Hashimotos / Hypothyroidism and Cholesterol - Should I be concerned?

[wrestlehealth]

Hi everyone. This community is great, and I'm happy to have found it.

Some of you may recall I posted a couple months ago and shared my blood levels. I have been told I'm hypothyroid / Hashimotos (or borderline heading there). Until recently I have not paid too much attention to my cholesterol levels, but they have been on the rise, and this is causing me concern.

I was hoping to gather some input on whether my concern is legit, and if I should act, and what you recommend I do. I know cholesterol is supposed to be a good thing in terms of repair or for the brain, but there is so much conflicting info on what is good, what ratios are bad, etc.

To this point, I have been trying to treat my thyroid condition naturally to see where that gets me, so I have never been prescribed to take thyroid replacement / hormone to this point. The main culprit for me is that I have low T3, and I am under converting, it seems. I have recently read about hypo conditions leading to higher cholesterol, and not being able to efficiently use it. That seems scary.

Here was my latest blood work done on March 15.

I am a male, 35 years old, btw.

Thyroid

TSH 1.8-3.0: 2.54

T4 6-12: 6.8

Free T3 3-4: 2.7

T3 100-180: 85

Free T4 1-1.5: 1.4

Reverse T3 25-30: 26.4

FTI (Fre Thyroxine Index) 1.2-4.9: 2.0

TPO Ab 0-9: 14 - above lab range

TAA Ab: < 1.0 -above lab range

Cholesterols

Cholesterol 150-199: 253

Triglycerides 75-100: 59

LDL <99: 177

HDL 55-80: 64

Col / HDL Ratio <3.1: 4.0

Others of note or were curious:

Vitamin D25 50-100: 55.7

Homoceysteine <7: 7.2

Anion Gap 7-15: 19.3

Serum Iron 85-130: 82

Ferritin 100-236: 208

TIBC 250-350: 305

Iron Saturation 15-55%: 27%

Hgb 14-15: 16.5

Hit 39-55%: 48.5

RBC 4.4-4.9: 5.33

WBC 5-8: 5.4

If you could offer input, suggestions, experience / experiences, that would be much appreciated.

Also, has anyone raised their T3 naturally, and or adjusted their cholesterol to proper proportions with a thyroid condition? If so, how were you able to do it?

Also, if you need any other data please let me know.

Thank you in advance.

[Greekchick]

I am not an expert on Hashimotos and there are people much better than me at interpreting blood work. I can tell you though, as one who is surgically hypothyroid (TT 13 weeks ago) that your T3 is very low - like me, you are not converting T4 to T3 by yourself. Your TSH and T4 are also off.

You are right to be concerned, but your cholesterol will go down when your hypothyroidism is properly treated. Please check posts of SlowDragon and SeasideSuzie who regularly provide a listing of the proper test readings and what they recommend.

I don’t know where you live , but most of the folks on this forum live in the UK and won’t post again till tomorrow. I’m in Canada and saw your post, but in the meantime you can check out their information. Also, if you scroll the recent posts on the home page, quite a few people have had the same question you do in the last few days and there may be some helpful answers there for you.

To answer your other question, I just started on T3 this week after it became clear I could not be treated on Synthroid alone and needed Cytomel (T3) . I feel like a different person after only 5 days. I felt dead on Synthroid alone - I was sleeping 2 hours in the afternoon and was unable to work. I am finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel - not there yet and don’t expect to be for awhile, but I’m getting there! There will be many more dose adjustments before it’s right - I am targeting another 9 months to get properly adjusted.

Hope this helps you and wishing you all the best . Hope you feel better soon and get the treatment you need.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Greekchick]

I, too, found adding T3 to T4 amazing as oxygen seemed to flood my body.

[wrestlehealth in reply to Greekchick]

Thank you so much for the reply Greekchick for sharing your experience and info about the forum and helpful users. BTW, I'm in the US in Connecticut, so Eastern Standard Time (NY).

I get pretty dead after lunch too. I thought that was kinda normal for years as "that 2 o'clock feeling". Glad to hear you are beginning to feel better and on the rebound!

