Thyroid Blood Test coming up .......... ?

[Lemondrizz1]

Having now been on 100mcg Thyroxine for eight weeks my Thyroid Blood Test is coming up on 22/12 and I have booked 8.55am with all your recommendations - fasting, no thyroid etc. until after

I stopped my B Complex with the Biotin on 18/12 - but not sure about my B12 Drops and Vit D and Omega 3 also so have not been taking them either - was this necesary please or could I continue taking these ?n

I have requested TSH FT4 and FT3 to be taken - but will not hold my breath - and if I do not get a full reading - then I will get them done by Private Testing to have them ready for the GP appointment on 17/1/23 - I did ask for Vitamins to be done as well but was refused these as they had been done in the past three months -

Although I was starting to see an improvement in my symptoms starting to lift - unfortunately I went down with Covid at the end of November and this has set me back, with suffering more fatigue and lethargy - so hope that this will soon improve again ???

Many thanks for all your help.

Lemondrizz

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Lemondrizz1

I stopped my B Complex with the Biotin on 18/12 - but not sure about my B12 Drops and Vit D and Omega 3 also so have not been taking them either - was this necesary please or could I continue taking these ?

No need to stop the B12, Vit D and Omega 3, you can continue with them up to and including the day before, just take them after the test on the day.

The reason to stop B Complex/Biotin is because it can give false results if biotin is used in the test procedure (which is usually the case).

The only reason to stop B12 would be to see what you're holding on to and if that was the case you'd stop it 4-5 months before testing. By continuing to take it your result will show what your dose is achieving.

The fact that you have had Covid recently may have an impact on your general well being and also your thyroid results, any acute illness can affect results and it's advised to delay testing for a few weeks after any acute infection, whether Covid has a different/longer effect on results is one of the unknowns about Covid.

[Lemondrizz1 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you Seaside Susie this is very helpful - it will be three weeks since having Covid and I was fully vaccinated so do you think it would be alright to keep to my appointment on the 22/12 for my BT's please. I was hoping to get it done then - so that I have good time after Christmas to get private testings done if I need to before my GP appointment.

When I was on 75mcg Levo I had started to feel better after about four weeks, but then had a backslide with the symptoms returning and feeling rough again - but then after being on the 100mcg for a month I started to feel better again - so I am wondering if maybe the same is happening again - (and is is not Covid after effects) or is it possible that I might need a further increase of slightly more Thyroxine ??

Also will the last blood tests for B12, Vit D and Folate still be acceptable or would I need to have new ones done please - there is also the problem of my raised Ferritin of 650 which has never been resolved or explained ??

After all this time and a lot of desperate converations, my GP has finally agreed to allow me to suggest my way forward with regard to the Thyroxine - and he cannot now argue with me as it is the first time in seventeen months that my symptoms are subsiding and I am starting to see some improvements. This is why I am anxious to get as much information as possible for a good thyroid picture at this next appointment on 17/1/23.

Thank you so much

Lemondrizz

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Lemondrizz1]

Lemondrizz1

it will be three weeks since having Covid and I was fully vaccinated so do you think it would be alright to keep to my appointment on the 22/12 for my BT's please.

I truly cannot say. Covid affects people differently. Even the vaccinations do. I was fine with my first two vaccs (AZ) but my booster (Pfizer) sent my FT4 and FT3 levels awry and for the last 13 months I have had to tweak my doses/retest to try and get back to my former level. My FT3 has been more affected than my FT4, the booster affected it to the extent that it increased from it's normal of 60-70% to 100%, reducing my dose of thyroid meds saw it drop to 35% so I had to increase again and last month, 12 months after the booster, my level was still only at 46%. So I think you can see that your question is probably impossible to answer because if the vaccination can do this there's no saying that Covid itself wont affect levels.

Also will the last blood tests for B12, Vit D and Folate still be acceptable or would I need to have new ones done please

We suggest that vitamins are tested once a year once stable at optimal level, and Vit D is recommended to be tested twice a year in April and October.

there is also the problem of my raised Ferritin of 650 which has never been resolved or explained ??

Well that is very high and one would hope that your doctor would be investigating.

[Lemondrizz1 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you again SS you have explained it perfectly - showing just how difficult it might be to know - I will continue with this appointment and see how things go ?? It is possible I will only get a TSH testing at this appointment !!

I have had investigations and proceedures for the Raised Ferritin Levels for the past 17 months when I first became ill - but no answers to explain - I was started to be treated for Hypothyroidism at the end of May when I felt so ill with many symptoms and have had to fight my way to where I am to now - so am still wondering if the RF is in anyway connected with my Hypothyroidism - but no one including my Rheumatologist, Gastroenterologist and an Endocronologist is able to give me any answers. ???

Thank you again

Lemondrizz