Endocrinologists & Vitamins

[zg215]

Hi,

I am hypo. I've managed to reluctantly get my GP to get a blood test for my antibodies, other than that she only tests for TSH & free T4 before again reluctantly upping my medication dose despite being undermedicated. She won't even test my vitamins again - they were tested in September before my diagnosis. I started on 50mg, was then on 75mg and I am now on 100mg levothyroxine.

Have any other UK based people on here managed to get to see an Endocrinologist on the NHS? Or is this something that has to be done privately?

If anyone has any private affordable places to get vitamin tests done please let me know.

Thanks.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

zg215

Cheapest way to get key nutrients tested - Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin - is with a thyroid/vitamin bundle with one of our private labs who do a fingerprick or venous blood draw test (venous test requires phlebotomy at extra cost).

Medichecks ADVANCED THYROID FUNCTION medichecks.com/products/adv...

Check this page for details of any discounts: thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

or

Blue Horizon Thyroid PREMIUM GOLD bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Check this page for discount code thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Both tests include the full thyroid and vitamin panel. They are basically the same test with just a few small differences:

Blue Horizon includes Total T4 (can be useful but not essential). Medichecks doesn't include this test.

B12 - Blue Horizon does Total B12 which measures bound and unbound (active) B12 but doesn't give a separate result for each. Medichecks does Active B12.

Total B12 shows the total B12 in the blood. Active B12 shows what's available to be taken up by the cells. You can have a reasonable level of Total B12 but a poor level of Active B12. (Personally, I would go for the Active B12 test.)

Blue Horizon include magnesium but this is an unreliable test so don't let this sway your decision, it also tests cortisol but that's a random cortisol test and to make any sense of it you'd need to do it fasting before 9am I believe.

If you decide to do one of these tests and want to go for the fingerprick version, I have some tips I can post, just ask.

Members have been seen by NHS endocrinologists but it would appear that your GP needs to recognise a need to be referred, eg abnormal results or still symptomatic with apparently normal results, and even if referred an endo can refuse the referral if results are within range.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Come back with new post once you get results of full thyroid and vitamin testing

Always test thyroid levels early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Many people find different brands are not interchangeable

Many U.K. patients forced to test privately to make progress

What were your vitamin levels at diagnosis?

Are you currently taking any vitamin supplements

Testing vitamin levels at least annually, ideally vitamin D test twice year

If iron is low and supplementing, will need full iron panel test 3-4 times a year

[Kalamaki]

No, I have not been offered this... and when I asked at my doctors surgery if they could draw blood for me to send off to a private testing lab, they refused. My blood was not even tested for antibodies until I lived in Greece for a while... so for 30 years I did not know my Thyroid issues were Hashimotos.... I have no faith in the NHS system.

[wakeham]

Hi I’m sorry that you are not happy with your medication, but do you feel better on the 100 mg of thyroxine? When you do manage to get the blood test ask for the antibodies test plus vitamin d, because trying to get the right medication helps to ward off all the other autoimmune complications. Not everyone has problems but your blood test tell the endocrinologist a lot. All the best for the future Wakeham.