High cholesterol?

[saltylu]

I had my 3 monthly Thyroid test with Thriva and added a Lipid profile to the test as I have never had my cholesterol tested before and my mum has high cholesterol. The following results came back:

Cholesterol - 5.95mmol/L (range: 0-5.0)

HDL - 1.21mmol/L (range: >1.3)

Triglycerides - 1.78mmol/L (range: <1.7)

LDL - 3.93mmol/L (range: <3.0)

Chol:HDL ratio - 4.92 (range: <4.0)

Non HDL Cholesterol - 4.74 (range: <4)

TSH - 2.11mIU/L (range: 0.27-4.20)

FT4 - 11.7 pmol/L (range: 12-22.0)

Is this something that would be linked to hypothyroidism? I have my appointment with the Doctor on the 11th where I will hopefully be getting a referral to the endocrinologist but I didn't know if I should add this to my ever growing list of symptoms.

[greygoose]

High cholesterol - although yours is only just over-range, and absolutely nothing to worry about - is linked to low T3. Didn't you have your FT3 tested at the same time? It's the most important number.

Unfortunately, doctors don't tend to know that. And, if you tell him your cholesterol is high, he's going to want to put you on statins - and that's the last thing you want! It's bad enough when they test it themselves and start lecturing you, without the slightest idea what they're talking about, but don't just hand it to him on a plate! lol

The high-ish cholesterol won't hurt you. It doesn't cause heart attacks or strokes, it's just building up in your blood because your T3 is low. Oh, and it's nothing to do with diet, either! So, don't let anyone talk you into a low fat diet. That will just make things worse.

[saltylu in reply to greygoose]

T3 isn't part of the thyroid test with Thriva and I can't afford to go with Medichecks or Blue Horizon again at the moment, but last time I had my T3 done it was 4.21pmol/L (range: 3.21 - 6.8) and the time before that was 3.68pmol/L (range: 3.1 - 6.8) so it's always on the lower side of "normal". My diet isn't terrible at the moment as it is, and my mum is vegetarian and so healthy and her cholesterol is around the same level as mine! Hers was 7.68 but it went down once she was medicated for her hypothyroidism.

[greygoose in reply to saltylu]

Well, it would. It's not diet that causes high cholesterol, it's low T3.

So, what were the FT4 levels that went with those FT3 levels? To see how well you convert, we need to look at the two together.

[saltylu in reply to greygoose]

When the FT3 was 4.21 my FT4 was 11.4 (range 12-22) and when FT3 was 3.68 my FT4 was 11.2 (range 11 - 21).

[greygoose in reply to saltylu]

OK, so you were just extremely under-medicated. Now, you need to bring your TSH down to 1 or under, and then retest your FT4/3 to see how well you convert.

[saltylu in reply to greygoose]

I'm not even medicated at the moment as my GP is refusing to diagnose me with Hypothyroidism. I've got an appointment with a different GP next week to try and convince her to refer me to an endocrinologist I've spoken to.

[greygoose in reply to saltylu]

Oh, sorry. Don't know why I thought you were, but you definitely should be.

[saltylu in reply to greygoose]

No that's okay, I don't think I've spoken to you about this before but I know you're very knowledgeable. I've to an endocrinologist at the hospital I work at who specialises in thyroid issues and he has said he is happy to see me to see if he can help so I need to get the GP to refer me to him. He's actually been really helpful.

[greygoose in reply to saltylu]

That's good, anyway. Hope you get to see him soon.

[shaws]

Doctors always jump at the result of cholesterol level and instantly assume it is due to us 'eating wrongly'. They however are wrong - a higher cholesterol level is due to being hypothyroid and on an insufficient dose of levothyroxine.

[saltylu in reply to shaws]

I definitely don't have a bad diet regardless, but my results are obviously pointing to being hypothyroid although no indication as to why yet!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water . 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 did this test?

Assuming it was ......Your thyroid results show you are under medicated and need 25mcg dose increase in Levothyroxine

How much Levothyroxine are you currently taking?

The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range

NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

NHS guidelines on statins

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.

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

my dad needs to take statins and they are causing his muscles to break down, terrible. my gp wanted to prescribe me statins, but she admitted my cholesterol must be linked to being hypo, which I am extremely hypo right now. when you're hypo, there is a slower clearance of LDL cholesterol from liver, that's why there is an increase. mildy elevated cholesterol is fine according to my gp and my dad's cardiologist, but my total is at 6.8, range up to 5!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Perhaps your Dad needs Thyroid and vitamin testing

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

He had all of it done, all is perfect. This is a different problem, unfortunately, he had a bypass surgery, mainly heart issues and bad diet going back (loads of sugar and carbs).

[saltylu in reply to SlowDragon]

I haven't been diagnosed yet so not on any levothyroxine, but I did the test at 8am before eating etc.

[Hidden]

yeah your ft4 is below range, ft3 not tested, but by looking at tsh, ft4 - it must be low. Total cholesterol and LDL both confirm you are still quite underactive. But as GG said, don't worry that much, my readings are much higher, again due to low t3. they stabilise once you're optimal. what I can advise you of, see if you can up your HDL cholesterol - this is the good cholesterol that would have impact on lowering your bad LDL cholesterol. once this is in range and higher, you will see your LDL dropping too.

[saltylu in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, I'll definitely be trying to get the HDL level up. The last two FT3 tests I had were on the lower end of the range so it's definitely low as well so it makes sense.

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

There's no such thing as good and bad cholesterol. That's just Big Pharma hyp to scare people into taking statins.

