Results

[Pebbles33]

Basically when I had my annual thyroid test towards the end of last year my TSH was 4.5. My cholesterol was also raised to 7.1. GP increased levo by 50 mg per week and told me the Thyroid being high had nothing to do with Cholesterol levels! As I do my research I believed that it did. I have always kept fit and healthy, don’t drink or smoke, in normal weight range at 8 stone 5, exercised and maintained a pretty good diet so this came as a shock. However I decided to do some tweaks by cutting out dairy, increased exercise, added in Benecol. Was retested  6 weeks later on 28 November and surprise surprise the cholesterol had come right down to 5.3 probably didn’t need to change my lifestyle at all! However to my surprise they wanted to retest again last week and guess what  my TSH has gone up from 1.5 to 2.1 and so has my cholesterol from 5.3 to 5.6. As per usual GP saying everything is in range apart from cholesterol. They have now sent me a Cholesterol diet sheet and guess what I am doing everything right already. They seem desperate to start me on statins as it obviously benefits them but still remain ignorant as to the fact the Thyroid is probably the issue. Anyone experienced this?

Here are my latest private test results which I had done in December. Just wondering also if my T3 is still too low? If so could this also be contributing to the raised cholesterol to or do I need more Levothyroxine? As this did bring it down initially?

Thanks in advance for any advice which is always gratefully received.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

When did you take your last Levo before the test? Just your FT4 is close to the top of the range.

75mcgs is only one step up from a starter dose so no wonder your ferritin is struggling. Your FT3 is at 27% of the range so you really do need a 25mcgs increase. I see your low ferritin has already been discussed. What are you doing to raise it?

[Pebbles33 in reply to Jaydee1507]

I took it the day before. I am not sure how to raise Ferritin levels! Thanks for your reply.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Pebbles33]

So you need a dose increase to bing your TSH down further to under 1 but if you do that your FT4 is likely to go over range. Have you thought about getting some T3 added? Could try NHS or private is a lot simpler but obviously at a cost.

To raise ferritin, add in chicken liver or pate to your diet a few times a week. It's slow to raise but you should get there.

[Pebbles33]

Great thanks for the advice.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

High thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

Presumably you knew you have Hashimoto’s

Have you had coeliac blood test

Get tested BEFORE considering trial on strictly gluten free diet

Also hashimoto’s patients frequently find dairy free diet is helpful

Ferritin needs improving to at least over 70

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency

Also See page 7 on here 

rcn.org.uk/-/media/royal-co...

Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet 

Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

Links about iron and ferritin

An article that explains why Low ferritin and low thyroid levels are often linked 

preventmiscarriage.com/iron...

irondisorders.org/too-littl...

davidg170.sg-host.com/wp-co...

Great in-depth article on low ferritin 

oatext.com/iron-deficiency-...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.

Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...

Post discussing just how long it can take to raise low ferritin 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing. It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron 

Medichecks iron panel test 

medichecks.com/products/iro...

Iron and thyroid link

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Excellent article on iron and thyroid 

cambridge.org/core/journals...

Posts discussing why important to do full iron panel test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Chicken livers if iron is good, but ferritin low

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Shellfish and Mussels are excellent source of iron 

healthline.com/nutrition/he...

Heme iron v non heme

hsph.harvard.edu/nutritions...

Ferritin over 100 to alleviate symptoms 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Low Iron implicated in hypothyroidism 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Ferritin range on Medichecks 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

We have received further information the lab about ferritin reference ranges. They confirm that they are sex dependent up to the age of 60, then beyond the age of 60 the reference range is the same for both sexes: 

Males 16-60: 30-400 ug/L

Female's: 16-60: 30-150

Both >60: 30-650 

The lower limit of 30 ug/L is in accordance with the updated NICE guidance and the upper limits are in accordance with guidance from the Association of Clinical Biochemists. ‘

[SlowDragon Administrator]

cholesterol levels will reduce as Ft3 levels improve

Most people when adequately treated will have both Ft4 and Ft3 approx 70% through range

[Hidden]

if I were you I would add some t3 😊