Got a blood test tomorrow at 3.40pm

[Crunchieeagle]

According to this, it is the worst time of day to have your thyroid tested.

naturalmedicinejournal.com/...

Should I cancel and get an AM appointment, and do I need to fast.

Cheers

[Anthea55]

Yes, you are right, this article points out that TSH has a circadian rhythm and is higher in the morning, so the earlier you can get your blood test the better. If you are already on thyroid medication don't take it for 24 hrs before your test. Fast but you can drink water before the test.

I would cancel and rebook.

[shaws Administrator]

This forum recommends a blood test as early as possible, and fast (you can drink water). Also leave about 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take it afterwards.

I would cancel your appointment. The TSH is highest earlier in the morning and begins to drop throughout the day which can result in the doctor adjusting your meds unnecessarily.

If we want to recover our health we have to read and learn as much as possible as the doctors seem to only rely upon the TSH (as their guidelines state) but are mainly ignorant of our clinical symptoms and instead of a decent dose of thyroid hormones to alleviate them all we may be undermedicated but get 'other' prescriptions for the symptoms or develop other serious problems.

[kalel in reply to shaws]

Hi Shaws because you said that we need should not to take our thyroid meds 24 hours before having any blood work done if I took my thyroid meds at 4.30pm in the afternoon and then had some blood work the following morning at 9,30. I presume that this means that my thyroid blood test results will not be accurate?

[shaws Administrator in reply to kalel]

Research shows that approx 24 hours is best for an accurate blood test.

[kalel in reply to shaws]

Thanks I completely forgot about not taking the meds before my blood test. I am going to have to try and talk to my Dr see if they will re do my blood test. Not sure if they will, cause my Dr's can be very difficult about things like this??!

sorry to interrupt your post Crunchieeagle.

[Crunchieeagle in reply to kalel]

No worries

[kalel in reply to Crunchieeagle]

Thanks.

[Crunchieeagle in reply to shaws]

Thanks Shaws and Anthia.

TSH is my least important one as my last two tests have shown 3.36 and 4.45 ( i think these were taken at different times of the day too)

However I plan to self medicate, as I have seen the great Dr Skinner who diagnosed me, and was shown to be hypothyroid in the US too.

I was best between 2 and 3 grains of NDT from memory, although i never had a blood test redone.

As I have not been on NDT for 4 months (as I ran out) and all my symptoms have come back.

I have ordered a Thyroid Ten blood test from Blue Horizons, so just going to get the blood sample. I could not draw enough blood from the home test kits.

I assume the time of day does not effect you Free T4 and Free T3 results?

As they are doing me a favour it might be difficult to get an AM appointment (I don't know)

Any more advice is extremely appreciated.

Thanks

[humanbean in reply to Crunchieeagle]

For information on the output of TSH, FT4 and FT3 this link is well worth reading.

press.endocrine.org/doi/pdf...

[Crunchieeagle in reply to humanbean]

Very interesting. Thanks!

[Crunchieeagle]

After more reading I have decided to cancel.

I can now get blood on 9.10am for my phlebotomy pack from Blue Horizons

Thank you all very much

[Crunchieeagle in reply to Crunchieeagle]

on Monday

[shaws Administrator in reply to Crunchieeagle]

Make sure you are well hydrated - blood runs easier then.

[Crunchieeagle in reply to shaws]

OK will do.

Especially important as I am on diuretics for you guessed it. Fluid Retention!!

I drink about 3 pints of water at night as I am constantly thirsty.

Cheers

[lhandy]

I cannot understand why my doctor has never told me this. As a matter of fact, it wasn't until my last appointment with him just over a week ago that he brought up a point about the time of my blood tests being taken and my levels.

The clinic I go to usually always schedules me in the mid or late afternoon. so, by the time my blood work is drawn it's usually around 3:30 or so. Since I was recently diagnosed with Hypo towards the end of October 2015, my levels have been a bit erratic. Not only am I dealing with being Hypo but also with Menopause and Chronic Pain from two former injuries to back and neck/shoulder. The things we women have to deal with especially as we age is horrible but with Hypothyroidism being an illness experienced by so many, you would think the data available would be more consistent or helpful so we women wouldn't be so miserable. The issue with dealing with both illnesses are exhausting for me, the hot flashes which for me can last up to 45 minutes (last timed) , severe joint pain and horrendous neck and shoulder pain!! This last one makes sleep absolutely miserable and basically I have now become an insomniac. So, needless to say, this is no way to live. I can't seem to work or have a social life anymore which is not going well at all with family and friends. While they are very considerate and caring and try to be supportive, I myself even get fed up with not feeling well enough to go anywhere or do anything out of sheer exhaustion and pain!

