Fasting blood test for pituitary gland problems ..

[Spotydave]

Hi all .. question... I have to fast for a series of pit gland tests and bloods must be at 9am ..the endo said to have my meds in morning as normal... Now i know we dont normal do that and we have our levo after bloods but this is a different sort of tests ...do i take it before or after the bloods ?? Cheers

[greygoose]

What, exactly, are they testing?

By 'meds' I presume you mean levo? Taking your levo before the test would only affect the FT4. Are they testing the FT4? If not, you can take your levo.

[Spotydave in reply to greygoose]

On her form it says tsh... antibodies as she wouldn't except the medicheck results..but was happy to check them through nhs

So

Tsh

Ft4

Tpo ab

Testosterone 9am fasting

Lh/Fsh

Igf1 ..i think it says that.

Prelctis or prolactis mabe

It say on other clinical info

Central hypothyroidism?

Mixed peripheral & central

And something else i cant work out the writing..

[greygoose in reply to Spotydave]

OK, so she is testing your FT4. So, if you take your levo before the blood draw, your FT4 is going to be sky high, and she'll probably want to reduce it! Stupid.

Yes, IGF1. That's to measure your Human Growth Hormone, another pituitary hormone. Prolactin and FSH are also pituitary hormones. So, yes, she is testing for Central hypo.

[Spotydave in reply to greygoose]

So you think i should take levo before or after?

[greygoose in reply to Spotydave]

I don't know what to think. Your endo may have a specific reason for asking you to take it - in which case she should have explained! Or, she maybe just wasn't thinking and said it automatically. I don't know. If you do take it, and she questions your FT4 being sky-high, just remind her what she said, and explain that if you take your levo before the blood draw, all you're testing is the dose you just took! Perhaps she doesn't realise that. A lot of them don't.

On the other hand, what time do you normally take it? You could still take it before the blood draw, technically, but not leave enough time for it to peak in the blood.

[Spotydave in reply to greygoose]

I take it at 5.30am normally ..

[greygoose in reply to Spotydave]

OK, so it would make your FT4 a false high. I think, if it were me, I wouldn't take it. But, others might disagree with that!

[Spotydave in reply to greygoose]

I kind of make u right. But i could take it at 8am

[greygoose in reply to Spotydave]

You could, indeed! Good compromise.

[Spotydave in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for yr help as always 😁

[greygoose in reply to Spotydave]

And you're welcome, as always.

[BadHare]

Is it a pituitary function test, when you’ll be in all day?

Might be a good idea to contact the Pituitary Foundation or endo to clarify what they’re doing. If it’s just a blood draw, no big problem to wait for your THs until after, but if it’s a day in outpatients for more extensive tests, it’s best to make sure.

I had a few things done with a day in hospital each time, but was too ill/stressed to remember most of what was done for pituitary function & DI tests, though wasn’t on THs then.

[Spotydave in reply to BadHare]

Hi badhare.. its just a blood draw as she said i could take my form to my gp and they will give me the normal paperwork to have bloods drawn at gp. Or go yo the hospital using her form

[BadHare in reply to Spotydave]

Meds after then, just in case, & try to be first in the queue for your blood draw. 😁

[Spotydave in reply to BadHare]

I took levo at 8am bloods was 9am at hospital.. im worried now i have to admit

[BadHare in reply to Spotydave]

Hopefully it's other hormones they're looking at, & your T4 won't affect the results. Fingers crossed for you, I know what a scary time this is!

[Spotydave in reply to BadHare]

Its testosterone..and 7 other tests ...all to do with pit gland .. im starting to think it has to be the pit gland....

[BadHare in reply to Spotydave]

Maybe, though low teststerone causes hypo symptoms too.

You'll find out son.

[Spotydave in reply to BadHare]

Hi . I dont think low testosterone causes yr tsh to be in range and t4 low..

[BadHare in reply to Spotydave]

I'm unsure how it affects TSH, but low testosterone impedes T4 to T3 conversion, so people have hypo symptoms.

[Spotydave in reply to BadHare]

Yer but id imagine the tsh would be raised if there wasnt enough t4 ... Mine isnt.. my t4 was low in range on one test and out of range on another ..

[BadHare in reply to Spotydave]

I think it's the T4 to T3 conversion that's an issue, though I've forgotten most of what I read 5-6 years ago

[Spotydave in reply to BadHare]

Yer thats what

can happen. There can be conversion problem. And t 3 needed.. which is normally a battle.. i just cant find any other angle .. ive tried but to me it points in one direction..

[silverfox7]

I would go to the hospital to have it done. We wait several days for an appointment but hospital you just walk in so I would go as soon as open then you won't have to wait long. I did this the other day. Got there 7.45 and back at the bus stop by 8.10.

[Spotydave in reply to silverfox7]

Went to hospital as need to do bloods for 9am for one of tests... Im very concerned now as i think i have lots of symtoms for central Thyroid

[silverfox7]

Try not to worry. Easier said than done but shift your focus to the fact you are getting tested and will get help.