advice on test results and statins: Blood... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

140,948 members166,084 posts

advice on test results and statins

Flycatcher profile image
12 Replies

Blood results 15/6/22 - GP surgery

Serum free T3 - 3.79 (2.43 - 6.01)

Serum free T4- 15.3 (9.0 - 19.0)

THS 0.05 (0.35 - 4.49 )

Total Blood cholesterol 6.9 ( < 5.0)

Blood results 10/05/22 Medichecks

Serum Free T3 4.62 (3.1 - 6.8)

Serum Free T4 20.7 (12 - 22)

TSH 0.02 (3.1 - 6.8)

Antibodies thyroglobulin 14 (<115)

Thyroid peroxide <9 (<34)

CRP 3.34 (0 - 5)

Ferritin 63.9 (13 - 150)

Folate 3.45 (3.89 - 19.45)

B12 (active) 106 (37.5 - 150)

I have been treated for hypothyroidism for twenty years with little real success. My GP started me on statins some two years ago but I am not happy taking them so stopped for about 8 weeks and felt much better. After my last bloods at the surgery he has reduced my Levothyroxine to 75mcg because of my low TSH and told me I must resume my statins (Atovarstatin 20mgs). I have complied but I am not happy.

I take 1000iu of Vit D, VitK2, a Folate and B12 supplement a day.

I suffer from gastric reflux and take Omeprazol 20mgs a day and high blood pressure Candesartin 8mgs a day. Weight is an issue and exercise is difficult because I feel so fatigued all the time and find myself sleeping several times during the day despite minimal activity.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Get Outlook for Android

Written by
Flycatcher profile image
Flycatcher
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
12 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Blood results 10/05/22 Medichecks

Serum Free T3 4.62 (3.1 - 6.8)

Serum Free T4 20.7 (12 - 22)

TSH 0.02 (3.1 - 6.8)

Antibodies thyroglobulin 14 (<115)

Thyroid peroxide <9 (<34)

CRP 3.34 (0 - 5)

Ferritin 63.9 (13 - 150)

Folate 3.45 (3.89 - 19.45)

B12 (active) 106 (37.5 - 150)

No vitamin D result?

Was test done early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

FT4: 20.7 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22) 87.00%

FT3: 4.62 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

F3 only 41.08% through range

Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range

thyroid.dopiaza.org

Like many on just levothyroxine you have poor conversion of Ft4 to Ft3

Ideally both Ft4 and Ft3 would be about 70% through range

You might need very small dose reduction in levothyroxine….but initially you would be better improving low vitamin levels to improve conversion rate

Folate is deficient

Ferritin and B12 on low side

EXACTLY what folate and B12 are you currently taking?

Perhaps negotiate with GP to only reduce levothyroxine to 87.5mcg daily

(75mcg and 100mcg on alternate days)

Or even just 87.5mcg twice week and 100mcg 5 days a week

Omeprazole often lowers magnesium, B12 and iron

Are you taking any magnesium supplement?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Low Ft3 is cause of higher cholesterol

Improving low Ft3 will reduce cholesterol levels

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.

Improving low vitamin levels should improve low FT3

Have you had coeliac blood test done

Have you tried strictly gluten free diet

But you may need T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine

Email Thyroid U.K. for list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologist and doctors who will prescribe T3 if necessary

tukadmin@thyroiduk.org

Flycatcher profile image
Flycatcher in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you for your prompt reply.Sorry I missed off my Vit D result its 55 (50 - 200)

I currently take Solgar Metafolin 400ug

Vit K2 4 drops sublingual

Solgar Methylcobalamin 1000ug sublingual

Vit D 1000ug daily

I take omeprazol first thing in the morning, tried coming

Off it but was horrendous so went back on them

All vits at lunch and

Levo, candesarten, atovarstatin all at night

I think I need to rearrange my meds

I tested negative forcoeliac

Test done at 9 am fasted

Sparklingsunshine profile image
Sparklingsunshine in reply toFlycatcher

Hi

Just to say hour GP can suggest you take statins but you can equally suggest you don't. They are there to provide solutions and advice, they can't force you to take any medication. If you don't want to take them then don't.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toFlycatcher

Levo, candesarten, atovarstatin all at night

Levothyroxine absolutely must be taken on its own at least 2 hours away from any other medications or supplements, and at least 4 hours away from statin

Many members take levothyroxine in middle of night when get up for the loo

Which brand of levothyroxine is 75mcg

Vitamin D is far too low at 55nmol

Aiming for at least around 80nmol minimum and around 100nmol maybe better

Suggest you change to vitamin D mouth spray and increase to 3000iu per day.

Retest in 2-3 months. You may need higher dose.

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly via NHS private testing service when supplementing

vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.

There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7.

One spray = 1000iu

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

Another member recommended this one recently

Vitamin D with k2

amazon.co.uk/Strength-Subli...

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average

Vitamin D and thyroid disease

grassrootshealth.net/blog/t...

