Re: BritishThyroid Foundation Self=-Testing Kit

[Guest guest]

Is there any reason why if one already has Hypothyroidism that it cannot be

used, and if this is the case are there a variety of causes of Hypothyroidism

that in fact need treating other than Hypothyroidism itself.In other words are

there other causes that influense the TSH, and could this be why they do not

like us self treating.

How do they also arrive at what is a normal TSH, as we cannot all have the same

metobolic rates.

It would be nice to know just what is going on as regards thyroid problems, as

we already know that some drugs cause problems to our thyroid glands including

pollution.

Kathleen

>

> Has anybody seen this

> http://www.btf-thyroid.org/index.php?option=com_content

> <http://www.btf-thyroid.org/index.php?option=com_content & view=article & id=211

> & Itemid=272> & view=article & id=211 & Itemid=272

>

> " The kit contains the equipment to collect a small drop of blood from the

> finger, on which the test is performed. The kit tests the amount of Thyroid

> Stimulating Hormone (TSH), also known as thyrotropin, in the blood. The test

> has a cut-off TSH level of 5mU/L. It measures whether the TSH is higher

> (positive) or lower (negative) than the cut-off level. If the TSH level is

> high this may suggest an under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism). It does not

> measure the exact level of TSH, only whether it is 'positive' or 'negative'.

>

> Luv - Sheila

>

[Guest guest]

I smell a profit in this for somebody. Also, if the TSH bloodtest is as accurate

as we keep being told and if this is the only test Drs are allowed to take

notice of then how can this test be accurate? It says it doesn't measure the

exact ammount of TSH so how can it show a positive or negative result?

I think the BTF are just jumping on the bandwagon. They know that a lot of

thyroid patients are having to get a diagnosis from private tests and some of

these are bought online, so they are going to sell one of their own. Presumably

it's just to fob people off; if this test says negative hopefully the patient

will accept that their problem isn't hypo and stop making a fuss. And, because

they aren't given a figure or ref range to work with they can't take the results

to a Dr or use them to help themselves.

Louise.

>

> Has anybody seen this

> http://www.btf-thyroid.org/index.php?option=com_content

> <http://www.btf-thyroid.org/index.php?option=com_content & view=article & id=211

> & Itemid=272> & view=article & id=211 & Itemid=272

>

> " The kit contains the equipment to collect a small drop of blood from the

> finger, on which the test is performed. The kit tests the amount of Thyroid

> Stimulating Hormone (TSH), also known as thyrotropin, in the blood. The test

> has a cut-off TSH level of 5mU/L. It measures whether the TSH is higher

> (positive) or lower (negative) than the cut-off level. If the TSH level is

> high this may suggest an under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism). It does not

> measure the exact level of TSH, only whether it is 'positive' or 'negative'.

>

> BTF Director Janis Hickey explains: 'Our aims are to provide people with

> responsible information about hypothyroidism. We have not endorsed the

> product, nor have we received any money from Personal Diagnostics for

> providing the information. The BTF's position is that we would always

> recommend that if a person feels they may have a thyroid disorder, their

> first point of call should be their GP. There may however be some people who

> prefer to do a test in the privacy of their own home before seeing a doctor,

> and this of course is a matter of personal choice.'

>

> Astonishing, considering their 'Big Brother' - the British Thyroid

> Association and the Royal College of Physicians state categorically that a

> diagnosis of hypothyroidism should not be given if a TSH is under 10.0.

>

> Does ANYONE know just what is going on?

>

> Luv - Sheila

>

[Guest guest]

Hi -this kit is rather interesting - will GPs take any more notice of it than

the tests we use . Perhaps some patient members of the BTF have found it more

difficult to even get a TSH test under the cash strapped NHS, except for the

yearly one . As for the 10 that they keep quoting , I think they will soon

prefer to forget about it and hope everybody else does to . The evidence will

surface sometime Sheila and a 10 which is so very different from other countries

will be awfully hard to explain .

[Guest guest]

>The evidence will surface sometime Sheila and a 10 which is so very different

from other countries will be awfully hard to explain .

You will be interested to know that in the Republic of Ireland the range for T4

is 10.5 - 22.0 and for TSH it is 0.27 - 4.20.

So you could walk across a field from one country to the other and get a

completely different diagnosis; north of the border they would send you away but

south you will be offered treatment. This is a crazy situation. But, buying

pharmaceutical drugs online is illegal here!

[Guest guest]

But I take it if you again, walk across the field to the South,

you can buy pharmaceutical drugs online. is that the case?

Luv - Sheila

You will be interested to know that in the Republic of Ireland the range for T4

is 10.5 - 22.0 and for TSH it is 0.27 - 4.20.

So you could walk across a field from one country to the other and get a

completely different diagnosis; north of the border they would send you away

but south you will be offered treatment. This is a crazy situation. But, buying

pharmaceutical drugs online is illegal here!

[Guest guest]

>

> But I take it if you again, walk across the field to the South, you can buy

> pharmaceutical drugs online. is that the case?

>

> Luv - Sheila

>

No, Sheila. In the Republic of Ireland it is illegal to buy pharmaceutical drugs

online. In Northern Ireland which is part of the UK, surely the same laws will

apply as in England, and you would be able to buy armour of erfa or whatever

online.

So if your TSH is 5 in the Republic of Ireland, you would presumably be offered

treatment, but across the fields over the border in Northern Ireland which is

part of the UK, a TSH of 5 is considered normal, but at least it would be legal

for you to buy your own medication online, funds allowing.

[Guest guest]

Hi Atty, I'm from Ireland too, though currently in Aus, and trying to find out

the best place to get help, as I live between Ire-Uk-Aus at different times.

