Blood test timing dilemma: advice please

[WaystarRoyco]

Can you help me figure out how to get round this one please? The last few times I’ve done blood tests, I’ve followed the process advised here and done the test as early in the morning as possible.

However, my endocrinologist had a bit of a hissy fit at this (the timing, not that I waited till after the test to take morning meds; didn’t let on about that) and has asked that, the next time I did a test for an appointment with him, that I do it around 11am, having taken my T4 and T3 meds at 6am as normal. Even wrote it in the follow up letter to my GP.

I’m only just beginning to feel like I’m getting some life back having raised my T4 last autumn and I really don’t want to get into a battle with him because he thinks my numbers are too high. What do you think I should do?

[Charlie-Farley]

Hi WaystarRoyco

Did you ask Endo to explain his rationale? If not perhaps you could pose that question to your GP? Strange he seems desperate to not increase dose looking at his request. There is a new pinned post that incorporates autonomy with notes on NG145 and Low TSH. I've popped link at bottom.

What were your latest results? I've just noted you are on combo. It's all a bout feeling well AND if you are feeling better it is essential you defend your health and not submit to them treating your lab work rather than you. I believe TSH is even less important when taking T3.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[WaystarRoyco in reply to Charlie-Farley]

His rationale is that the hormones are at their peak around five hours from taking meds and this is what he wants to see.

My last blood tests were per this post:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

I am pretty much taking what @Slowdragon and others suggested some months back: 125mcg T4 and 10mcg T3. I am 68kg.

I tried taking extra T3 as was suggested after my last but I felt a bit wired on this and went back to 10 and felt okay again.

[Charlie-Farley in reply to WaystarRoyco]

Sounds like you have found a pretty good sweet-spot then Waystar.🤗 The objective when they treat you should be to get you well. You might have to remind them of that.

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

Just book in for a 11am blood draw (only bit he could check but unlikely as they don't log it) and still don't take your dose until afterwards 🤐.... they are always looking for the peaks and leaving us to deal with the troughs! 😉

Honestly if they treat us like children they what do they expect 😏

[Charlie-Farley in reply to TiggerMe]

Very well put! 🤗

[WaystarRoyco in reply to TiggerMe]

That sounds like a plan. Thank you! 🙏🏽

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to WaystarRoyco]

It's a bit of a game we have to play I'm afraid or they would happily leave us all bed bound, I seem to remember my Endo saying they won't test fT3 as it is to easy to adjust the dosing 🙄 like we are all desperate drug addicts rather than just aiming to be well!

Do you take your T3 in one dose or split?

[WaystarRoyco in reply to TiggerMe]

That’s crazy! I’m not sure why they’re all so paranoid.

I split it into 2 lots over the day.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

I would wonder if your Levo dose is a bit high

Looking at weight and taking T3

Are you still getting occasional diarrhoea

What’s your resting heart rate

[WaystarRoyco in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I do still get occasional diarrhoea. My weight has come down over the last few months from 75kg at its highest. RHR is about 72 or 73.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to WaystarRoyco]

So perhaps reducing the Levo dose a little…..50mcg per week initially

Retest again in 8 weeks

[WaystarRoyco in reply to SlowDragon]

Okay. My endo blood test is in two weeks time though. Do you think I should wait until I do that before making this slight change? I guess it would give me some idea of where things are at.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to WaystarRoyco]

Yes probably

[WaystarRoyco]

That’s what I thought. Thanks again for your help.