BTW, what type of Dr's are you seeing over in the UK? Straight up endo's? Naturopath or functional medicine practitioner?

[Greekchick in reply to wrestlehealth]

Thanks for your good wishes! I am seeing an endo at a major teaching hospital here in Canada. If you have Hashis, you should really be followed by one - however, certainly supplement your care by seeing other people like a naturopath who can help you along as well - make sure they understand your disease - not all really know how to manage it. Good luck and be well!

[greygoose]

I can't work out how your results/ranges work with what you've written.

Free T3 3-4: 2.7

Which is the result and which the range? The range cannot possibly 3 - 4, surely? Normally, we write them like this:

FT3 result (range)

But, if the bottom of the range is 3 and your FT3 is 2.7, then you are very hypo. And it would be surprising if your cholesterol wasn't high. It will come down when you raise your FT3. But, in the meantime, don't worry about it. Cholesterol does not cause heart attacks or strokes.

You're right that you have poor conversion (I think I've understood your results correctly). Hashi's people often do have poor conversion, and there's not much you can do about that. Although, low nutrients could be exacerbating the problem. Your vit D is very low. Have you had your vit B12 and folate tested?

As for raising your FT3 'naturally' - I think that must be my most hated word in the English language! - unless supplementing your low nutrients improves your conversion, no, there is no way you can do that.

But, then again, depends on your definition of 'naturally'. Do you consider taking thyroid hormone replacement 'unnatural'? That's the way it's normally done: levo, T3, NDT. They're about as natural as you can get. And a good way of staying alive! And, taking some T3 will raise your FT3 and lower your cholesterol. What's not to like?

[wrestlehealth in reply to greygoose]

Hi greygoose , thanks for the reply.

Sorry for the strange format, but you read it correctly. Here it is reformatted:

Thyroid

TSH 2.54 (1.8-3.0)

T4 6.8 (6-12)

Free T3 2.7 (3-4)

T3 85 (100-180)

Free T4 1.4 (1-1.5)

Reverse T3 26.4 (25-30)

FTI (Fre Thyroxine Index) 2.0 (1.2-4.9)

TPO Ab 14 - above lab range (0-9)

TAA Ab: -above lab range (< 1.0)

Cholesterols

Cholesterol 253 (150-199)

Triglycerides 59 (75-100)

LDL 177 (<99)

HDL 64 (55-80)

Col / HDL Ratio 4.0 (<3.1)

Others of note or were curious:

Vitamin D25 55.7 (50-100)

Homocysteine 7.2 (<7)

Anion Gap 19.3 (7-15)

Serum Iron 82 (85-130)

Ferritin 208 (100-236)

TIBC 305 (250-350)

Iron Saturation 27% (15-55%)

Hgb 16.5 (14-15)

Hit 48.5 (39-55%)

RBC 5.33 (4.4-4.9)

WBC 5.4 (5.0-8.0)

Also my B12 is 986 (>550)

Folate is now >20 (>8.0)

My folate in my previous readings had been low, around 6 (range is greater than 8). I also discovered I was homozygous on the MTHFR1298C gene, so I began to supplement with Methylfolate and Thorne Methylguard, which has other B Vitamins / co-factors, and it has seemed to raise my levels, and possibly lower homocysteine too down to 7, which is still high, but my previous reading was a 10 which caused me some alarm. I also take anti inflammatories / antioxidants like cumurcin and resveratrol, one pill in morning and evening to try to address inflammation.

Vitamin D levels have been chronically low. I was in the 40's prior to this, possibly 30's before, and 55.7 is the highest I've ever gotten it, as now I'm religious about supplementing D3. I discovered I was homozygous on the VDR Taq gene too, which can inhibit Vitamin D absorption, so I supplement with D3 each day. What is the general safe dosage per day of Vitamin D people take on the forum? I used to take around 3 drops, but then raised it for several weeks. I have felt off recently, but not sure if it's that and I'm overdoing it.

