Blood tests NHS assistance in reading/ understanding please ?

[Avidreader]

Please can you assist me to understand my latest bloods ? I currently take Nature Throid 3 & half grains a day -

I am still having hair loss

Upper arm weakness - just dead heading roses or washing hair 😩

Often dry tongue &

Gritty eyes

Cognitive work - mental is hard -

Shoulder pain on movement ( feels like a frozen shoulder ) but especially the left arm

Energy levels did improve since upping dose from 3 grains in April.

I’d really appreciate your knowledge here ?

My diet is AIP - as strict as is humanly possible but I do lapse sometimes - but I’d say 99% of the time -

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Avidreader

How long before the blood draw did you take your last dose of NDT?

[Avidreader in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hello S S 😊 I took my last grain NDT at 6pm the night before ( so missed out the 8am morning one & also didn’t take any supplements ) blood test was at 11.30 am -

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Avidreader]

Avidreader

So your last dose was 17.5 hours before blood draw. It's advised to leave 12 hours between last dose of NDT and blood draw to get the normal circulating hormone level. So with your FT3 at 5.3 (2.9-4.9) then it looks as though you are a little overmedicated.

Do you know your current nutrient levels, are they optimal at

Vit D - 100-150nmol/L

B12 - top of range

Folate - at least half way through range

Ferritin - half way through range

[Avidreader in reply to SeasideSusie]

No I am planning to do the Medichecks tests - but am confused as to :

A) which one I should do ?

B)Also how long to leave before blood test without taking vits and supplements ( many)!

C) from what you’ve said I should only leave 12 hours aside from taking NDT before the blood test ? 🤔

Thank you for the support 🤗

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Avidreader]

Avidreader

A) If you want a thyroid panel and vitamins and minerals testing then go for the Medichecks Thyroid Check UltraVit

medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

That does the full thyroid panel -

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO and TG antibodies

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

If that's not what you want then if you say what you're looking for I'll recommend the one to go for.

B) If testing ferritin (or any iron tests) leave off any iron supplement, and don't eat any high iron foods, eg. liver, for one week.

Leave off B Complex if it contains Biotin, or Biotin if taken individually, for 3-5 days.

Vit D you don't stop taking it but wait until after the blood draw on the day to take your supplement.

B12 if you want a baseline to see how much you are holding on to then you leave it off for 4-5 months. If you want to know if your supplement dose is adequate, too much or too little, continue taking it but take it after the blood draw on the day.

If you say what other supplements you take it would help, but mostly you just take them after the blood draw on the day.

C) Last dose of NDT should be 8-12 hours before blood draw. Any longer and you get a false low FT3, take it before the blood draw and you get a false high FT3. You may want to adjust the timing of your dose the day before, or even split your dose.

[Avidreader in reply to SeasideSusie]

This is sound advice thank you -

I only take a Vit C

Selenium

Fish oil

Collagen as extras !

I have stopped taking Vit B complex & 12 sub lingual in preparation for the Medichecks -

My symptoms are similar to when My Endo upped by half a grain - except I got

More energy - which seems good -

Very difficult disease - 🤢I’m so

Much better since I stopped Levothyroxine- and must hold on to that fact -

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Avidreader]

Avidreader

You don't need to worry about those supplements then, just don't take them before the blood draw, take them afterwards.

Stopping the B12 wont make any difference unless it's been for 4-5 months. If you want to know if you are taking the correct dose then you can carry on taking it but on the day of blood draw take it afterwards.

[Avidreader in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you - am emailing myself his chat so I can remember it all ! 🤗 yes 5 months seems a long time I guess I ll continue & see if I’m taking enough -