Cholesterol levels

[clarence2013]

Hi all

I've been reading that high cholesterol levels can be a symptom of hypothyroid. I had a blood test and my cholesterol levels are abnormally low (I'm hypothyroid).

Any advice? I read that organic coconut oil is good for this?

[helvella Administrator]

I too found I no have very low (but seemingly acceptable) cholesterol levels.

GP was quite amazed - a patient who doesn't "need" statins!!!

I simply accepted it, did a little reading, and forgot about it.

Rod

[clarence2013 in reply to helvella]

This is my result:

Lipid Profile

Cholesterol 4.9 mmol/L (0 - 5.2)

Triglycerides 1.8 mmol/L (Less than2.26)

HDL cholesterol 1.4 mmol/L (More than 1.68)

[helvella Administrator in reply to clarence2013]

I think my cholesterol was 4.2 (one notch inside range). But you know what it's like - if you are in range, "God's in his Heaven/All's right with the world!"

I have no idea what to say about your results. But I am still here! Maybe I increased my butter intake?

Rod

[nobodysdriving in reply to helvella]

it's the HDL cholesterol which is low in Clarence2013 results, this is the 'good cholesterol'.

By reading Dr Myhill's page you can get an idea on how to help it get better:

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Cholest...

she talks about the importance of omega 3/6/9, I'd say it might help you Clarence to drink a tablespoon of 'hemp oil' every day from now on, hemp oil has the correct ratio of 3/6/9 which is very good for us. Also look at the other suggestions given in the page and see what you could adjust/make better.

My total cholesterol is 3.7 however my HDL is good, it is 2.46 and my LDL is 099 with triglycerides at 0.56.

What is your LDL Clarence2013?

[helvella Administrator in reply to nobodysdriving]

You are so right - I was reading straight past that!

Rod

[clarence2013 in reply to helvella]

Thanks for all your replies this is such a fantastic forum x

[clarence2013 in reply to nobodysdriving]

Is that this one?

Low density lipoprotein

2.68

mmol/L

(2.5 - 4.5)

[snowstorm in reply to helvella]

What is this obsession physicians have re cholesterol???. Levels go up and down anyway, everybody is different, if your good cholesterol is good there really is no problem. My level has always been around 6.4/6.3. 6.4 used to be the norm. To have an overall level of 3. something cannot be healthy. We need both. Not everyone with higher TSH (and that varies too) has a cholesterol problem.

On top of that, if TSH has something to do with it, would it not be interesting to check vit D, if too low, (and I do NOT mean out of range) supplement, see what difference that has on TSH and in turn cholesterol.

[Penny_babe2001]

I was surprised to find out that thyroid can affect cholesterol levels being low. I had read it can increase it - my last result was 3.8!! (not sure on what was HDL tho as was only given the whole figure).

The GP almost fell off his chair when he read it; he was one of those that gives out the statins regardless (he put my hubby on them and his cholesterol was 4.2, and he is 6'4 and overweight!)

[tdcco]

Hi guys, am very jealous of you all. Before becoming hypo I had a cholesterol level of 3.9, never changed. I am now 5.8. My west of Scotland

Gp thinks this is great because his is 7! No statins for me. If you have any idea how you are managing this please pass it on as it bothers me that my numbers have increased.Anne x

[Stourie in reply to tdcco]

Hi Anne when I was diagnosed hypo my cholesterol was 14.85 and it just came down naturally on levo. I haven't a clue as to what it is now but it did go down to 4.6. May be you need more levo.

Jo xx

[tdcco in reply to Stourie]

Hi Jo, I am at the moment trying to sort out my meds. I am experiencing some rushes and temperature problems and amtrying to space doses to stop this. Am on the lowest dose I have ever been on but as usual getting very little help from endo or Gp so am going it alone. In process of stamping my foot to go out of area to a thyroid specialist. My endos speciality is diabetes as they all are in this area. Will use this information to add to my fight,I thought I was stuck with the increase as a result of being on Levo at all. So thank you all for giving me another argument and to you Jo for your reply.x

[Stourie in reply to tdcco]

You're welcome.

Jo xx

[Hidden in reply to Stourie]

Hi. I know this is an old post but my cholesterol is about 11 at the moment. Doc won't diagnose hypo as he said TSH is OK at 5.6. Not sure I agree. He said that sort of TSH wouldn't cause chol as high as 11. Just wondered what your TSH was when your chol was 14. Many thanks.

[Stourie in reply to Hidden]

Hi Bunty my cholesterol was over 100 by that time but everybody is different. Since your tsh is already high would he not give you a trial of levo to see if it did bring your chol down. You could always ask for a trial of levo and tell him that if you didn't feel good you would just stop taking it. It's worth a try. Within 6 months my chol was down to 4.6 and that was just the levo. I didn't cut out saturated fat or anything. Good luck. xx

[Hidden]

When first diagnosed 10 years ago my cholesterol was 7.5 and was told this was a symptom of hypo. Since then it has never gone much below 6 and the latest test showed a good HDL/LDL ratio. It bothers my GP that I won't take statins. Until I am properly medicated and feeling well I don't feel I will get a true value for me. However, I did wonder whether everyone has a different natural level and this is just the GP going on his reference ranges again and giving him an excuse to push statins.