Have received so much mixed advice on how long I should stop taking my Levothyroxine before my annual blood test, anything from 24 hrs to 4 days! Help please as my test is due soon & I know, from the way I’ve been feeling, that my dosage is needing upped but have been told so many times that I’m ‘ borderline’ & that my dosage should remain unchanged!! Like so many others on here, I am frustrated beyond belief at the level of care thyroid sufferers receive!! Thank you for your help
Help: Have received so much mixed advice on how... - Thyroid UK
Help
![Shanghai-Suki profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/3cb14ab643274c5a978f65177488db12_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
![Shanghai-Suki profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/3cb14ab643274c5a978f65177488db12_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
![SeasideSusie profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/3f6ac069f2a50ca9d0e85f59f13a7499_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
Shanghai-Suki
I don't know who told you 4 days but it wont have been anyone here. You'll have to decide whose advice you want to take. Always advised here, when having thyroid tests, is:
* Blood draw no later than 9am. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, an increase in dose of Levo or to avoid a reduction then we need the highest possible TSH
* Nothing to eat or drink except water before the blood draw. This is because eating can lower TSH and coffee can affect TSH.
* If taking thyroid hormone replacement, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then last dose should be 8-12 hours before blood draw. Adjust timing the day before if necessary. This avoids measuring hormone levels at their peak after ingestion of hormone replacement. Take your thyroid meds after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.
* If you take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin (B7), leave this off for 7 days before any blood test. This is because if Biotin is used in the testing procedure it can give false results (most labs use biotin).
These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with phlebotomists or doctors.
![SlowDragon profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/27fbbead1f291333f83bad1f31359fe3_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
Looking at previous posts you are on 100mcg levothyroxine?
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription
Which brand
Just testing TSH is completely inadequate but likely all GP will test
Do you have Hashimoto’s, autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested.
Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 annually
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)
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).
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3
£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test
Thriva also offer just vitamin testing
If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue to.
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
List of hypothyroid symptoms