I had a mini stroke (TIA ) on 1st January 2022 and have just had a conversation with a GP from my medical practice in whose opinion, I have been "over-replaced for a while now" and can only assume he means that is because of my suppressed TSH, honestly it makes me sooo angry that I could be dead soon because of their incompetence, as if they have their way, they'll reduce my levo dose and my cholesterol levels will rise accordingly and that puts me at much greater risk of another stroke which could be devastating or fatal. Icwonder how much of the dangerously high levels of cholesterol is down to being under medicated and how much to other factors like smoking and drinking too much alcohol. Seriously, I really do think I'll be dead before I'm 65 and despite telling him,I'm having muscle spasms which I think are due to the high dose statin(Atorvastatin 80mg), he seemed completely nonchalant and not the slightest bit bothered, perhaps they're trying to kill all of us hypos off ,so they don't have to deal with us anymore, not that they are anyway, because they haven't got a clue.
Suppressed TSH linked to stroke?: I had a mini... - Thyroid UK
Suppressed TSH linked to stroke?
I thought the Stroke 'link' was that Atrial Fibrilation increases the risk of stroke, which it certainly does . But do they have any evidence that low TSH in the absence of Atrial Fibrilation increases the risk of stroke ? i don't know . , to be honest i've never looked very hard .
Cholesterol does not cause strokes. More likely to be the statin than the cholesterol. But you could be right about them trying to kill us all off!
I wasn't on statins till after the stroke, so I think it's unlikely, but who knows!
Ah, OK. But, in any case, high cholesterol doesn't cause strokes. Being under-medicated does. And statins are not recommended for hypos or women, even if they have had a stroke. That's something that doctors conveniently ignore.
You're absolutely right, let's just hope I don't end up with rhabdomyolysis ( severe myopathy) as a side effect, but it wouldn't surprise me.
Well, you don't have to take them if you don't want to, you know. There's no law that says you have to take everything your doctor prescribes.
That's true, but they've got me running scared and I don't have the energy at the moment to fight them, maybe I'll feel more up to that in a few months, especially after my stroke, need to rest and take things slowly.
Please don't be scared of cholesterol. Your body needs it. That's why your lever makes it. Your brain is largely made of cholesterol, and your cell walls and your sex hormones. Taking statins will lower your sex hormone levels, which is really, really not a good idea when you're already hypo, so hormonally challanged.
So, get well, and then fight back! 
TIA's also happen with raised Homocysteine which is rarely tested in the NHS. When B12 and other B Vits are low Homocysteine can be raised. It was also discovered in plaque at the time they were about to launch statins so the information on Hcy was buried .... umm ?
Not at all surprised, haven't taken any b vit complex since October 2021,stopped them before blood tests and just forgot to start taking them again. I will start taking 2 a daty again see if it helps repair my nervous system especially after my stroke and mat help with severe anxiety which has got worse since my stroke.
You have had a lot to cope with... I would check the B Complex as to the suggested dose. It is easy to overdose on one of the b's - I think it is B6. It may be a good idea to take one pot of B12 lozenges ( Jarrow ) alongside the Complex to give your system a boost. B12 can help anxiety - I wonder how your FT3 level is ? - as that too can be part of anxiety ...
Well as the NHS refuse to test t3 levels, I can only go by the levels in my MMH test which was done in November, will get back to you when I look at the email.
Do you suffer from migraines by any chance? Are you under an Endocrinologist? Are you taking any T3 or NDT. If you have Hashimoto's then there may be other reasons you could be at more risk of clots.
I do suffer occasionally from ocular migraines but leading up to my stroke, had a lot more than usual.
Like any autoimmune conditions, (if you have Hashimoto’s) is that you can accumulate more of them. If you have antibodies causing sticky blood then you are at risk of blood clots and in particular, strokes. It has nothing to do with AFib. Migraine is your brains way of complaining as the brain does not handle the sludgy blood very well.Thyroid disease is quite common with APS but low TSH has no connection with Stroke. As it happens statins are quite good to take with APS as there is evidence it helps with preventing the clots.
Personally I would be asking to be referred to a specialist haematologist who can run all the proper tests and evaluate what’s going on before things get any worse.
Some interesting points you raise here, what tests would you recommend for sticky blood. First I’ve heard of this.
tattybogle is correct, I wasn’t suggesting it was Hashi that causes clots. Strokes can have a number of causes so if it was me I would not be satisfied with a GP just sending me away with some medication without clarifying what had caused it because if they don’t know then there is a good chance you can have another one. That’s why a referral to a Hemo is good. They will run an assortment of tests after carefully going over your history. If they thought sticky blood was a risk they would include tests like anti B2GP1, aCL and LA. If any ONE of these are positive TWICE 12 weeks apart and you have other manifestations of the condition, then you would have APS but there are also other causes for sticky blood.As I mentioned getting a proper evaluation is important.
I don’t know Hashi’s leads to more clots, learn something new here every day. Perhaps this topic needs a separate post where you can share your knowledge Star 13 as I’m sure a lot of people can benefit.
You really are a star!
i think Star was saying that APS . (antiphosphylipid syndrome ?) causes sticky blood , ........ not that Hashimoto's leads to more clots.
APS is anther autoimmune disease . So it's worth checking for APS because if you already have one (like hashi's ) it is more likely you'll have others at some point .
I constantly have a TSH of 0.02 and have AF as well as an under active thyroid. I have discussed this problem with my cardiologist and she is not at all bothered as long as I am on anticoagulants.
