medichecks female hormone plus thyroid test- taking on day 3 difficult and they aren’t very helpful

[london81]

I’m taking a day 3 sex hormone test with thyroid add on which will test antibodies, t3 etc. this is the most cost effective way of testbig both. In addition they test more of the sex hormones that thriva so makes sense to test like for like against what I had tested last time.

I have hashimotos and have self medicated for many years. My last thyroid panel in October showed my free t3 was very high and am starting to realise my levels naturally fluctuate.

The reason I’m testing sex hormones this time is I’m pretty sure I’m deep into peri menopause and want to know if it’s worse since 2 years ago when I last tested.

My day 3 of cycle falls on Friday 5 May which is a bank holiday so if I want the sample to reach the lab by Saturday I’ll need to pay extra for next day delivery. I’ve had a similar issue with medichecks not being t very helpful ( their advice is send it Monday to Thursday which won’t be my day 3 or pay extra for delivery when I’ve already paid £150 for test)

Has anyone else had this issue?

[Hidden]

Hi London, I'm afraid I can't help but I'm in a similar predicament. My day 3 is tomorrow ...! So either I take a gamble and keep my sample in the fridge til Monday or take a day 4 reading.

The sample can be taken between day 2&5 so there is some leeway but I'd rather do it properly on day 3!

I don't have time to wait til my next cycle as I'm seeing my endo before that.

[london81 in reply to Hidden]

this is definitely one of the issues with taking a test and getting accurate results around appointments, bank holidays etc!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

london81

My day 3 of cycle falls on Friday 5 May which is a bank holiday so if I want the sample to reach the lab by Saturday I’ll need to pay extra for next day delivery.

Friday 5th May is not officially a bank holiday, the official bank holiday is Monday, 8th May:

gov.uk/bank-holidays

I think it would be best to wait until next month, even if there were no bank holidays any blood sample they tell you to get to their lab the next day, and to only post Monday to Thursday to avoid it being delivered and hanging around at the weekend so you wouldn't want it being delivered on the Saturday because there wont be anyone to process the tests until the Tuesday.

I always use Special Delivery Guaranteed Next Day by 1pm for all my blood tests even if it's just a basic 3 test thyroid panel, the cost is approx £7 which you can claim back in the unlikely event it doesn't arrive by the stated time.

[london81 in reply to SeasideSusie]

sorry my mistake I meant to say the Monday is a bank holiday. The lab will be closed on Monday so even if I pay extra to get it to them by Saturday the blood won’t be tested until Tuesday at earliest so may have to wait until June. And obviously you can never be sure when day 3 will occur!

[helvella]

I don't think it helps at all, but Friday 5th May doesn't appear to be a bank holiday - though Monday 8th May is.

gov.uk/bank-holidays

Government bank holidays screenshot

[london81 in reply to helvella]

sorry my mistake. The lab will be closed on Monday so even if I pay extra to get it to them by Saturday the blood won’t be tested until Tuesday at earliest so may have to wait until June. And obviously you can never be sure when day 3 will occur!

[helvella in reply to london81]

No need to apologise! I just didn't want you (or anyone else) to make a mistake regarding bank holidays.

[london81 in reply to helvella]

you can see why I’m testing my hormones my brain is a mess

[RedApple in reply to london81]

' if I pay extra to get it to them by Saturday the blood won’t be tested until Tuesday'

Are you sure about that? Maybe you could contact the lab directly to find out if they do actually run the test on the day, even if samples arrive on Saturdays? You might not get the results until Tuesday, but the test might be run before that. Worth checking I would think.

[london81 in reply to RedApple]

they said it will be received in good time but they close at 3pm so earliest it will be tested is Tuesday. The samples are apparently stable for 5-7 days so may be ok ?

[Serendipitious]

london81,

Are you testing to see FSH and LH levels or oestradiol in relation to progesterone? On day 3 oestrogen and progesterone will naturally be low.

drbrighten.com/when-is-the-...

[london81 in reply to Serendipitious]

I’m taking this test: medichecks.com/products/fem...

It includes many more than just FSH and LH, and also tests antibodies and free t3

thanks for the article very interesting reading

[Serendipitious in reply to london81]

london81,

Looks good hope you manage to get your timings/post sorted.