Have under active thyphoid and now been diagnosed with very high chlostral can anyone recommend what I can take to lower it without statin

[Tiffanys1]

Without taking statins got something Holland n Barrett sprinkle on but has soya in it which can’t use with thyroxine

[Sealsharp1952]

Hi Tiffany have you tried Red Yeast Rice I take this natural herb. It works like a statin but with less side effects. It can have some depending on the person but I would rather take this than a statin. Good luck

[Tiffanys1 in reply to Sealsharp1952]

Thank you I will look for that

[ddavis1398 in reply to Sealsharp1952]

My husband has had great success with Red Yeast Rice - his GP pushed for statin but when he lowered with Red Yeast Rice and improved diet she approved.

[Tiffanys1 in reply to ddavis1398]

Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

High cholesterol is a symptom of underactive thyroid. Maybe you're under medicated. What are your latest results for

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid antibodies

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

[Tiffanys1 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes all my tests are normal I feel really good but found out got high chlostral very common with under active thyphoid and my parents have it too so runs in my genes unfortunately im not even big just 3 different statins all made me so ill so got to find an alternative

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Tiffanys1]

Yes all my tests are normal

"Normal" just means the result is somewhere in range, it doesn't mean optimal. If the range for FT4 is 12-22 and your result was 12, that's normal but you would be undermedicated. If your result was 22, that's normal and you could be optimally medicated, but if your result was 22 and if your FT3 was low you would have a problem converting T4 to T3. So it's results that are needed so we can comment and try to help you.

[Tiffanys1 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Omg that sounds complicated my doctors don’t give me any readings I just phoned and they say all normal got no idea what all readings are

[Tiffanys1 in reply to Tiffanys1]

When I next go doctors i will ask if can have print out of all readings I’ve never asked before but my chlostral been high for years

[Marz in reply to Tiffanys1]

I see you joined this forum some years back so I am surprised you haven't seen the 100's of posts and replies concerning Statins. Same goes with obtaining and monitoring all your results - it's mentioned here on a daily basis. So much information - which can be overwhelming - but information is power and the route to good health. We cannot rely on the Medical profession to keep up with matters thyroid - but you can by reading the latest research/articles posted here ...

Surgeries should now have on-line access to records - so worth asking 😊

[Tiffanys1 in reply to Marz]

I’ve not seen anything im afraid coS I suffer so much with anxiety reading all the posts made me worse so I came off

[Marz in reply to Tiffanys1]

Oh dear ... anxiety can be a Hypo symptom so time for an increase in dose perhaps ?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

A year ago your Levothyroxine dose was reduced

Important to get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing after any dose reduction

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all Primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.

Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

High cholesterol is linked to being hypothyroid

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

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.

[Tiffanys1]

Thank you this has been very helpful I am going to show this all to my doctor , my antibodies are all ok and feratin levels I will find out all other things you have mentioned , I just wanted to know if I can use lecithin granules if anyone else had tried holland n barest said they are most one they sell for lowering chlostral , yes do fast and have blood test in morning then take my medication

[Baobabs in reply to Tiffanys1]

Just be prepared for your doctor to either not accept what you say or have no idea what you are talking about. Believe in yourself.

[Tiffanys1]

Thank you

[Tiffanys1]

So basically I should not take statins

[NWA6 in reply to Tiffanys1]

Hi Tiffany1. If it were me I would not take statins. You are worried about high cholesterol because it’s been drilled into the public that it causes heart disease but I’m afraid I think that that information is at best miseleading and at worst a downright lie!

zoeharcombe.com/2015/03/wor...

[Tiffanys1 in reply to NWA6]

Thank you Paula that what I needed to hear xxx

[Sealsharp1952]

Thank you I respect your opinion but I still feel if you handle the red yeast rice it may help with less side effects. I take it have Hashimoto’s. Thank you

[helvella Administrator in reply to Sealsharp1952]

For myself, I wouldn't take red yeast rice.

I suspect you are not told the monacolin K and citrinin content of the product you take?

Safety

The same types of side effects that can occur in patients taking lovastatin as a drug can also occur in patients who take red yeast rice products that contain monacolin K. Potential side effects include myopathy (muscle symptoms such as pain and weakness), rhabdomyolysis (a condition in which muscle fibers break down, releasing substances into the bloodstream that can harm the kidneys), and liver toxicity. Each of these three side effects has been reported in people who were taking red yeast rice.