I'm not on anticoagulants but antiplatelets, but both do a similar job and I'm only on them because I've had a stroke so at the moment I'm worried about eating almost anything as it may make my cholesterol higher despite being on highest dose atorvastatin, I've got myself convinced I'm going to die and soon, so not enjoying anything in life at the moment.
I was on 10mg of atorvastatin and I could hardly walk with out extreme joint pains … I would be bedridden on 80mg. How high was your cholesterol?
It was last tested on 11/8/2021 and was 4.2mmol/L range <5.0mmol/L, down from previous reading of 6.1mmol/L on 09/03/2016, so I think the doctors are in total panic mode, but my right carotid artery was 90% blocked, suppose they want to prevent the same prevent the same thing happening in my left carotid artery, but believe me if I start getting really serious side effects, I will be asking them to lower the dose, as it appears, they don't care about side effects,only statistics,and obviously I'm just one of them, not human at all,it certainly feels that way.
Oh no. That is dreadful. Today I went for lunch with girl I used to work with. Four years younger than me and advanced Parkinson’s. When I get down I always think there are people so much worse off than me.
I too take Atorvastatin but only 20 mgs. Keep trying to stop it but cholesterol shoots up and Dr gets quite cross about my interventions. Wait till he hears I put myself on T3!!!
Well, T3 is more likely to be effective in lowering cholesterol than atorvastatin and without the horrendous side effects, as it's hypothyroidism that causes the high cholesterol in the first place. Honestly we are trying our best to feel better but ignorant doctors are blocking us every step of the way with their woeful knowledge of thyroid disease.
I was put on statins 7 years ago after having a stroke, my right side was paralysed and I lost my speech. I was put on a statin and on clopidogrel. Once home I started researching statins and took myself off them. I follow a high fat very low carb diet now and my cholesterol hangs around 5. They keep trying to make me take a statin I keep refusing…. Do your own research find out what these things do to your muscles and blood sugar. Unless you have familial hyperlipidimia statins are not much use. But you need to do your own research and make your own choices about what you put into your body. Educating yourself is power!!! Oh forgot to say my stroke had nothing to do with my cholesterol nothing to do with my suppressed TSH it was caused by very high levels of homocysteine due to an undiagnosed B12 deficiency…
I have done lots of research and read "The Great Cholesterol Con" by Malcolm Kendrick and he states that statins DO NOT benefit women in any way shape or form and never will as the pharmaceutical companies deliberately conned everyone including doctors into believing that they are about 30 times more effective than they actually are,but despite this, they've got me so scared, I Daren't not take them.
And that is fine ….. everyone has to make there own choice based on the information they have. We are all on this site looking for information to help us feel better and live a better life…………
Thanks for that, that makes me feel better. I am not 60 till 11th February and I've been through so much trauma since the beginning of the this year, it's scarcely believable but as I believe that I haven't really lived my life up to this point, because of my bpd and being constantly in fight or flight mode, I would like a bit more time and that is the reason behind my compliance.
I feel your anxiety… it’s so hard when you have multiple health issues, I sometimes feel like a juggler trying to keep several balls in the air, it has taken a lot of years and research and confrontation with medical professionals for me to get where I am today. It’s seems to be a constant battle sometimes, but it’s my life, my body, and my choice that’s how I view it. I am 59 so the same age as you, still young really!
Do you have a husband/partner children grandchildren friends? I am lucky to have a lovely husband children and 3 grandchildren. When I’m at my lowest its the people I love, and the people that love me that keep me going….
Yes, I have a husband and 3 children, but no grandchildren as,my family don't want their own kids and to be honest, I can't say I blame them, it's a scary world we live in and so unpredictable
Just to say, I've been convinced for years that my husband and children don't love me but that's mainly because of my bpd and if you don't love yourself, how can you expect anyone else to love you, but I don't even like myself, in fact, I despise myself and when I'm suffering, I believe it's because I deserve to be.
Oh I’m so sorry to hear that…. Having bad health makes you feel so vulnerable, it can also take your confidence away. It’s a very tough road to walk, made harder if you feel you don’t deserve better. I hope there is something in your life that might give you joy!
Thanks for that, but until I can try and change the way I feel about myself, my stress levels will stay high and it's more than likely that I'll be dead within the next 5 years,but I do wonder if I need to go through a life or death situation in order to appreciate what I actually have instead of always,wanting the unattainable which is perfection.
If you constantly strive for perfection you will never be happy and will always be disappointed, even “perfection” will never be perfect enough! It’s a downward spiral, your happiness has to come from inside you, not from external means. I think you know that, but it’s easy to hang on to our old thoughts sometimes. Maybe try to work out why you are hanging on to those old thoughts that would be the place to start.
I once read a comment by Dr Myhill that the main benefit of a statin was its anti-inflammatory effect - so taking VitD would be an option. VitD is an anti-inflammatory steroidal pro-hormone. Do you know your level ?
Yes, did a vit d test through MMH in November 2021 and came out as,172mmol/L they didn't include a range but as it's an NHS lab most likely 50-125mmol/L, so very high but haven't taken any vit d since end of November and will start again at beginning of February. Last vit d result was on 15/05/2020 51.3 (50.0-125nmol/L, so needed increasing massively but low vit d levels are common for me and was on a massive dose a few years ago. Going to start my vit b complex again too to see if it helps repair my nervous system especially after my stroke.
Yes that looks high - around 125 seems a good suggested level. Are you taking the co-factors - magnesium and VitK2-MK7 ? Am sure you are more than fed up with popping tablets though - sigh !
T3 and suppressed TSH
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Hasimotos TSH 247 
