Supplements

[Silver_Fairy]

How long before a blood test would it be advisable to stop supplements. I am hoping to get my GP to do Vit D etc etc.

Thank you

[Jackie]

Hi If taking Vit D in multivitamins it is negligable. If taking vit D it takes 3 months to disappear, or appear fully in the blood. If taking vit D you need a calcium test before. It effects calcium and the corrected calcium must always be in range.D gradually increased with 3 monthly bloods.

Best wishes,

Jackie

[Silver_Fairy in reply to Jackie]

Ive been taking 5,000ius of Vit D3 so 3 months I take it? I am also hoping for the following tests on the NHS (hahaha!!)

Calcium

Magnesium

Potassium

B12

Iron

Ferritin

Liver function (I have Graves so am on Carbimazole)

and any other you think I should have?

[Jackie]

Hi , You certainly need the calcium ,if the GP difficult say you need it because taking Vit D, D is a hormone, Ca it is the corrected calcium you need, they do both but the other one does not count.Magnesium certainly, also an electrolyte and tiny range so need to know it is in range, either way. potassium so important and sodium both in Us and Es ( kidney ) and electrolytes. Ideally potassium should be about 4 , range about 3.4 to 5.1 ( various slightly , at different Labs., strongly effected by Magnesium. Sodium too low can cause low BP , also separately can be dangerous to heart. Too high dangerous to heart and kidney and can cause high BP. must be in range. U`s and Es fairly routine The most important one done in U`s and E`s is the GFR, results can be confusing as ranges not done normally. Above 60 is fine.Folic acid is normally and should be done with B12. ferritin often done in FBC ( blood count) but separate test best.LFT`s very important but NHS often skimp on which ones they do. I have diabetes and severe liver disease and always end up paying for some.Drugs , insulin all effected from the liver before elseware eg pancreas, diabetes. Diabetes ,glucose blood and if possible Hb1Ac, some Labs still want it 12 hours water only but my Lab does not. Seems to make no difference.Cholesterol, can be high if under treated thyroid especially. I assume you have regular TSH, T4 and Free T3, so important to have all three. All about cost now.on my first visit to my endo ( who found lots of things wrong) ,she said always with thyroid disease it is important to take the best vit and mineral supplement there is, it requires a lot of studying as many similar ones.

I hope that i have covered everything.Actually A Caeliac blood test might be be a good idea , although does not always show the problem.. also autoimmune as lots of them are.

Best wishes,

Jackie

[Silver_Fairy in reply to Jackie]

Thank you very much Jackie!