Levo and blood tests

[Joad467]

Hello,I have blood tests coming up in 2 days for thyroid,and investigation into possible arthiritis as my fingers are twisting and bumpy ,at the moment am taking 150 levo,should I stop taking it night before bloods,thank you😊

[Anthea55]

Several years ago I had swollen hands/possible arthritis, and decided to investigate food intolerances. My main intolerances were found to be wheat and oats. I gave them up and not only did my hands improve, but also my indigestion/bloating which I'd had for years cleared up.

You might try testing for food intolerances. Going gluten free makes many of us feel better.

[Joad467 in reply to Anthea55]

Thanks Anthea55,I do avoid gluten bread but have been eating oats,so I must replace them with GF,glad ut helped you 😀

[Anthea55 in reply to Joad467]

Hi Joad467,

If you want to try gluten free you must do it completely, not just bread but anything else which might contain gluten or be made from wheat/etc. Your supermarket will have a free from section. There are alternatives for most things. I have to read ingredients labels carefully.

Don't expect immediate results. It can take a few months before you notice a change. And don't think you can have a day off or just a quick snack. May sound a bit of a bother but it's worth it.

[Joad467 in reply to Anthea55]

Great thank you Anthea55 👍

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Joad467

For thyroid blood tests we always advise:

* 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. Split the dose and 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).

So if you normally take your Levo at night you should, just for the day before the test, adjust time as follows.

If testing on a Tuesday morning at 9am you would:

Sunday - take Levo at night as normal

Monday - take that day's Levo in the morning, nothing at night

Tuesday - blood test at 9am, take Levo immediately afterwards (that will be Monday night's dose). Take Tuesday night's Levo as normal.

A month ago you said you were taking T3. Are you still taking it? If so you'll need to ensure timing of T3 is correct the day before the blood test as well, see timing above.

[Joad467 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks Seaside Susie,I stopped the T3 a few weeks ago as running out,I started taking 125 levo,still very tired and gaining weight fast,so trying 150 levo,as have gained 3 stones last couple of years ,my blood test is 2.30 on Tuesday,not been taking B7 👍

[Joad467 in reply to Joad467]

When I first got diagnosed as hypo years ago the levo seemed to really help,lost weight,energetic,it's just recently the tiredness and weight gain is an issue,the tiredness is extreme like I can fall asleep on the spot,I approached doctor re my fingers,they bent and painfull on pressure.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Joad467]

You should wait 6-8 weeks after any dose change before testing, this gives levels time to settle and avoids false results which may result in incorrect adjustment of your thyroid meds. I find mine are still settling 10 weeks after a dose change. It was on 13th March that you said you were taking T3. If you've stopped taking it since then and increased Levo then it's far too soon to be testing. I would cancel your appointment and rearrange for a few weeks' time, giving at least 6-8 weeks since last dose change.

[Joad467 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you SeaSideSusie 👌

[Joad467 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I might phone them and ask to change appt to morning

[Tuttare in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi SeasideSusie, sorry to butt in.

I take my Levo at bed time and have a blood test booked for Tuesday 3rd May 8.30 am.

I was going to follow the pattern advised for Monday tests ie:

DELAY Saturday evening dose until Sunday morning, delay Sunday evening dose until after blood test on Monday, take Monday evening dose as normal.

For a Tuesday test this would then be :

DELAY Sunday evening dose til Monday morning

Delay Monday evening dose until after blood test on Tuesday, take Tuesday evening dose as normal.

Is this correct?

However, you say TAKE Sunday evening dose as normal (this differs from the Monday morning test timings)

and next dose Monday morning and then after the test on Tuesday take dose "this will be Monday night's dose", but hasn't Monday's dose already been taken?

Now I'm totally confused! Have I got it wrong?

Does it not matter so long as there is a 24 hr gap of Levo before blood test?

Will it be ok if I do what I planned and delay Sunday night's dose until Monday morning, then have 24 hour gap before blood test, then take dose immediately after test, then take Tuesday evening as normal?

Hope I made sense, and thank you!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Tuttare]

Tuttare

For a Tuesday test this would then be :

DELAY Sunday evening dose til Monday morning

Delay Monday evening dose until after blood test on Tuesday, take Tuesday evening dose as normal.

Is this correct?

Yes.

However, you say TAKE Sunday evening dose as normal (this differs from the Monday morning test timings)

and next dose Monday morning and then after the test on Tuesday take dose "this will be Monday night's dose", but hasn't Monday's dose already been taken?

Now I'm totally confused! Have I got it wrong?

Well I've got confused now!

Let me ask SlowDragon because my brain is mush today I'm afraid.

SlowDragon - can you have a lot at Tuttore's post above and work out the timings for her please, I can't get my brain into gear today.

[Tuttare in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you 🙂

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tuttare]

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

If testing Tuesday morning,

delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until Monday morning. Delay Monday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Tuesday morning. Take Tuesday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal

REMEMBER.....very important....stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS as biotin can falsely affect test results - eg vitamin B complex

[Tuttare in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for clarifying 👍

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You also need vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

Vitamin levels frequently crash right down if T3 is stopped

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

No point testing until been on constant unchanging dose levothyroxine (or levothyroxine and T3) for minimum 6-8 weeks

Always test thyroid levels early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

If gluten is an issue you do need to be absolutely strictly gluten free

Oats don’t contain gluten, but you need to buy oats in the “gluten free “ section of supermarket, to be guaranteed gluten free.

[Joad467 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SlowDragon,didn't know that re T3,I take vit D and K2,selenium, B12,I am still on same brand Levo,glad you told me about oats,will get them from health store 👍

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Joad467]

Any large supermarket sells oats in the “free from” section

Free From Oats have to be grown on land that’s never grown wheat, barley or rye and milled in a certified gluten free mill

[Joad467 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you👍

[Chorlton_123 in reply to Joad467]

Hi I am new to this community this thread was helpful to me as I have just been for a blood test and left out my morning dose of thyroxine as a result. I am currently on 50 my of levothyroxine and feeling extremely tired all the time with significant weight gain over past 6 maths so hoping they will increase the dose🙏

[Joad467]

Hi Chorlton,hopefully they will raise it