Red yeast rice supplements should not be used while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Lovastatin can interact with a variety of drugs to increase the risk of rhabdomyolysis; these drugs include other cholesterol-lowering agents, certain antibiotics, the antidepressant nefazodone, drugs used to treat fungal infections, and drugs used to treat HIV infection. Red yeast rice containing monacolin K could interact with drugs in the same way.

If the process of culturing red yeast rice is not carefully controlled, a substance called citrinin can form. Citrinin has been shown to cause kidney failure in experimental animals and genetic damage in human cells. In a 2011 analysis of red yeast rice products sold as dietary supplements, 4 of 11 products were found to contain this contaminant.

nccih.nih.gov/health/redyea...

[Sealsharp1952 in reply to helvella]

Thank you for this information

[BadHare]

Try eating bitter foods: rocket, watercress (as long as you don't find these goitrogenic), grapefruit, bitter herbs, etc. Look up buying Swedish bitters on the internet, which Chris Kresser recommends. Apple cider vinegar in a little water before meals might also help. get the type that's cloudy when shaken, with the probiotic culture.

[Tiffanys1 in reply to BadHare]

Thank you

[Shar0n]

Oatmeal and oat bran are good. Also I stopped eating butter and exchanged it for good quality nut butters and organic peanut butter, which is not too expensive - no added sugar is important.

Olive oil for cooking and extra virgin olive oil for salads or to put a little on a baked potato. Mine came down on this strategy within six months having been extremely high. No saturated fats ( fats that are solid at room temperature). Lean meat and skinless chicken. Beans help also if eaten without the sugary sauce. You can buy the ordinary baked beans if you like and put them in a sieve to rinse the sauce off under the tap. Then heat in hot water instead.

[Tiffanys1 in reply to Shar0n]

Thank you Sharon that is really helpful I have butter with everything and crisps I going to cut out on sugar and fats just eat good fats and see how I go xxx thank you for all your responses I appreciate everyone’s opinion

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Tiffanys1]

Carbohydrates cause high triglycerides, so no crisps, no pasta, no bread etc. Good fats are those which have not been highly processed, so butter, extra virgin olive oil, cold pressed organic coconut oil, lard, organic flax seed oil - no sunflower, vegetable or palm oil - or just the fats that come naturally in foods like eggs and meat and cheese

[Tiffanys1 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Oh so can have coconut oil I read that was bad for high chlostrol too

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Tiffanys1]

No, coconut oil is full of great medium chain triglycerides which are a good thing

[Tiffanys1 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thank you so so I use coconut oil for cooking everything in

[Tiffanys1]

Thank you

[Shar0n]

We are mostly in agreement. I still have a slightly elevated cholesterol but I don't worry about it because my triglycerides are low.

I'm not suggesting that spuds have any influence whatsoever on any form of cholesterol. What I meant was that using some good olive oil would be preferable to butter on a potato if you have a problem with extra high cholesterol as I did.

There is a lot to commend in the keto approach and it works well for many people. I loved being on it. However my doctor believes that in my case, my underactive thyroid condition gives me a propensity to develop extremely high cholesterol levels on this diet.

Also the only grain I recommend for naturally lowering cholesterol would be oatmeal and oat bran as it worked for me with the other things I mentioned.

[Tiffanys1 in reply to Shar0n]

I’ve had a test and I can’t eat any gluten or dairy or wheat , so that as helped , yes I agree olive oil instead butter , just everything in moderation but cut out the saturated fats

[Tiffanys1]

I stick to eating just an apple then lol

[NWA6 in reply to Tiffanys1]

😂😂 you can’t Tiffany it’s a carb!! Lol

Sorry I shouldn’t laugh 😉 But what Londinium is saying is correct. But maybe don’t delve into it right now. Just check that under medication is not the actual reason for high cholesterol 🤗

[Tiffanys1 in reply to NWA6]

😂😂😂 god we got laugh otherwise cry I wish I didn’t have it in the first place the thyphoid thing or the mental me I call it 😂😂😂

[Tiffanys1]

Ok I never heard of all these words got no idea what it all means you have obviously done your homework I will look up later

[jgelliss]

Hormones are so important for us and for our wellbeing and are made from cholesterol . In fact low cholesterol can cause depression too .

[Angel_of_the_North]

Ideal HbA1c, apparently, in UK ranges is 31 but mine is higher than that

[Tiffanys1]

Thank you I never ask for print out I will in future and look for the things you have wrote

[Tiffanys1]

Yes this makes sense

[Tiffanys1]

Ok cheers