Please can you share your experiences of asking your GP to test your thyroid function.

[myanonusername]

I am one of those people who hates to be a bother, so I'm trying to summon up the courage to go to the GP and offload my long list of 'non-specific' symptoms, which tick many boxes on the list of symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Do I go to the GP and simply say I want a thyroid function test because I have these symptoms or am I supposed to go along and say I have these symptoms and hope she suggests thyroid tests?

What have your experiences been?

I was tested because there were confirmed cases in my family.

I went to my GP with my long list of vague symptoms and he suggested thyroid test along with a load of others. Mine came back showing I have hypothyroidism.

I would say definitely go along and if your GP does not suggest it then yes you should request the test.

What were your main symptoms HattieA? (if you don't mind sharing here)

Tiredness mainly, even after many hours sleep, along with that foggy brain feeling and reduced concentration.

You are absolutely not a bother - if you do have an underactive thyroid then you will only get worse over time. If un-treated it can become dangerous.

Make that appointment :)

The easy bit is getting them to test it, it's harder if you don't fit fair and square into a "box" afterwards with the blood results in spite of your symptoms to get treatment. You should also ask for ferritin folate vitamin b12 and vitamin d to be tested as well, squiffy results on those would also affect thyroid function. I would recommend the thyroid UK website as a good starting point if you haven't visited there already.

Thank you.

I visited my gp last week with a "Could it be my thyroid or is it all peri-menopause symptoms"
I also hate 'bothering' the doctor and end up downplaying my symptoms
I wrote down my symptoms, the main ones. Tired ALL the time, feeling cold, apathy, (which I got from Thyroid UK)
I said " I'm pretty sure my symptoms are menopausal, but I think I need my thyroid checked as .......(listed a few symptom)"
I was relieved that he took me very seriously and agreed that it could be thyroid.
I am waiting for my test results.

I've just been the GP to say I've been feeling fatigued, rapid heart rate, big weight loss, dizziness, palpitations this week.

First thing he suggested was blood tests. The usual MOT stuff. Iron, sugars, liver function, kidney function, b12, thyroid etc

If u want it tasting just ask

Tasting? Taste ur thyroid?! Obviously I mean test

I'm wondering how the OP got on.
Hoping you have an appointment to see your GP?

Hello. I went this morning and the GP was great. She didn't make me feel like a time-waster and set me up with blood tests for, as someone said above, the usual MOT stuff. I am going to get my blood taken tomorrow. She has said to go back after the results, and if it's not any of the things tested for, she'll do a bit more probing. Thank you everyone who posted. It helped.