Statins

[Verteriponte]

Has anybody with thyroid problems had bad experiences while taking statins? I think some of my adverse reactions may have been thyroid storms.

[RedApple Administrator]

Welcome to the forum Verteriponte.

Have you ever had your thyroid hormone levels tested?

[Verteriponte in reply to RedApple]

Not that I know of. I am looking to do so and presume asking the doctor first is advisable.

[Jazzw]

The thing about high cholesterol is that it can be a symptom of hypothyroidism (not hyperthyroidism—generally thyroid storms are associated with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroids)). Doctors used to know this about cholesterol levels but it’s knowledge that’s been lost in recent years.

I think your first step has to be to get thyroid function checked out, to find out for sure whether that’s what you’re dealing with.

[Verteriponte in reply to Jazzw]

Many thanks for the advice and information.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

A thyroid storm is a life-threatening issue.

Are you sure that is what you meant?

Could you possibly mean something else?

Thyroid storm

In rare cases, an undiagnosed or poorly controlled overactive thyroid can lead to a serious, life-threatening condition called a thyroid storm.

This is a sudden flare-up of symptoms that can be triggered by:

an infection

pregnancy

not taking your medicine correctly

damage to the thyroid gland, such as a punch to the throat

Symptoms of a thyroid storm include:

a rapid heartbeat

a high temperature

diarrhoea and being sick

yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)

severe agitation and confusion

loss of consciousness

A thyroid storm is a medical emergency. If you think you or someone in your care is experiencing it, call 999 to ask for an ambulance immediately.

nhs.uk/conditions/overactiv...

[Verteriponte in reply to helvella]

I would describe what I have experienced as something akin to a storm and blame myself for not always reporting the event as promptly as I might have (due to autism?). They were not unlike heat stroke which I once had in Austria and spent 3 days in bed after. As then I nearly blacked out. However I hope to hear from a doctor today. Thank you for your help and guidance with this.

[tattybogle]

Thyroid Storm... is an extremely severe complication that can happen when someone is already in a Hyperthyroid / Thyrotoxic state ie .. you have to be hyperthyroid /thyrotoxic already, before you can have a thyroid storm (usually when something 'else' on top of the hyperthyroid state kicks it off).Thyroid Storms nearly always present with a fever >39C / 102F

Symptoms that came and went away again by themselves without some serious medical intervention being given do not sound like a thyroid storm .

Details of thyroid storm here :

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Verteriponte in reply to tattybogle]

Thank you for the information it gives me something more to consider. I have had similar events several times including some semi paralysis to the base of the spine. So far after decades of consulting I have had no definitive explanation. Thank you for your help and the link.