I've just received bloods results from my gp. My cholesterol is 7.4 and my uric acid is high, (I've requested a print out of results). Can anyone advise me on best course of action?
I take levothyroxine 100, vitd/k2 and magnesium glycinate.
Cholesterol and uric acid: I've just received... - Thyroid UK
Cholesterol and uric acid
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Geegee777
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I noticed on one of your posts your FT3 level was low in range - Has it improved since that time ? Think it was around 9 months ago ! Often it is low T3 that can cause raised cholesterol.
Hi, I've finally got a private blood test on 6th December. I shall post results on this forum, I also seem to have trouble converting t4 to T3. I will ask my GP what he thinks about prescribing t3 🤞🤞🤞🤞
Why do you have to wait so long for a Private Test ? Have I missed something ? Will you be testing B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD ?
Hi, I get my bloods drawn at my local community hospital, I was surprised at how long I had to wait too, usually its the following week after arranging appointment.
Its the advanced thyroid function test, which covers vitamins too
Quicker to do it on-line ! 🌻
Apologies for my technical ignorance, how do you do it online?A bit of a dinosaur in that department
🦖
Oh sorry - go to Thyroid UK website and seek out home testing kits from various companies. Used by 1,000's on this forum. Speedy results by email
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Low vitamin levels common as we get older too
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 and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Private blood draw available at local to you private clinic for Medichecks or Blue horizon
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3
£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via
Does different branding affect blood results?
Absolutely…yes
Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription
New guidelines for GP if you find it difficult/impossible to change brands
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.
academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...
Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).
Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime
verywellhealth.com/best-tim...
No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.
Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away
(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
I had Accord brand delivered this evening instead of my usual Teva, I'll get onto it first thing in morning.
I have had north's tar once, which gave me headaches, which is why I insist on Teva
Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.
Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine.
Teva contains mannitol as a filler, which seems to be possible cause of problems.
Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet.
So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half
But for some people (usually if lactose intolerant, Teva is by far the best option)
Teva, or Aristo (100mcg only) are the only lactose free tablets
Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord
Mercury Pharma make 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets
Accord only make 50mcg and 100mcg tablets
Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots, and Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg via Lloyds ....but Accord doesn’t make 25mcg tablets
beware 25mcg Northstar is Teva
List of different brands available in U.K.
thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...
Posts that mention Teva
healthunlocked.com/search/p...
Teva poll
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.
Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.
Northstar 50mcg and 100mcg are Accord brand
So I've got north star 100? In accord packaging?
Northstar is the box …Accord is the brand inside ….in both 50mcg and 100mcg tablets
But Northstar 25mcg…..then brand inside is Teva …..because Accord don’t make 25mcg tablets
I think I'll stick with Teva and have a chat with the chemist, I think I'm OK with Teva, but still not right though, bloods results will be posted soon after 6th Dec.
I'm beginning to feel everything is going against my best efforts, but feel better thanks to this wonderfully supportive forum🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
Besides thyroid, kidney disease can lead to high cholesterol so maybe worth GP checking that too with uric acid high. My mum's cholesterol level is about the same as yours and she has CKD with increasing urinary protein.
High levels of uric acid usually cause symptoms. I have to take alopurinol daily for this problem. If not it causes gout which is not p,easant. Have you been treated for gout at any time? Diet can help but for sone of us it’s not enough and medication is needed. Your GP really shoukd be discussing these results with you.
I haven't been diagnosed as having gout, but I've been quite uncomfortable at times, which I now presume was gout.Hopefully I can source t3 in near future🤞🤞🤞🤞
I'll see my GP after my Medichecks results, maybe I can show him😬😬
And just maybe he may work with them🤔🤔🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞
Your GP should be addressing the high uric acid level, particularly if you have been experiencing symptoms of gout. In the meantime, check that your diet does not contain foods high in purine, such as red meats, some types of fish, and dairy products, and limit or cut out those. Google high-purine foods, and those which help reduce its production.
Usually gout presents as exceptionally pain , hot, red and very swollen joints. In my case the short episodes I had in toe joint made it impossible to put my foot into a shoe and I had to hobble round on my heel. These episodes had to be treated with naproxen and another drug but I forget what in addition to co—codamol for pain. Luckily this has only happened three times all told. This was how I had always understood gout presented.
