confused

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila & thanks I will ring him.

>

> I have no experience whatsoever with Hydrocortisone but from

what I have heard and read, goiong up so quickly 5o 50 mgs seems a

lot. I have passed your message on to Bella (who is studying like mad

at the moment) and see if she can help you as she too is taking

hydrocortisone and will be more help than me.

>

>

>

>

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.15.5/1085 - Release Date:

22/10/2007 10:35

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

Yes, you have got it absolutely correct. Stop taking any thyroid hormone replacement medication for as long as possible before getting a blood test done so you get a true reading of what is going on and they are not just looking at the results of what the thyroid hormone is doing - that is not the point. It is the same if you are taking any adrenal medication, stop that for as long as you can before you have an adrenal function test. YOu should stop taking your thyroxine from tomorrow.

Have you asked them to test to see if you have antibodies to your thyroid. You need to get this tested to find if this is the cause of your low thyroid function. Ask them also if they will check your ferritin (stored iron) as if this is low, this can also cause all the symptoms of low thyroid and can be a cause of low thyroid. Either of these conditions will stop your thyroxine from being absorbed by your body. If you find you need to take any iron, always take that at least 3 to 4 hours away from your thyroxine.

Luv - Sheila

Hi allI've noticed on a number of occasions in different posts what I think is the suggestion that we stop taking medication before a blood test: have I got this right or am I confused? I'm only on Levothyroxine (175mcg daily) and am due more blood tests next week, so do I stop taking the tablets and, if so, from when? Why would I do this anyway? Can somebody spell this out for me as I think the brain fog is winning at the moment! Thanks in advance.Regards

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[Guest guest]

I'm confused now too! I though the point WAS to see if the medication

was working. How can a GP tell if the medication is working if you are

not taking it? Help please?

Tracey

>

> Hi

>

> Yes, you have got it absolutely correct. Stop taking any thyroid

hormone replacement medication for as long as possible before getting

a blood test done so you get a true reading of what is going on and

they are not just looking at the results of what the thyroid hormone

is doing - that is not the point.

[Guest guest]

ditto

> >

> > Hi

> >

> > Yes, you have got it absolutely correct. Stop taking any thyroid

> hormone replacement medication for as long as possible before

getting

> a blood test done so you get a true reading of what is going on

and

> they are not just looking at the results of what the thyroid

hormone

> is doing - that is not the point.

>

[Guest guest]

Professor W explained the reason for the need to stop thyroid hormone replacement at Dr Skinner's GMC trial. When asked by the Barrister:

"Q) If we have finished that area, to dealing with using T3 and T4 as a test once the patient is on thyroxine?

A) The problem with using free T4 measurements if a patient is taking thyroxine isthat the level fluctuate after taking thyroxine treatment. Therefore, within the few hoursafter ingestion there can be a ten or fifteen per cent level difference in level compared totwelve to twenty four hours after ingestion. The second problem which is frequentlyencountered by endocrinologists is that the patients may not adhere to their treatment verystrictly and may remember to take a tablet before a blood test which will give themnormal T4 levels and might have omitted their tablets over the preceding weeks. Becauseof the sensitivity of the pituitary that can be identified by raised TSH but a normal freeT4. Therefore, TSH, because it is measuring a response of the body, in this case thepituitary gland, it is by far the best measure of the nature and degree of thyroid hormonereplacement."

Hope this helps.

Luv - Sheila

Re: ConfusedI'm confused now too! I though the point WAS to see if the medication was working. How can a GP tell if the medication is working if you are not taking it? Help please?Tracey>> Hi > > Yes, you have got it absolutely correct. Stop taking any thyroid hormone replacement medication for as long as possible before getting a blood test done so you get a true reading of what is going on and they are not just looking at the results of what the thyroid hormone is doing - that is not the point. No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.518 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1325 - Release Date: 11/03/2008 13:41

[Guest guest]

But Sheila he is just saying bloods can be screwed if you take tabs

just before going for blood test,this indicates dont take tabs day

of blood test, not any longer.

Luv

Chris

> >

> > Hi

> >

> > Yes, you have got it absolutely correct. Stop taking any thyroid

> hormone replacement medication for as long as possible before

getting

> a blood test done so you get a true reading of what is going on

and

> they are not just looking at the results of what the thyroid

hormone

> is doing - that is not the point.

