Confirming blood tests needed to diagnose hyperthyroid (asking for my sister-in-law)

[FallingInReverse]

My sister-in-law told me that she recently was having trouble with excessive sweating... like, have to go home and change a drenched shirt kind of sweating. So as she said it in her words - She went to the general practitioner doctor, they did blood tests, and the numbers were low and so he's referring her to an endocrinologist, but she can't get the appointment for a few months.

That's all she said. I'm going to guess she's referring to her TSH being low. I want to ask her what else was tested for (I bet T4 and prob some other useless stuff.)

I want to be able to suggest she get another blood test while she waits for the endocrinologist - hopefully to save her a few months of waiting for another appointment. Or at the very least bring the below request for bloods with her to the first appointment.

Are the helpful blood test mandatories the same for hyper as for hypo:

TSH

FT3

FT4

TPOA

TGAB

D3

B12

folate

ferritin

I will also tell her to always test thyroid levels early morning (around 9 am). She's not on any Thyroid meds, but I will advise that she should stop any multi-vitamins a week before and any other vit/supp she might take that include B complex, biotin, or iron.

Anything you'd change, or anything different if it's hyper we suspect vs hypo?

Thanks as always!

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Graves Disease (hyperthyroidism) needs to be confirmed via positive TRab or TSI:

TRab

TSH receptor antibodies

TSI

Thyroid-Stimulating Immunoglobulin

TPO & TG antibodies may be Graves or Hashimotos.

 TPOab

Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies

TGab

Thyroglobulin antibodies

As hypo/ hyper symptoms often overlap, it’s so important to get the correct antibodies tested. I was originally diagnosed with Graves, largely due to symptoms (tremor, weight loss, palpitations, anxiety, fast heart rate) but forum members suggested I test antibodies and these showed I actually have Hashimotos & am under active.

As you have indicated, for a complete picture of your sister in laws thyroid health, ask her practitioner (in first instance) for TSH, FT3 and FT4, plus ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D.

Do ask your sister in law to share any results (with ranges) with us, so we can offer better support. 🦋

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Think you are not based in U.K. ?

In USA?

please add country on your profile

[FallingInReverse in reply to SlowDragon]

Done. Yes, USA.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to FallingInReverse]

So you can test privately in most US states

[FallingInReverse in reply to SlowDragon]

Reflecting my complete lack of understanding of differences between the UK and US healthcare systems... I am pretty sure I always test privately. For blood tests, I go to the dr. (or call the dr.), ask for a prescription, they write it and email it to me, and I go to whatever lab is closest to me, and get my blood drawn. I'm trying to think of another way I would do this, but have never seen it any other way in any state! I'm probably looking at things from the wrong angle...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to FallingInReverse]

can you choose to get blood test without Dr involved

Here in U.K. most healthcare is “free at point of use” via NHS….but is very slow, very difficult to get an appointment with GP, and over a years wait to see an endocrinologist

Also NHS often only tests TSH

so here in U.K. there are now increasing number of companies that offer private testing…..we just buy direct and results come to us. We can then pass results on to Dr if we wish or can simply use to self monitor

[FallingInReverse]

Buddy195 THANK YOU! Great reply once again making me feel well informed and empowered!

I have just texted my sister-in-law with exactly what she needs, and suggested she show the dr. my text if she needs to.

She is the kind of person - you ever know this kind - where they lean towards avoiding serious conversation about health stuff, or laughing it off, but a little bit of avoidance when it comes to facing a problem? She brought up the sweating thing, and laughed about it, and that she saw her GP and he said "her numbers were low", and she even said, yeah I'll send you a pic of my results. But she hasn't.

Anyway, I'll see what she does, I know she's read my text, and I hope she's not too embarrassed or shy to ask for what we all know she needs. Hoping she doesn't feel too terrible, and that she doesn't prolong getting the right treatment, but we are all on our own journey aren't we!

It will be a couple months before her endo appointment, and I'll keep you posted.

Thank you again!