My background is this: I was diagnosed hypothyroid in 1998, by which time, I was in a bad way. My starter dose was 25 mcg, increased by 25 mcg until I reached 150 mcg which, tested showed, was correct. I am tested every year and am now on 75 mcg. I had 2 NHS blood tests last year, in July and November: cholesterol levels rose between those dates from 6.8 to 7.2 total cholesterol. I’m 65 - so the doctor wants me on statins but I am resisting. I had a Medichecks advanced test in early February, to ascertain vitamin and iron levels plus thyroid hormones. The draw was slightly over 24 hours since the previous dose of 75 mcg Levo, at 7.35 am. My BMI is 19.5.
I have post-nasal drip and a feeling of congestion in my throat: I am constantly trying to clear it, which is exhausting for me and annoying for others. My point to my GP is that while statins would lower my cholesterol, they would do nothing to alleviate other symptoms.
Is there any chance at all that T3 added to my Levo would help any/all of these symptoms? Many thanks in advance, ArtySally.
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ArtySally
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Hi SlowDragon, many thanks indeed for your reply. I have never been advised to be either gluten-free or to have a coeliac blood test. I have never been given any dietary advice at all on what to avoid as a hypothyroid patient - but have just now been on the Thyroid U.K. website, which says that calcium can interfere with absorption of thyroxine & recommends an interval of 4 hours between consuming calcium & taking Levo. No one has ever told me this. However, in my own case, my last cup of tea with milk is around 6.30 pm and I usually take Levo around 7.00 am, so I doubt this would affect me. I have never been dairy-free and have never been advised to follow a dairy-free diet.
I saw from the private blood test that my Vitamin D was very low: this was a surprise, since I take a Vitamin D supplement through the darker months. Briefly, I doubled the dose to compensate.
Also, having noted that my Folate serum was very low, I am now taking Folic Acid supplements. (I hope this is a viable treatment..)
I don’t know about my thyroid antibodies.
I was taking 75/100 mcg on alternate days until last June, when my GP advised me, after a blood test, to lower the dosage by 25mcg daily. This would have meant a dose of 50/75 mcg on alternate days - which I refused to do because I felt it would have been too low and would have resulted in a return of more severe hypothyroid symptoms. So I started taking a daily dose of 75 mcg. I had been getting palpitations quite often on the alternating daily dose - so on the lower dose, this symptom, at least, has now settled down.
Low vitamin levels are common on levothyroxine generally and particularly if Ft3 is low
Poor conversion of Ft4 to Ft3 leads to low Ft3
Low Ft3 leads to poor vitamin levels
Vitamin levels result in poor conversion
Come back with new post once you get full thyroid and vitamin results
How much vitamin D are you currently taking
Test vitamin D twice year when supplementing. Common to need higher dose in winter. Aiming for vitamin D at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better
I had a Medichecks advanced test in early February,
Medichecks test includes thyroid antibodies test
Check test results
You are legally entitled to copies of all your test results and ranges. Look at all blood test results from when originally diagnosed as hypothyroid by GP too
GP should have tested TPO and TG thyroid antibodies
At least 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease
Assuming you have autoimmune thyroid disease
GP should test for coeliac disease at diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease
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.
Hello Sally: I’m sorry that you’re suffering with terrible post nasal drip. I feel your pain! I have suffered with the same for 5 years+, started when my thyroid symptoms began. It is debilitating and exhausting, it goes on for 24 hours, others around me are annoyed with me constantly clearing my throat. I have tried everything under the sun with no relief. If you ever find a solution to this terrible problem, please share. I read somewhere (can’t remember where) that it can be as a result of hypothyroidism. The pituitary releases secretions when the thyroid level is low. It’s worse at nights when my Ft3 is at it’s lowest, so it makes sense. If you ever find any info regarding this topic, please forward to me. If you can help it, stay away from statins- I have several family members who had very bad side effects from statins.I wish you success in sorting out your thyroid issues and the awful post nasal drip.
Hi Rosebud, I’m so sorry to hear that you are similarly afflicted: it’s such a darned nuisance, isn’t it? I’m sure people think I have Covid, simply because I always seem to be coughing..! 🤦♀️ I think I’m right in saying that those of us who are hypothyroid, also have stickier mucus - a double whammy! If I find a miraculous cure, be assured I will share it on here!
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