Vitamin D may prevent Autoimmune disease

newscientist.com/article/23...

Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7

Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Great article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium

drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

Any PPI like omeprazole will lower magnesium

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toFlycatcher

Low Folate and B12

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) 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-...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B come that contains folate, but they 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...

In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate methyl folate supplement (eg Solgar) and separate B12

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toFlycatcher

Only make one change at a time then wait at least 2 weeks to assess

Always worth trying strictly gluten free diet

Only 5% Hashimoto’s patients test positive for coeliac

Further 80% find strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential

Trial of 6 months minimum ideally

Flycatcher profile image
Flycatcher in reply toSlowDragon

Thanks for all your advice, I need to alter the times that I take my medication. l have stopped the statins, I have ordered the VitD spray you suggested and I have ordered a magnesium text. I have tried to come off my ompeprazol several times without success but I may try again. Thank you

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toFlycatcher

You may find you can reduce/stop omeprazole very slowly once all vitamins optimal and after 3-4 months on strictly gluten free diet

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Flycatcher

told me I must resume my statins (Atovarstatin 20mgs). I have complied but I am not happy.

Your GP cannot dictate to you. The doctor-patient relationship is supposed to be a partnership in your health, your GP can suggest but you do not have to comply.

Blood results 15/6/22 - GP surgery

Serum free T3 - 3.79 (2.43 - 6.01) = 37.99% through range

Serum free T4- 15.3 (9.0 - 19.0) = 63% through range

THS 0.05 (0.35 - 4.49 )

Shows poor conversion of T4 to T3.

Blood results 10/05/22 Medichecks

Serum Free T3 4.62 (3.1 - 6.8) = 41.08% through range

Serum Free T4 20.7 (12 - 22) = 85% through range

TSH 0.02 (3.1 - 6.8) - this is the wrong range, it is 0.27-4.20

Again shows poor conversion.

Antibodies thyroglobulin 14 (<115)

Thyroid peroxide <9 (<34)

Negative result for autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's)

CRP 3.34 (0 - 5)

As an inflammation marker CRP should be as low as possible. Yours is in range but is probably showing that there may be some inflammation.

Ferritin 63.9 (13 - 150)

Ferritin is recommended to be half way through range. Ferritin can be raised due to inflammation and as your CRP is suggesting that there may be some inflammation it's likely that your normal ferritin level could be lower that this.

Folate 3.45 (3.89 - 19.45)

Folate is recommended to be at least half way through range. See:

cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-b12...

Folate level

◦Serum folate of less than 7 nanomol/L (3 micrograms/L) is used as a guide to indicate folate deficiency.

◦However, there is an indeterminate zone with folate levels of 7–10 nanomol/L (3–4.5 micrograms/L), so low folate should be interpreted as suggestive of deficiency and not diagnostic.

I would discuss with your GP who may prescribe a course of folic acid.

B12 (active) 106 (37.5 - 150)

We always suggest Active B12 over 100 so this result is OK.

I take 1000iu of Vit D, VitK2, a Folate and B12 supplement a day.

What is your Vit D result?

Do you take D3's important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7?

Considering that you are taking a folate supplement your folate result is dreadful. What exactly are you taking and what dose?

How much B12 are you taking?

I suffer from gastric reflux and take Omeprazol 20mgs a day and high blood pressure Candesartin 8mgs a day. Weight is an issue and exercise is difficult because I feel so fatigued all the time and find myself sleeping several times during the day despite minimal activity.

It's always debatable whether a hypo patient actually has high stomach acid necessitating Omeprazole. If you do need it are you taking it 4 hours away from your thyroid meds?

Are you taking your BP meds 2 hours away from your thyroid meds.

Levo should be taken on it's own, with water only, one hour before or two hours after food and at least 2 hours away from other medication and supplements (some need 4 hours - Vit D, magnesium, iron, calcium, HRT, oestrogen, PPIs and possibly others).

Catseyes235 profile image
Catseyes235

My TSH has been around 0.02 for 20+ years. I am NOT overtreated. Docs went on TSH alone but I was not converting T4 to T3. ( Omeprazole which I used to take can also block uptake of thyroxine.) Being underactive can increase cholesterol. I ended up having a stroke with high cholesterol. Check out my other posts for a fuller picture! Here’s an article which may help webmd.com/cholesterol-manag.... Good luck!

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Test Results Through

GP finally prescribed me some t3. Started taking 5mcg with 100 Levo (dropped from 125mcg) on 30th...
Jefner profile image

6 week test results

Still no better off with my t3 levels although they have gone up slightly from my September...
Jefner profile image

Got my blood test results

Need some help understand what it all means, do I have hashis? Can someone please help me...
pinklady756 profile image

More Results - everything has gone wrong again

Everything has gone wrong again :( Here are my latest results. I have swung the other way again....
Jefner profile image

Blood test help appreciated

So 1waited 15 yrs for just my TSH level from my GP and 2 days for the results below CRP 8.80. >5.0...

Moderation team

See all
PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator
RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.