Which test - Medichecks or Monitor My Health?

[Purplesash]

I am plucking up the courage to do a finger prick test after some positive feedback from my earlier post, thanks everyone for the replies.

I am torn between the Medichecks Advanced Thyroid Function Blood Test @£68.80 or the Monitor My Health Screen £65 (less 10% discount).

I have only done one private test before and that was the Medichecks one, so have an account with them.

In your honest opinion which would be the best one to do? I don’t have Hashi’s (as far as I am aware anyway) and apart from thyroid function I need to know where my vitamins and iron levels are (hair has been falling out and not growing).

Thanks all.

I’ll let you know if I successfully prick myself and make myself bleed 🙄

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

I've just had a look at the MMH test and it looks like really great value if you're not fussed about antibody testing, I've used Medichecks before not least as I struggle to do finger prick tests as my peripheral blood flow is poor. I'd be tempted by the MMH one myself.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Gymbuni

If the test does everything I want I use Monitor My Health. If ever you need to use the results of a private test to discuss something with your GP then as MMH is an NHS lab the GP can hardly argue that they don't accept private lab results. Even though all the private labs are accredited with the same companies as NHS labs, the fact that MMH is an NHS lab at Exeter Hospital should be acceptable to a GP.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

if you have never tested BOTH TPO and TG thyroid antibodies then use Medichecks

[Purplesash in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SlowDragon I did that test in September 2021 and my Thyroglobulin was <10 and Peroxidase 22.5, so this suggests no hashi’s though I am not aware if I have had antibodies tested in the past by NHS, I have been hypo for well over 20 years.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Purplesash]

so probably not worth paying to retest antibodies

Possibly consider ultrasound scan of thyroid - £100 privately approx ….varies slightly depending on where you are in U.K.

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

 

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies 

 paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

[Purplesash in reply to SlowDragon]

SlowDragon I am interested in what the reason for suggesting a thyroid scan ? I have never had one before and would expect it to be shrivelled from all the radiation I had in 1985 to treat Hodgkins.

Although the medical profession have always said it’s the radiation damage that has made me hypothyroid, I believe I have genetic disposition to it, my paternal aunt diagnosed with hypothyroid in her 30’s and mother in her 70’s (suspect it went undiagnosed for years). I also suspect I may have been hypothyroid possibly even before I had the radiation.

Is there a list of recommended places to get a thyroid scan?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Purplesash]

roughly where in U.K. are you?

There’s various places, usually larger cities

London

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

[Purplesash in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks, I am in Hampshire.

[lesleyfromkent in reply to SlowDragon]

My GP has refused to do TG as TPO normal. I'm speaking to him next week, should I try to get him to do TG?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to lesleyfromkent]

He won’t/can’t

NHS refuse to test Thyroglobulin antibodies if TPO are negative