Medichecks advice

[Jellybabyhead]

I was diagnosed hypo 6-7 weeks ago and been on 50mcg levothyroxine since then. I’ve just ordered a medichecks thyroid test (FT3, FT4 and TSH). I understand I need to do the finger prick test first thing, fasted, but do I also skip one (or more?) levo doses? I normally take it at 5/6/7am. Thanks.

[msmono]

You just skip one so your last dose of levo will have been 24 hours before your test. You can then take the missed dose right after your test. 🙂

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

All thyroid tests should be done as follows :

* 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, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then last dose should be 8-12 hours before blood draw. Adjust timing the day before if necessary. This avoids measuring hormone levels at their peak after ingestion of hormone replacement. 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 can give false results (both Medichecks and Blue Horizon advise to leave Biotin/B Complex off).

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

As you normally take your Levo between 5 and 7am, on the day before the test take it at whatever time is 24 hours before doing the Medichecks test. So if you are going to do your Medichecks test at 8am, take your last dose of Levo about 8am the day before, then after you've done the test you can take that day's Levo.

[Jellybabyhead]

Thank you both!