In order to get correct results?

[Mich87]

Before you get your 6weekly blood tests done ..

If you fast, and Do it before u take your morning lethyroxine Is ur tsh readings etx more accurate??

[Hidden]

Yes you should fast overnight, don't eat till after your blood test (you can drink water). Also, get as early a blood test as possible (so TSH will be at its highest point). Don't take any Levo on the morning of your test either (before it), wait until you get home and take it then!

[Mich87 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. Do you know how much difference the readings would be off by if you do take the Levo?

[Hidden in reply to Mich87]

Your TSH would be lower (but I am not sure by exactly how much) however it could be significant so if you are in the position of hoping for a raise in dosage you might not get one if your doctor is an obsessive TSH watcher (which many of them appear to be!) And of course if your TSH ends up 'below range' then your doctor might also try to lower your Levo dose which would have a negative impact on your health.

Just had a quick look at your profile - hasn't your TSH been varying widely over the past few weeks, likely because your doctor altered your Levo dosage? Are you still on 50 mcg/100 mcg? Your T4 seemed very low last time you mentioned it, too.

[Mich87 in reply to Hidden]

Yes levo decreased then increased. Going for blood test Monday. Will be interesting to see if tsh has dropped from 59!

[greygoose]

TSH is highest in the early morning - so get the blood draw as early as possible - and lowers throughout the day. It also decreases after eating - which is why you should fast. Doctors only tend to look at the TSH, so if you want to get diagnosed, get an increase in dose/avoid a decrease in dose, you should aim to get your TSH as high as possible.

Taking your levo before the blood draw won't have any effect on your TSH, because the TSH doesn't move that fast. But it will affect the FT4, if your doctor tests that, because what you will be testing is the dose you've just taken, so your FT4 could be extremely high, and cause a knee-jerk reaction in your doctor who doesn't even realise that this is possible! So, best to leave 24 hours between your last dose and the blood draw.

[Mich87]

Blood test Monday! Surely tsh is going to be better than last month ...

I don't expect tsh to be perfect in range

But sure it will have dropped from 59!

I certainly am feeling a lot more energetic :):):):)