Continued from Thyroid Weight Loss.

Just like there is a lot of misunderstanding about the relationship between your thyroid function and your ability to lose weight, there appears to be some confusion about a thyroid function test.

First, some seem to think that a thyroid function test can explain why you are not losing weight. Not true, a thyroid function test has nothing to do weight loss; it is designed to test only one thing, how well your thyroid functions, hence the name “thyroid function test.”

Second, you have probably seen a number of thyroid function test kits sold online, which are pretty expensive. The question is: Should you use these kits to test your thyroid? I do not think so. Why? Because you do not know if these thyroid function test kits produce accurate results.

Third, even if the thyroid function test kits produce accurate results, they are still expensive, and it is still better to do the test at a professional laboratory, but you need your doctor’s referral for that, which brings me to my last point.

Did you know that you can do a thyroid function test at home for free? If the results show that something is going on with your thyroid, then it makes sense to go to your doctor and ask him for a test referral.

How to do a thyroid function test at home If you are gaining weight and constantly feel tired, you might want to check your thyroid function using this simple technique.

1. First thing every morning, place a thermometer under your arm and lay still for at least 15 minutes.

2. After 15 minutes, check your thermometer reading. Is it above or below 97.6 degrees?

3. Run this test for five consecutive days. If readings are consistently below 97.6 degrees, contact your doctor and ask him for an iodine absorption or thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test.