“Is a thyroid function test painful?”
My teenage daughter was told she needs to have a thyroid function test. Is a thyroid function test painful?
12 Answers
Usually this means having a blood test done.
A thyroid function test is a venipuncture test like you would normally do for your wellness exam blood testing. Blood work. Not to worry unless you are afraid of having your blood drawn with a needle.
Thyroid function test is just a blood test that measures thyroid hormone levels.
Dr Marina Strizhevsky
Dr Marina Strizhevsky
It’s Just a blood test.
Thyroid function tests are a group of blood lab tests. It is just the same as any blood work done from your arm.
No, it's just a blood test.
As painful as any other blood work.
No, but it involves blood draw.
Not. It is usually a blood test.
It is a blood test. It should not be painful.
The thyroid function test:
The thyroid gland is a small but a vital gland at the base of the neck, below the adams apple. It is responsible for energy production, metabolism, mood, growth and development. It also supports brain development and cardiovascular health.
The thyroid gland produces three major hormones namely thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and calcitonine. If your thyroid gland does not make these hormones especially T3 and T4 you may develop a codition called hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) and when the thyroid makes excess of these hormones (over active thyroid) a codition called thyrotoxicosis or hyperthyroidism sets in. Calcitonin suppots bone health.
In hypothyroidism (under active thyroid) the person may experience the symptoms of sadness, weight gain, poor energy level, dry skin, constipation, hair loss and fatigue.
When the thyroid gland is over active, the person may experience, weight loss, fatigue, palpitations, heat intolerance, excessive sweating, irritability, frequent bowel movement and insomnia.
The thyroid function test is a necessary blood test in the evaluation of the status of the the thyroid gland, in the production of the thyroid hormones. This test will determine whether the thyroid gland is working well or not. Based on the thyroid function test, further work up may be performed to pin point the cause of thyroid disorder (low or high thyroid hormone). The further work up may include blood work for iodine and various antibodies or imaging studies such as Ultrasound or uptake and scan of the thyroid gland.
Thyroid function test is just a blood work to determine the working condition of the thyroid gland. The initial test may include the T3, T3RU, T4, and TSH or TSH, FT4 with or without FT3 depending on the situation. Most endocrinologist use FT4, TSH and or FT3 with or without the various thyroid autoantibodies. Depending on the results more work up may be necessary including Ultrasound and or scan of the thyroid gland.
When performing thyroid function test you will go to your doctors office and will be sitted in a comfortable chair. A venipuncture or blood draw will be performed mostly from your upper arm. A rubber band will be tied around your upper arm to make the veins pop up. A needle will be inserted into the vein under your skin. You may feel a prick when the needle withdrawn and the rubber band around your arm is removed. A bandage will be placed on the puncture wound.
After your blood is drawn and processed, the next step is to discuss about the results of the thyroid function test with your doctor. If your thyroid is functioning properly, only watchful monitoring is advised. However if your thyroid hormone levels are abnormal, the cause of the thyroid abnormality should be evaluated properly. Once the cause is identified, treatment may be offered as indicated.
The thyroid test procedure is minimally invassive and normal routine activity should be resummed immediately after the procedure. The pain is very minimum. But if you have poor pain tolerance you can ask th lab technician to put nubming cream on the area of venopuncture about 30 minutes befor the procedure. If you have needle phobia you may consider 0.5 mg to 1mg alprazolam or lorazepam about 1-2 hour before the procedure in order to lower you level of anxiety. Some people may also have a tendency to faint when they see a blood draw. In those cases the person should lie down on a bench bed (table) before and after the procedure until he/she feels comfortable to get up.
In summary, a venopuncture is minimmally invassive and not painful for the average person.
Good Luck
References;
1. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003423.htm
2. https://phlebotomycoach.com/faqs/what-is-venipuncture
3. https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=39466
4. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diagnostic-tests/thyroid
The thyroid gland is a small but a vital gland at the base of the neck, below the adams apple. It is responsible for energy production, metabolism, mood, growth and development. It also supports brain development and cardiovascular health.
