I have been hypothyroid for 20 years (after having radioactive iodine treatment for Graves disease). Because of covid (lack of vials at NHS) I have been tested once in the last three years and my dosage has been unchanged for many years. However I now wish to have private test as I feel that my current deteriorating health is in some way associated with my thyroid. What tests should I get and where is the best place to go which provides quick turnaround with results and where the results are explained - I don't trust my doctor to read them. I live in a secluded country area so it will mean a day trip somewhere which is fine as long as I know it is reputable. My Vitamin D levels are good so I don't need to be tested, but as well as thyroid what else is recommended to be tested after this long time on levothyroxine? Thanks for any help.
Thyroid Testing: I have been hypothyroid for 2... - Thyroid UK
Thyroid Testing
Below is a list of companies offering different options, some packages include basic thyroid function only, (eg monitor my health) others offers key nutrients and thyroid Antibodies. (Eg Medichecks - thyroid advanced option is a good option).
Some also have discount codes available.
You order test online the kits arrives via post sample taken by finger prick sample. Some companies offer booking at clinic or nurse visit home. you’ll need to check availability.
Post back, sample (best to arrange early in week, to avoid weekend delays) - results available online fairly quickly.
thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...
Testing should be as close to 09.00 after fasting overnight (lots of water) delay dose until after draw. Avoid supplements containing biotin 3 days before as biotin can affect test. Longer if on high biotin dose. This shows highest TSH lowest FT4.
Thanks, just now to work out best way forward.
Hypogirl50
We always recommend the full thyroid panel - TSH, FT4, FT3, Thyroid antibodies - plus key nutrients - Vit D, B12, Folate, Ferritin.
The cheapest way is with a test bundle with one of our private labs. Picking and choosing individual tests is more expensive, so even if you don't need Vit D it will be cheaper to have a test bundle which includes it.
Medichecks and Blue Horizon both do tests which cover all these and you can choose to do it at home by fingerprick or choose to pay extra for phlebotomy at a clinic or have a phlebotomist come to your home if your area is covered.
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.
Check their websites for details of phlebotomy if that's your choice. If you want to do the fingerprick test let me know and I can post my tips for you.
As I live in a remote area finger prick sounds good BUT seen doubts about its efficacy. I am happy to travel to get it done but want a doctor's report on the results as I don't trust my doctor to read results correctly
To be honest, you'll get a better interpretation of your results if you post them on the forum and members will comment. The doctor's comments from these testing companies will be the same as your GP, they're all NHS trained so will basically interpret them the same.
will do, thanks for that
Both Medichecks and Blue Horizon have long list of private blood test clinics that will do private blood draw for you (for a fee)
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning and post test back immediately
Watch out for postal strikes
Always test thyroid levels early morning, ideally around 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
Remember to stop taking any vitamin supplements that contain biotin 5-7 days before test
waiting for package from Medichecks but will flow your advice and get blood done on Monday next. Take B12, turmeric, glucosamine, magnesium and oil supplements - when I remember! I understand that B12 supplement should be stopped a week before an have stopped taking. On the whole I get same levo but have had different brands - usual one is Almus pharmaceuticals.
Hello Hypogirl :
I too am hypo after RAI thyroid ablation for Graves back in 2005 becoming increasingly unwell around 8 years later when I found this forum and started my belated learning curve.
I too live in a rural area and I believe both Medichecks and Blue Horizon offer a nurse home visit for a venous blood draw which I recommend you get so we have the fullest of all the thyroid blood tests to advise you on once you post the results and ranges back on here for comment.
It's where we all start and the vitamins and minerals are as important as the FreeT3 and Free T4 readings as if not maintained at optimal levels your ability to convert the T4 - into T3 can be compromised.
A fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you on a daily basis with trace elements of T1. T2 and calcitonin plus a measure of T3 at around 10 mcg plus a measure of T4 at around 100 mcg with T3 said to be around 4 times more powerful than T4.
It is essential that you are dosed and monitored on your T3 and T4 blood test results and not a TSH reading which I fully understand is all you may get in primary care and why many of us end up having to test and monitor dose ourselves.
Since you have had RAI thyroid ablation your HPT axis on which a TSH reading relies - has been down regulated as your thyroid is no longer functioning and this circuit loop broken.
The TSH was originally introduced as a diagnostic tool to help confirm a case of hypothyroidism and not a reliable measure of anything once on any form of thyroid hormone replacement.
Once a Graves patient - always a Graves patient as we are looking at an auto immune disease for which there is no cure, we can have antibodies sitting on our TSH receptor sites for years after this radical treatment which distorts TSH readings and just another reason why the TSH is not a measure of anything sensible in Graves Disease patients.
Some people can get by one T4 - Levothyroxine only.
Some people find after some time they need to add a little T3 - Liothyronine for their prescription in order to restore T3 and T4 hormone balance - probably to replace that little bit lost when they losy their own T3 production.
Some people can't tolerate T4 and need to take T3 only :
Some people find their health restored better taking Natural Desiccated Thyroid which contains all the same known hormones as that of the human gland and derived from pig thyroid dried and ground down into tablets referred to as grains and the original treatment for hypothyroidism and used successfully for over 100 years.
You might like to dip into a few websites and research papers :-
For all things Graves Disease I found the Elaine Moore Foundation website the most all -encompassing of all things Graves, and holistic and complimentary and lifestyle choices. Elaine has Graves and went through RAI thyroid ablation and finding no help with her continued ill health started researching this poorly understood and badly treated AI disease some 20 years ago. elaine-moore.com
Barbara S Lougheed book - Fron Hyper to Hypo to Healing - Breaking the TSH rule :
and the most current research on Graves disease and treatment options ;
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/338...
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/306...
thank you very much for your comprehensive reply. I have booked for a blood check from Medichecks and hopefully will get some answers. Will post them here. Lovely to get so much support
Yes, start a new post with the results and ranges with a brief recap - we can look back to remind ourselves.
With the volume of posts each day the idea is to try and reply to all within 24 hours of posting, and unless you actually reply to someone in particular and highlight their name you could well find your newer question, tagged on this one, missed.
The book I found the most helpful and which I still refer to is written by a doctor who wanted to empower patients to advocate better for themselves and though the title sounds counter intuitive as we now haven't a thyroid, we do need to know what this little but very important gland did, as we need to compensate as best as we can.
Your Thyroid and How To Keep It Healthy - Barry Durrant-Peatfield - a commonsense approach to body physiology as everything has a value and there is cause and effect and practical solutions explained in laymans language.
Thanks for advice and recommendation, will try and get book
Think it's on the recommended reading page on the Thyroid UK website which is the charity who support this amazing forum thyroiduk.org :
great thanks
how is your vitamin b levels? Having hypo and taking meds can make it hard to absorb certain vitamins. Thyroid problems can make you feel terrible and affects all parts of your body. Look up dr berg on utube he’s in the United States he’s very knowledgeable on several issues. I’ve been dealing with hyper and hypo my whole life and several family members have had there’s removed and are on meds. People don’t understand the problems you have with thyroid dis function. It causes multiple problems from gut problems to joint pain etc etc . Good luck to you I’m still praying for a healing to all my issues.
they are good, thanks for answering
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