Can You Pay For Private Blood Tests for Underactive Thyroid?

Mojisola

Own_My_Own wrote: »

I can so understand that. I came out of my doctors last week, sat in the car and cried. The feeling of banging my head against a brick wall was just too much.

I know that feeling. I've been in tears when the doctor said, yet again, "The blood tests are back and everything is normal" when I felt so ill!

Some people do much better on natural thyroid - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desiccated_thyroid_extract
so it's worth looking for a doctor who is willing to prescribe it.

The NHS tests don't check for T3 and also don't check whether you're converting T4 into T3.

oopsadaisydoddle

Own_My_Own wrote: »

I can so understand that. I came out of my doctors last week, sat in the car and cried. The feeling of banging my head against a brick wall was just too much.

Yes, I get this too. And I feel such a pain because i've been so many times over the years, mainly for my weight, fatigue and feeling carp - oh and my health anxiety which looking back, was quite (although it shouldn't be) embarrasing! I literally went for everything convinced it was sinister. I appreciate that was PND related however the rest is not.

Own_My_Own

I have always been 11 stone and a size 12. In the last year I have gained 4 stone and am now a 16/18. That in its self is depressing. And they just don't seem to believe I am not eating any differently. The last doctor I saw told me they have a diet clinic at the surgery. How I didn't get hold of her I don't know. I am at present eating roughly 600 cals a day, trying not to put any more weight on.

jenniewb

Mojisola wrote: »

I know that feeling. I've been in tears when the doctor said, yet again, "The blood tests are back and everything is normal" when I felt so ill!

Some people do much better on natural thyroid - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desiccated_thyroid_extract
so it's worth looking for a doctor who is willing to prescribe it.

The NHS tests don't check for T3 and also don't check whether you're converting T4 into T3.

oopsadaisydoddle wrote: »

Yes, I get this too. And I feel such a pain because i've been so many times over the years, mainly for my weight, fatigue and feeling carp - oh and my health anxiety which looking back, was quite (although it shouldn't be) embarrasing! I literally went for everything convinced it was sinister. I appreciate that was PND related however the rest is not.

Wow- I thought this was just me!!

I have a few issues with my blood- according to one specialist I am seeing elsewhere (from another trust). She ran tests which were "worrying" not deadly but enough to consider running another set of tests.

My GP however, had requested tests just a week beforehand, as I had symptoms and had an idea of what it could be but would have resulted in a referral. My GP ran tests....all came back as "normal". Not boarder-line, not slightly low, but normal. This including the white blood cell count which was out of its range abnormal and symptoms which indicated the same thing. This, despite being told of blood tests, testing the exact same thing coming back as absolutely the opposite!

You do begin to wonder who you can actually trust. I feel very very lucky to have a specialist whom it would appear I can trust. I'd complain but I'm too scared I'll be kicked off the surgery list and it is hard enough for me (physically) to get to that surgery as it is let alone just wondering if the same wouldn't happen elsewhere.

oopsadaisydoddle

Thanks for replying everyone. It has been really helpful. I shall check out the results on my break and i think I may see about changing docs and starting afresh so to speak!

Own_My_Own

This thread has got me thinking about how unwell I feel. And I have come to the conclusion that the worst part if it is knowing there is a tablet out there that could make me feel better. A tablet that my doctor seems so reluctant to give me.
But I saw on one of the links they now think .3 - 3 is normal and not .4 - 4. I am going to print this off and take it with me next time. Maybe then they will not tell me 4.04 is only just under. Maybe they will do something. But I'm not due another blood test until May, so I will just have to carry on until then.

oopsadaisydoddle

Own_My_Own wrote: »

This thread has got me thinking about how unwell I feel. And I have come to the conclusion that the worst part if it is knowing there is a tablet out there that could make me feel better. A tablet that my doctor seems so reluctant to give me.
But I saw on one of the links they now think .3 - 3 is normal and not .4 - 4. I am going to print this off and take it with me next time. Maybe then they will not tell me 4.04 is only just under. Maybe they will do something. But I'm not due another blood test until May, so I will just have to carry on until then.

I'm sorry you're feeling so ill and low. I know how you feel. I just feel like a constant nuisance. I would LOVE even just one day where I wake up feeling 'alive'.

Have you thought about changing surgeries? I still haven't plucked the courage up to call my surgery about the test results. I'm worried it'll get back to my doc and he'll probs question me next time! I had thought about seeing i I could change docs within the surgery on a permanent basis but I'd still have to see him when I take the kids!!

Sometimes he can be really helpful and others, it's like you're bothering him! That's why I dread seeing him.

Thomas_Hardy

oopsadaisydoddle wrote: »

I literally went for everything convinced it was sinister.

And you're not doing the same now?

oopsadaisydoddle

Thomas_Hardy wrote: »

And you're not doing the same now?

No, I am trying to get to the bottom of why I am and have felt carp for numerous years.

I wouldn't say an underactive thyroid is sinister. I meant, when I had PND, I was convinced I was going to die. Like really covinced. I had counselling/cbt for that and I no longer have such worries.

Like I explained on my other thread, I am not lazy. I have spent years being 'on the go' and active and over the last 6 (ish) years, this has just gotten worse.

I would love to wake up one day not feeling like rubbish. I don't mean mentally, I mean physically.

oopsadaisydoddle

Well I phoned and my TSH levels were .82 back in October so i think(?) that answers that question! I believe that's very normal.

I imagine that means i don't need to pursue that line of enquiry anymore and I'm glad I know now.

Thanks for your input everyone and good luck to all of you.x