Thyroid Self-Tests / Ordering Your Own Thyroid Tests + Why Dr. Richard Shames Pr

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Thyroid Self-Tests / Ordering Your Own Thyroid Tests

_http://thyroid.about.com/od/gettestedanddiagnosed/a/selftesting.htm_

(http://thyroid.about.com/od/gettestedanddiagnosed/a/selftesting.htm)

by Mary Shoman

 

Some patients need to be highly involved in their thyroid diagnosis and

care, which is where self-tests and the ability to order your own tests can

be critical tools for an empowered patient. The following is a look at some

of the self-testing options for thyroid patients.

 

An important note: When you order your own blood or saliva tests, the cost

of the tests are not likely to be covered by your insurance.

 

The Thyroid Neck Check

 

One self-check that may detect some thyroid problems is the thyroid neck

check.

To take this test, hold a mirror up so that you can see your thyroid area

- the neck, just below the Adam's apple and above the collarbone.

Tip your head back, and keeping an eye on this thyroid area, take a drink

of water and swallow. As you swallow, look at your neck. Watch carefully

for any bulges, enlargement, protrusions, or unusual appearances in this

area. Repeat this process several times. If you see any bulges, protrusions,

lumps or anything that appears unusual, see your doctor right away. (Note:

this test cannot rule out thyroid abnormalities. It's just helpful to

identify a particularly enlarged thyroid or visible masses.)

 

MyMedLab Blood Tests

 

MyMedLab.com offers the opportunity to order FDA-approved blood tests

_http://thyroid.about.com/od/gettestedanddiagnosed/a/bloodtests.htm_

(http://thyroid.about.com/od/gettestedanddiagnosed/a/bloodtests.htm) at local

LabCorp

outlets, without a doctor’s prescription. You need to go to the LabCorp

facility and have blood drawn from a vein in your arm. Results give specific

hormone values, and the testing process is the same as if your doctor

ordered the tests directly. MyMedLab offers a variety of thyroid panels

_https://mymedlab.com/_ (https://mymedlab.com/) , including:

 

-- Anti-Thyroid Antibodies

-- Free T4, Free T3

-- TSH -- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone

-- Reverse T3

-- TSI (Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin)

 

ZRT Laboratory

 

ZRT Laboratory provides both saliva and bloodspot testing. Bloodspot

testing is able to provide specific thyroid values, and requires only a small

prick of blood, rather than a blood draw from the vein.

 

ZRT Thyroid Bloodspot Tests

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t=2 & bt=1 & bts=1 & zu=http://www.zrtlab.com/Page.aspx?nid=12) include:

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Free T4, Free T3, Thyroid Peroxidase

(TPO) Antibody.

 

You can read more about the capillary/fingerprick/bloodspot thyroid

testing, and why some practitioners prefer this form of testing, in this Q & A

with

Dr. Richard Shames

_http://thyroid.about.com/b/2009/04/16/capillary-bloodspot-fingerprick-thyroid-t\'>http://thyroid.about.com/b/2009/04/16/capillary-bloodspot-fingerprick-thyroid-t\

esting.htm_

(http://thyroid.about.com/b/2009/04/16/capillary-bloodspot-fingerprick-thyroid-t\

esting.htm) .

 

Patient Consumer Advocacy Group Discounts: The Canary Club

 

Free membership is available in The Canary Club

_http://www.canaryclub.org/_ (http://www.canaryclub.org/) , a patient

organization that functions as

a consumer advocate, negotiating substantial group discounts on tests for

patients. You can save as much as several hundred dollars ordering ZRT

tests through the Canary Club.

 

One popular ZRT test offered through the Canary Club, for example, is the

Comprehensive Hormone Profile Test

_http://www.canaryclub.org/content/view/247/94/_

(http://www.canaryclub.org/content/view/247/94/) , which

includes evaluation of the following:

 

-- Thyroid Hormones: TSH, Free T3, FreeT4, Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO)

Antibody

-- Sex Hormones: Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone

-- Adrenal Hormones - DHEA, Cortisol (AM, noon, evening and PM)

 

Mary Shomon, About.com's Thyroid Guide since 1997, is a nationally-known

patient advocate and best-selling author of 10 books on health, including

" The Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough: Overcoming Sexual and Hormonal Problems at

Every Age, " " The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight

Loss, " " Living Well With Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell

You...That You Need to Know, " " The Thyroid Guide to Hair Loss, " " Living Well

With

Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism, " " Living Well With Autoimmune

Disease, " and " Living Well With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. "

Click

here _http://thyroid.about.com/mbiopage.htm_

(http://thyroid.about.com/mbiopage.htm) for more information on Mary Shomon.

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Why Dr. Richard Shames Prefers Capillary Fingerprick / Blood Spot Tests

for Thyroid Testing and Evaluation

_http://thyroid.about.com/b/2009/04/16/capillary-bloodspot-fingerprick-thyro

id-testing.htm?nl=1_

(http://thyroid.about.com/b/2009/04/16/capillary-bloodspot-fingerprick-thyroid-t\

esting.htm?nl=1)

 

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