Do you skip your thyroid meds on lab days?

[TamraW]

I went for my labwork today. Hopefully, I will get my meds raised because I still feel hypo.

My endo's nurse told me not to take my Synthroid before my lab this morning. I thought that was weird, but I took my Synthroid after labwork.

The lab tech said that I would not get an accurate reading.  Should it make that big of a difference since I have been consistend with my Synthroid for the past three months?

Any thoughts?

Thanks!
:) Tamra

[LazyMoose]

Ha!........"So if you are wanting a bump, it is to your advantage to wait on taking the meds until after the bloodwork."

Thats funny! My exact thoughts too, but I didnt want to push the fact that we sometimes have to be 'sneaky' with uninformed docs just to get optimal!  Why do we have to do this #@?#!! ,     errrrrrr!

LOL

[TamraW]

My endo, the fourth one after quite a search, knows a lot about thyroid disease. Initially, I had asked the forum if it was normal to wait to take the thryoid meds until after bloodwork, because my endo's nurse had told me to hold off on the meds. After the labs I spoke with my endo, and he does advise all of his patients to wait until after bloodwork to take meds.

Which means that if the lab opens at eight, no coffee or food until nine!

Blah!

But my FT4 was a 1.0 when I'd skipped the meds. My FT4 was also a 1.0 a month earlier on .25 mcg less hormone. So if you are wanting a bump, it is to your advantage to wait on taking the meds until after the bloodwork.  

:) Tamra

[LazyMoose]

The time a doctor insisted I do an "unscheduled'  lab blood draw right after an appointment with him, screwed up the consistency with all my previous labs. It read higher than I usually like (I like higher free T3 to begin with) on the frees, and he wanted to lower my dose.  I gave him the 'symptom' speech and he left my dose alone. I had another lab weeks later consistent with my previous labs. So, yes meds two hour before without a doubt, messed up my lab results.

Inconsistent test times are not worth it. Need to compare apples to apples. Any  inconstant scientific test in any other industry would be tossed out the window.

**BUT- Years ago on T4 only, I took my med in the morning , 6 AM before labs but CONSISTANTLY had lab work at 4 PM, always. I think you can spread the time frame out on only T4.**

But for a MORNING lab, like others, I would not take my meds again beforehand, T4 or combo.

[McMillanNelson]

This is a good question .. I was not sure either so I asked my doctor so that I will know when I go in for labs soon. I am on Methimazole and the doctor said to stop taking it 3 days before labs.

McMillan

[Barb135]

Maybe with just a T4 med, it wouldn't make that much difference, but it will with a T3 med, such as cytomel or a T4/T3 combo because the T3 goes directly to work.....I guess I'd rather be safe than sorry.........

[Totie]

I have been told that it would not make a difference one way or the other if you take it or not before lab work. I have never been told not to take it.

Now if you miss more than 2-3 days in a row it would.