Blood test: Hi Please could someone give me a... - Thyroid UK

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Blood test

Blackbird28 profile image
12 Replies

Hi

Please could someone give me a full list of the tests I need for my under active thyroid? I have just had my blood results back and to my frustration they didn’t test B12 even though I was told they would!

My TSH is 0.05 ( range 0.27-4.2)

T4 11.4 (range 12-22)

T33.6 (range 3.1-6.8)

Folate 4 (range 3-22)

Vit D 92(range 50-150)

I take 75mv levothyroxine

and 2x5mc liothyronine one in the morning and one in the evening

I feel under medicated and have put a stone on since my liothyronine was cut from 3x15mc each day (yes big drop!)

I run every day 5 miles and eat one meal low cal no carbs every day and I’m becoming very fed up and a bit angry because my ‘tired fed up fat self’ is not a good version of me!

Thank you for any help xx

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Blackbird28
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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3

EXTREMELY important to test ferritin and B12

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)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last 5mcg of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Assuming test was done as recommended, your results show you are under medicated

Both Ft4 and Ft3 are too low

Probably first step is to increase levothyroxine by 25mcg and retest in 6-8 weeks

This should increase both Ft4 and Ft3

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking?

Folate is low

Ask GP to text B12 and ferritin or test privately

Once B12 been tested

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) may be beneficial.

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

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 is another option that contain folate, but is large capsule

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Low B12 symptoms

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Over exercising will use up your T3

If very Low carb this can reduce conversion of Ft4 to ft3

Presumably you have Hashimoto’s?

Nothing on your profile

Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

Blackbird28 profile image
Blackbird28 in reply to SlowDragon

I have always ran and do it partly from habit ( I feel ‘wrong’ if I haven’t ran first thing -weird huh??😂 but also because it just makes me feel better in myself

My low carbs are because I hate my weight gain but before when my weight was fine, I ate the same as I do now

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Blackbird28

So are you on strictly gluten free diet?

This often helps or is essential for many Hashimoto’s patients

Blackbird28 profile image
Blackbird28

Thank you so much! I knew I was under because you get to know the ‘feeling’!

Yes I did the test as recommended with last T3 the evening before. I will speak to my go about it- he is calling me later

Many thanks 🙏🏼

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Blackbird28

Be warned, GP will likely ONLY look at very low TSH and want to reduce levothyroxine dose

On almost any dose of T3 TSH is virtually always suppressed

Most important results are Ft4 and Ft3

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Blackbird28

Are you currently taking Teva?

Blackbird28 profile image
Blackbird28 in reply to SlowDragon

Yes I’m taking TEVA thyroxine and MUKNA liothyronine?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Blackbird28

Are you lactose intolerant?

Always take Teva?

Or only since being on 75mcg levothyroxine?

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Teva contains mannitol as a filler, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half

Teva, Aristo and Glenmark are the only lactose free tablets

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).

Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal

No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.

Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away

(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Blackbird28

MUKNA liothyronine?

Are you self medicating T3.....that’s not a U.K. brand

Blackbird28 profile image
Blackbird28

Yes the liothyronine is prescribed by my GP- interestingly, I had only ever had 20mc doses ever but recently I suddenly started having 5mc tablets.

Which brand of levothyroxine is the best? And I will ask for it

I’m not intolerant to anything in fact I often crave milk??

I take my levothyroxine first thing but never have a drink or food for a few hours ( due to being busy!)

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Blackbird28

You need to click the reply button to respond, for the other member to get notification

So you now get 5mcg tablets- are these Morningside healthcare tablets?

List of different brands levothyroxine available in U.K.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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