Thyroid illness in family. Advice re testing please.

[smilingjane]

Good evening team

I have Hashis, (developed at 30) and my gran too.

I am advising my brother who us 57 to get a private test. The only symtoms he is displaying are tiredness and dry skin. His dry skin is icthiothis though and he's always had this.

My question is. Do others in my situation advise family members to be tested for thyroid issues for example once a year even if they are not displaying hyper or hypo symptoms?

If so, at what age should these tests start? My son is 32. should he be having an annual test?

Lastly, which would the best test on medichecks etc to go for?

Thank you

😊

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

smilingjane

Hypothyroidism is on the female side of my family - me first in my mid-20s then my mother when she turned 60. I have advised my daughter (52) to get full testing as a baseline and for my adult grandaughter (27) too, and she hasn't bothered. You can take a horse to water ..... 🙄

My son has had a couple of thyroid tests thrown in when investigations for something else was going on so I have a baseline for him 👍.

[smilingjane in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thats good 😊

What Im wondering though is it best to get the test that shows possible naughty antibodies because if the basic T4, T3 and TSH is tested it won't necessarilly show anything untowards at least in those early days?

🤔

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to smilingjane]

Sorry, forgot to answer that bit.

I would go for full thyroid/vitamin panel, always good to see what vitamins are like too, I had severe Vit D deficiency and I hadn't got a clue, low folate and low ferritin too. The only thing that was decent was B12!

My son's tests showed low ferritin and low folate and low B12. I can't remember what he went for initially, might have been chest pain, but he was lucky to get all those tested.

So at this stage maybe Medichecks Advanced Thyroid Function Test or Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold.

[smilingjane in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ah . Im just realising that you had a 'propper' test done for your son. Good idea. What would that come under with BH or Medichecks would you say?😊

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to smilingjane]

Yes, but it was a GP test included FBC, glucose, lipids, liver function, elecrolytes, heart failure test, troponin (so he must have gone with chest pain), plus the thyroid and vitamins. They did him proud back then (2019), shame they're pretty rubbish now (same surgery as me) 🙄

Not sure what a full work out with Medichecks or BH would come under or how much it would cost.

[smilingjane in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes, sound advice, thank you Susie😊

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Definitely include getting vitamins and thyroid antibodies tested

Improving low vitamin D levels may help delay autoimmune disease developing

I have Hashimoto’s.I got my sons to do full testing in their mid 20’s. Both had very low vitamin D at under 30nmol.

They now supplement to bring level to at least 75nmol (and noticed improvements) and retest vitamin D annually. Full thyroid and vitamin testing every 4-5 years

[smilingjane in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowdragonGood advice

Will follow

😊

[Regenallotment]

I’ve had both kids (boy 20 and girl 18) tested, on the £89 Medichecks thyroid and vits test. Turns out we are all low Vit D, low folate and sub optimal B12, daughter had TSH 4.something son 1.4ish. It’s in our family my paternal Nanna had hypo and my paternal aunt had a goitre removed, I have Hashimoto’s and am convinced I had it as a teen (now 48) my Dad likely has something thyroidy , super skinny, very itchy, asthmatic, osteopenia, vits tests had their GP scratching their head. I’ve given Dad masses of info gleaned from this forum but haven’t heard what he’s done with it. He is pretty stubborn. Hope this helps, I see some parallels to your info. 🦋💚🦋

[smilingjane in reply to Regenallotment]

Thank you RegenallotmentSome times people don't act on advice before becoming unwell. At least your dads got a clued up son if/when needed.

Thanks for your response. As with the others, greatly appreciated.

😊

[susiemalc]

Like you I was diagnosed with Hashi's at age 30 and decades later when my son was displaying possible symptoms in his late teens I encouraged him to have a full thyroid test. I was mostly looking to see if his antibodies were raised. They weren't, and that gave peace of mind. My daughter, a bit older, has never shown any symptoms but I watch for them in her and would be quick to suggest a thyroid test if she began to show symptoms. I encourage them both to take Vitamin D. I think it's sensible, if you have Hashi's, to look out for it in your relatives, but looking out for symptoms in your friends is a good idea too. All the best.

[smilingjane in reply to susiemalc]

Thank youSound advice. I will

😊