High creatinine and cholesterol: Hi guys me again... - Thyroid UK

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High creatinine and cholesterol

Charlyboy profile image
17 Replies

Hi guys me again.

My last thyroid test results seem to be pretty good but I'd appreciate any feedback about my other test results.

My cholesterol was high and also creatinine very high. I did read that this can be linked to Hypo and after medication should return to normal. I've been on 150mcg for about 3 months which appears to be just right. Any ideas about how long I should to see if the levels drop. I will add that I train heavy weights 4/5 times a week and use creatine and protein supplements.

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Charlyboy
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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

High cholesterol levels suggests perhaps under medicated

How much do you weigh in kilo

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Most recent results look pretty good

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Perhaps retest again in 4-6 months

Always test as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Charlyboy profile image
Charlyboy in reply to SlowDragon

Hi again. I weigh around 103 kg. Virtually today I've changed pharmacy because not only were they giving me different brands month to month they were also giving me 100mcg and 50mcg different brands. I complained every month to no avail.I've always tested in the morning before my dose or eating/drinking.

I'll retest as you suggested and hopefully cholesterol and creatinine levels will improve, maybe it takes a number of months to normalise.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Charlyboy

103 kilo x 1.6mcg levothyroxine per kilo = 164.8mcg per day as likely dose you might need

That would be 162.5mcg per day 6 x week and 1 x 175mcg per week

So you might need slight dose increase

But Guidelines are just that ....guidelines.

Some people need more (especially if physically active) ……some might need less

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Many people have to start slowly and increase slowly upwards over many months

NICE guidelines on full replacement dose

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...

1.3.6

Consider starting levothyroxine at a dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (rounded to the nearest 25 micrograms) for adults under 65 with primary hypothyroidism and no history of cardiovascular disease.

Also here

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hypo...

gp-update.co.uk/Latest-Upda...

Traditionally we have tended to start patients on a low dose of levothyroxine and titrate it up over a period of months. RCT evidence suggests that for the majority of patients this is not necessary and may waste resources.

For patients aged >60y or with ischaemic heart disease, start levothyroxine at 25–50μg daily and titrate up every 3 to 6 weeks as tolerated.

For ALL other patients start at full replacement dose. For most this will equate to 1.6 μg/kg/day (approximately 100μg for a 60kg woman and 125μg for a 75kg man).

If you are starting treatment for subclinical hypothyroidism, this article advises starting at a dose close to the full treatment dose on the basis that it is difficult to assess symptom response unless a therapeutic dose has been trialled.

BMJ also clear on dose required

bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m41

bestpractice.bmj.com/topics...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Charlyboy

Re changing brands

Print this out

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/l...

If a patient reports persistent symptoms when switching between different levothyroxine tablet formulations, consider consistently prescribing a specific product known to be well tolerated by the patient. If symptoms or poor control of thyroid function persist (despite adhering to a specific product), consider prescribing levothyroxine in an oral solution formulation.

Give to GP and pharmacy

Get ahead on prescriptions by requesting 2 prescriptions. That way, you have a prescription “in hand” to give time to source brand levothyroxine you need

Often requires ringing around several pharmacies

Small independent pharmacies are often more helpful

Which brand of levothyroxine do you prefer

You can request GP either specify a particular brand to be prescribed…..or that you must not be prescribed a particular brand (eg No Teva brand)

greygoose profile image
greygoose

High cholesterol is linked to low T3. Do you know your T3 level?

I've been on 150mcg for about 3 months which appears to be just right.

In what way does it 'appear' to be just right? TSH level? FT4 level? The way you feel? The most important number is the FT3.

Charlyboy profile image
Charlyboy in reply to greygoose

These are the results I just received:

Active B12 - 115 pmol/L

Ferritin - 95 ug/L

folate yet again no result, they tell me sample haemolysed. Not sure what I can do differently to get a result.

TSH - 0.33 mlU/L

FT4 - 20.5 pmol/L

FT3 - 6.3 pmol/L

TPOAb - 14.7 klU/L

T4 - 105 nmol/L

TgAB - 14.4 kU/L

Vitamin D - 78 nmol/L

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Charlyboy

No, it's difficult to get a folate result.

OK, so how long has your FT3 been that high? I take it top of the range is 6.8?

Charlyboy profile image
Charlyboy in reply to greygoose

I've been taking 150 mcg for about 3 months and my last blood test whilst slowly increasing dosage to that level was 10 months ago.my TSH was 5.44 mlU/L

FT4 - 15 pmol/L

FT3 - 5.81 pmol/L

Advice from the clever people on this site was that I'm 85% through the range for FT3 and FT4 hence my comment about my results appear to be just right. I did put it out there that I still suffer with getting a full breath and I'm concerned about a high cholesterol and creatinine result I just got.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Charlyboy

Well, you appear to be a super converter, which is one good thing! But, your FT3 level doesn't explain your high cholesterol. So, I'm stumped! Although it could just be that you're one of those people that need your FT3 high to get enough into the cells. A blood test is just that: it tells you what you've got in your blood, it doesn't tell you how much is getting into the cells. And hormone in the blood doesn't do anything.

But, you shouldn't be too concerned about cholesterol, it's not going to give you a heart attack or a stroke. And, they do say that those with higher levels live longer. If that's any consolation. :)

Charlyboy profile image
Charlyboy in reply to greygoose

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply, I've said it many times that without the advice I've had from people on here I really don't know what I would have done. Probably carried on listening to doctors telling me I'm fine and suffering.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Charlyboy

I'm afraid we all have to learn the hard way that doctors know nothing about thyroid, and care even less! I remember vividly the day that particular lightbulb went on in my head. :(

nellie237 profile image
nellie237

"creatinine very high" "I will add that I train heavy weights 4/5 times a week and use creatine and protein supplements."

It might be a good idea to ask about this on the Kidney Forum here on Health Unlocked, but I think the answer is that protein is hard on the kidneys. You need to discuss with your GP too asap.

Please don't brush it off.

radd profile image
radd

Charlyboy,

Both high cholesterol & raised creatinine can be the result of slowed kidney function due to inadequate thyroid hormone. Even with good biochemistry symptoms can often lag behind as other bodily symptoms struggle to catch up with the increase in metabolism caused by thyroid hormone replacement meds.

Protein can be difficult for the kidneys to metabolise if already suffering & creatinine is the waste form of creatine. It could be you are supplementing more than your hypothyroid body can metabolise at this moment in time. GFR is generally worked out when creatinine is tested. Do you have the result?

I presume the reference to a’ full breath’ is the inability to draw breath (also known as air hunger) during exercise. You might find my second answer on this members post interesting.

.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Charlyboy profile image
Charlyboy in reply to radd

Hi, thank you for the reply.This is a screenshot of my results.

I tried to find the reply about air hunger but the link wouldn't open.

results
radd profile image
radd in reply to Charlyboy

Charlyboy,

Creatinine is raised after a heavy workout (as advised in your result notes) and because GFR is often estimated using calculations from specific test results that include creatinine , both readings could be skewed. However because they are coupled with high cholesterol, it would be prudent to ask your GP for a kidney function test because a GFR less than 60 ≥3 months indicates CKD.

.

The site keeps takung the hyper out of our links 🙄. Here is the air hunger link again.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

.

and another one

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Charlyboy profile image
Charlyboy in reply to radd

Thanks will contact GP.Sorry to be a pain but links still don't work.

radd profile image
radd in reply to Charlyboy

Cb,

Should do now 😊

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