underactive thyroid

[P1ESK]

I am on low dosage of levothyroxine and am now suffering from Baker's cyst. Not feeling too bad really but not sure about statins I was advised to take.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Why are you only on low dose Levothyroxine?

All this tends to do is turn your own thyroid hormone production down

How much Levothyroxine are you currently taking?

Can you add most recent results and ranges for TSH, FT3 and FT4, plus have you also had thyroid antibodies tested

Also if had vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested. Add results and ranges if you have them

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, take last dose 24 hours prior to test, and take next dose straight after test. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

Is this how you do your tests?

Dose of Levothyroxine should be increased slowly in 25mcg steps, retested 6-8 weeks after each increase. This continues until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range

Very important to test vitamins as they are often far too low and need supplementing, especially if antibodies are high (Hashimoto's)

High cholesterol is linked to being hypothyroid and suggests you are not currently adequately treated

Statins are not recommended on NHS website for anyone who is still hypothyroid

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

[dinahnow in reply to SlowDragon]

Please watch either of these videos about why not to take statins: youtube.com/watch?v=k8-TT87...(Not working as expected?)

youtube.com/watch?v=_KTEcZ1...(Not working as expected?)

Dr Bergman also has some brilliant videos on the thyroid, which have transformed my Hashimoto's from active/taking levothyroxine, to now 'healing', no longer any need for thyroxine, and feeling better than in 22 years!!