HDL and LDL are even cholesterol, they are the protein carriers. The actual cholesterol is never measured.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

correct, these are lipo-proteins. It is believed that HDL gets rid off some LDL, but then I'm not a scientist I am definitely anti-statins. and other meds that do more harm than good.

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

I've never heard that. According to this article, that doesn't happen:

spacedoc.com/articles/50-fa...

[greygoose in reply to greygoose]

I see HB has already posted that link. Great minds think alike, HB! lol

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

this is indeed a great article! it so annoying we need to decode the whole system, but also satisfying and powerful!

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

Indeed.

[Angel_of_the_North]

High cholesterol is a symptom of hypothyroidism, as you don't clear cholesterol and recycle it correctly so it stays around in the blood stream for too long. In the "old days" any one with high cholesterol had their thyroid tested (but that level is not really very high). High triglycerides are usually caused by eating a high carb diet and are more worrying. I'd be asking for hbA1c test in case of impending type 2 diabetes (again, reversible by diet). Free t4 is under range which shows hypothyroidism or undermedication (unless you are on NDT or T3) and TSH is too high. Didn't you get free t3 tested? That is the most important test.

[saltylu in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

I couldn't afford the test with free T3 this time but the last two times I had it the results were:

Medichecks--

FT4 - 11.4 (range: 12 - 22)

FT3 - 4.21 (range: 3.6 - 6.8)

Nuffield--

FT4 - 11.2 (range: 11 - 21)

FT3 - 3.68 (range: 3.6 - 6.8)

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to saltylu]

So definitely undermedicated then

[saltylu in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

I'm not medicated as of yet, I'm still trying to get my GP to refer me to an endocrinologist that I know specialises in thyroid issues and who I've spoken to. It's just a case of waiting for my next appointment which is next Friday.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to saltylu]

might want to mention central or secondary hypothyroidism then

[saltylu in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

I've seen 3 GPs so far and mentioned it, all of which said it's not my thyroid it's CFS/M.E. but I absolutely refuse to believe that. It's a different GP next week and she seems to be listening (I think it's helped that I spoke directly to the endo who told me to tell her that I've spoken to him on my referral!)

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to saltylu]

Since there is no test for CFS - it is just a way of saying "it's all in your head as all your tests are normal", central hypo (low thyroid and low TSH) is far more likely. If your hypothalamus and pituitary were working "normally" you would have an over range TSH with an under range Free T4. Now why can't your GP see that? From BMJ: bestpractice.bmj.com/topics... and endocrinologyadvisor.com/ho...

[saltylu in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

I guess for them CFS is the easy route to take! I've printed out a lot of literature and the GP I'm seeing next week has asked me to take in all of my test results, including the at home ones, any literature I can find and a list of my current symptoms, and got me to book a double appointment so we have time to go through everything. Hopefully she is the one that gets the ball rolling.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to saltylu]

GP obviously needs to go to Specsavers

Results scream hypothyroidism

Medichecks test results

FT4 below range at minus 6%

FT3 limping along at just 19% through range

Nuffield test

FT4 1.82% through range

FT3 2.5% through range

Ever had bump on head, other head trauma or whiplash ?

[saltylu in reply to SlowDragon]

I got whiplash from a car accident about 11 years ago but other than that I haven't had any other head trauma. Also have had about 6 operations in the last 10 years with my most recent one being major back surgery last year.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to saltylu]

Whiplash can be cause of central hypothyroidism

[saltylu in reply to SlowDragon]

It was long time ago though so surely it wouldn't delay that long? I've only been feeling this bad since January

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to saltylu]

Anything significant happen in months before that?

Given up smoking for example?

Started on any medication?

[saltylu in reply to SlowDragon]

I had my back surgery in November so that would be the most significant one!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to saltylu]

Low B12 after anaesthetic possibly

bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g52...

.....patients who deteriorate after an operation, or patients whose symptoms worsen after delivery, an operation or a painful emergency, vitamin B12 deficiency should be suspected.

thelancet.com/journals/lanc...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/825...

[humanbean]

Just for reference...

In the early 1990s the top of the range for Total Cholesterol was 7.5. It has been reduced over the years to encourage the consumption of statins.

If Big Pharma want to increase the number of people taking their pills they just reduce the width of the goalposts, so that more people fall outside the goalposts and can then be treated.

[Hidden in reply to humanbean]

interesting...statins do more harm than good. and so many people are on them!

[humanbean in reply to Hidden]

On the subject of statins this is worth reading :

spacedoc.com/articles/50-fa...

[Hidden in reply to humanbean]

super interesting, I will send it to my dad. I was super stressed about my levels the other day, now feeling a bit better about it. However, I did get fat after having my t3 reduced, so now I'm building it up thank you humanbean, very informative!

[MMaud]

saltylu - You mention a couple of time not being able to stretch to tests to include your T3. MonitorMyHealth is a service offered by the Exeter NHS trust, using NHS labs in the quiet times - evenings and weekends. Their thyroid profile is TSH, T4 and T3. They don't offer a test to include antibodies, but at £29 is wallet friendly.

I used them, back in July, as much as anything to just see how it worked. I was rather impressed to be honest. It was quick, simple and uses finger prick blood, so no additional phlebotomy charges.

The website is here, if you want to take a look: monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

Good luck with this very frustrating condition.

[saltylu in reply to MMaud]

Oh thank you so much, I live in Plymouth so Exeter isn't far away from me at all! If I have no luck with the GP next week I will definitely look into it. The Thriva test was only £7 (I found a discount code) so it was a lot cheaper than the others I've used before.