Blood test question

[Jelley93]

Hello again, Ive just come back from the Surgery from a booked in thyroid function blood test that was supposed to be at 8.10 am. I get there to book myself in and they have now changed the appointment to 11.40 am. They had not told be about the change of time. I have fasted since 5pm yesterday. I know the results are going to be skewed as I need to take my Levo as well. Shall I go ahead with the test still?

[tattybogle]

Depends if you want to keep the door open to ask for your dose to be put back up a little bit .

I think i'd probably give the 11.40 test a miss in your position . as your TSH might still be pretty close to bottom of range anyway . so by 11.40 it might be so low that the GP won't consider increasing your dose back up a little bit if that's what you want to try .

If you are happy to stay on the dose you are on for a while longer to see how it goes for another few months ,then perhaps it doesn't matter so much because If TSH comes back so low they want to reduce it further you could refuse by arguing that it looks lower because it was done at 11.40,

? Tell them you can't make it after 9am because of work and rebook for an earlier one.... but you might have to wait a few weeks to get one.

ps there's no need to fast (as in 'not eating', for so long ,before blood tests , just don't have breakfast.

if you do decide to have it at 11.40 today ,don't take the levo till afterwards, or else the fT4 will be artificially high... this doesn't matter unless GP tests fT4 , but you never know when they will and when they won't .. taking levo before won't make any difference to the TSH result , that one is affected by time of day .

[Jelley93 in reply to tattybogle]

Thanks for the advice, I don't know I prepare for the test and they don't even tell me that its changed.

[tattybogle in reply to Jelley93]

i know, how very bloody annoying and inconsiderate .... some surgeries save their early morning blood tests for bloods that officially have to be 'fasted'... so somebody might have decided they were going to give your early slot to someone else.

However it's only just over 5 weeks since you went down to 100mcg . so waiting a bit longer 6/8 weeks is probably a good idea anyway. TSH might be a tad higher in another weeks or so .

If they say i can 't have blood tests appointment at the time i want , i don't bother trying to persuade them why it's best to do thyroid bloods early am .. because they won't agree anyway .. "computer say's ~you can do it anytime " ... i just tell them i have work commitments that mean i'm unable to get time off after 9 am , but that i don't mind waiting a few weeks for it if they don't have early slots at the moment .

Do you think you want to continue on this dose a bit longer ~ how's is going so far ?

[Jelley93 in reply to tattybogle]

I can see improvements, yes dizziness still appears but not constant like before. When I was on 100mcg before it was for three years with no issue. So I am hoping I can get better on 100mcg. This Saturday coming 14/05/2022 will be 6 weeks since I started 100mcg so hopefully heading in the right direction. Had occupational health appointment last Tuesday, still awaiting his report to be sent out. Possibly have to return to work via phased return

[tattybogle in reply to Jelley93]

Ok well if you feel some improvements then i definitely think you should wait a bit longer for this blood test anyway.. last thing you need is some GP fiddling about with dose this week on the basis of a blood test that was done a bit to soon for the TSH to have settled on that dose ...and at the lowest time of day .

Don't go .. cancel it and get another in a couple of weeks time.

[Anthea55]

When you rebook, try telling them that you want it early so that you can compare it with previous readings. Also try complaining to the practice manager who should also be told that your time was changed without telling you. Waste of time, travelling time, fuel, etc. etc.Good luck!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You don’t need to fast night before. Eat as normal

Just only have water between getting up and blood test

Last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test