Re: IMPORTANCE OF STOPPING THYROID MEDICATION BEFORE TESTING

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila,

Thanks for this information, it's probably been suspected that this was the case but to see it in black and white so to speak backs it all up.

Thanks

Stephie

>> Hi Everybody> > > > My endocrinologists and I discussed doing thyroid function tests after> stopping thyroid hormone replacement for 24 hours before the blood was drawn> and testing after thyroid replacement had been taken in a morning. We wanted> to know what difference this would make. I stopped my Armour for 24 hours> before testing and my Free T3 came out at 4.8 pmol/L. I went three days> later to get my blood drawn again for another test and this was done around> 11.00a.m. after taking my Armour at 8.00a.m. that morning. This time, the> test showed my Free T3 at 10.51 pmol/L. This goes to show that so many> doctors get it completely wrong when they see your Free T3 so high and they> tell you that you need to cut back on your medication. If any of you have> been told this, then PLEASE get retested immediately, but make sure you do> not take any thyroid hormone replacement for at least 24 hours before you> have the test and point this out to your doctor.> > > luv - Sheila>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila,

What you have experienced I can verify having had ‘surprise’ blood

tests foisted on me. I too find that if T3 has been taken on the day of the

test it is about double that if the T3 had been taken last the day before.

Seems to have little effect on TSH and free T4 though.

Stenning

Hi Everybody

My endocrinologists and I discussed doing

thyroid function tests after stopping thyroid hormone replacement for 24 hours

before the blood was drawn and testing after thyroid replacement had been taken

in a morning. We wanted to know what difference this would make. I stopped my

Armour for 24 hours before testing and my Free T3 came out at 4.8 pmol/L.

I went three days later to get my blood drawn again for another test and this

was done around 11.00a.m. after taking my Armour at 8.00a.m. that

morning. This time, the test showed my Free T3 at 10.51 pmol/L. This goes to

show that so many doctors get it completely wrong when they see your Free T3 so

high and they tell you that you need to cut back on your medication. If any of

you have been told this, then PLEASE get retested immediately, but make sure

you do not take any thyroid hormone replacement for at least 24 hours before

you have the test and point this out to your doctor.

luv - Sheila

[Guest guest]

This puzzles me, because if it is the T3 which causes the TSH to go extra low, and the T3 is stopped for a while, how long would one have to stop the T3 for the TSH to show what it would be like before taking the T3 I wonder.

Lilian

What you have experienced I can verify having had ‘surprise’ blood tests foisted on me. I too find that if T3 has been taken on the day of the test it is about double that if the T3 had been taken last the day before. Seems to have little effect on TSH and free T4 though.

[Guest guest]

Hi Lilian,

In my case I don’t think it

would have any effect as I take 3 grains Armour which contains considerable T4.

I seem to recall reading something that T3 hangs around much longer than the

1-2 day half life originally thought- naturally I didn’t save it Grrr!

Subject: Re:

IMPORTANCE OF STOPPING THYROID MEDICATION BEFORE TESTING

This puzzles me,

because if it is the T3 which causes the TSH to go extra low, and the T3 is

stopped for a while, how long would one have to stop the T3 for the TSH to show

what it would be like before taking the T3 I wonder.

Lilian

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Well I found out the hard way It took two months of being off Armour before any rise in TSH showed.

After two months of 100mcg thyroxine only my TSH went up to 0.48.

Two months after the thyroxine was increased to 125mcg my TSH went up to 1.81.

And my GP cannot see a simple thing as - if thyroxine alone was the answer then why is my TSH going up the more thyroxine I am given.

Lilian

Hi Lilian,

In my case I don’t think it would have any effect as I take 3 grains Armour which contains considerable T4. I seem to recall reading something that T3 hangs around much longer than the 1-2 day half life originally thought- naturally I didn’t save it Grrr!

[Guest guest]

Hi Lilian,

Did you get a tertiary (teaching hospital) referral?

Looks like the guy's trying to make you sick?

best wishes

Bob

> Hi ,

> Well I found out the hard way It took two months of being

off Armour before any rise in TSH showed.

> After two months of 100mcg thyroxine only my TSH went up to 0.48.

> Two months after the thyroxine was increased to 125mcg my TSH went

up to 1.81.

> And my GP cannot see a simple thing as - if thyroxine alone was the

answer then why is my TSH going up the more thyroxine I am given.

>

> Lilian

[Guest guest]

Go to

our LabGab forum and read about the half life of T3 there thyroid treatment-LABGAB/

Luv -

Sheila

Hi Lilian,

In my case I don’t think it would have any effect as I take 3 grains

Armour which contains considerable T4. I seem to recall reading something that

T3 hangs around much longer than the 1-2 day half life originally thought-

naturally I didn’t save it Grrr!

