I have been taking Levothyroxine for decades but only recently appreciated, after advice from this fabulous website, the correct way to undertake thyroid blood tests.
After decades of iron deficiency I had an iron infusion a few months ago (therefore ferritin now high), I inject B12 regularly for Pernicious Anaemia, 2 months ago I reduced my Levothyroxine to 100mcg following GP advice when my incorrectly taken blood test gave a TSH of under 0.3. I now take my levothyroxine late evening and it's working well at this time of day.
I now take my levothyroxine late evening and it's working well at this time of day.
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
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
Is this how you did this test?
vitamin levels
Vitamin D (25 OH) 58 50 - 200 nmol/L
Are you taking any vitamin D and how much
GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol.
Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol
Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12
Post discussing how biotin can affect test results
Many thanks for your comments SlowDragon. I did as you suggested in relation to the Levothyroxine before and after the test. I have only just received the Igennus Super B-Complex so didn't have to stop it before this blood test but will do so before any further tests. I have only been taking 25mcg daily Vitamin D and my GP will not prescribe it for me under any circumstances irrespective of blood test results.
I do not understand some of the blood test results but have never taken any thyroxine blood tests as you suggest before. My TSH is way higher than it has ever been for many years. It is normally nearer 1 or much less. Does the TSH result suggest insufficient overall thyroxine levels now that I have reduced the levothyroxine from 125mcg to 100mcg? Is my fT3 too low in the reference range? Do the antibody test results indicate Hashimoto's? Should I be considering increasing levothyroxine and/or T3? Is the raised cortisol level a problem?
Sorry to pose so many questions but I'm afraid I am hearing this completely different approach for the first time. Many thanks.
Does the TSH result suggest insufficient overall thyroxine levels now that I have reduced the levothyroxine from 125mcg to 100mcg?
Is my fT3 too low in the reference range?
Yes and yes
Free T4 (fT4) 18.7 pmol/L (12 - 22) 67.0%
Free T3 (fT3) 4.1 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 27.0%
Is your 100mcg and 25mcg tablets both same brand at every prescription
You have room to increase the Levo dose a little
Perhaps try 100mcg 3 days and 125mcg 4 days
Or cut 25mcg tablets in half and take 112.5mcg daily
Retest in 8 weeks
With Hashimoto’s poor conversion is common
Improving lowish vitamin levels may help improve conversion rate of Ft4 to Ft3
But ultimately many of us with Hashimoto’s eventually need small dose T3 added alongside Levo
Here’s link for how to request Thyroid U.K.list of private Doctors emailed to you, but within the email a link to download list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologists who will prescribe T3
Ideally choose an endocrinologist to see privately initially and who also does NHS consultations
Thank you so much for your comments and advice. It is all sounding to make a bit more sense thanks to your replies and explanations to me. I am extremely grateful and now have a sensible way forward.
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Blood test results - help please x
NEW BLOOD TEST RESULTS NEED HELP GOING ONTO T3 T4 COMBO
Blood test results - please advise.
Test results - can anyone help?