Regarding "naturally", I hear you. I suppose I meant trying to get my body to the point it can do it on it's own. Maybe I'm too much an optimist in that regard. I'm worry if there is any chance for me to accomplish that, that I might sabotage it by taking thyroid hormones, which I feel might make my body even lazier and rely on the pills... Perhaps unfounded thoughts, but it's what crosses my mind. I suppose I'm propping myself up with all the digestive aids I'm using now anyway.

I will say with each day I am more strongly considering going on thyroid hormone, as I'm beginning to get tired of the grind. I've had some strange symptoms lately of fullness, and feeling like I was either bloated and full or was going to have a heart attack. I can't tell which one (funny but not funny), hence my cholesterol question. But I think if it's a heart attack, cardiac or stroke I would know (I hope). I think maybe too much Vit D is messing with me as I think I was up to 6-8 drops per day, which I'll scale back. I've been on digestive aids and enzymes for years (Bitters, Thorne biogest w HCL and PURE Encapsulations Digestive Enzymes Ultra), that I feel like I may be beginning to reject those. So confusing to find the smoking gun. After balancing thyroid hormone do people generally regain digestive ability?

And there is definitely a lot to like about your last sentence in raising T3 and lowering cholesterol.

Is there a special type of Dr you would recommend I see? Don't some endos only know T4? Would you recommend a functional medicine person? Naturopath? Or the best endo I can find?

[greygoose in reply to wrestlehealth]

That’s better! 

So, TSH 2.54 (1.8-3.0) is too high for comfort. Your thyroid is struggling to make enough hormone to keep you well.

T4 and T3 aren’t much use, really, as tests go.

Free T3 2.7 (3-4) is much, much too low. It’s low T3 that causes hypo symptoms. And most hypos need it nearer the top of the range.

Free T4 1.4 (1-1.5) that’s high, and is what is causing your highish rT3 - Reverse T3 26.4 (25-30) Although that is a very strange range for rT3, are you sure that's right? Reduce the levo and take some direct T3, and the levels would all sort themselves out.

TPO Ab 14 - above lab range (0-9)

TAA Ab: -above lab range (< 1.0)

You have Hashi’s if they’re above range.

Vitamin D25 55.7 (50-100) I’m afraid I’m not very good with vit D, so can’t advise you there. I would suggest you post a new question, asking just about that, so that those that know will see it and reply.

Ferritin 208 (100-236) This looks high, but that could be due to your inflammation. When you’ve reduced the inflammation, test again.

Also my B12 is 986 (>550) That’s fine.

Regarding "naturally", I hear you. I suppose I meant trying to get my body to the point it can do it on it's own.

I’m afraid you are a bit too optimistic. You have Hashi’s, and Hashi’s doesn’t go away. It is slowly destroying your thyroid, meaning that it will be less and less capable of doing it on its own.

I'm worry if there is any chance for me to accomplish that, that I might sabotage it by taking thyroid hormones, which I feel might make my body even lazier and rely on the pills...

It has nothing to do with laziness! Goodness! I don’t believe in laziness – especially not for a thyroid, which is struggling bravely on, doing its best whilst under continued attack from the immune system. No, taking thyroid hormones will not sabotage anything. Whilst you are taking them, the thyroid might stop producing hormone, that’s normal, but if, for whatever reason, you stopped taking them, they thyroid would take up the slack and produce as much hormone as it was capable again. I know. I’ve done it.

"I've had some strange symptoms lately of fullness, and feeling like I was either bloated and full or was going to have a heart attack."

You probably have low stomach acid. Most hypos do. And, that means that food stays in your stomach, undigested, and ferments, giving the impress of fullness and bloating.

"I can't tell which one (funny but not funny), hence my cholesterol question."

I understand. But cholesterol does not cause heart attacks. Being hypo does.

"I think maybe too much Vit D is messing with me as I think I was up to 6-8 drops per day, which I'll scale back."

I’m not sure excess vit D would present like that.

"I've been on digestive aids and enzymes for years (Bitters, Thorne biogest w HCL and PURE Encapsulations Digestive Enzymes Ultra)"

Have you tried Apple Cider Vinegar? Lots of people find that helpful. You need to increase the acid level.

