I'm due to have some blood tests this Friday and I would like some advice on what to get, aside from the generic thyroid blood test. The nurses at my GP practice will do whatever test I ask for so please let me know your recommendations. I am hypothyroid and currently take 100mcg levothyroxine but I feel my medication is not high enough as I've been struggling with elevated prolactin 1000+ (no tumour detected). More recently I have put on a little weight, feeling rather low and fatigued, telltale signs my thyroid isn't happy. I have tested positive for the thyroid antibodies and I'm very worried my thyroid issues are going to cause me some real problems re: fertility as I'm only 27.
Thanks in advance!
Written by
ert1542
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For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested. Also EXTREMELY important to regularly test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common with Hashimoto’s
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?
Thank you for your reply and the advice, it really is much appreciated! I have always struggled with my ferritin so I'll definitely get the others checked too.
I try and take vitamin D regularly but I could be more strict with it but other than that I don't really take anything.
I always stick with Teva thyroxine as I'm lactose intolerant and struggle to get any other lactose free brands.
Ferritin - range suggests your male ...is that correct?
Ferritin far too low anyway.
What’s your diet like
Vegetarian or vegan ?
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones
Igennus Super B is good quality and cheap vitamin B complex. Contains folate. Full dose is two tablets per day. Many/most people may only need one tablet per day. Certainly only start on one per day (or even half tablet per day for first couple of weeks)
Or Thorne Basic B or jarrow B-right are other options that contain folate, but both are large capsules
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
With current B12 result taking a B12 supplement and a B Complex (to balance all the B vitamins) initially for first 2-4 months, then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
Great if you can get all the testing SlowDragon recommends. Please make sure you get the full results (and lab ranges) from your blood tests - don't be fobbed off with "it's all normal" or "in range" - you are aiming for optimal. Last time I had bloods taken (early in the pandemic) I had to put my request for the results in writing - and dropped it off with the receptionist after seeing the phlebotomist - so you might want to go equipped with a note x
My GP surgery is totally useless where my hypothyroid is concerned as my results are usually in the "normal range" the just ignore the problems. However, I am due to see a private endocrinologist who is very good and was the person who originally diagnosed my hypothyroidism and prescribed the thyroxine.
I am going to request the following blood tests:
Full blood count
Ferritin
Folate
B12
Vitamin D
TSH
T3
FT4
FT3
I already have the antibodies so I am assuming I don't need to check the levels again, or do I need to get those looked at again? I cannot remember the name for that test.
Are there any others I should get while I'm there?
I would ask for a full blood count particularly B12 and D3 along with your thyroid test. I recently thought my thyroid was responsible for me to being barely able to function I was so fatigued, it was B12 extremely low 150, having boosters every other day for two weeks then back on 12 weekly doses and I'm starting to feel better. Good luck hope your sorted soon.
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