Test results ??

[sbadd]

Can anyone tell me why my results jump around so much, the most recent of 1.75 was taken in morning and hadn't taken meds that morning, have requested a full thyroid panel (awaiting results ) i have hashimotis as antibodies significantly increased?

My symptoms are extreme fatigue and heavy legs also recent low serum iron but ferreton normal?

[sbadd]

Also having heart palpitations

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

sbadd

Were all the tests done under exactly the same conditions, ie. same time, early morning, fasting overnight, water only to drink, last dose of Levo 24 hours before test?

Having Hashimoto's means that test results and symptoms will fluctuate.

Shame there was no FT4 test on 30th March as that was quite a big difference with your TSH result - one would expect that to be fairly close to the 6th May result.

[sbadd in reply to SeasideSusie]

All were taking odd time day taking meds apart from last one which i hadn't taken the med that morning, i may have had a coffe thats all

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to sbadd]

Replied on previous post.

You have Hashimoto's, levels change a lot

[sbadd in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok thanks get full panel results friday

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to sbadd]

Levothyroxine should not be adjusted according to TSH

Essential to always get FT3 and FT4 tested

Dose according to these

Essential to regularly test vitamin levels and frequently supplements required virtually continuously to maintain optimal vitamin levels

Strictly gluten free diet helps thousands with Hashimoto's

[sbadd in reply to SlowDragon]

My FT3 has never been tested until few days back so results should be back fri

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to sbadd]

Coffee affects TSH.

When doing thyroid tests, we advise:

* Book the first appointment of the morning, or with private tests at home no later than 9am. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If we are looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, or looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction then we need TSH to be as high as possible.

* Fast overnight - have your evening meal/supper as normal the night before but delay breakfast on the day of the test and drink water only until after the blood draw. Eating may lower TSH, caffeine containing drinks affect TSH.

* If taking thyroid hormone replacement, leave off Levo for 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then leave that off for 8-12 hours. Take your thyroid meds after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.

* If you take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin (B7), leave this off for 7 days before any blood test. This is because if Biotin is used in the testing procedure it will give false results (Medichecks definitely use Biotin, they have confirmed this and the amount of time to leave the supplement off).

These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with doctors or phlebotomists.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to SeasideSusie]

Blue Horizon (via Spire) also use biotin but they say only 4 days.