I’m due to have some thyroid blood tests ordered by my gp. However I’m currently on a course of prednisone as I also gave lupus. I know the prednisone affects my WBC counts (in a good way), but not sure about Thyroid?
GP has ordered 6 month check of TSH snd T4. Currently unmedicated for thyroid. Last test showed high level of TPO antibodies.
Should I wait until steroids out of my system (likely to be another 6-8 weeks) and should I also try and get the antibodies tests added?
Many thanks
Prednisalone will likely affect thyroid results
Waiting 6-8 weeks after stopping steroids likely necessary
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/114...
You could test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 now ......plus thyroid antibodies if not been tested yet
Good morning SashaT64.
As you have high thyroid antibodies, the GP should have prescribed levothyroxine as you would have a condition called Hashimoto's but the majority are fixated on the TSH alone.
When next blood tests are due the following method is recommended:-
The earliest possible blood draw. It is a fasting one (you can drink water) and if/when taking thyroid hormones delay taking them until after the blood test otherwise result will be skewed.
A Full Thyroid Blood Test is:-
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)
T3
T4
Free T4
Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.
GP should also test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.
Thyroid hormones should be taken (usually when we awake) with one full glass of water and wait an hour before eating.
Always get a print-out of your results for your own records and post for comments, if you wish.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/153...
Thus, the peripheral effects of chronic antiinflammatory doses of prednisone on thyroid hormone metabolism include 1) increased T4 binding to serum carrier proteins, which may contribute to lower T4 transfer rates from serum to extravascular sites and increased extravascular T4 binding; 2) reduced fractional transfer rates of T4 from extravascular sites to serum, which may relate to increased tissue binding of T4; 3) redistribution of T4 and T3 from the serum and rapid pools to the slow pool; and 4) decreased T3 production from T4, resulting in reduced serum total and free T3 levels.
It has an effect of lowering your test results.
I thought that would be the case - thank you. As they’ve put in a watch and wait see category I’m going to need to be steroid free before I have these done I think.
I’m coming to the end of a 6 week course but my rheumy wants me to continue for another 6 weeks. The plan was to put me on Azathioprine . I wonder if I need to delay that too.
Have had a bad lupus flare - but I do believe much if what is going on with me is thyroid related
According to what I've read Azathioprine does not do anything negative to thyroidhormones.
It's a bummer to have lupus. One of my plot buddies has type 1 diabetes, sjogrens
syndrome and lupus. She's taking 10 mg prednisone twice per day now but she's
been up to 50 mg for 2 years at a time. I don't know what effect it is having on
her thyroid hormones but she's mercifully not got Hashimoto's. She's got plenty
enough to deal with and she's remarkably resilient coming out to work on the garden
several times per week. Her knees gave her schtick this week for a couple of days
but then they calmed down.
Lordie, we all of us have our crosses to bear, don't we.
Chin up and keep moving forward. It's the only thing we can do for ourselves.
My results were pretty consistent throughout my treatment with prednisone but I am already diagnosed and treated for hashimotoes. I’m also a bit odd so don’t set to much store by my answer as I never seem to follow a “normal “ pattern anyway
MOAR: Easy to read and understand:pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/108...
Advice with different blood tests
Private blood tests. 
Ideal Private Blood Tests for Thyroid.
Recent nhs blood tests 
Which tests please? 
