Good morning Thyroid peeps 😊

[Totoro25]

I have a GP appointment this week for bloods platelets, liver & kidney count so nothing to do with my Thyroid.However I feel the 75mg of Levothyroxine I'm a prescribed maybe isn't correct and would like to know what to ask for ?

As in what do you need from me in order to give your assessment?

The reason being I still have emotional moments, sleep issues, anxiety and feeling low etc

Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Totoro25

Ask the nurse/phlebotomist exactly what is being tested. If no thyroid tests included ask if they can be. Ditto key nutrients. For an assessment of thyroid/vitamin status you need

TSH

FT4

FT3

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

To be on the safe side, in case any of your tests require to be done fasting and you haven't been told, follow our advice for all thyroid tests

* Book the first appointment of the morning, or with private tests at home no later than 9am. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day.

In fact, 9am is the perfect time, see first graph here, it shows TSH is highest around midnight - 4am (when we can't get a blood draw), then lowers, next high is at 9am then lowers before it starts it's climb again about 9pm:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

If we are looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, or looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction then we need TSH to be as high as possible.

* Nothing to eat or drink except water before the test - have your evening meal/supper as normal the night before but delay breakfast on the day of the test and drink water only until after the blood draw. Certain foods may lower TSH, caffeine containing drinks 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 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 3-7 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).

These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with phlebotomists or doctors.

If you can't get these tests added then you can do them privately with one of our recommended labs, most popular are Monitor My Health, Medichecks and Blue Horizon. Details and discount codes he4re:

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

[Totoro25]

Hi SS thanks so much for your quick response it's appreciated.My appointment is at 8.15am as less surgery traffic (people) helps to avoid fragrance .

I have never been asked to fast at all even when I was being diagnosed! In fact they were trying to put me on antidepressants initially but I refused and asked for thyroid tests.

I have my meds in the evening and only have some Symprove first thing which is a probiotic along with breakfast etc so I will leave all of those until after my appointment and also not have my Levothyroxine the night before (normally around 9pm)

I'm not sure if they will do a test at such late notice and if not I will discuss and arrange for another time .

But thanks again for the advice at least I have an idea of what I'm requesting.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Totoro25]

How long have you been on only 75mcg levothyroxine

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

If it’s a single 75mcg tablet it will be Teva as it’s the only brand that makes 75mcg tablets

Teva doesn’t suit many people

[Totoro25 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hello SD , I've been 75mg for over a year as they initially started me in 100mg and I was in bits .The dose is split 50mg box has Accord in it and the 25mg has Wockhardt.

Hopefully that makes sense.

Thanks .

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Totoro25]

Starting on 100mcg frequently is “too much too soon”

But you may be ready now for next dose increase…..

See what results show before considering changing anything

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo

When fine tuning dose ….often need to fine tune in small steps …..perhaps adding 1/2 of a 25mcg every day…up to 88mcg daily

[Totoro25 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi and thanks,

Yes it was 100mg on day one.

I need to weigh myself again but I was around 76 kilos and believe I've lost weight as having to buy new clothes recently.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Totoro25]

If you have a thyroid test you need to change the time of your Levo dose to give you the 24 hour gap, just leaving off the night time dose would give far too long a gap and give a false low FT4 result.

As you normally take your Levo at 9pm, this is what you would do if having a thyroid test at 8.15am on a (say) Monday:

Saturday evening - delay that dose until Sunday morning at 8.15am or near

Sunday evening - do not take any Levo, take after the test on Monday morning

Monday evening - back to normal with your 9pm dose

[Totoro25 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks so much 🙏

[LitterHater]

I can’t advise really as I haven’t been on Levothyroxine for long. I’m only on 50 micrograms. The GP recently wanted to up the dosage but we agreed to leave until after my next blood test in June. I hope you get it sorted. Best wishes.

[Dalias]

Hello,

Levothyronine did not work for me even with only 25mcg a day. At first I felt better and suddenly I developed severe migraines (that I do not suffer from), nausea, no appetite and feeling very unwell. I had to stop straight away to go back on levothyroxine only. Everyone is different so I can't say any more really.

I wish to the best to find the correct treatment for you.

V