I have held off with statins for few years and have recently been having cholesterol drinks to try to lower level. My cholesterol level has fallen gradually but is still 6.2. I’ve just had a telephone consultation with hospital lipid dr and the genetic test they did which looks for one definite familial link, but instead the results show various genetic anomalies which I have been told still puts me at a high risk of heart disease and strokes. I am not sure what to do now. I have read lots about the problems with statins and have always avoided taking them, but now I am not so sure. My latest thyroid results are as follows…..
NOTE that my T4 is over range, however I did mistakenly take my second doses of Levo and Lio later in the day before blood draw. I normally take all my Levo in the morning on day before bloods.
If you had your blood draw in the afternoon, and took your T4/T3 before the blood draw, then these labs are not going to give you any useful information.
The last dose of levo should be 24 hours before the blood draw, and T3 8 to 12 hours. Otherwise, you'll just be testing the dose you just took. Even so, your FT3 is only 55.56%. Had you left the correct gap it would have been even lower, so that's probably why your cholesterol is too high. Low FT3 causes high cholesterol.
No I normally take split doses of Levo and Lio but 24 hours before blood draw I normally take the two split doses of Levo in the morning. However I took my second dose of Levo with my second dose of Lio later in the day before blood draw the next morning. I take 66mcg Levo and 10 mcg Lio daily.
It’s important to consider the genetic results too though surely?
If you usually take your last dose of lio 24 hours before the blood draw then you usually have a false low FT3.
Genetic results, as far as I know, only talk about possibilities, not certainties. But, in any case, cholesterol does not cause heart attacks or strokes. Your body needs cholesterol. Your brain and cell walls are made of it. So are your sex hormones. Low levels of cholesterol are far more dangerous than high ones, and yours is not that high.
I followed instruction on here for when to take last dose of medication prior to blood draw, up until now there has been no mention that doing this causes lower T3 levels.
These are taken from the Thyroid UK website. Link to full detail is below.
“It can also be a hereditary problem, running through families.“
Prognosis:-
“High cholesterol levels increase the risk of heart disease and stroke and must therefore be treated and monitored. Whilst an improvement in diet and lifestyle may help to reduce cholesterol levels, medication may also be required. Each case is unique and your doctor or specialist will provide information and guidance regarding the best treatment plan for you to reduce risks to your health.”
I'm sure no-one on here suggested you take your last dose of T3 24 hours before the blood draw. It is always said to take it 8 to 12 hours before.
I have never read about cholesterol on the TUK website before and now that I have, I'm shocked and horrified! Most of it is untrue. Diet has little to do with cholesterol levels because it is made in the liver, and the liver does it's best to keep the level balanced. The more you ingest with your food, the less it makes. The less you ingest, the more it makes. However, when T3 is low the body cannot process cholesterol correctly, and it tends to build up in the blood.
I would strongly suggest you read Dr Malcolm Kendrick's book: The Great Cholesterol Con
Trouble is I take my first doses of Levo and Lio about 6 am and my second dose at 4.15 pm so I can eat.
It was suggested to split my dose of Levo and take with lio but I now think I’m best going back to taking all my Levo in the morning. However if I had my bloods next day I wouldn’t take my next dose until afterwards so that’s a space of nearly 24 hours.
I am now thinking that this could mean I’m taking too much Levo, as taking it later last time I had bloods done, seems to have increased my T4.
It may also explain my palpitations.
I see my endocrinologist next month so I need to sort this out as it’s looking like I may need less Levo and may not need Lio.
It's fine to split your levo but the day before your blood test you do have to change your timings so that there is a gap of 24 hours for levo and 8 - 12 hours for T3. Then, the next day, go back to normal.
It says “If taking thyroid hormone replacement, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw.”
It goes on to say “if taking NDT or T3 then last dose should be 8-12 hours before blood draw.”
Here’s the post……
* Blood draw no later than 9am. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, an increase in dose of Levo or to avoid a reduction then we need the highest possible TSH
*Nothing to eat or drink except water before the blood draw. This is because eating can lower TSH and coffee can affect TSH.
*If taking thyroid hormone replacement, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then last dose should be 8-12 hours before blood draw. Adjust timing the day before if necessary. This avoids measuring hormone levels at their peak after ingestion of hormone replacement. Take your thyroid meds after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.
