When my cholesterol was high my doc wanted me to go on stations. I knew because of the way I eat that wasn't the problem so to increase my good cholesterol I started having some walnut with my breakfast. Next blood test all ok. Hope this helps good luckFor station read statin
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.
Hi SlowDragon. I take 75ug of Levo and have done for about 5 years. I know you will say that’s low but I feel very well in myself at that level and I would be loathe to change it. I always have the same brands. ( I need two brands because of the 50+25 level)
I take one Igennus Super B Complex tab daily for my B12 and folate.
Vitamin levels were measured in December and results were
Vit d 75.4 nmol /l (50-175 nmol/l)
Folate 8.1 ug/l (3.89-19.45ug/l)
Ferritin 100ug/l (10-291ug/l)
B12. 493ng/l. ( 211-911ng/l)
I’ve seen that statement about muscle damage in the past and that’s what worries me!
I find my T3 level interesting because it is usually around 4. I’ve kept a record of my T3 levels since I was diagnosed with Graves years ago and even before I had any RAI treatment the value was always around 4. It’s never been higher. So maybe this is the optimum level for me?
I will try Thorne Vitamin B complex thank you. I take 10ug Vitamin D3 daily (Holland and Barrett).
You can read further around Graves on the Elaine Moore Graves Disease Foundation website - elaine-moore - and muscle wastage is well documented.
It is essential that your dosed on your Free T3 and your Free T4 readings and not on a TSH reading :
We generally feel at our best when our T4 is in the top quadrant of it's ranges as this should in theory convert to a good level of T3 - at around a 1/4 ratio T3 / T4 .
T3 is said to be around 4 times more powerful than T4 - and the active hormone that runs the body whereas T4 - Levothyroxine is basically inert and a storage hormone.
The accepted conversion ratio when on T4 monotherapy is said to be 1 / 3.50 - 4.50 - T3/T4 with most people feeling at their best when they come is the range at 4 or under.
So to find how well you convert the T4 into T3 you simply divide your T3 into your T4 and I'm getting yours coming in at 4.72 showing your conversion slightly wide and going out from centre which may well improve when all vitamins and minerals are up and maintained at optimal.
A fully functioning thyroid would be supporting you on a daily basis with trace elements of T1. T2 and calcitonin + a measure of T3 at around 10 mcg + a measure of T4 at around 100 mcg.
Some people can get by on T4 - Levothyroxine.
Some people find that T4 seems to stop working at some point in time and that by adding in a little T3 - they feel much improved and more able to restore their hormonal balance :
Some people can't tolerate T4 and need to take T3 - Liothyronine only :
Whilst others find their health restored better taking Natural Desiccated Thyroid which contains all same known hormones as that of the thyroid gland and derived from pig thyroid dried and ground down into tablets referred to as grains.
RAI is a slow burn and said to be more difficult to treat.
Pennyannie thank you so much for the detail! I think you’re saying that I might do better with some T3. Not sure where I’d get that from but I will think about it.
No, I'm suggesting first that you optimise your ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D -
as this may be enough to improve your conversion of T4 to T3 a little better and also resolve the high cholesterol - which is a symptom of a slowed metabolism and hypothyroidism.
I'm just detailing all the research we now have which is a little late for me and many others including your good self.
20 odd years ago your primary care doctor had all these treatment options at his disposal and in his box of tricks - sadly thyroid hormone treatment options have been reduced to just T4 - Levothyroxine and the consolation prize of anti depressants if you overstay your appointment slot :
For anything other than T4 - Levothyroxine you need to be assessed by a NHS endocrinologists and it does seem that in some area of the country financial constraints over ride medical need.
The other alternative is of course to go privately. and Thyroid UK the charity who support this forum hold a list of patient to patient recommended specialist both NHS and private who are understanding of the thyroid hormone treatment options and treat accordingly. thyroiduk.org - just email admin for a copy :
In my experience you will know if and when you need more than T4 - Levothyroxine -
In primary care the yearly thyroid function test is usually just a TSH and sometimes a Free T4 and this is not appropriate and a total waste of time and money.
You must ensure you are monitored and dosed on keeping your Free T3 and Free T4 running at around 70% - 90% respectively and ignore your TSH reading, which sadly in primary care seems to be all most doctors are interested in keeping in the range as the current guidelines are not fit for purpose and especially not written for people living with Graves Disease.
When my thyroid was hyper - I had Graves - my cholesterol was the lowest I have ever known it. I stopped block and replace and went into remission, my TSH has started to creep up and my cholesterol has crept up too.
I tried statins years ago and didn’t do well with them so I stopped. I suspect a bit of fine tuning with levo would bring both my TSH and cholesterol down but my numbers fall within ‘the range’ and there is no such thing as ‘fine tuning’ for thyroid patients so I’m just living with it as it is and no statins.
Good luck, when I stopped taking them the doctor I spoke to suggested using those Flora Active products, she said there had been success with them so I did that for a while. For a while doctors used to suggest statins but I’m 74 now and I think it’s my age that has made them stop suggesting I take them.
I’m not sure why it’s considered better to take a drug like statins rather than just to take thyroxine to lower my TSH and thus lower my cholesterol.
that’s really interesting. Happy to ask for this but if anything the GP usually worries because my TSH tends to be lower than the NHS range and that makes them panic! My latest value was above that so they’ve left me alone for now!
No I didn’t, when the S word was mentioned I did mention the fact that when I was hyper my cholesterol was the lowest I’d ever seen it and now that my TSH had increased so had my cholesterol and that it looked (to me) as if there was a link. That was back about 2014 or so probably before the connection was more widely known about. My doctor smiled sweetly and said ‘mmmm’ and that was that. I’ve since changed surgeries so if I ever come face to face with a doctor and the S word is mentioned again I might suggest a trial of levo.
When you say you're LDL is high, how high (with ranges)? And do you know total cholesterol and triglyceride levels? If doc suggests statins, ask for independent, scientific evidence of health benefits.
My problem is that I have a first line relative who died in his 50’s of heart disease and that adds to my risk but I won’t just go on statins without a proper debate!
the thing that gets me is that I’m sure the upper level for cholesterol has been lowered over the years. I couldn’t swear to it but I’m sure it was never as low as <4
Do I remember reading on here a Dr (Kendrick?) saying something about women with lower cholesterol not living as long as women with higher cholesterol? This is obviously not a quote as I can’t remember what I read, let alone have a reference!
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