From this site I now know the TSH range in UK and have a good idea of Aus but no

idea of Ireland - can you tell me what the Irish range is? Thanks,

>

> So if your TSH is 5 in the Republic of Ireland, you would presumably be

offered treatment, but across the fields over the border in Northern Ireland

which is part of the UK, a TSH of 5 is considered normal, but at least it would

be legal for you to buy your own medication online, funds allowing.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I would like to draw attention to another thyroid test kit I came across the other day on Amazon.It is called the Prima Thyroid Test Kit and costs £14.99 with free super saver delivery.I am pretty sure it is much the same as the one offered by Geneva Diagnostics but obviously cheaper.And no,I don't work for the company lol!

Personally,I am perplexed by this latest move by the BTF.I think that it is contradictory to state that they are not endorsing the thyroid test kit from Genova.If they are allowing it to be advertised on THEIR website then in my opinion that IS endorsing it.I am highly suspicious that they are almost defending themselves by stating "Nor have we received any money from Geneva Diagnostics for providing the information."

Note the wording"Nor HAVE we received".That doesn't mean to say they that they will not go on to recieve some kind of monetary reward for kindly allowing the advertisement to be displayed on their website.Personally I don't trust them.It seems almost like propaganda to me.The updated website is certainly more appealing to the masses.Some of the information provided I agree with but a lot of it I do not.And do they actually help patients who are suffering?

Many years backs I contacted a lady in my area through the BTF telephone support service.She was the local BTF Co-ordinator.Well,I can tell you she didn't 'speak' so much as croaked.Every 2 minutes she had to excuse herself whereby a bout of heavy coughing followed.I asked her about her own thyroid troubles and she told me she had had a partial-thyroidectomy and was on thyroxine.Then more health woes followed with details of operations and ongoing procedures.All I was thinking was,that I'd phoned this lady to seek help for myself and yet here she was...a walking health disaster.Last year I contacted her again to ask about a talk that was taking place.I thought that perhaps things would have improved for her at least and yet she sounded worse than ever.I honestly thought she needed to get off the thyroxine and try something else but like so many she is blinded by the BTF blurb.I pity her.

There is always hope that times are a changing though.Perhaps I'm too cynical!!!

Regards Peary >> I smell a profit in this for somebody. Also, if the TSH bloodtest is as accurate as we keep being told and if this is the only test Drs are allowed to take notice of then how can this test be accurate? It says it doesn't measure the exact ammount of TSH so how can it show a positive or negative result.> > Louise. > > --- In thyroid treatment , "Sheila" sheila@ wr> > > > "The kit contains the equipment to collect a small drop of blood from the> > finger, on which the test is performed. The kit tests the amount of Thyroid> > Stimulating Hormone (TSH), also known as thyrotropin, in the blood. The test> > has a cut-off TSH level of 5mU/L. It measures whether the TSH is higher> > (positive) or lower (negative) than the cut-off level. If the TSH level is> > high this may suggest an under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism). It does not> > measure the exact level of TSH, only whether it is 'positive' or 'negative'.> > > > BTF Director Janis Hickey explains: 'Our aims are to provide people with> > responsible information about hypothyroidism. We have not endorsed the> > product, nor have we received any money from Personal Diagnostics for> > providing the information. The BTF's position is that we would always> > recommend that if a person feels they may have a thyroid disorder, their> > first point of call should be their GP. There may however be some people who> > prefer to do a test in the privacy of their own home before seeing a doctor,> > and this of course is a matter of personal choice.'> > > >>

[Guest guest]

Of course

they are endorsing it, and getting free publicity on the Personal Diagnostics

web site too into the bargain http://www.personaldiagnostics.co.uk/Products/ThyroScreen/About_Hypothyroidism.html. BTW - this is NOT Genova Diagnostics Peary, it

is PERSONAL DIAGNOSTICS. BTF have an advert on the Personal Diagnostics web

site and also PD state all their information about thyroid disease has come

from the BTF.

Luv -

Sheila

I would like to draw attention to

another thyroid test kit I came across the other day on Amazon.It is called the

Prima Thyroid Test Kit and costs £14.99 with free super saver

delivery.I am pretty sure it is much the same as the one offered by Geneva

Diagnostics but obviously cheaper.And no,I don't work for the company lol!

Personally,I am perplexed by this

latest move by the BTF.I think that it is contradictory to state that they

are not endorsing the thyroid test kit from Genova.If they are allowing it to

be advertised on THEIR website then in my opinion that IS endorsing it.I

am highly suspicious that they are almost defending themselves by stating

" Nor have we received any money from Geneva Diagnostics for providing

the information. "

__

[Guest guest]

Thanks for correcting me Sheila.I don't know where I got "Geneva" from.I was thinking of Genova who are advertised heavily all over the internet too.Not sure if they are affiliated with Personal Diagnostics in any way.But yes,of course it is blatant endorsement of the company by the BTF and to state otherwise is nonsense!

I was pleasantly surprised to come across that other thyroid self testing kit on amazon and thought it might be helpful to members that are struggling financially and having to pay for their own blood tests etc..

Regards Peary>>. BTW - this is NOT Genova Diagnostics Peary, it is PERSONAL> DIAGNOSTICS. BTF have an advert on the Personal Diagnostics web site and> also PD state all their information about thyroid disease has come from the> BTF.> > Luv - Sheila> > I would like to draw attention to another thyroid test kit I came across the> other day on Amazon.It is called the Prima Thyroid Test Kit and costs £14.99> with free super saver delivery.I am pretty sure it is much the same as the> one offered by Geneva Diagnostics but obviously cheaper.And no,I don't work> for the company lol!> > > __>