>

>

>

>

>

>

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG.

> Version: 7.5.518 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1325 - Release Date:

11/03/2008 13:41

>

[Guest guest]

But if the laboratories don't test for T4 or T3 - even if the GP

sepecifically requests those tests - any hope of accuracy is dead in

the water in any case.

Also, if GP/endocrinolgist has no appreciation of the significance

of T3 or T4, the patient isn't going to get far either.

Tracey

>

> Professor W explained the reason for the need to stop thyroid

hormone replacement at Dr Skinner's GMC trial. When asked by the

Barrister:

> " Q) If we have finished that area, to dealing with using T3 and T4

as a test once the patient is on thyroxine?

>

> A) The problem with using free T4 measurements if a patient is

taking thyroxine is

> that the level fluctuate after taking thyroxine treatment.

[Guest guest]

Well, to me it works to stop taking T3 on the day of the blood test because T3 has such a short half life, but not for thyroxine, which stays in your blood for much longer - up to 6 weeks. The longer you can stay off thyroxine the better chance to get an 'unscrewed' result.

Luv - Sheila

Re: Confused

But Sheila he is just saying bloods can be screwed if you take tabs just before going for blood test,this indicates dont take tabs day of blood test, not any longer.LuvChris> >> > Hi > > > > Yes, you have got it absolutely correct. Stop taking any thyroid > hormone replacement medication for as long as possible before getting > a blood test done so you get a true reading of what is going on and > they are not just looking at the results of what the thyroid hormone > is doing - that is not the point.> > > > > > > No virus found in this incoming message.> Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.518 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1325 - Release Date: 11/03/2008 13:41>

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[Guest guest]

Everyone is different unfortunately, my FT4 drops by 10 within 24

hours so based on that within 3 days I would have none.

Luv

Chris

> > >

> > > Hi

> > >

> > > Yes, you have got it absolutely correct. Stop taking any

thyroid

> > hormone replacement medication for as long as possible before

> getting

> > a blood test done so you get a true reading of what is going

on

> and

> > they are not just looking at the results of what the thyroid

> hormone

> > is doing - that is not the point.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > Checked by AVG.

> > Version: 7.5.518 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1325 - Release

Date:

> 11/03/2008 13:41

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

> -------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------

>

>

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG.

> Version: 7.5.518 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1325 - Release Date:

11/03/2008 13:41

>

[Guest guest]

Glad it's not just me confused then! One reason for checking this out was because I came across the quote (below) which seemed to say we should take our meds and I noticed it in particular because it had Dr. M's name on it:"Dr. M****l is a UK doctor that treats environmental illnesses. The following is her treatment regime for correcting low thyroid function in her patients: After three months the levels of T4 and T3 should be rechecked (the tablets should be taken on the day of checking). Blood for testing T3 levels needs to be taken 1-4 hours after taking the T3 tablets. " (www.ei-resource.org/illness-information/related-conditions/thyroid-treatments/).I know she is referring specifically to T3 but . . . . . . . Think I'm still confused! Any more thoughts anybody?>The longer you can stay off thyroxine the better chance to get > an 'unscrewed' result. > > > > Luv - Sheila> >

[Guest guest]

Hi SheilaYes I asked, on your advice , for the ferritin level to be checked when I went in January, forgot to ask about that when I got the other results, so wrote asking for iron result and all other results of the five lots of blood tests I've had in last 12 months. I want the full set of results because (a) endo is obsessed with his numbers and 'normal' range and ( I've now got some chums on TPA who can interpret the numbers for me! (This the endo who left me " red-faced and agitated " just before Xmas, if you remember, sending me back to GP with the depression diagnosis: same old story!)

Anyway, thinking I would be more likely to get ferritin and other results from GP if I put the request formally in writing, i hand-delivered letter to surgery and guess what? I'm still waiting for a reply a fortnight later!! I phoned a week ago to check if GP had received letter and she had, so tomorrow I'm going to ask them to get her to phone me so that I can give her a piece of my mind: even the naffin Gas Board would have at least written back to me to acknowledge receipt of my letter! I cannot abide bad manners. As for lack of professionalism . . . . . .grrrrr!

