Help t3 test tomorrow - when to take meds?

[Charlotte6789]

Help, When to take T3 meds before test? I am having a free T3 test tomorrow

They seem to think I am on too much T3.

I thought that testing t3 was pointless when on T3 because of the variability of the levels in the system.

I have not been told how many hours after dose to take test and I know that it will greatly affect it, How long after my last dose should I take the test? Taking 10ug 3 x day

I really can't afford for them to reduce my T3 because it is the only thing that has given me back some quality of life

This says to stop the day before but I'm not sure if it applies if your on t3 or just t4

Thanks

[jimh111]

I have the blood taken half-way between doses as it will give an average fT3 figure and be most informative. In your situation as you are taking it three times daily you may want to skip the dose before the blood take, this will give a misleading figure that is a little lower than your actual levels. It probably won't have much effect on your TSH but you fT4 will be about 20% lower than your normal average.

[shaws Administrator]

I take T3 only when I awake with one glass of water. When having a blood test I take T3 after the blood test.

[Josephineinamachine in reply to shaws]

Ah! I was wondering about this! So I take mine in the morning with T4 so when I have my test I just don’t take that morning’s dose and instead take it straight after test like I’ve done with T4 before? I don’t need to split it the day before? Thank you 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much T3 are you currently taking

Do you normally split the dose

How much levothyroxine

When do you normally take levothyroxine

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).

Day before test split dose of T3 into 3 smaller doses, taking at approx 8 hour intervals, with last 1/3rd of daily dose 8-12 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Most people on here follow this protocol

Jimh111 is more unusual in his protocol

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Charlotte6789

Generally the advice here is to take your last dose of T3 8-12 hours before the blood draw. So if your test is at 9am tomorrow, you would take your last dose between 9pm tonight and 1am if you up that late. I tend to go for the middle and do 10 hours which fits in with my bedtime and the time I do my test.