Do they test for levels of lead on NHS

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I am seeing more references being made to levels of metals in the body from for

example, mercury and lead.

25 yrs ago I started out as a hobby and eventually had my own business working

with stained glass which involved using solders which contained some lead and

also using the strips of lead came which the panels are made from. I don't

remember in early days using a mask and a professional artist joked that I had

to learn to breath through my eyes!

These days I occasionally do some glass work but trend to use lead free solder

and copper foil as opposed to lead. But I now wonder is I may have lead in my

body which is the cause or contribution to all the thyroid symptoms?

So - can they GP do bloods for lead.

And, can I use this oral chelation and what does anyone suggest to use?

Many thanks

Stacey

[Guest guest]

So far as I know, no. GPs don't tend to be interested in nutritional or

environmental factors.

You could get a test done privately through Dr Myhill. I had a DMSA challenge

test (toxic metals screen) done recently. However, it was just over £180 and

has gone up slightly since then.

http://www.drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Toxic_metals_-_a_problem_for_us_all

Miriam

> So - can they GP do bloods for lead.

> And, can I use this oral chelation and what does anyone suggest to use?

[Guest guest]

most of the tests mentioned however ARE available through NHS

testing. Do your best to press your GP into doing those tests and as mentioned

previously, do show him those references as to why it is important that those

with symptoms of hypothyroidism should be tested for those specific nutrients.

Getting private tests done can cost a fortune and it is a pity

we cannot claim these back from the Department of Health.

Luv - Sheil

From: thyroid treatment

[mailto:thyroid treatment ] On Behalf Of miriam_hinch

Sent: 31 December 2011 09:13

thyroid treatment

Subject: Re: Do they test for levels of lead on

NHS

So far as I know, no. GPs don't tend to be

interested in nutritional or environmental factors.

You could get a test done privately through Dr Myhill. I had a DMSA challenge

test (toxic metals screen) done recently. However, it was just over £180 and

has gone up slightly since then.

http://www.drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Toxic_metals_-_a_problem_for_us_all

Miriam

> So - can they GP do bloods for lead.

> And, can I use this oral chelation and what does anyone suggest to use?

[Guest guest]

Does that mean the NHS could test for lead poisoning, for example? How would

they treat it? I discovered that DMSA was not prescribable, for example.

It's a great pity doctors won't do these tests which they ought to do. My

progress has been extremely slow because I was reluctant to shell out large

amounts of money for private testing, but I have had to resort to it, bit by

bit.

Miriam

> most of the tests mentioned however ARE available through NHS testing. Do your

best to press your GP into doing those tests and as mentioned previously, do

show him those references as to why it is important that those with symptoms of

hypothyroidism should be tested for those specific nutrients.

>

> Getting private tests done can cost a fortune and it is a pity we cannot claim

these back from the Department of Health.

[Guest guest]

I suspect if you were having symptoms of lead poisoning, then

the NHS would take a blood sample to get it checked out. Here is the

information from Labs Online.

http://www.labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/lead/tab/test

Luv - Sheila

Does that mean the NHS could test for lead

poisoning, for example? How would they treat it? I discovered that DMSA was not

prescribable, for example.

It's a great pity doctors won't do these tests which they ought to do. My

progress has been extremely slow because I was reluctant to shell out large

amounts of money for private testing, but I have had to resort to it, bit by

bit.

Miriam

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Sheila. I notice they don't say what treatments are available.

I should imagine my GPs would only test for lead poisoning if you could show you

had suffered particular exposure to lead. Doing the toxic metals test with Dr

Myhill was a bit of a long shot and I was surprised it showed I had lead

poisoning. I suspect it just indicates I am a poor detoxifier rather than that

I have been exposed to more lead than the average person. The symptoms of lead

poisoning are non-specific so it would be difficult to present to your GP with

lead poisoning symptoms.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_poisoning

Miriam

> I suspect if you were having symptoms of lead poisoning, then the NHS would

take a blood sample to get it checked out. Here is the information from Labs

Online.

http://www.labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/lead/tab/test

[Guest guest]

Check out Modified Citrus Pectin as a good chelator of lead.

Here is some research done on children:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18616067

Not sure that a GP would prescribe this!

> I should imagine my GPs would only test for lead poisoning if you could show

you had suffered particular exposure to lead. Doing the toxic metals test with

Dr Myhill was a bit of a long shot and I was surprised it showed I had lead

poisoning. I suspect it just indicates I am a poor detoxifier rather than that

I have been exposed to more lead than the average person. The symptoms of lead

poisoning are non-specific so it would be difficult to present to your GP with

lead poisoning symptoms.

[Guest guest]

Thanks, that's interesting.

Miriam

> Check out Modified Citrus Pectin as a good chelator of lead.

> Here is some research done on children:

> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18616067

> Not sure that a GP would prescribe this!