Blood Test Tomorrow

[Cotton50]

I have my blood test tomorrow after being prescribed 50 mg levothyroxine. On my last blood test results my Doctor decided to not increase my dose. I still feel very tired so my question is what should I ask the nurse to test for as well as my thyroid levels.

[researcherUK]

TSH, T4, T3, Thyroid antibodies (TPO, TGAb), Ferritin, B12, Folate, and Vitamin D. Good Luck!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Cotton50

Remember to leave a gap between your last dose of Levo and the blood draw, ideally about 24 hours. If you take your Levo in the morning then do not take tomorrow's dose u til after your test. If you take it in the evening then delay and take after the test. If you take your Levo before the blood draw yiu will have a false high FT4.

You need TSH to be as high as possible if you are looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction. As TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day you need the earliest appointment of the day for your test, no later than 9am. Also, fast overnight from evening meal, delay breakfast until after test, you can drink water though. Eating is said to lower TSH.

[shaws Administrator]

The usual doses we used to be given (NDT) before the blood tests and levothyroxine were introduced were between 200mcg and 400mcg (I believe).

He should increase by 25mcg and tell him the aim is to get your TSH to 1 or lower.

I hope you have the earliest appointment (TSH is highest then) and it should be fasting and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards.

Get a print-out of your results with the ranges and post for comments.

[Cotton50]

Thanks for all your replies. I won’t take my usual dose in the morning and my appointment is 8.30 am so I will ask the nurse if she will request for all above to be checked.