private blood tests

[MadM24]

Hi all,

Who uses private blood tests and where / how do you do them?

I am under a consultant endo for hyper / graves but my bloods are only done every 12 weeks or so. I have been on 40mg carbimazole for nearly a year and finally my latest test apparently I’m hypo. This was found out the day I had my second RAI treatment.

I now have 1 more week of no carbimazole but then they want me to restart on 20mg a day and not have a blood test until 6 weeks.

I’m wondering about doing bloods privately. Before I moved my fab GP would do bloods every 5 weeks and discuss it all with me. Now getting info is really hard, all I ever get is “it’s still up” or “now yoh have gone the other way” they never give me the levels, it’s always rushed phone calls,

I’m just not feeling in control, also started to feel anxious, palpitations back and my memory is shot, but I though palpitations and anxiety where a result of hyper… so I’m a bit consumed and just want to feel more in control.

dreading it if the RAI works this time and I’m already hypo from over medication.

Thank you!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

Link re access

patients-association.org.uk...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

In reality some GP surgeries still do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Once you start on levothyroxine

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

Also 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

Low vitamin levels are extremely common with autoimmune thyroid disease

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am (and once you start on levothyroxine last dose 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...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

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

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[MadM24 in reply to SlowDragon]

thanks. I will ask the receptionist if they can get copies. I have the NHS app but my GO doesn’t do online records.

Not sure if RAI will work, maybe 2nd time lucky. Just fed up with it all.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MadM24]

come back with new post once you get historic results from GP

And new private tests

If currently taking any vitamin supplements that contain biotin remember to stop taking 5-7 days before test as biotin can falsely affect test results

[pennyannie]

Hey there again :

Not much to add to what i wrote a year ago but just remember with Graves Disease the TSH once primary hypothyroid is not a reliable measure of anything and you must be dosed and monitored of your Free T3 and Free T4 readings :

elaine-moore.com

Barbara S Lougheed - Tired Thyroid - from Hyper to Hypo to Healing - Breaking the TSH rule:

[MadM24]

Hi both, thanks for your replies. I’m still battling to get visibility of my results. It turns out my GP don’t actually have them either without logging in to a hospital network.

Request now with Endos secretary to send printed copies.

Tomorrow I start my first Levo dose and handily I have an endo apt 21st nov.

So my plan is to get theses flipping results for the last 18mths, particularly the last 3 which cover the switch from hyper to hypo and to do a private test with full vitamins etc and run it past you all ahead of that appointment.

Currently feeling very unwell, don’t have the energy to eat my evening meal, leg, hip arm pain like I have not had since hiking the 3 peaks in 24hrs, plus yesterday I just randomly fell over while walking. Took 5 calls to the GP to get the Levo prescription that they confirmed they did receive a letter about 3 weeks ago.

Shall update on a new post once I have the results.

Thanks all.