When's best to have a thyroid blood test? Doctor says whenever?

[Lisa27b]

Everyone I've spoken to about when's best for a thyroid blood test say first in the morning and before you eat and drink, however my doctor today said that's nonsense and it can be done when ever? Also I've asked for a full thyroid test that they can do and for anti bodies, is this enough to be tested properly? Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Very few doctors will tell you to have an early, fasting blood test. That's mainly a patient to patient tip to achieve the highest possible TSH when looking for a diagnosis, an increase in Levo or to avoid a reduction in dose.

They probably wont do everything you need, particularly FT3 and Thyroglobulin antibodies. You will hopefully get

TSH

FT4

TPO antibodies

and it would be superb if they do actually do

FT3 (lab decides on that, usually only when something drastically wrong with TSH and/or FT4)

TG antibodies (TPO is rarely done and I believe TG is only done when an endo requests it)

All the vitamins and minerals that are useful are

Vit D

B12

Folalte

Ferritin

and if Ferritin is low then an iron panel and full blood count is needed to see if you have iron deficiency anaemia.

[Lisa27b in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ah right I see! Also is that why she never ticked the TF3 box because it's up to the lab? Also do you understand what she put in the others bit? I see vit d but can't work out the other one? Thanks for your reply x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Lisa27b]

She would have to tick the FT3 box for them even to consider doing it (if that was me I'd tick it myself but I'm a bit of a rebel ).

The other one looks like S. Ferritine - serum ferritin (she can't spell or is your GP French?)

You have the luxury of the blood test form, mmmmm........ !!

[Lisa27b in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ha I am tempted to tick it myself! Oh what is S ferritin? Sorry I'm gradually learning all these things! Well she's not English that's all I know!! Lol

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Lisa27b]

Serum ferritin - blood test for ferritin - ferritin is your iron store. Low ferritin can cause fatigue, hair loss, all sorts of things. If it comes back under range or extremely low, it's a good idea to do a full blood count and iron panel to see if there is iron deficiency anaemia. Ferritin level below 70 means that thyroid hormone can't work - our own or replacement - but doctors don't know that, as far as they are concerned if anything is within the range. Even one point up from the bottom, then everything is fine!

[Rmichelle in reply to Lisa27b]

Tick it i did!!! Its your health. Go on lifes to short.xxx

[Nanaedake]

Has your doctor got a thyroid condition? If not then he/she knows nothing about when is best to test blood because they are not given any guidance on it. Patients have learned from experience it's best to test in the morning. Mainly because, in the main, doctors don't understand thyroid hormones and keep trying to reduce thyroid meds even when FT4 and FT3 are in range and then again they hardly ever test FT3 so how would they even know if you are correctly medicated??

[Lisa27b in reply to Nanaedake]

You couldn't have put it better

[spongecat]

Always a good idea if you have regular blood tests to do them at same times and conditions for consistency. Thyroid levels are circadian. Quite a few study papers on the Google 'net, not that many doctors would be bovved to read them.

[Lisa27b in reply to spongecat]

That is true if only they could be bothered lol! But now I know it's best to keep it at the same time I'm going to keep at it 👍

[Rmichelle in reply to Lisa27b]

I had the same doc said rubbish doesnt matter when you take your bloods, well i took no notice and off i went the following morning to hospital and i wad there with a few other fasting patients. She called number 9 that was me and she did say you dont need to fast for this but i explained what i was told on this site and she said ok youre here now so we will do it, and i did imply that they were not that busy. Make sure you get there early. Its your body not the docs.xxbe a devil some rules are for bending.

[Lisa27b in reply to Rmichelle]

Ah thank you! Luckily we have to make an appointments now for blood tests so hopefully they don't say about me being early!! X

[Rmichelle in reply to Lisa27b]

Good luck and stick yo your guns.x

[Lisa27b in reply to Rmichelle]

Thank you xx