My Covid has been confirmed with a swab test.
I've got a test kit for a standard finger-prick TFT (Thyroid Function Test) i.e. TSH + Free T4 + Free T3.
I want to do it ASAP without Covid interfering too much with the results (or at all, if possible).
When would be a good time to do it after recovery? Should I wait until I get a confirmed negative on a swab test?
I've always understood we should wait a few weeks after recovering from acute illness before doing thyroid tests. I've just found this, not particularly about Covid but acute illness in general and mentions hospital in-patients (but I don't see how there's a difference between in-patients or someone not in hospital):
TFT's may be misleading in patients with non-thyroidal illness. Unless there is a strong suspicion of thyroid disease these tests are not advised on hospital in-patients because of the difficulty in result interpretation. TFT's should be delayed until 3 months post the acute illness.
gloshospitals.nhs.uk/our-se...
Thanks SeasideSusie. 👍 😀
Sorry to hear you have Covid, wishing you a speedy recovery.
I have my Covid booster jab booked in a few days, hoping that doesn’t interfere with my blood test, that’s due next month.
Really sorry to hear you have got Covid I hope it’s not too bad and you feel better soon.
Given my experience, I’d advise not testing for at least a month after a negative test. My results were all over the place so I could not rely on them at all.
Just had my booster today so even putting off any testing for a couple of weeks.
I am just contemplating this
I am STILL testing positive for antibodies 12 days after first positive test and ……still feeling pretty rubbish
Was hoping to test next Monday…..but I think I am going to have to delay at least another week
Get well soon SD.
Hope you will feel better very soon. Covid is draining. Take care.
Hope you and SlowDragon feel better in no time.
Sorry to hear this humanbean . Must really suck. Hope you improve very soon!
Hello humanbean. and sorry you have Covid. Not sure how to advise you but I will relate my experience of getting Covid.
So I had a hip replacement operation on 1st February. Because I live alone and far from my family (plus I have RA etc. so in much pain all the time) I went into a care home for respite for 6 weeks. Whilst there I got Covid, testing positive on 16th February (never had it before) , was very very ill for 2 days… I came back home on 19th March and had to have a full thyroid test on 28th March, at my surgery, to send to my endocrinologist in advance of our annual phone review appointment tomorrow.
To my surprise and shock, both my Free T3 and Free T4 were rather high, T4 close to the acceptable top range but F3 above the acceptable range. Although I am on combination therapy this had never happened before. Never have had such a high above range F3… and within range but on high side of range for T4. Even silly TSH had increased slightly too.
Must I presume the after effects of Covid have interfered with my thyroid function and medication?
So will discuss this with my Endo tomorrow and do hope he won’t stop my T3.
Perhaps it would be a sensible idea to wait a couple of month, even longer, before doing your test.
I am still feeling without energy…
Wishing you a good recovery.
JGBH,
Definitely ensure your endo knows you have just had Covid and say you feel your thyroid hormone levels have been all over the place and should be retested in a few months. Otherwise you might risk an unnecessary dose reduction.
hb,
So sorry to hear you are unwell.
Why do you want to do a thyoid hormone test now, when it risks being skewed? If it were me I would wait for several weeks after Covid recovery to ensure true levels.
I hope you feel better soon 😊
I have not done a full TFT for ages (due to procrastination) and I think I'm probably under-medicated. My last test showed below range TSH and FT4 28% through the range. The testing I was having done was not actually done for the purposes of a TFT, it was a big comprehensive test that I generally do once a year or so - but it doesn't include Free T3.
So I only have the TSH and the FT4 and I wanted to do the full set - and then procrastination took over. So, without a full test I can't really decide what to do - and now, having Covid I'll have to wait even longer. I have the kit - but would probably be wasting it if I used it anytime soon.
humanbean I’m sorry to learn that both you and SlowDragon have Covid and hope it’s mild and shortlived.
I second others’ advice to wait a few weeks. My Mum suffered from transient hypothyroidism after her first brush with Covid. Admitttedly she is 70+ with MS (but is no longer on immunotherapy) and was quite sick with it for three weeks, but her GP was unfazed as it’s a known side effect. I consulted the med journals (have access at work) and there is plenty of emerging research to suggest this - happy to dig it out if you’re curious!
Yes, I'm curious.
If you could give me the title and the doi number I'll be able to look it up online to see what's available. I wouldn't need many - just one or two would be great. 
Thank you.
Sorry to hear this humanbean. The new variants really do seem crazy contagious based on this thread. Adding myself to the chorus of those voices - on day 12 here. Took Paxlovid and it seemed to really help (am testing neg now) but also still have strange symptoms. I too need testing and am on a timeline for a few diff reasons. At the moment thinking of maybe waiting 4-8 weeks from the point of starting to feeling normalish again.
Hoping you and all of us on this thread who have or recently had covid recover quickly and fully.
This isn't my first rodeo with Covid. I had it much worse the first time (in 2021) than I'm having now, but I still have a way to go to recovery this time. Both times I've caught it from a family member who recovered much quicker than me.
Hope you feel better soon, asidist .
Oh no! :/ Have you considered an antiviral if you’re still within the first 5 days? Supposedly reduces chances of long covid by 40 some percent, and I felt a lot better after starting it. My worst day was the 24 hours before starting. The altered mouth taste was horrible but worth it.
I too caught it from a fam member who recovered quickly and said he barely felt ill - but he slept night and day through the first few days of illness and was almost fully recovered with that. Read up on it and if I remember correctly, supposedly adequate sleep (though I think they were referring to before infection) was one of the biggest protectors against long covid. Can’t remember which articles I read at the time but here’s one that mentions it: news.harvard.edu/gazette/st.... So I assume getting enough sleep during recovery also plays a big role.
Take good care
Getting treatment for Covid is a lot harder in the UK than it is in other countries. There are strict limits on who is entitled to a prescription for antivirals and I'm not one of the lucky ones. I'm also on day 7, so it's too late for me anyway.
I don't know if you can read this :
nhs.uk/medicines/paxlovid/w...
I don't think I've ever been prescribed an antiviral for any virus in my entire life.
The family member I caught it from is now living a normal life but is complaining of being really tired all the time. Since I think he is massively overdoing it for someone just recovering from Covid I think he might live to regret his current activities.
One of the symptoms I've got with both bouts of Covid is a severe cough. This prevents me from sleeping well, even though I know sleep is extremely important to recovery.
It does seem like it’s easier to get here. That’s unfortunate that it’s not as accessible there.
Turmeric (and black pepper) and ginger tea with a splash of lemon and some honey always helps me at least a little with any respiratory issues, sometimes a lot. Hope you find ways to get that sleep.
Just wanted to add that I hope all those with Covid feel better soon ❤️
Thyroid function test results
Thyroid function test results
Thyroid function tests 
Deteriorating thyroid function - confused? Can anyone shed any light?
