hypothyroidism - what are the full tests ?

[ellanwood]

Hi
I have several symptoms of hypothyroidism - thin brows, brittle hair and very brittle nails, depressed, very tired all the time, sluggish and overweight. On a strict 1200-1400 cals a day diet recently I lost nothing at all in two weeks. I've had tests via GP who says they came back 'normal' but I've read somewhere that uK idea of normal can be very different from what's considered healthy in France or USA, and that UK NHS tests also don't always include the full range of tests. But now I cannot find where I discovered this info.

I really want to get the full range of tests done and discover what my actual results are. Does anyone know where to find this information? Thanks.

The tests and ranges used can vary between different health trusts and areas. You’d have to ask your GP practice for the actual results and range used. They will probably have done a TSH - thyroid stimulating hormone - test. If it’s very high, it shows that your pituitary is trying hard to stimulate an underactive thyroid, which is not responding.

Thank you - that's helpful.

You can get private blood tests done for under active thyroid. There are a few options, I use blue horizon, they send an envelope in the post and you prick your finger to get the sample and then post it back. Tsh t3 and t4 are probably the basics you should get tested for.

The gp will just have done tsh.

@Pitaramus - thank you! That's what I was trying to find out. So the GP just does TSH but I need to ask a private testing to also do T3 and T4 - is that right? I don't really understand what all this means but I do want the full range of tests done to rule it out absolutely, if possible.

Yes, any test you order online will include tsh. I think the cheapest package is tsh and t4 but the next one up will also include t3. Anything more complex gets quite expensive.

My GP did TSH and T4. Most health trusts won’t do T3 unless requested by an endocrinologist. To interpret the results though you need to know what normal range your lab uses.

I have had this done recently, tested for T3, T4 and TSH as well as other non thyroid things. I got a print out from the GP surgery with the results, which also gave the normal range for each one, so it was quite easy to see that my thyroid was overactive.

@DingoDing was that a private test, or one done by your GP?

I'm thinking of paying for a private test this year.

@AutumnCrow
It was done by the GP. I did go to see the endocrinologist privately though as there was a long wait and luckily we are covered by DH's work.

Thanks, Dingo for your reply. My GP retired and I was assigned to another one at the practice, who seems clueless about many issues, including hashimoto's, hrt, autoimmune inflammatory diseases, you name it. Thinks that pushing SSRIs will solve everything.

That sounds tricky Crow - I was definitely lucky, went to the GP with various symptoms, she said right it could be a few things so I'm ordering blood tests for this, this and this and here's a referral to cardiology and maybe to endocrinology depending on results. Really good. Have since had a thyroid uptake measurement and scan and I'm going back to see the endo on Thursday.

Thyroid out of whack is just awful isn't it - I am on a drug temporarily to calm mine down and seem to be swinging from hyper to hypo and back. Both are horrible in different ways, I am hoping the endo can sort me out soon. Good luck with yours.

My GP tests for TSH, T3 and T4 as part of full bloods. I had mine done as part of a routine health check and to my surprise have Hyperthyroidism!

This is the copy I had-ask to see yours?

My thyroid levels were 11.5 before starting Thyroxine, I've been on it nearly 4 months now & my levels are now 6.5, my hair has stopped falling out but my eyebrows haven't grown back yet & I haven't lost any weight, I have put on 5 stone.