T3/T4 blodd test Monday.

[beaton]

Hi All, I just can't get my head round this issue of blood test results.

I take 100 mcg. T4 and a split dose of 20 mcg. T3 a day.

Last bloods were,

TSH 0.088

T4 12.7 Range 11-24.)

Endo nurse has requested another blood test on Monday because she disagreed with the regisrar,who wanted to reduce T4 to 50 mcg.

So what does the last test tell the nurse that made her disagree with the registrar? I was ill when I dropped the dose.

And when should I stop meds. before a 10.30 test?

Thanks.

[galathea]

Well the endo prat wants to drop the t4 dose to raise your tsh, (It won't), And the nurse can see that you are only just in range with the free t4. To covert the free t4 to t3 you would ideally need the free t4 to be at the top end of the range.

So because you not managing the conversion thing, you are on a dose of t3, which will be what is keeping you going, and which is suppressing the tsh level.

If you take t3 its important that it the free t3 is in range alongside the low tsh. It is the most important thing o be measured and when they take blood they should ask fr a free t3 test and .... This is important - Write on the form.... Patient is taking Liothyronine. (T3).

If your test s at 10.30 am in the morning, don't take any t4 or t3 after 10.30 pm the night before, The reason for this, s that meds spike in the blood a few hours after taking them so you get a falsely high reading.

G x

[beaton in reply to galathea]

Thank you Galathea,that makes sense to me now. I think this thing about not checking T3 is mad,I shall request it.xx

[Moggie]

I personally wouldn't take the T3 for 24 hours before, in other words I would take any the day before the test at all but as soon as the blood were done I would then take it - but that's my opinion. If you want a totally accurate comparison to your last test then you need to do exactly what you did before that test.

Moggie x

[beaton in reply to Moggie]

Thanks Moggie. I know the registrar didn't like the suppressed TSH but then I didn't like her. Hope you are OK.x

[Moggie in reply to beaton]

Fine thanks - its good that you have got the nurse on your side though isn't it. If you do anything different from your last bloods then the nurse (who seems very on the ball) may guess you have done something different and you risk losing her support, so I would be very careful - just a thought. Saying that I used to stop my T3 for two days before bloods and it didn't seem to make much difference to my TSH (not saying you should do this just telling you what I used to do). Its just a shame we have to do this to be able to keep the meds we so desperately need isn't it.

If it were me I would stop taking the T3 a day before and then your TSH wont be to dramatically different from your last one. Are you still feeling fine on your current dose? If so I cant understand why they want to mess about with it - you would think an endo would know that taking T3 WILL supress your TSH.

Moggie x

[beaton in reply to Moggie]

Hi Moggie, You are talking sense,I agree. The endo had made up her mind before I entered the room. I got hold of the endo nurse (didn't know they had one.) a week after my consultation. When I dropped the dose I felt awful. Cold with low temps. I think the nurse wants an up-to-date blood test,but she did saw dropping the dose was wrong. I have another consultation with the BIG MAN this time in January.x

[Moggie in reply to beaton]

Yes there is always a thyroid nurse at my clinic, it was the nurse that made sure my notes were altered to say that I am only to see the cosultant after I chucked a major hissy fit over my disasterous last appt with one of his under studies.

I think the nurses tend to live in the real world and not away with the fairies like some endo's do.lol.

Moggie x

[beaton in reply to Moggie]

Yes Moggie,I remember your hissy fit. I've learned a lot from you.xx