Blood test - before or after thyroid meds?

[Beachcombe]

I’ve been taking levothyroxine for some years now just relying on my gp. I’m now on 100 mcg daily. I never questioned that my poor quality of life was a thyroid issue until now because I was relying on the gp. Big mistake I realise as this website has been a revelation to me. So I’m getting a full thyroid and vitamin blood test done privately. My question is if I get my blood test 24 hours after my previous dose then that won’t tell me if my current dosage is working effectively or will it? If I take my meds first thing on an empty stomach then nothing but water until blood draw a couple of hours later will that give me a better picture of where I’m at? I hope that makes sense. Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Levothyroxine is extremely long acting .....it takes 5-7 days to get into the cells as Ft3

The advice is to ALWAYS get blood test as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before blood test

New NHS England Liothyronine guidelines July 2019 clearly state on page 13 that TSH should be between 0.4-1.5 when treated with just Levothyroxine

Note that it says test should be in morning BEFORE taking Levo thyroxine

Also to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin

sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploa...

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually, ideally twice a year, if supplementing

Important to know if the cause of your hypothyroidism is due to autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s) diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

Come back with new post once you get results and members can advise on next steps