late-ish appointment for GP bloods

hi, the GP has accepted the medichecks results (TSH of nearly 8) but wants it redone just so it's part of the formal record at the surgery before increasing levo.

The only appointment I could get (for the next 2 weeks!) was 11.30 tomorrow.

I really don't want to wait another week or so before increasing meds, so am going to do it.

I assume I should still not take the levo til after? And should I also not eat/drink til after too? Do you think the later appt will make a big difference to the result?

thanks in advance

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Tillyxx

I assume I should still not take the levo til after? And should I also not eat/drink til after too?

Eating can lower TSH. Coffee can affect TSH so it's possibly wise to assume that any caffeine containing drink can affect TSH so it's best to drink water only.

Taking Levo wont affect TSH, it will affect your FT4 level. You will get a higher FT4 if you take your Levo before the test as it will measure the dose recently taken. To get the lowest FT4 then last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before the test.

Do you think the later appt will make a big difference to the result?

It will very likely make a difference. Our TSH is highest between midnight and 4am. The next highest point is 9am. It then lowers throughout the day, lowest point being 1pm then it starts to gradually rise again. See first graph in this post for the daily rhythm of TSH and you will see the difference between TSH at 9am and 11.30am:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

thanks Susie, that graph is very interesting. I think I'll risk it (hoping its still over their cutoff and therefore agree to increase my meds). The GP is pretty reasonable and I think will be ok raising meds if its only just within the accepted ranges (based on my symptoms). thanks again.

[greygoose in reply to SeasideSusie]

To get the lowest TSH then last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before the test.

Sorry, but don't you mean 'To get the lowest FT4...'? Taking levo before the test doesn't affect the TSH. The time of day affects the TSH.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to greygoose]

Yes of course, fingers go into auto mode sometimes. Many thanks GG, I will correct that

[greygoose in reply to SeasideSusie]

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to greygoose]

It's always good to have someone pick up on mistakes like that, it didn't make much sense really did it

[greygoose in reply to SeasideSusie]

lol Glad to oblige. These slips are easily made.