I’ve always been told by my doctor to take my levothyroxine as normal and have my blood test?

[higheruniverse]

I always have my blood test at 8:30am. I would have taken my levothyroxine at approx 7:30am is this what you all do?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Advice here when doing thyroid tests is:

When booking thyroid tests, always book the very first appointment of the morning and fast overnight (water allowed) . This gives the highest possible TSH which is needed when looking for a diagnosis, an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction. TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. It can also lower after eating and coffee also affects TSH. Also, take your Levo after the blood draw because if you take it before then your FT4 will reflect this and show higher than what is normally circulating. We usually advise 24 hours between last dose of Levo and blood draw so if you take your Levo in the morning then delay until after the test, or if you take it at night then delay that dose until after the test. These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with doctors or phlebotomists.

[higheruniverse in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you SeasideSusie

[Aurealis]

In answer to your question - so have I. And I did it once ..... but I learn from my mistakes, it sends your T4 Level right up, so doctor reduces your dose, and then you feel really poorly and have to somehow argue (while feeling rotten) for an increased dose. Strongly suggest you follow SeasideSusie’s advice.

[Darceydoo in reply to Aurealis]

I’ve been on thyroid tabs for 6+ yrs and taken it before blood test and not had it taken first thing.Going today at 11am never had it early. Always dosage ok.

[Aurealis in reply to Darceydoo]

Lucky you! On levo I always needed T4 at top or just over the range, and my tsh has always been suppressed. Perhaps you’re happier with lower T4? Makes life much easier! We’re all different ...

[Darceydoo in reply to Aurealis]

I don’t understand these T ranges, I believe I’m being Re checked for T4?

[Aurealis in reply to Darceydoo]

How do you feel?

[Darceydoo in reply to Aurealis]

Hi I’m ok thanks, Asked re T4 and it was up on the last test 8.1?

[Aurealis in reply to Darceydoo]

It depends what the range is. If you feel well then I wouldn’t worry about the numbers at all.

[Darceydoo in reply to Aurealis]

I don’t understand he ranges.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Darceydoo]

It isn't that you need to understand the ranges - people will help with that.

But we need to see the range quoted. For example, a typical range for Free T4 might be 12.0 to 22.0. A result of 8.1 from a lab that uses that range would be very low (below bottom of range). But some labs use ranges such as 7.0 to 14.0. In that case, it would be low but in range.

Without you quoting the range for the test, we cannot make much sense.

Also, if you had a previous test, include both the latest and the previous results.