tiredness

[Gracer2002]

Hi, I could do with seeing a private endocrinologist as I suffer with low iron and my doctor hasn't looked into why this is. I had a total thyroidectomy in 2004, for the last few years I have felt tired and a bit low because of feeling tired. Does anyone know how I can find a good private endocrinologist in the Milton Keynes area? Thanks in advance.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Do you have recent thyroid and vitamin results and ranges you can add

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

What was reason for thyroidectomy

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

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 all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

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/

[Gracer2002 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you that's so helpful👍

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Gracer2002

You can send for the list of thyroid friendly endos, both NHS and private, from ThyroidUK by emailing

[e-mail]

However, if it's just low iron that you are concerned about I wouldn't be spending money on an endo for that. See another GP. You can always post your iron panel results here on the forum for members to comment, make sure that you include reference ranges with the results.

You can post your thyroid and any other results/ranges for comment.

[Gracer2002 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi, thanks for the email address for the list of thyroid friendly endos. That's going to be helpful.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Before considering booking any consultation, you need FULL thyroid and vitamin results

Vitamins need to be optimal for good conversion of Ft4 to Ft3

Meanwhile

Email Thyroid U.K. for list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologist and doctors

[e-mail]

[Gracer2002 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks Slowdragon😊

[pennyannie]

Hello Gracer and welcome to the forum :

It could well be your metabolism has slowed down a little too much and you are having trouble extracting key nutrients from your food, as this is where I first found this forum as i was looking on the internet for the reasons of my having a low ferritin.

Everywhere i looked suggested that ferritin needed to be at least over 70 for thyroid hormone to work well and that little nugget of information started my learning curve on this amazing forum.

We do need to see a full thyroid panel which is a blood test for a TSH, T3, T4, antibodies, inflammation and ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D - it's where we all start and once with the results and ranges start a new question with all the information and you will be advised of your next best back to better health.

If your doctor can't run these tests for you there are companies who can and are listed on the Thyroid UK website who are the charity who support this forum. thyroiduk.org :

Some offer a nurse home visit is that suits you better and generally the results are back within the same week.

It's advised to make an early, first of the morning appointment - ideally at the beginning of the week.

Are you taking just T4 - Levothyroxine - if so :

Fast over night and do not take your T4 medication for that day until after the blood draw - T4 is a storage hormone - don't worry - you will be ok - I too haven't a thyroid and follow this protocol and take that day's T4 after the blood draw.

If taking any vitamin and mineral supplements stop all around a week prior to the blood test so we can see exactly what your body is holding onto - stop anything containing biotin as that can effect blood test results.

It's sensible to get this full thyroid panel run before seeing a specialist as we can then explain all the results to you and offer help as to how resolve anything that looks a bit amiss and give you suggestions as to how to approach the specialist as to the questions that need answers.

[Gracer2002 in reply to pennyannie]

Thanks Penny Annie it does make sense to have blood tests done first and then see if a thyroid specialist is required. Do you know if a finger prick blood test is just as good as one taken by a nurse from veins? As I see that private companies offer both, I have only had blood taken from vein before so am not sure if I can trust the result from a finger/thumb prick!

[pennyannie in reply to Gracer2002]

I've only ever arranged nurse home visits for a yearly full thyroid blood test which I believe has to be a venous blood draw - it's little more expensive and can justify this extra cost, as I'm not near a town or hospital who can draw the blood for me.

If you are just doing a TSH. T3 and T4 the finger prick test is perfectly fine, and ( MMH ) Monitor My Health is a recognised NHS hospital - so you doctor should accept the results as there is no reason not to:

I guess it's just a question of practise makes perfect - experience and ' doing it ' and many forum members find the home finger prick test perfectly easy and accurate.

P.S. Do you know your ferritin result since your doctor has mentioned the issue- did she suggest an endoscopy/colonoscopy - or hadn't she thought that far ??

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Gracer2002]

Gracer2002

You can do a home fingerprick test for the full thyroid/vitamin panel, I have been doing them for years. I usually use Blue Horizon for my annual full test.

As long as you take care to collect the blood properly (not squeeze finger to get it out - this damages the blood, collect enough in the microtainer, etc) there should be no problem. The results will be as accurate as a venous blood draw.

[Partner20]

Your GP should be your first port of call to run a full panel of tests to address your current symptoms, which could be caused by a number of conditions. Only if your symptoms are diagnosed as thyroid-related would you need to consult an endo, blood-specific issues would need the input of a haematologist, so in the first instance request an investigation by your GP.

[Gracer2002 in reply to Partner20]

Thanks for this info Partner 20, that's really helpful. My GP has been asked to investigate why I have low iron and hasn't been bothered to look into it, she told me she ought to look into it, but hasn't. I will change my GP as its not very good. I feel a bit trapped by the system as it takes so long to get a doctors appointment now. I'm hoping it will all get sorted out soon and then I will stop moaning! 🙂

[anna-c]

From personal experience NHS endos are not interested in checking iron and vitamin deficiences. When I said I didnt feel well the endo said well all your test results are ok see your GP you may be suffering from ME as that sometimes happens after RAI, the care I had experienced up to that point on the NHS had been great once I had had RAI they didnt care anymore, a statistic now cured of an over active thyroid and a "good result' for the stats!