What blood tests to ask GP for for anaemia or thyroid?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

I've had lots of scattered testing over last few years, but never thyroid antibodies for example, so feel like other stuff could be missed - and I get confused and overwhelmed.

My issues continue getting worse and finally managed to get a GP appointment today and want to go armed.

Symptoms are - fatigue, joint pain, numbness, tingling, strange sensations like water being poured on my head/ limbs, blurred vision, hair falling out, dizzyness (sometimes fainting on my period) and palpitations (often for no fucking reason other than say, sitting up in bed!).

What should I ask for?

I just don't know enough about anaemia or thyroid issues, but get worried because I'm definitely getting worse and if it's something treatable that keeps being missed - I will never stop resenting that.

I've been feeling the same. Unbelievable fatigue muscle weakness dizziness depression hair loss. I have family history of pernicious anemia. Dr sent me for bloods for thyroid vitamin b and d and iron and a few others I didn't understand. I just told them how I felt. Struggling to get up sleeping forever not eating just snacking depressed dizzy. Turns out I'm iron and vitamin d deficiency. It feels awful. Hope you get sorted

You need to ask for Full thyroid, thyroid antibodies, T3 and T4. My drs certainly can do all those 🙂

If funds allow I would recommend using a private blood testing service such as Blue Horizon or Medichecks and getting a full thyroid function test (TSH, T3, T4, Antibodies) plus Vit D, B, Ferritin and Folate - I think in the first instance RT3 is less important (its the more expensive test). You can then see exactly where the levels sit within range and compare this against the optimal. It is really unusual for the NHS to test T3 - even consultant endocrinologists are reluctant to test so I doubt your GP will sign it off and it is impossible to get a full idea of thyroid function without it. The tests will be reviewed by a Dr who will give notes on anything out of range and give recommended follow up - you can then take the results to an NHS GP but it means you will be much better informed about what your body is doing. There are Facebook groups with experts who will also help analyse the tests and give feedback. You may then want to consider taking NDT and not Levothyroxine.

www.medichecks.com/thyroid-function-tests/thyroid-check-ultravit

With the exception of your hair falling out all of these symptoms could be connected to your diabetes. The numbness/tingling/water sensations may be connected to diabetic neuropathy, the blurred vision and dizziness may be connected to your glucose levels. When did you last have a review with the diabetes nurse specialist?