At last lab results back comments please.

[siskin]

TSH 2.71 (0.35-3.50 Free thyroxine 18 ( 8-21) FT3 4.8 (3.8-6)

Anti Thyroid Peroxidase antibody 8.0 (0.0-34)

At the same time as 1st TSH a 2nd one was taken for a different set of bloods. TSH was 2.87 and FT4 down to 17.0 don't know which was actually taken 1st. but both from same vein same tourniquet just a few seconds apart.

Also high cholesterol 6.2 (3.-5.0) LDLC 3.8 (0.4-3.0) HDLC 1.92 (0.85-2.00) Total Cholesterol/HDL ratio 3.2

I don't think I will be able to convince doc my feeling rotten has got anything to do with thyroid . Uggh

don't know what to do now.

[shaws]

Hi Siskin,

I'm sorry I don't know your history as it's not on your profile. I assume you haven't been diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

Or, if you have, your TSH is too high for you to feel well. Also higher cholesterol is a clear symptom of hypothyroidism.

The TSH varies throughout the day and there is slight variations.

If you are on levothyroxine, email [e-mail] and ask for a copy of Dr Toft's article in Pulse Online. He states how low we can go with medication and discuss more medication from your GP. See Question 6 but ignore last para (typical what they really think). They just haven't a clue really. Doctors may offer statins for high cholesterol, when in fact it reduces with thyroid medication if we are hypo.

[siskin in reply to shaws]

Thank you for replying shaws, I was diagnosed as hypo T by an ENT who had endo training in that area.

Was put on 50mcg levo. in March 13 Did not really have time to find the full effects as I had a hip replacment in the June when I went into hosp. for 4 night stay but ended 24 nights. was so ill couldn't gauge levo. effect. When I came out GP stopped levo as he was afraid as TSH had reduced he thought that was bad.!!!!.

Then I could not get any help. Have changed doc practice but I am unsure what the new doc will say with the above results.

My picture is confusing as RA 20 yrs. Fibro diagnosed??? PMR on prednisalone. As I am 76, according to previous doc., it's all my age.

Oh well onward and downward or perhaps not. (:-))

[shaws in reply to siskin]

Ask your doctor to raise your T4 to 75mcg as you don't feel well. He should if you cholesterol is too high. Mind you, do they know high cholesterol is a symptom. If he does you've picked a good one. After 6 weeks at 75mcg and you still feel unwell, ask for another increase.

[siskin]

Hi Sandy12, my brother 5 yrs younger has PMR and hypoT is on thyroxine and pred . My mother had PMR and was on pred for about the last 12 yrs. of her life. aged 93 when died. I remember most of her life she was unwell always tired and depressed. Had injections about every 3 months but don't know what for but she certainly improved for a while.

I will google thyroid resistance, thank you for that.

[shaws in reply to siskin]

Siskin,I think your mother must have had Pernicious Anaemia.

[siskin in reply to shaws]

Hi shaws, thinking back you are probably right, but if I remember she was probably in her 60s or even later before she got help.

Like most women of her generation she never complained but I know she suffered Post Natal Depression exacerbated by very sudden loss of her mother to meningitis 3 weeks before I was born.

Then had to go through the bombing in London, during which time I had whooping cough and double pneumonia, she had a choice from the doctor, stay in the house and risk bombing or go to damp underground shelter.

Interestingly I never ever remember her being ill as such, just so depressed and tired and now I understand. I didn't then.

.

[shaws in reply to siskin]

Get your B12 checked too, as it can run in families, my Mother had P.A. and so do I. A deficiency can point towards PA, although the tests they do nowadays, don't actually confirm it, I am told.

[frogandprincess]

When you say avoid the statins, I agree, but my private doctor was deliberating on Red Rice Yeast for me, which has natural plant statin and has a long tradition of use in Chinese medicine. Is that any safer than synthetic statins? Just because it's as plant doesn't make it non-poisonous, look at the nightshade family, and digitalis, even mangoes belong to a well known 'poison' or allergenic family of plants ... it all gets very very complicated.

[frogandprincess]

So, from what you say, Sandy12, since I know I have hypothyroidism, I should concentrate on the thyroid and embrace the cholesterol, because the cholesterol buildup should go down as my thyroid function improves ...?

And if that is the case, I ought to tell my Naturopath doctor to hold off on prescribing red rice yeast because it is a natural statin. Have I understood this correctly?