even the TSH result won't be very helpful to you anyway.

Eg . if your TSH was borderline, and A&E result at 2/3pm was just inside lab range (but if done at 8/9 am might have been just over lab range) .. then GP gets this result on record... and when you do see GP for hypothyroid symptoms . they say ... "it's been done recently and TSH is 'normal' ... So there's no need (i'm not allowed ) to retest it again for 3 months... goodbye "

Be patient and get your full testing done properly .. it saves time in the long run.

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Have you had any blood tests done at all?

If so what were results?

You may not have had a full thyroid check. GPs often test Thyroid Stimulating hormone as an initial check. This a pituitary hormone but if it’s in range it’s assumed thyroid hormones (FT4 Thyroxine & FT3 triiodothyronine ) are also in range.

Seeing what’s been tested should be first step. Do you have access to results online? See if practice offers online access, if not ask for a printed copy from GP receptionists for practice arranged blood tests or hospital departments for hospital arranged tests. You are legally entitled to your records.

There are private options if GP will not complete a full set of test.

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

[SarahJane1471]

Welcome 🙏 read the posts above and take note of all they say . These knowledgeable people have changed my life. Be your own advocate 😀

[RoyalCorleone in reply to SarahJane1471]

Thank you Sarah, this is the start of a long journey I’d imagine so I’m all ears !

[SarahJane1471 in reply to RoyalCorleone]

👂👂👂😀