*If you take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin (B7), leave this off for 7 days before any blood test. This is because if Biotin is used the testing procedure it can give false results.
I was confused before because I thought I should take Levo and Lio first thing, then again in afternoon which I still did before blood test which was wrong. I must have misunderstood the different timings between Levo and Lio too. I think I am ok with it now.
I normally take split doses of Levo and Lio but 24 hours before blood draw I normally take the two split doses of Levo in the morning. However I took my second dose of Levo with my second dose of Lio later in the day before blood draw the next morning.
So if last dose levothyroxine was less that 24 hours before test….it’s Ft4 that’s false high result
they have not long ago lowered ranges of cholesterol from 6 to 5 so that more people can be given statins. Watch statin nation on YouTube for research. Also you could look at yellow card scheme online for reports of statin side effects. Also search online Dr Malhotra statins. The great statin con.
yes UK. They have also lowered blood pressure ranges. If you look up Dr Malhotra a truthful cardiologist he now emphasis lifestyle medicine and the popi diet rather than over prescribing medicine which seems to be the narative now.
I have seen these before from Dr Malhotra. As I only weigh 7st 10lb the idea of fasting on the the ‘Pioppi’ diet sends shivers down my spine. Although I agree that a Mediterranean diet is great for most people, I don’t think I could tolerate it for very long. Especially as I struggle eating vegetables which causes gut pain etc anyway. If I increased this further I would not be able to function at all. I’ve tried various ‘diets’ with no improvements.
have you seen anyone about the gut pain or tried anything? I take oregano oil and probiotics. If you ask in a good health food shop say plant organic they have nutritionists who can advise.
Yes I have spent years and money on my gut issues and to no avail. I have been having kefir every day for a few years too. I was under a dietician twice too.
Are the measurements you have given relating to total cholesterol or LDL HDL? I only get ranges for the latter two, there has never been one for total cholesterol.
Yes I take 2.5 ml propranolol liquid twice a day now for migraines as on the slow release I collapsed , but it was evening and I was tired, got up and fainted, GP reduced dose and prescribed liquid as I struggle swallowing tablets. Propranolol is the best BB for migraines and has helped. I couldn’t plan things or go out, always cancelling. I’ve tried lots and lots of migraine medication over the past 40 years.
Last vitamin bloods were taken July last year 2022.
B12 830ng/L (187-883)
Ferritin 134ug/L (5-204)
Folate 8.4ug/L (3.1-20)
Vitamin D 73 nmol/L (50-200)
I hadn’t taken Vit D spray for 5-6 months so started again after these bloods were taken.
I also take magnesium and use magnesium spray on my body. I have been taking selenium too.
I’d like to supplement folate but not sure where to buy non tablet form. I can manage tiny tablets like my Levo and Lio though.
My B12 has always been high, not sure why this is. I don’t take a supplement. I don’t take B complex because of high B 12.
I was taking higher dose of slow release Propranalol, however it was lowered and given in liquid form when I collapsed, but it was evening and I was tired, I got up and fainted.
I know migraines are linked with thyroid but If I slowly reduce and stop Propranalol I will be back to being wiped out and unable to function again. I’ve tried lots and lots of migraine medication over 40 years, so this is a last resort really.
I don’t think increasing my thyroid medication would help with migraines or raised cholesterol as my T3 and T4 easily go over range when increasing.
Have a look at Dr Malcolm Kendrick’s blogs about cholesterol and statins. He also wrote a book called The Great Cholesterol Con.
My husband was on one of the worst statins, Simvastatin, for years. It did very little for his cholesterol levels, but caused significant muscle weakness and, more importantly, type 2 diabetes. As soon as he came off them, his muscle tone improved and his T2 diabetes is now controlled by diet only ( he was taking Metformin for a while). His cholesterol levels didn’t change very much at all after he stopped them either.
some people find that their thyroid levels are linked to palpitations. And also if they lower their cortisol level it can help.
last week my mother was given a 24 hour blood pressure monitor and a 48 hour heart rate monitor. She has decided to first try coherent breathing and CBD oil, the natural methods. Before changing her medicine. She is already in constant atrifibulation. The breathing technique is online and very helpful. Also she was told that although her cholesterol is in range they want it to be near 4 not 5. I have asked her to get a second opinion.
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