Took my Levo before blood test. T4 raised. Should I redo before showing endo?

[Salphy]

Stupidly forgot and took my Levo the night before my early morning blood test.

But my t4 came back high. Should I share this result with my endo or retake it?

I still don't feel great x

[shaws Administrator]

Just tell him you've messed up your blood test results and took T4 before test and that's the reason your FT4 is high. I doubt he knows that we should have a gap between dose and test. He probably thinks it is a lot of nonsense. I do hope I am wrong and I should not be so cynical

[Salphy in reply to shaws]

That's what I'm worried about. I don't want him to see it's raised and reduce my Levo x

[shaws Administrator in reply to Salphy]

If it makes you less worried, Medichecks have a special offer every Thursday of some sort so you might want to consider this.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Blue Horizon also do home pin-prick tests.

Make sure you are well hydrated a couple of days before and allow a 24 hour gap between last dose and test. I understand you don't want to take chances

[Salphy in reply to shaws]

Yea I used one of their offers to get this one.

I've emailed them to ask if they can put my vits on a separate report so I don't have to show my endo the thyroid results and can just reorder the thyroid tests instead of them all.

I'm just a bit worried though. Is the fact my t4 is raised something he needs to be aware of? X

[shaws Administrator in reply to Salphy]

Just tell him your results are skewed as you took your dose just before your blood test. I hope he will be aware of that as I don't think they know much at all.

[greygoose]

To get a more accurate reading of your normally circulating T4, remove 20%. Which is around 5, which is well within range. You can explain that to him, too. But, will he even look at the FT4? He'll probably just look at the TSH, most of them do. He might not even comment on your high FT4! In any case, the most important number is the FT3, and that's well in-range. Doesn't want to go any lower. So, you've got quite a bit of ammunition, now, to argue your case.

[Salphy in reply to greygoose]

Luckily he does look at t4 and t3. Which is why it costs me a fortune to see him!

But that's why I think he will look at the t4 and possibly want to reduce my dose.

I'm worried about the t3 well within range though. I still feel rubbish and was hoping for an increase

[Salphy]

greygoose just out if interest if t4 will be 20% less will t3 be lower too?

[greygoose in reply to Salphy]

No, because the T4 you just took won't have had time to convert into T3. So, the FT3 will be accurate.

Unless, of course, you also take T3 before the blood test...

[Salphy in reply to greygoose]

No

I took it about 9 hours before the test. Is that long enough to convert? I think I'm going to retake the test.

If i did retake it and he increased my dose based on new results.

Would being over range on this occasion be a cause for concern that I should tell him beforehand? Or is it nothing to worry about?

Thanks again for all your help x

[greygoose in reply to Salphy]

Personally, I wouldn't point it out. As I said, he might not even notice. From a logical point of view, it's nothing to worry about, but who's to say that your doctor has any logic.

But even if you redid the test, and did it properly, it's very doubtful he'd give you an increase in dose, because your TSH is so low - and that has nothing to do with taking your levo before the test. An increase isn't even a desirable thing to have, because it will raise your FT4 so much that it will negatively impact your conversion.

I don't think 9 hours is enough time to convert enough T4 to T3 to make a difference to your blood test, no.

[Salphy in reply to greygoose]

Thanks,

So what do I do to feel better. Is this as good as it's going to get?

[greygoose in reply to Salphy]

Have you thought of acquiring some T3, if you want your FT3 higher?

[Salphy in reply to greygoose]

I'm hoping my endo will let me try it. He's one from the thyroid UK list. But I've also been recommended one who will and only prescribes NDT so I may try that.

I know my levels don't look too bad but I still can't get through a day without a nap unless I spend it recumbent and I can't get the weight off which I need to to help my pcos.py

I feel like I'm just existing and barely able to get through the bare minimum of what I need to (working part time housework etc) but I'm only 26 I want to have the energy to do more and enjoy my life x

[greygoose in reply to Salphy]

Well, your FT3 doesn't look that good. But, it depends whose looking. Great that your endo prescribes NDT. Good idea to try it!