Testing...

[Nicola-Jane]

Okay, I need to know what's really going on inside my body. Suffered both Grave's & Hashimoto's. Total thyroidectomy post-surgery taking 75mcg daily t4 & 10mcg daily t3. Which thyroid tests? Adrenal tests? Plus vitamin/mineral testing? I don't want to waste money, but I want to test everything that helps with absorption & conversion. Any advice greatly appreciated.

[Hidden]

Hi, just wanted to reply, although I don't know about Graves AND Hashimoto's or adrenals at all.

I would have thought you should be entitled to NHS tests as you've had a TT, (although I've had a PT myself and had no special treatment - or any treatment!).

Did you have a helpful GP to add T3, or have you gone private?

At risk of you already knowing....

Apart from TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 (reverse T3 if possible?)

I assume you've had TPO antibodies etc. as you know it's now Hashis?

As far as vitimins/minerals go - irons/ferritin folate & B12 and Vitamin D for starters

Info on private tests here....

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Vitamin D (£25 - I just sent for one today, again).

vitamindtest.org.uk/

hope this helps a bit , Jane

[Nicola-Jane]

Hi Jane, thanks for your reply. I know antibodies have been present as Grave's and Hashimoto's are both auto-immune conditions. What I don't know, however, is whether these antibodies just attack the thyroid itself or once it's gone (as is mine) they continue to cause problems with the hormone's absorption into the cells? As for testing, I'm entitled to the usual TSH & FT4 but the lab will ONLY test FT3 if my consultant (nhs endo) has requested it, not if my GP requests it. My GPs are lovely but they don't seem to have any idea about thyroid conditions, save for reading a blood test result. My endo is quite up on NDT but 8 years post surgery I was discharged back to the GP and it was only last year when I decided to take charge of the condition that I paid to go back to him privately, had the T3 discussion and got a private prescription. He did tell me to go back to my GP and get re-referred back to him on the nhs, so now I see him every 6 months on the nhs again and my T3 is on repeat prescription. I had virtually non-existent calcium post surgery and was taking calcium/vit D for a long time, although when levels have been checked since they have been fine. My main concern is my adrenals, they are shot to bits through years of being in a very stressful situation so I know they definitely need sorting out. I'm thinking my main issue is conversion (which happens IN the cell) and certain vitamins/minerals (selenium?) have to be in order for T4 to absorb into the cell for that conversion to happen!