My doc ordered blood work and when it came back with levels showing Hypo he immediately put me on Armor 50mg. I started and by end of first week felt absolutely wonderful but after about 10 days or so some of the symptoms returned so my doc increased dosage to 1 1/2 tablets of Armor. This helped but by Christmas back to feeling exhausted, joint pain, depressed and just bad. So, on my own during weekend of Christmas, I increased dosage to 2 tablets (100 mg daily) for two days. I was feeling great but the hot flashes were absolutely miserable!

On Monday following holiday, I returned to my doctor explained situation and med increase by self. He told me to go back to single dose and explained my severe hot flashes and sweating at night were more likely due to increase of Armor. He also had me redo blood work after I had gone back to original dosage and this came back a bit better with levels not too bad. I complained about hot flashes still and neck pain so he's now mentioned the possibility of my blood tests being done too late in day so we're not getting consistent readings. He's had be me cut back my Estradiol patches from 0.075 mcg to 1mg. tablet daily. Progesterone at 100 mg and Testosterone levels are fine with no meds for that. Plus, checked my Vit D levels and they were fine as well as other B levels, Iron etc. The thing is my Pain Specialist looked over my lab results as she manages my pain medication and saw my Iron level a bit on the low side at about 81 with 80 being the lowest. She's suggested a slow-release Iron supplement. I am waiting to also get my Adrenal and Cortisol Saliva tests taken since the lab doesn't bill my insurance company, I have to wait as the fee is a bit high. All in all, I am a bit frustrated because even though I felt fantastic the first week of taking my Armor at 50 mg, in fact the best I'd had in over a year or more, I don't understand why the feeling didn't last long or past that. I've read over so many articles including the great "Stop the Thyroid Madness" online site which I must say helped educate me on Hypothyroidism and which I would definitely recommend it to everyone, but there is just so much information out there and millions of people suffering regardless it has just got me wondering if anyone truly ever reaches a point where they can actually function.

Oh, did I also say that I have suffered with a terrible hoarse voice and throat plus problems with swallowing and feelings of having something stuck in my throat and having food or even my medication tablets get stuck going down my throat. There's also pain in the right side of my throat along with what looks like a fatty pocket from my chin down to about my Adam's Apple and no, it's not a double chin. I've been taking monthly pics to track the changes. All these issues were brought up when I complained to my GP back before October but they thought it was simply related to allergies or to my constant throat and sinus and ear infections I've been experiencing since October of last year and the hot flashes due to my menopause. Being ill since October and every month thereafter has been quite depressing and scary!

I am scheduled to see an Endocrine and Allergy Specialist for my throat and also have it scoped here in the next two weeks or so. While I've read that sometimes thyroid nodules can bring on hypo symptoms, I am crossing my fingers this is the case but really doubt it. Only time will tell I suppose and with God's help all will get better in time. Meanwhile, the neck pain, insomnia and joint pain plus horrible hot flashes are making my life a living hell.... anyone else with similar issues?

[Crunchieeagle]

Hi This sounds like thrust in the throat to me. I got this when I was taking corticosteroids and when my immune system was weak, which also happens in hypothyroidism, and although i didn't get thrush in the mouth, it felt like i had a limp in my throat, and eating or even drinking water felt like it had glass in it, it was so sore.

These are the symptoms.

The symptoms of esophageal thrush include:

white lesions on the lining of your throat (esophageal lining), which may look like cottage cheese and may bleed if they’re scraped

pain in your throat and mouth

dry mouth

pain when swallowing

difficulty swallowing

nausea

vomiting

weight loss

chest pain

You can see an ENT specialist about this but my doctor agreed a two weekk course of 50mg of fluconazole daily and that got rid of it (except the hoaesness in my voice which I have still get 5 months later and hoping that is a hypothyroid sympton for me as well.

If your doctor is difficult, and didn't take you serously as my first doctor didnt see another one. If you still get no joy then fluconazole is an OTC medication in the US and UK. I got mine via Amazon to begin with. If you take 150mg of fluconazole take one evrey three days though. That is what i was told.

Good luck!

healthline.com/health/candi...