Biohacking - anyone done this? Or knows about it?

[TheHillsAreAliveWithTheSoundOfEtc]

I'm very late 40s.

Definitely in peri.

However, I have severe joint pain, it hurts me to move. I need to be exercising more, that's difficult when getting out of bed hurts.
I want to sleep all the time.
Additionally, I often get severe migraines.

Plus a load of other symptoms I won't go into.

I've had blood tests. Nada.
Thyroid is within limits, though on the edge of them. All of my symptoms point thyroid as the first and most obvious cause, but no.

I've read and heard about bio hacking.
To be clear, I am talking about medical bio hacking; swabs and/or blood tests to map your own genetic profile and correct and deficiencies, specifically deficiencies in diet and vitamin deficiencies.

Has anyone done this?
Does anyone know about this?

Any answers gratefully appreciated.

I have a friend who had her tests done for migraine and found she was deficient in enzymes, she takes DAOmigraine and Protoelytic enzymes now.

I've had blood tests. Nada.
Thyroid is within limits, though on the edge of them. All of my symptoms point thyroid as the first and most obvious cause, but no.

Do you have a copy of the actual test numbers? A lot of these sort of things can be borderline based on NHS ranges, but still cause problems - joint pain and fatigue could be down to deficiencies in things like Vit D (probably not tested by your GP unless specifically brought up) If your thyroid is borderline and you think you're symptomatic, is there no way you can talk doc into trialing treatment?

I test myself regularly for a few deficiencies I've had on and off (b12, folate, vit D and iron) and supplement as needed, but not sure that counts as biohacking. I use a company called Thriva, there are a few others like Medichecks that are also good, they can often have more extensive tests then the NHS typically offer (especially for thyroid) so perhaps could look into that, then if they show up anything you can take back to your GP.

Thank you @Doliveira. Do you know which company she used? So many are USA based, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but their healthcare system is so different to ours in the UK.

Funnily (or not 😁) @Lellochip after I posted, I looked at my bloods notes, and they haven't tested thyroid for 3+ years. Also no, nothing for vit D. Iron is good, I have kept it that way since a bout of anaemia 7 years ago.
Thank you for the Thriva tip.

I should have said this in my OP is that I tick all of the boxes although many could also be peri, but also I don't carry weight on my face, neck or décolletage, yet my neck looks a bit swollen at the base.

Gosh, that final paragraph is jumbled.
I hope it makes sense.

Thank you to both of you for not telling me that I am a) bonkers for asking or b) a hypochondriac.

As someone who's resorted to DIY because docs tell me 'it's normal to be tired' whilst missing dodgy blood test results, I'm definitely not going to call you a hypochondriac! It's so incredibly frustrating when the usual lines don't lead to any solutions when you're feeling rough, so obviously you're going to be tempted by alternatives.

The bio-hacking stuff is interesting, but think a lot of stuff online about it will be anecdotal, unproven, and not necessarily very specific to individual needs though, so might be hard to find much reliable info. If you can find a diagnosable issue and then get it treated professionally I think that will give you better results, so I'd try to stick to that initially.

Not ideal, but any chance you could afford to go private for some investigations? A private GP won't be tied by NHS budgets for things like thyroid.

Don’t think you are at all hypochondriac. I would look into DMSO for joint pain, and consider LDN.

I'm fortunate enough to have access to private medicine @Lellochip. Agree that it will be easier to see a private GP.

Trouble is that even private can be very hit and miss, just pre Covid I saw one specialist who spent 5 minutes with me & DH. We had effectively paid for an hour I know it doesn't work like that. We immediately saw another specialist in the same field, who was very good, listened and made a diagnosis, which was a correct one.

I am so tired, I am fearful that I will be able to hold down my job.
At the weekends I sleep for 14 hours a night.

I'm looking at alternatives because so many medical professionals look at me, with that side head tilt, and say words to the effect of 🤔 probably just perimenopause. Or similar.
Which makes me want to scream and no, that's not my hormones.
That's sheer bloody frustration.

Thank you @Doliveira I will take a look at DMSO and LDN.

Conventional medicine should be the way forward, where we currently live everything is so stretched to limits that conventional healthcare is suffering.

it sounds like magical thinking to me, that there is a magical formula based on your unique genetics.

Some genes are only expressed depending on environmental triggers. We all have multiple gene options that may or may not be expressed & may or may not interact with each other, most of all in unknown ways. Genes aren't simple predictors at all.

