Thyroid checks by post - anyone had them?

[BigbreastsBiggerbeard]

I'm considering having some thyroid checks via one of those online medical screening places, the one recommend by the British Thyroid Foundation. Has anyone had these?

The reason is that the GP only tests T3, T4 and TSH, but this test checks for other markers (TGAb, TPOAb, CRPhs, plus others). I've been having so many symptoms for so long and now, with a couple more recently, I really would like to know exactly what's going on.

My latest symptom is raging thirst. No diabetes. Seems like a faulty thyroid can also cause breathlessness and that's been a problem for ages. Anyway, I'm not going to list all my symptoms, but suffice to say, there's a lot and all of them COULD be thyroid related.

Would love to hear from anyone else with thyroid issues and how it manifested for you. And if you were tested privately.

Thanks in advance

[sideorderofchips]

Hoya

I have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Mine manifested as extreme exhaustion, rapid weight gain, joint pain. I was in bed by 7pm at night. Slept for 12 hours. Then still needed a three hour nap.

[ivykaty44]

What was your TSH when tested via gp?

[BigbreastsBiggerbeard]

ivykaty44 - TSH was 1.95 so within the normal range (0.40-4.50). Others were 'normal' too. Probably seems odd that I'm pursuing this but I have heard that some people can have tests come back normal when in actual fact, their thyroid is struggling. I figure a private test would put my mind at rest, or give me something to show the GP.

[ivykaty44]

Are you thinking your overactive? I take it as your TSH is slightly low that’s what you’re thinking?

It would mean you’d be losing weight, feeling hot, irritable, sleeping more, tired, eating plenty but not putting on weight, thin poo, going to poo often

[BigbreastsBiggerbeard]

No, was thinking under active]! Can't lose weight, gradually gaining. Hair falling out, appetite gone mad last year, exhausted always, irritable, and god knows what other symptoms. Problem is that it could also be because I'm 50 so clearly heading towards menopause. Plus I have ME. BUT, I know something is wrong. It's so hard to pin these symptoms on anything. I just want to KNOW! Oh god, nothing is making sense now. If it's overactive I'm miffed that I'm getting fatter.

[BigbreastsBiggerbeard]

sideorderofchips - so sorry to hear you have Hashimoto's. How long did you have problems before you were diagnosed?

[Loopytiles]

Another option could be a private GP

[cometothinkofit]

You're lucky that your GP has done the other tests they have already. Mine has only done TSH and won't do T3 and T4 until your TSH is over 4. And mine is just over 3.

Following with interest, as I think I'm going to have to go down the private testing route as well.

[ivykaty44]

If you were under active though your TSH would be towards 4 and overactive your TSH would be towards 1 you say your TSH is 1:45

A private blood test is going to give you the same thyroid results for TSH which is the marker for thyroid medication

If you were medicated with thyroxine then it would decrease your TSH but that would be incredibly dangerous as your TSH is in the normal range now and extra thyroxine would speed your body up, this could lead to heart problems as you’d have an over active thyroid by over medication

[SuperStellaElla]

I test privately as it’s hard to get T3 test done on the NHS - if you can get your GP to run T3 then I wouldn’t worry so much about private testing. Is your T3 in range as that’s the active hormone you need to feel well? My symptoms manifested as a puffy face with puffy eyes, hair loss and feeling cold and fatigued - a holistic doctor diagnosed me as hypothyroid just by looking at me despite TSH being in range. I now keep TSH under 1 to feel ok and take NDT rather than levothyroxine as it contains both t4 and the active T3.

[BigbreastsBiggerbeard]

SuperStellaElla my T3 is 3.9. The reference range is 3.9 - 6.9. So right at the low end.

T4 is 8.7. Reference range 7-17.

TSH is 1.95 - reference range 0.4 - 4.50.

[MiniMum97]

Your T3 is very low. Could possibly be secondary hypothyroidism but will be tricky to get that diagnosis with all results still in range.

I have used both Medichecks and Blue Horizon medicals and found them very reliable. I have had NHS tests at exactly the same blood draw and results are virtually identical.

Remember that thyroid blood tests should be done fasting and as early in the morning as possible as TSH falls later in the day and after eating. If you are taking any supplement with biotin in stop these 4-5 days before testing as these can give false negatives and positives on any blood test using an immunoassay which thyroid tests often do.

[NormaBean]

I have the exact same symptoms as you, OP.

Do you have to pay for the home screening?

[MiniMum97]

This is from nhs nice guidelines:


Suspect secondary hypothyroidism if the clinical features are suggestive and T4 is low without raised TSH. Be aware that in secondary hypothyroidism TSH may also be low, normal, or slightly elevated due to circulation of bio-inactive forms of TSH.

[Ilovefluffysheep]

Yes, I used Medichecks to get my thyroid checked. I was (and still am) exhausted all the time, brain fog, weight gain, flooding during periods and a whole host of other things.

I actually thought I might be pre-menopausal, so decided to get the checks done to rule out thyroid. My TSH was just within range (4.02 when top of range was 4.2), but it showed I had high thyroglobulin antibodies.

This was back in May. What I have learnt since then is that knowledge about thyroid issues by Dr's in this country is crap, the range they give for TSH is too high (in a lot of countries 2.5 is considered to be top of the range), and that the medical profession seem to want to do everything except properly treat thyroid issues!!

I am on thyroxine (was started on 25mg, wow!), am currently on 50mg and have a Dr's appointment tomorrow when I know I am going to have to beg to be put up to 75. My TSH is going down, and I know they will focus on this as a reason not to put me up.

My problem is that with the brain fog, I've done loads of reading round the subject, but I don't retain the information, so I struggle to articulate properly when speaking to the Dr. My husband is coming with me tomorrow, I've got him to read around the subject, and he is quite science based (previous job), so am going to get him to do the explaining.

There is loads of useful stuff on the Thyroid Uk forums, and I have learnt so much on there.

[BigbreastsBiggerbeard]

NormaBean yes, you have to pay. There are different prices depending on how many tests you want doing. I was going to go for 10 checks for £99.

[BigbreastsBiggerbeard]

Ilovefluffysheep how did your appointment go today? Like you, I put a lot of things down to my age, definitely heading towards menopause, plus I have ME. Yes to the exhaustion and brain fog. Hope it helped to have your husband there.

[64sNewName]

I’m really interested in this too, as I’ve had a range of symptoms for years - since having children basically - but have been brushed off a bit by GP.

Would just like to rule out thyroid issues properly so that I can stop wondering.

[Ilovefluffysheep]

BigbreastsBiggerbeard it went ok thank you. I managed to cry (haven't slept properly all week and was awake for the majority of last night) and tell the Dr the symptoms were ruining my life!

She upped my dose to 75mg, which is fair enough I guess, I know they have to up the dose slowly. Was also given a physio referral for my various aches and pains, which I also believe to be thyroid related. Oh, and exercise on referral because I've piled so much weight on!!

So, she did listen, husband didn't have to chip in too much. It maybe problematic next appointment if my TSH goes down to below the bottom of the range. She doesn't seem to understand that this actually isn't a problem, and that in order for my T4 to be up that might need to happen (it's barely above the bottom of the range currently). And as for T3, she freely admitted they're not allowed to prescribe it, basically because of cost. She did add on a T3 blood test for next time, but even if that isn't right I won't be given any medication for it.