However some years ago I was referred to a rheumatologist as I had had a swollen ankle for over thirty years. I was totally unable to wear even ankle boots, some shoes, especially trainers were impossible as my ankle was so swollen and misshapen. He diagnosed gout! He explained that it’s just a form of arthritis . Taking diuretics for so long was already predisposing me to high uric acid levels. I had a history of kidney stones previously which suggested I may also be genetically predisposed to high uric acid levels. ( being adopted it is all unknown). I was not convinced and left very sceptical. His solution was solution high dose Allopurinol for life. He would review in 12 months unless it became worse or symptoms changed.
It took around six months to show any improvement but after a year it was massively better. I bought boots! My ankle is still not the right shape and bigger than the other but they believe that’s all those years undiagnosed. Too long in the tooth now to be vain and accept that trainers are a no no unless low cut. He did explain that it was unusual to see it present as my ankle did and see why I was dubious having had acute gout attacks previously.
It it is possible you have the same.
Good luck with the GP. My surgery and a local endo completely disregard any private testing. I loved that the endo was rude about MMH results which of course come from NHS lab in Exeter, he then advised that the results he gave me from tests at the same lab were very accurate indicators of my health. 😄
It's a tricky situation when you have to explain to your gp what you have researched. When you k ow he very probably will disregard everything you say in order to follow his given protocol.. Ho bloody hum🙄
I suppose you will have to see what the doctor makes of uric acid levels initially. I assume you know current levels and how over range they are. I isn’t untoward to ask them to look at you swollen joint and they can feel how hot it is. Then asking outright if it’s gout is very reasonable. It is just the long term gout in my ankle that was a problem, always compounded by fluid in my case. That masked it to some extent. I never imagined I had gout.
Have you lots of other examples of people in the same boat? I have never known anyone have gout other than the those with very painful, hot , red , swollen sites requiring short term heavy duty meds.
Your GP may want to run further tests and suggest a change in diet first.
Good luck
My cholesterol went down by 25% when I got my t3 high in range.
Could you pm me how you sourced t3?
Before considering adding T3 you may simply be not on high enough dose levothyroxine
Approx how much do you weigh in kilo
Essential to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together, plus test vitamin D twice year and folate, ferritin and B12 annually
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
If Teva brand suits you best, are you lactose intolerant?
If lactose intolerant then likely to need higher dose levothyroxine than typical
Come back with new post once you get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing
Only do private test early Monday or Tuesday morning
Stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS as biotin can falsely affect test results
Only test after 6-8 weeks minimum on unchanging dose and brand of levothyroxine
Email Thyroid UK for list of recommend thyroid specialist endocrinologists who will prescribe T3 alongside levothyroxine
...NHS and Private
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
I've just collected my NHS blood test results, didn't realise I'd have such a list.
My NHS results
No ferritin result
Need TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 tested together
Vitamin D is good
B12 ok…better over500
Folate low
supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) may be beneficial. This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too
Difference between folate and folic acid
chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...
B vitamins best taken after breakfast
Thorne Basic B or Jarrow B Right are recommended options that contains folate, but both are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule)
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...
endocrinenews.endocrine.org...
Suggest you start taking vitamin B complex ….then retest thyroid levels after 6 weeks via Monitor My Health or Medichecks or Blue horizon
My GP advised me to stop supplementing vit d, he said I've been over supplementing, then have another bloodtest in 2months. Not sure what to do.
Vitamin D and thyroid disease grassrootshealth.net/blog/t...
Thankyou very much, my mind is made up, I shall stick with my maintenance dose and retest in 6 months or so.I don't know what I would be like if it wasnt for this forum.
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🏴🏴
I'm approx 77kg, my Medichecks will be a new post as soon as I get results
NHS results continued
77kilo x 1.6mcg = 123mcg as likely daily dose levothyroxine required
Ft4 is only 49% through range
Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range
Most people when adequately treated will have Ft4 at least 60-70% through range on just levothyroxine
ALWAYS Test thyroid levels as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Thanks for your replies, I do usually eat banana in mornings with honey and full fat Greek yoghurt, alas I'll have to review my diet, another avenue of pleasure redirected🌸🌸🌸
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