Sorry you aren't well, OP. I understand wanting to try "anything." Don't spend a lot of money & effort on something so unproven.

(Thumbnail looks a bit 🙄but actually really interesting)

Ooh @Starseeed I was just about to mention this podcast!! Really interesting and he recommends genetic testing. I'm going to listen again and take notes but I think he mentioned a company called 23 & me? Will see if I can find a link.

Here you go

www.23andme.com/en-gb/

@TheHillsAreAliveWithTheSoundOfEtc medichecks are a reputable organisation and on Thursday they do special offers. If you are getting your blood tests include the antibodies too. ThyroidUk / Health Unlocked have really supportive guidance and information.
Self care is important.Good luck

Yes, sort of.

I've had my glycans analysed - my biological age is 5 years younger than my actual age. And I'm doing the Zoe program and just waiting on my results there

I wouldn't take supplements (bar the ones that are scientifically proven to do something and that's not many) and that's about it really!

And forgive me for suggesting this, but have you considered HRT? Your symptoms point completely towards menopause and they can be very debilitating for some people

I very much believe that we shouldn't put everything down to peri but joint pain was a big thing for me so don't write it off just yet

Hope you get some answers OP

does anyone know if these companies want your GP info? Thanks.

How’s your emotional health? Are you a type A at all? With the migraines I would suggest having a good look at the Curable app

I don't think any of them want you GP - Thriva certainly doesn't. They have their own doctors who explain your results and then if any require further action, the report you get will tell you to contact your GP. So you have something official to take to your own docs if you want, but otherwise they won't know you've had anything tested.

Thank you
having looked at it, I'm not sure why it's bio hacking?
more just "doing the tests OP needs". OP i'd push your GP more.

@lljkk I absolutely understand your perspective and, to some extent I agree.

However, three close family members died suddenly, within a decade of the age I am now, in their 50s.
A fourth in their early 60s

They were all much more physically fit than I am, all taking regular, cardio exercise.
One had a complete, full day, private medical three weeks before they died, including a running machine test etc.
I was able to ask the person who committed the post mortem 'how could we have known' his answer? You couldn't.

Although my question about thyroid problems is hopefully unrelated to those deaths, I admit that I am frightened.
When you are frightened you control stupid things sometimes.

@Starseeed I have heard of Dr.Brecka, I think his backstory is very interesting.
I'd like something similar, the British version.
My idea of a British version is not based in xenophobia, our healthcare is very different, including our national approaches to drugs, the FDA vs NICE etc.

Those sort of things aren't what I'd call biohacking, to me that's more about taking various stacks of different supplements/therapies etc to 'boost' or improve your natural state. Whereas the OP sounds like she has something medical going on that may require treatment. Blood tests from the companies (and maybe the gene stuff, I'm not really up on that) just might give her better tools to solve the issue than the NHS.

The thyroid tests offered for example, are more comprehensive than the ones the NHS routinely do. The GP's results have shown borderline but "normal" results, which then mean they won't treat her even though she's symptomatic. The private test might give a better indication of a problem (if she has thyroid antibodies for example) which then gives her a better case to argue when she goes back to the GP.

They can just be an extra tool when you've got a dismissive doctor.

Thank you @Moonshine5, that's excellent information.
I'm on it!

Good for you @BatFaceOwl which company told you that you were 5 years younger? Did they break the results down?

@BatFaceOwl ooooh that's a story. I used HRT for 4 years, my female gynaecologist kept increasing the dosages.
Last year we were going abroad for our first holiday in a few years (because Covid).
The patches left welts on my skin and I didn't want to wear a bikini with welts over my body.
Six weeks before we went away I stopped the patches to prevent the welts, then for the three weeks of the holiday.
When we got back from our holiday and I hadn't put more patches on.
By this point I felt no worse and slightly better in that I saw a 30% decrease in migraines. (I track them).

So, I have ditched the patches for now.

@Starseeed do you mean a typo A personality? If so, definitely not, no.

@EmmaEmerald I would be saying the same as you.
Unfortunately, in our area you have to call the GP at 8am for a phone appointment in 10 days time.
All appointments are gone by 8.15am. And I work, so I can't always call between 8 - 8.15am.
I'm going to try a private GP.

Thank you @Lellochip, you have understood me and been able to translate what I'm trying to say! I'm not being snarky either, I definitely mean thank you. I'm