Supplements before blood test?

[eatingbiscuits]

Hi all - now that I am finally medicated and also had loading doses of B12 (and I paid for vit D3) injections, figuring out supplements I need to take alongside figuring out what is triggering my hyperthyroidism - I wanted to check which I should NOT take prior to the blood test I have finally got to check my TSH T3 and T4 levels on Friday? I really don't want to mess this up as I was told I can only have thyroid bloods done every 6 weeks or the lab would blacklist me.

Yesterday my neck was fizzing and puffy internally and my hormones felt all over the place with confusion, today just very fatigued and face feels oily (maybe B12 coming out in pores).

I am currently taking 15mg carbimazole, 10mg proprananol x3 daily and supplementing with Spatone, zinc, methylfolate (bloods showed anemia but not treated at all by docs, just B12) and skin patches 5000mcg B12. Last week I asked for another B12 shot as my confusion is bad still and I wanted to buy one in the pharmacy - online forms prior to having it says I need to wait 28 days after GP gives and they'd alert GP so thought it better to ask. He instead booked a f2f appt for 17th July, so no more B12 injections available which is why I got the patches.

I think I read somewhere that folate and zinc? can mess up thyroid bloods and to stop taking them 3 days prior to bloods? I wish I didn't keep forgetting everything!

Also the endochrinologist cancelled my referal on my app but the doctor said that was just for their waiting list numbers, not actually cancelled - does anyone know what that means or if I need to make a fuss about that? I can't fall through the net any more, it's taken a decade to figure out what is wrong!

Sorry for such a long post - I get very fatigued most days and loose my chain of thought easily so while I have momentum I feel I need to get it all out and ask everything here before I see the GP!

[humanbean]

Any supplement containing biotin e.g. a B Complex should be stopped for 5 - 7 days before any testing for anything. It might be erring on the side of caution to stop for that long but I always think better safe than sorry.

The reasons to avoid biotin are discussed in these threads :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu......

...

If you are taking iron then it should be stopped for a week before doing any iron-related testing.

...

Personally, I stop all my voluntary supplements, but not my prescribed medicines, or my thyroid hormones, or my anti-depressants or anything else I feel I can't live without, for a week before testing. At least it makes comparison between tests as consistent as possible.

I also always fast for about 10 - 12 hours before any testing except for water which I drink freely. Dehydration can affect blood tests so should be avoided, but drinking lots of water is not necessary.

I always do my blood testing at around 8.30am.

[eatingbiscuits in reply to humanbean]

Thank you - I actually ran out of my B complex last week and only re ordered yesterday so that works quite well. I am a bit lost as to what else they might test so will just stop the supplements until Friday to be on the safe side. Test is quite early so I will just not have breakfast. I take my carbimazole before bed as it makes me super tired on top of the fatigue and I'd get nothing done otherwise!

[GlowCoach Administrator]

Are you continuing a vit D supplement? An injection might get your level up temporarily but unless you continue to supplement daily then your level will fall back to where it started.

With B 12 injections a B ccomplex is recommended to help keep all the B's in balance. This would contain folate so you could swap folate for a B complex.

B complex suggestions: Slightly cheaper options with inactive B6:

amazon.co.uk/Liposomal-Soft...

Contains B6 as P5P an active form:

bigvits.co.uk/thorne-resear...

healf.com/products/basic-b-...

Explanation about the different forms of B6:

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

B complex comparison spreadsheet:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Its only the B complex that needs to be stopped for 4-7 days maximum before blood test as it contains biotin that might interfere with results.

[eatingbiscuits in reply to GlowCoach]

I am not but the lady said the D3 shot should last 3 months before I needed another. I think if I am meant to be avoiding dairy it is one I will get done again and every 3 months going forward. I'm struggling with trying not to eat cheese and milk if I am honest, so was surprised they were so low but realise it's all symbiotic and the thyroid was draining it all. Thanks!