Subject: Re:

IMPORTANCE OF STOPPING THYROID MEDICATION BEFORE TESTING

This puzzles me, because

if it is the T3 which causes the TSH to go extra low, and the T3 is stopped for

a while, how long would one have to stop the T3 for the TSH to show what it

would be like before taking the T3 I wonder.

Lilian

[Guest guest]

Hi guys,

I think the TSH raising thing is related to time with both T4 and T3 -

I had my dose dropped down suddenly and it took 1 1/2 years for the

TSH to creep out of the reference range.

Can't remember where I read it - but i have heard that TSH is a bit

like an ocean liner turning - it's not a quick process...

Also I remember reading the TSH relates more to how long you've been

deficient in TH, than how deficient you are...

Leah xxx

>

> Hi ,

>

> Well I found out the hard way It took two months of being

off Armour before any rise in TSH showed.

>

> After two months of 100mcg thyroxine only my TSH went up to 0.48.

>

> Two months after the thyroxine was increased to 125mcg my TSH went

up to 1.81.

>

> And my GP cannot see a simple thing as - if thyroxine alone was the

answer then why is my TSH going up the more thyroxine I am given.

>

> Lilian

>

>

> Hi Lilian,

> In my case I don't think it would have any effect

as I take 3 grains Armour which contains considerable T4. I seem to

recall reading something that T3 hangs around much longer than the 1-

2 day half life originally thought- naturally I didn't save it Grrr!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Lilian,

Silly man! Can’t he see

the harm he is doing? What is he waiting for- total collapse?

Subject: Re:

IMPORTANCE OF STOPPING THYROID MEDICATION BEFORE

TESTING

Hi ,

Well I found out the hard way It took

two months of being off Armour before any rise in TSH showed.

After two months of 100mcg thyroxine only my TSH went up to 0.48.

Two months after the thyroxine was increased to 125mcg my TSH went

up to 1.81.

And my GP cannot see a simple thing as - if thyroxine alone

was the answer then why is my TSH going up the more thyroxine I am

given.

Lilian

Hi

Lilian,

In my case I don’t think it

would have any effect as I take 3 grains Armour which contains considerable T4.

I seem to recall reading something that T3 hangs around much longer than the

1-2 day half life originally thought- naturally I didn’t save it Grrr!

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Fortunately I have a new consultant who has 'started' me on the T3 slowly does it protocol. At least he recognises that T3 is needed. I must mention to him when I see him next, at the end of January, that I have already been through the gradual increase to get to where I was originally.

My GP is a BTF sheep.

Lilian

Silly man! Can’t he see the harm he is doing? What is he waiting for- total collapse?

[Guest guest]

Lilian

- you never told us what Dr E is like - his bed-side manner etc and

whether you believe he does know what he is talking about and that he does care

for his patients.

Luv -

Sheila

From:

thyroid treatment

[mailto:thyroid treatment ] On Behalf Of Lilian

Sent: 10 December 2008 18:56

To:

thyroid treatment

Subject: Re:

IMPORTANCE OF STOPPING THYROID MEDICATION BEFORE

TESTING

Hi

,

Fortunately

I have a new consultant who has 'started' me on the T3 slowly does it

protocol. At least he recognises that T3 is

needed. I must mention to him when I see him next, at

the end of January, that I have already been through the gradual increase to

get to where I was originally.

My

GP is a BTF sheep.

Lilian

Silly man! Can’t he see the harm he is doing? What is he waiting for-

total collapse?

[Guest guest]

Sheila, I am reserving my opinion until I see him next at the end of January.

Yes, he is a very nice man with a very nice bedside manner, yet the previous consultant also had a very nice bedside manner.

He did say he takes into consideration how the patient feels as well as the blood test results, and he did prescribe some T3 albeit the tiniest amount possible. He did write to my GP increasing it to 10mcg. So I am not sure whether he is just being extra cautious and has not gone into my previous history (so starting me all over again), or whether he doesn't quite understand. Or whether having been off it for five months it would be better to start slowly all over again.

We shall see more at the end of January.

Lilian

[Guest guest]

Hi Lilian,

Slow progress indeed. The

problem is as you don’t see them often enough for them to remember who

you are and what you’ve been through without reading notes and being reminded

all the time. I hope you get a good dose increase in Jan. T3 really is a magic

pill.

Subject: Re:

IMPORTANCE OF STOPPING THYROID MEDICATION BEFORE

TESTING

Hi ,

Fortunately I have a new consultant who has 'started' me on the T3

slowly does it protocol. At least he recognises that T3 is

needed. I must mention to him when I see him next, at

the end of January, that I have already been through the gradual increase to

get to where I was originally.

My GP is a BTF sheep.

Lilian

Silly man! Can’t he see

the harm he is doing? What is he waiting for- total collapse?