OK rant over - thanks for listening! Seán

[Guest guest]

Hi

For the first time ever I stopped my Thyroid medication for 48hours

before my latest blood tests and it showed up a shortage of T4. As I

had never done this before my blood tests had always come back as

fine. It has been an eye opener for me as I hadn't realized that it

could affect my results quite so much.I will most certainly always do

this in future.I am on Armour thyroid 4 grains and 20 milligrams of

T3. I have now added another half a grain to my meds with a view to

raising it still further. My GP is monitoring this for me.

Regards Frances

[Guest guest]

Hi

I too stopped my thyroid meds for 24 hours before my last blood test

for the first time. My T4 came back below normal range and my T3 was

low normal. All previous blood tests had come back within range even

though I had symptoms. My T3 dose has just been increased following

these results.

Lizzie

>

> Hi

> For the first time ever I stopped my Thyroid medication for 48hours

> before my latest blood tests and it showed up a shortage of T4. As I

> had never done this before my blood tests had always come back as

> fine. It has been an eye opener for me as I hadn't realized that it

> could affect my results quite so much.I will most certainly always do

> this in future.I am on Armour thyroid 4 grains and 20 milligrams of

> T3. I have now added another half a grain to my meds with a view to

> raising it still further. My GP is monitoring this for me.

>

> Regards Frances

>

[Guest guest]

The best thing to do is to write a letter of complaint to the practice manager. Tell her/him of your anger and frustration in being completely ignored as this is your health - not hers. Tell the practice manager that you intend to report this to your local primary care trust. This should bring about some action. After all, you are not asking for the earth, just a blood test, and your doctor should have done this test in the first place to check for all possible causes of your symptoms etc.

Luv - Sheila

Hi SheilaYes I asked, on your advice , for the ferritin level to be checked when I went in January, forgot to ask about that when I got the other results, so wrote asking for iron result and all other results of the five lots of blood tests I've had in last 12 months. I want the full set of results because (a) endo is obsessed with his numbers and 'normal' range and ( I've now got some chums on TPA who can interpret the numbers for me! (This the endo who left me "red-faced and agitated" just before Xmas, if you remember, sending me back to GP with the depression diagnosis: same old story!)Anyway, thinking I would be more likely to get ferritin and other results from GP if I put the request formally in writing, i hand-delivered letter to surgery and guess what? I'm still waiting for a reply a fortnight later!! I phoned a week ago to check if GP had received letter and she had, so tomorrow I'm going to ask them to get her to phone me so that I can give her a piece of my mind: even the naffin Gas Board would have at least written back to me to acknowledge receipt of my letter! I cannot abide bad manners. As for lack of professionalism . . . . . .grrrrr!OK rant over - thanks for listening!Seán

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[Guest guest]

Taking your tablets before a blood test will , in all likelihood, show a 'normal' result and your doctor says, good, you are normal, when you know you are not and needing an increase. This is often the problem with lots of patients who are not doing well on the dose of thyroxine their doctor has previously prescribed them.

Luv - Sheila

HiFor the first time ever I stopped my Thyroid medication for 48hoursbefore my latest blood tests and it showed up a shortage of T4. As Ihad never done this before my blood tests had always come back asfine. It has been an eye opener for me as I hadn't realized that itcould affect my results quite so much.I will most certainly always dothis in future.I am on Armour thyroid 4 grains and 20 milligrams ofT3. I have now added another half a grain to my meds with a view toraising it still further. My GP is monitoring this for me.Regards Frances

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[Guest guest]

If you take your T3 tablets on the same day you have your blood test, the result will be flawed. T3 starts to build up in your body very quickly after taking the tablet and it reaches its highest (if you are taking synthetic) after a couple of hours and then starts to decrease (T3 is more slowly released in Armour but the same rule applies) . If you have your blood tested after taking T3, you are measuring the amount of T3 that is in your blood at that particular time of day - a couple of hours later would show a different result, a couple of hours after that, yet a different result again. My endocrinologist tells me not to take any thyroid hormone replacement (I take Armour and a little thyroxine) on the day I go in for a blood test.

luv - Sheila

Re: Confused

Glad it's not just me confused then! One reason for checking this out was because I came across the quote (below) which seemed to say we should take our meds and I noticed it in particular because it had Dr. M's name on it:"Dr. M****l is a UK doctor that treats environmental illnesses. The following is her treatment regime for correcting low thyroid function in her patients: After three months the levels of T4 and T3 should be rechecked (the tablets should be taken on the day of checking). Blood for testing T3 levels needs to be taken 1-4 hours after taking the T3 tablets. " (www.ei-resource.org/illness-information/related-conditions/thyroid-treatments /).I know she is referring specifically to T3 but . . . . . . . Think I'm still confused! Any more thoughts anybody?>The longer you can stay off thyroxine the better chance to get > an 'unscrewed' result. > > > > Luv - Sheila> >

