Should I start Levo before endo referral?

[marbo]

Hi - I have been referred to see an endocrinologist but it may take 3-4months for the first appointment. The endo has said the first thing he will do is a lot of blood tests. Ideally I want to start Levo now as I feel awful but don't want Levo to mess up the test results and therefore treatments I may be offered.

Can I start now and then stop before the test? How long does Levo stay in the system?

Also how bad will I feel if I start and stop and start again?

thanks for your help

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

marbo

Is the Levo you are considering taking prescribed? If yes then follow the guidance of the prescribing doctor. If not then is this endo private or NHS. Whichever it is if you take Levo which hasn't been prescribed you will very likely be wasting your time seeing the endo as he will likely be cross that you have started to self medicate and you may have messed up your chance there.

You can't stop and start the Levo. When you start Levo it takes about 6-8 weeks for the full effects of the dose you are taking, this will improve your FT4 level and possibly lower your TSH so wont give a true picture of your thyroid status as it is now. If you start then stop the Levo, as it has a half life of 7 days it will take weeks for it to completely clear from your system.

[fuchsia-pink]

The endo has said the first thing he will do is a lot of blood tests

Actually you want the blood tests doing a week or so before you first see the endo - so that you have the results to discuss for the appointment. Otherwise, you're just gong to say you don't feel great; s/he will say ok, we'll need to do some blood tests to see what's happening ... and you've wasted your referral!

Ideally you will get FULL testing done - this means TSH, free T4, free T3 and key nutrients - ferritin, folate, vit DN and B12. I've had some success by saying that these are the tests recommended by Thyroid UK [and indeed I'm due to have my annual endo appointment soon, and the endo's sec has just sent me a blood form with everything on it ]

Then, if you can get hold of the blood results before the appointment and most them here [along with the related lab ranges as these vary from lab to lab] the lovely people here will help you to understand them an advise what you might say to the endo when you see her/him.

As regards taking meds first, (a) if they've been prescribed, you need them, so I def would and (b) if the endo appointment isn't for 3 -4 months, you may well have needed at least one dose increase by that time (you should re-test TSH, free T4 and ideally free T3 every 6 -8 weeks after starting meds, so have one increase and another due by the time of the endo appointment, assuming that isn't delayed)

Good luck x