How often should my Thyroid be tested?

[UrsaDee]

Hello all,I do hope you're all doing well, as well as you possibly can.

I was wondering how often should my doctor test my Thyroid levels? It has been quite a while since my last test, for some years I've been taking Thyroxine 150mcg. I'd appreciate any advice about medication, is there anything better or more effective my doctor could prescribe for me? I have gained a lot of weight, I'm tired all of the time, I do have a few other health problems which probably add to my problems, I have heart failure, kidney failure level 3, Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver disease and Adhesive Arachnoiditis! I suppose I'm grasping at "straws" but I feel if I can improve my health & energy,I will start to feel better in myself. Many thanks for your time.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the thyroid forum

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Do you have autoimmune thyroid disease, also called Hashimoto’s, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

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

plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once

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

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just 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 know your antibodies status

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

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

Similarly if normally splitting your levothyroxine, take whole daily dose 24 hours before test

If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal

REMEMBER.....very important....stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS as biotin can falsely affect test results - eg vitamin B complex

[PurpleNails Administrator]

GP should be checking annually.

However often only a TSH thyroid stimulating hormone (a pituitary hormone) is measured. It’s assumed if this is in range so will thyroid levels. You need FT4 (Thyroxine) & FT3 (triiodothyronine) tested.

NHS rarely test FT3 but this it the stronger hormone & mainly converted from FT4. So TSH & FT4 can appear acceptable & you can still have many hypothyroid symptoms.

If nutrients aren’t optimal levo won’t work well & again these are rarely tested.

You might make faster progress if you arrange a private test, testing TSH FT4 & FT3. Folate, ferritin, vitamin D & B12.

The advanced option at Medichecks also include antibodies. Were these tested when diagnosed?

Here is a link for list of companies & available discounts

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

Test in morning after fasting overnight & delay dose after draw. This gives highest TSH lowest FT4.

NHS GPs only offer levo replacement.

First step see where your FT4 & FT3 and nutrients are. You may be able to make improvements here before looking at alternative forms of replacement.

Synthetic T3 has a extremely restricted criteria, many need it but even getting a endocrinologist referral can be prevented.

Some do better with naturally desiccated thyroid and source themselves.