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[Guest guest]

The usual way to go is to increase by half a grain every 3 to 4 weeks until you start to feel uncomfortable with possible palpitations, dizziness, sweating and spaced out. This just tells you that you have reached your "!sweet spot" and your body has all the thyroid hormones it needs, so you stop your last increase and stay on the dose you were on previously. This is a very good way to find out your body's total requirement.

Luv - Sheila

HiFor the first time ever I stopped my Thyroid medication for 48hoursbefore my latest blood tests and it showed up a shortage of T4. As Ihad never done this before my blood tests had always come back asfine. It has been an eye opener for me as I hadn't realized that itcould affect my results quite so much.I will most certainly always dothis in future.I am on Armour thyroid 4 grains and 20 milligrams ofT3. I have now added another half a grain to my meds with a view toraising it still further. My GP is monitoring this for me.Regards Frances

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[Guest guest]

....and had you had the tablets before your blood test, you would have shown normal and not been given an increase in your medication.

luv - Sheila

HiI too stopped my thyroid meds for 24 hours before my last blood testfor the first time. My T4 came back below normal range and my T3 waslow normal. All previous blood tests had come back within range eventhough I had symptoms. My T3 dose has just been increased followingthese results.Lizzie> > Hi> For the first time ever I stopped my Thyroid medication for 48hours> before my latest blood tests and it showed up a shortage of T4. As I> had never done this before my blood tests had always come back as> fine. It has been an eye opener for me as I hadn't realized that it> could affect my results quite so much.I will most certainly always do> this in future.I am on Armour thyroid 4 grains and 20 milligrams of> T3. I have now added another half a grain to my meds with a view to> raising it still further. My GP is monitoring this for me.> > Regards Frances>

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[Guest guest]

Hi ,

It depends on what you are having the blood test for. I just take my normal pills the morning before my blood test & nothing on the day of the test until after the blood is drawn - I make sure I have this done first thing in the day. This result then tells me if the level of thyroxine & armour I am taking is giving me the right levels of thyroid in my blood.

Some people say to stop taking it as long as possible before but this is more to show a need for thyroid to doctors who may if not, not believe your hypothyroid status. I have already been diagnosed by blood tests years ago so do not need to prove a need now, just need to show that I am monitoring it correctly by taking the correct amounts of drugs.

Val

I've noticed on a number of occasions in different posts what I think isthe suggestion that we stop taking medication before a blood test: haveI got this right or am I confused? I'm only on Levothyroxine (175mcgdaily) and am due more blood tests next week, so do I stop taking thetablets and, if so, from when? Why would I do this anyway? Can somebodyspell this out for me as I think the brain fog is winning at the moment!Thanks in advance.Regards

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

The recommendation is not to take meds on the days of the test until after

blood has been drawn- as recently taken meds can make to tests look better than

they really are- leading to undermedication. This applies more to meds

containing T3 which can have a very dramatic effect if you don’t. My

usual T3 shows 3.5 ,but after meds it showed 11 resulting in a cut of

meds by GP who panicked- Dr. S said not surprised and reinstated dose level.

Subject:

Confused

Hi all

I've noticed on a number of occasions in different posts what I think is the suggestion that we stop

taking medication before a blood test: have I got this right or am I confused?

I'm only on Levothyroxine (175mcg daily) and am due more blood tests next week,

so do I stop taking the tablets and, if so, from when? Why would I do this

anyway? Can somebody spell this out for me as I think the brain fog is winning

at the moment! Thanks in advance.

Regards

[Guest guest]

Thanks (and Val previously!)

Think I'm clearer about this now. I'm going to NOT take my meds, which I

normally take first thing in the morning, on the day of the blood test

(next Tuesday). Having always taken them as normal, it'll be interesting

to see if the results show any difference because of not taking them.

Regards

>

> Hi ,

>

> The recommendation is not to take meds on the days of

the test

> until after blood has been drawn- as recently taken meds can make to

tests

> look better than they really are- leading to undermedication.

