So there has been some talk about these and there are so many reasons not to waste your money on these - In my humble opinion.
As others have said and it is frequently mentioned -
(come on everyone the chorus please) ‘TSH is not a thyroid hormone’.
There are other posts on all the things that could be/go wrong that render the TSH measure incredibly unreliable so I won't repeat but tattybogle has made a fantastic compilation that is pinned for everyone to read use add to if they have a useful resource.
So this is my beef with the Supermarket Test kit for TSH.
Anyone who knows nothing (or less than) ie not on the forum and trying to make sense of their condition, will presume this is a quality product, believe the results are reliable and potentially drag their ill-selves around for another few years, probably never mentioning to their doctor they did a supermarket blood test and potentially developing comorbidities in the interim. It’s hard enough to get a diagnosis as it is for many of us.
It is absolutely the worst of all scenarios. It doesn’t even cover the issue of central hypothyroidism or even more perplexing the combination of both central and Hashimoto’s - after all the two are not mutually exclusive and may in some part explain why some people’s TSH never reaches the NHS treatable threshold. For those with below or around the threshold TSH but presenting with overt hypothyroid symptoms it is hard enough to get a diagnosis as it is they have to fight for TSH to be ignored, push to have FT4 and FT3 considered and importantly, symptoms to be acknowledged (the latitude is there In guidelines but doctors rarely use it).
I was only just over the threshold and was able to adequately articulate my state and point out some fairly compelling symptoms, but ultimately the low heart rate was the clincher, because it was measurable. So luckily I was treated (albeit mismanaged for 6 months) but looking back at my health records I had over a decades worth of unexplainable issues, which pretty much cleared up once properly treated.
BUT! were it not for an amazing lady (fellow sufferer) who was very knowledgeable giving me that initial advice and guidance might I have fallen foul of the Supermarket Tat test? Yes I do mean Tat…….
Until the penny drops and we land here on the forum how many of us might have bought a cheap test at the supermarket - got a non-result and then discounted the possibility we had hypothyroidism? It is too awful to contemplate.
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Totally agree, even when diagnosed by NHS from high TSH we are still mismanaged, thank God for Mr Google and groups. Once you realise GPs and Drs do not know it all In-fact I believe some even get a book out once you have left to look up or use Dr Google themselves. Been mismanaged for more than just thyroid and put them straight. Drs now-days do not use their own judgement they only go by tests, which are very hit and miss in my opinion.
Not just supermarket tsh kits either! Tsh results should only be a small part of diagnosing. Dr's, specialists should be looking for the signs of the condition.
Yes I too was finally diagnosed by measurable signs.Spent years fighting to be diagnosed with severe symptoms but tsh always just under.
Don't suppose any Dr's even know about slow ankle reflexes these days, that's what clinched it for me. My consultant was amazed how slow they were with only having tsh just over range I think was 4.6 which today they'd have me waiting till over 10 i guess. Plus he checked for signs of my low hr, cold hands and slow breathing rate. He also purposely would shake hands on meeting and feel the top of my outer arms to see how cold they were on follow up appointments, signs to see how well or my case poor my medication was doing.
I imagine not many endocrinologist still practice like this.
After much confusion but according to Broda Barnes method, I recently started the basal temperature method. It’s great to learn something new when I have found myself ‘pitted’ against things. A reaction due very much to how I am feeling. Anyway being American he quotes different numbers. Anyone know what the range is for the thirty something that we use in the U.K? Mine is steady and higher in bed. However I am ‘cooler’ throughout the day! As I say good to learn something new but I just need to be sure of the range. Please? Anyone willing to say what temperature they feel good at. I think mine at 36 degrees spot on every day is a bit low.
Oooo, that is definitely worthy of a post arTistapple - if you start a post, lots of people will see it 🤗. Temperature is not something I have investigated at all! 🫢 My low heart rate which led to my diagnosis was scary enough! It was 52 after a couple of hours working and having hugged tea and coffee. Goodness knows what a resting rate would have been.
Right I will start another post. My RHR is 60 so I am very conscious through my pulsatile tinnitus when it raises, even a little. This is just another tool for monitoring. Costs nothing (after purchase of up to date thermometer).
My temperature is measured by my Apple Watch. It uses different technology and has only a very short history of use. However, some documents suggest that it can be as accurate as some other methods. And, you have to accept that it is not a direct measurement - it compares two sensors and applies some fancy mathematical footwork to establish an actual temperature.
That being out of the way (!), my own temperature is very tightly within a range of 35.8 to 36.2 C. Last night, 35.93.
You can convert Fahrenheit to Celsius by doing a search (e.g. in Google or Bing or DuckDuckDuckGo) for something like "97.85 F in C". (Capitals are not required but make it more obvious.) Or switch C and F round to convert the other way.
The Accuracy of Wrist Skin Temperature in Detecting Ovulation Compared to Basal Body Temperature: Prospective Comparative Diagnostic Accuracy Study
I have thought about getting a watch. However I think I might check it too often, giving me more cause for anxiety than less. I can check your other references/info. Like tiny increases in dosage, I am thinking that there is not much room in the temperature to allow it to show a difference and make a difference. A case of almost less is more. Whilst in hospital no-one commented on my 35.5 measure and it’s definitely lower on many ocassions. “It’s in range, so no problem”, I imagine. Thanks again helvella.
P.S. I bought one of those digital thermometers that beep when it’s ready (very quick) however I had to take it back because it was not beeping. Woman in pharmacy tried it out and looked at me bemusedly. It was that I could not hear the beep. Anyway it works so quickly, being unable to hear it is not a problem!
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Eyebrows have started growing again : )
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