The thyroid gland produces three major hormones namely thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and calcitonine. If your thyroid gland does not make these hormones especially T3 and T4 you may develop a codition called hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) and when the thyroid makes excess of these hormones (over active thyroid) a codition called thyrotoxicosis or hyperthyroidism sets in. Calcitonin suppots bone health.
In hypothyroidism (under active thyroid) the person may experience the symptoms of sadness, weight gain, poor energy level, dry skin, constipation, hair loss and fatigue.
When the thyroid gland is over active, the person may experience, weight loss, fatigue, palpitations, heat intolerance, excessive sweating, irritability, frequent bowel movement and insomnia.
The thyroid function test is a necessary blood test in the evaluation of the status of the the thyroid gland, in the production of the thyroid hormones. This test will determine whether the thyroid gland is working well or not. Based on the thyroid function test, further work up may be performed to pin point the cause of thyroid disorder (low or high thyroid hormone). The further work up may include blood work for iodine and various antibodies or imaging studies such as Ultrasound or uptake and scan of the thyroid gland.
Thyroid function test is just a blood work to determine the working condition of the thyroid gland. The initial test may include the T3, T3RU, T4, and TSH or TSH, FT4 with or without FT3 depending on the situation. Most endocrinologist use FT4, TSH and or FT3 with or without the various thyroid autoantibodies. Depending on the results more work up may be necessary including Ultrasound and or scan of the thyroid gland.
When performing thyroid function test you will go to your doctors office and will be sitted in a comfortable chair. A venipuncture or blood draw will be performed mostly from your upper arm. A rubber band will be tied around your upper arm to make the veins pop up. A needle will be inserted into the vein under your skin. You may feel a prick when the needle withdrawn and the rubber band around your arm is removed. A bandage will be placed on the puncture wound.
After your blood is drawn and processed, the next step is to discuss about the results of the thyroid function test with your doctor. If your thyroid is functioning properly, only watchful monitoring is advised. However if your thyroid hormone levels are abnormal, the cause of the thyroid abnormality should be evaluated properly. Once the cause is identified, treatment may be offered as indicated.
The thyroid test procedure is minimally invassive and normal routine activity should be resummed immediately after the procedure. The pain is very minimum. But if you have poor pain tolerance you can ask th lab technician to put nubming cream on the area of venopuncture about 30 minutes befor the procedure. If you have needle phobia you may consider 0.5 mg to 1mg alprazolam or lorazepam about 1-2 hour before the procedure in order to lower you level of anxiety. Some people may also have a tendency to faint when they see a blood draw. In those cases the person should lie down on a bench bed (table) before and after the procedure until he/she feels comfortable to get up.
In summary, a venopuncture is minimmally invassive and not painful for the average person.
Good Luck
References;
1. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003423.htm
2. https://phlebotomycoach.com/faqs/what-is-venipuncture
3. https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=39466
4. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diagnostic-tests/thyroid
I'm not sure what test you are asking about. Thyroid disease is usually diagnosed by a simple test for Free T4 (level of thyroid hormone, the FUNCTION) of the thyroid and for TSH (a test of the pituitary FUNCTION). That's usually all that is needed-1 simple blood draw. If the gland is enlarged or there are nodules by palpitation the a sonogram may be performed. This is painless using ultrasound just like they do to look at babies in the womb. That could lead to a biopsy is nodules are found. That requires a needle into the gland but is done with numbing of the skin & is painless. They might also do a radioactive iodine test to look at the nodules for function or malignancy but that is also painless. They drink a liquid that contains a very small amount of radioactive material that is taken up by the gland then they put a counter that counts the radioactivity throughout the gland. It is completely painless. Start with a single blood draw with Free T4 & TSH. Nothing else may be needed.