After balancing thyroid hormone do people generally regain digestive ability?

Three things affect stomach acid: low thyroid hormone, low B12 and low-salt diets. And your B12 is fine. How’s your salt intake? I do believe that it does sort itself out once your T3 is optimal. But, it’s not something I’ve ever had a problem with, so can’t say from personal experience.

"Is there a special type of Dr you would recommend I see?"

Very few doctors know anything about thyroid. There are thyroid specialists, but they’re very few and hard to find. Most endos – whom you would expect to be specialists in all hormones – are diabetes specialists (and apparently don’t know much about that, either!) and have some very weird ideas about thyroid. Functional me medicine doctors and naturopaths seem to have even weirder ideas, and certainly are not well versed in thyroid for the most part. You’ve got to know something about a particular doctor before you take the plunge – recommendations from a fellow hypo, or something. They doctor who helped me the most (and, frankly, that’s not saying much) was an anti-aging doctor who has Hashi’s himself. But, even he wanted me to take iodine, claiming it would cure Hashi’s! However, if you email Dionne at:

[e-mail]

She will send you her list of doctors recommended by members on here. But, I would suggest that if one takes your fancy, you ask on here for feed-back by PM.

[jgelliss in reply to greygoose]

Your *Spot On* . Most patients starting out with their thyroid journey have No Clue where to beginning . I know that my own journey started out knowing "0" . I trusted my Endo/Dr's that they had my best interest at heart . Only to find out that I felt sick and tired of being sick and tired . Dr's are unfortunately are not well trained with thyroid issues /dosing . There are far and few that out of the *Box* and *Get It*.

It's Great Forums like this that Administrators and Great Members that are sharing their own experiences that are helping many of us . *Thankfully* .

[Skylane2]

If you want to raise your thyroid levels naturally, try kelp. This is basically seaweed and contains iodine which your thyroid needs to be healthy. I have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis which is an inflammation of the thyroid . With Hashimoto’s you will have high cholesterol levels even if you eat healthy. You also tend to be over weight. Until you get your thyroid normalized this is just the way is. I take armor thyroid tablets and have been for 2 years. I’m finally seeing results. My cholesterol is Normal,my TSH is normal and I can convert the T4 to T3. I felt like I would never loose enough weight to fit into my nice ( older)!clothes but now I can. Please be patient with yourself , and take the meds if you need to. BTW I’m in the US in California

[wrestlehealth in reply to Skylane2]

Hi Skylane thanks for the input. I've tried iodine in the past but it makes me feel scary horrible, so I try to avoid it, honestly. I know for some people they say it works, but I don't think it was for me. Edit** Izabella Wentz and others have suggested not doing that until the hashis is in remission. People really need to educate themselves and speak with their Dr.s on it.

Its interesting because I have very hypo symptoms with about everything, except the weight thing... I'm underweight, like I have poor absorption, etc. It stinks.

[Greekchick]

I am sorry but I must respectfully disagree with the comment about iodine. The American Thyroid Association strongly recommends against iodine for Hashimoto’s patients because it further damages those patients’ thyroids by further reducing its function and making them more hyperthyroid. I cannot comment on what worked for others, but this is not recommended by the experts.

Please verify this with your endocrinologist as well - all info you receive should be verified by a medical professional. I am not a doctor. Check the ATA website for this information. Others on this forum have also made this point, many who have Hashis. I have Graves’ disease myself, also an autoimmune disease.

Please do eat a good diet - this is great advice for all thyroid patients. You are young and whatever you do now will influence your health for a long time- you must be particularly careful because you have an autoimmune disease. All the best.

[jgelliss in reply to Greekchick]

Yes I agree with you . We *Must* be very careful what we buy into . You might just make matters worse .

[Greekchick]

Correction - will make you more hypothyroid!!! So sorry...

[Flecmac]

I have hashimotos and high cholesterol. Knew it wasn’t related to diet or lifestyle etc like gp said. My Endo has told me it’s DEFINITELY to do with Hashi’s and not being correctly diagnosed or treated for many years!!!