Ordering Your Own Labs

[Nataliyc]

I have been tested and I am Hashi/antibodies positive. I was told I don't have to be tested ever again for that .
So, if I order labs from different websites , I can take all the paperwork to the same lab, and there is no specific instruction on which lab to use? - Thank you, this helps a lot.
Nataliy.

[Nataliyc]

Ok, guys,

Here is what I come up with for my labs testing.

1. Thyroid ptofile:

TSH + Free T3 and Free T4

2. Menopause tesing:

Estradiol
FSH
CBC
CMP
LH
Testosterone

3. Cortisol level, 4 x day, saliva

4. DHEA - saliva

I have done some hormonal checking way back in November of 2009, yet # 2 is only goes for $ 59.00 , so I thought, it might be helpful..? May be I don't need it since I had hormones checked less than 6 months ago.


Did I miss anything ? my Vit D level was 31 in November 09', so I am taking 5000-10000 IU /day.

I would greatly appreciate your input.

Nataliy.

[Nigel]

DHEA-S in saliva seems only worth it to tell you how your adrenal glands stand in relation to cortisol. It has to do with the various stages of adrenal fatigue. It might be better to rule out low DHEA-S by testing blood and since you're doing blood sex hormones, you might throw blood DHEA-S in instead.

Of course if it's low, you still might need to treat low cortisol first and since that means taking cortisol for many, it's bound to drop DHEA anyway. That's why some, like me, just go by symptoms. It offsets the damaging effects of cortisol for me and I take less than what some recommend and it balances things.

I just thought you might want to know reasons for and against testing it and how to look at it. My level has been low, but that didn't match symptoms of improvement from taking DHEA.

If this is too adrenal related a moderator can delete this info.

Also SHBG is a good idea to test as high SHBG accounts for higher total testosterone when free might not be high. That's sex hormone-binding globulin. You might also test both free and total testosterone along with progesterone, if you can.

[Nataliyc]

No, I did not order the blood hormone test, I went with saliva advance hormone testing from canaryclub.org
If this is important, I will defenately order DHEA from serum online.
The problem also is that my priamry MD and my endo both desregards idea of supplementing adrenals or do any further corrections of hormonal problems, other than estrogen/progesterone issues. Honestly, I am confused myself at this point, and sort of not sure how to approach the issue of not feeling well with missing periods, and so on.. There are lots of advices from people, but now, with missing periods, looks like my sex hormones labs have no value.
So, I am between the rock and the hard place - what to test for and how to deal with it. Confusion is not the word for it...
I think, first and far more inportant for me is to check my TSH, free T3, and free T4. Than, I will go from there...
Nataliy

[ChEMom]

The discount code for Privatemdlabs from now until May 31st is:

wia5la5r

This will give you 15% off.

[Nataliyc]

Alright,
Doing my 24 hr cortisol saliva test tomorrow, yea.
I will be doing it at 4 times: morning ( 7 am), noon ( 12), around 4-5 pm, and at 11 pm.
Could someone, please, confirm is this is the correct collection timing?
Thanks.

[Nigel]

Is it 11 pm because you go to sleep at that time? I thought they all said midnight.. but I can't see the point of taking it at midnight if you've just fallen asleep at that time. The one I used had a 4 AM draw!! That was sure fun, not.

Make sure the morning draw is right upon waking and before meds or food, please.

[ChEMom]

Mine said 11 pm. - midnight. So I did it at 11 because I was so tired.

[Nataliyc]

Good morning, everyone,
I am so glad that my family is asleep while I am doing the saliva test this morning, that would be a pretty "interesting" picture to see what I am doing early am... hahaha

One more question - need a fast answer , today: Do I still take me Erfa thyroid TODAY while doing the saliva test. The instructions says " no hormones prior 35 hours, if taking sublingual?" Meaning, no thyroid medication for me today?

Please, someone, clarify?

Thanks, again !

[ChEMom]

Sorry, I overslept. If you take you thyroid meds sublingually, skip them today.

[Nataliyc]

Thank you,
I hope, this does not affect that much my overall thyroid levels..
THanks, again!

[Nigel]

STTM book said to skip the sublingual part and swallow the thyroid meds.

I think this was because D-T used to do saliva thyroid hormone testing. Either way, why send part of your thyroid dose to the lab?

[Nataliyc]

Yea, finally, my saliva test on the way to Oregon lab.
I was told it takes about 5 days to get there via UPS ground. Are you kidding me? In this weather, my saliva would boil and become a toothpaste LOL!!!

I am sure, "they" know what they do. I hope so, anyway.

[Nigel]

How did you send it? Hopefully not ground.

[Nataliyc]

Yes,
ZRT labs include pre-paid label for UPS ground!!! it also says on the instruction package: If specemen sent the same day of collection, there should be no problem with storage or processing.. Well, I only HOPE that ZRT lab thought about their UPS ground method of delivery.. that was, actually, not choosen by me - it came with ordered online directions/instructions...

Boy, something else to worry about.. Who said that my adrenals are going to be ok when I am worrying all the time... LOL