[Guest guest]

My endocrinologist four months ago, gave me two blood forms - one to get my blood tested on the morning I have taken my Armour and T4 and one to be taken the day after I have taken my meds. This is not due for another month or so ( NOTE: must find my next appoiontment) but I will post both the full thyroid function tests here too.

Luv - Sheila

Re: Confused

Thanks (and Val previously!)Think I'm clearer about this now. I'm going to NOT take my meds, which Inormally take first thing in the morning, on the day of the blood test(next Tuesday). Having always taken them as normal, it'll be interestingto see if the results show any difference because of not taking them.Regards>> Hi ,>> The recommendation is not to take meds on the days ofthe test> until after blood has been drawn- as recently taken meds can make totests> look better than they really are- leading to undermedication.

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[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Welcome to the forum.

Did the consultant tell you your results (the numbers and ranges).

It is always useful to have them to hand in case you need to change

doctor at any time.

'Perfect results and look elsewhere' are the standard responses that

they're all trained to give.

Well-trained animals are like this.

best wishes

Bob

>

> Hi, I'm on the Block & Replace therapy for Graves diseases. I'm

> approaching the end of my 6 months treatment. I've had a few problems

[Guest guest]

Hi Bob,

He showed them to me on his computer screen. I'm annoyed with myself

for not having asked him to print them here and then now i've got to

call the hospital to have them faxed to my GP! Thanks for your

comments.

[Guest guest]

Hi

Welcome to our forum and I hope you get all the help and support you need. We have a lot of information that you would find useful in the FILES section of this forum website, so click on that when you have some time to spare, and read through some of the documents. Also read everything you can on our website under 'Hypothyroidism' - you won't need the 'Hyperthyroidism' section as you appear to have got over this.

On the website, click on Hypothyroidism, and then on the drop down Menu, click on 'Associated Conditions' and then click on each one of those to see what their connection to thyroid disease is. Any questions arising from these documents, and I am sure you will have many, just shout, and somebody will be along to help you.

Please get your last thyroid function test results from your doctor, even though he says they were perfectly normal. You need TSH, Free T4, Free T3 and also, ask your doctor to test your blood to see if you antibodies to your thyroid. This is called Hashimoto's Disease and is a cause of hypothyroidism. If positive, this means the antibodies see your thyroid gland as public enemy number one and set about its destruction, so at the end of the day, you have no thyroid to be able to excrete the thyroid hormones your body needs. Ask him also to test your ferritin level (stored iron). The reference for this is very wide - i.e. for women usually 20 to 200 and if your ferritin level is very low, this will stop your thyroid hormone replacement from being absorbed, and this could be a reason why you are still suffering the symptoms of hypothyroidism. Any of the conditions in 'Associated Conditions' will mean you cannot absorb thyroid replacement if you suffer with any of them - but, sadly, your endocrinologist or GP will know absolutely nothing about these. We can tell you where to get tested and what to do if the tests prove positive - so we will not worry about any of these until you get results.

If your doctor has only tested your TSH, this simply is not enough. I have attached a leaflet from NPTech Services where you can see the tests they do and the prices they charge. You can get the nurse at your surgery to draw your blood or get it drawn at a private hospital near you.

Obviously you have an endocrinologist who is unaware that all the consultants he is wanting to send you to are because all of the symptoms of these ~ belong under the umbrella of hypothyroidism, but at least, he has not sent you home with your tail between your legs telling you that you are "suffering from a functional somatoform disorder" as our dear Professor Weetman wrote in two medical journals. Weetman is ex President of the British Thyroid Association, and I bet my cotton socks that your endocrinologist is also a member and comes out of the same institution.

Would you be able to see a private thyroid specialist - because to be honest, I don't hold out much hope for you getting the support and care you are needing within the NHS with medical practitioners like this. They are simply not equipped to be able to help you.

Meanwhile, we will try to help you as much as we can, so read everything you can, ask loads of questions, post your blood test results and the reference range for each test and ask your GP for the tests I mentioned above.

Luv - Sheila

He told me my TSH blood test was perfect and that if I didn't feel well I should look for a solution elsewhere i.e gynecologist/psychyatrist/dermatologist. I was flabbergasted! obviously pleased to hear my blood test was fine but confused at the same time that it should push aside all my symptoms so easily. What to do?

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