I requested a diabetes blood test at my local surgery on Monday, received telephone call Tuesday, to arrange an appointment with my gp, regarding cholesterol. My question is should I take statins if offered? And is it possible to reverse high cholesterol?Im taking 75/100 mcg teva levothyroxine alternate days
15mcg thybon henning, split into 3 5mcg doses.
First question
Have you managed to get copies of recent Ft4 and Ft3 results
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
If not will need to test privately
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
On T3 - day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day with last dose 8-12 hours before test
Hi, ive managed to get results from gp. But only ft3 and tsh. Private bloodtest 16th October, which will include more information, I will post them, as endo going by tsh
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.
High cholesterol is a symptom, not a disease. Usually due to low T3. Raise the T3 and the cholesterol will drop. But, in any case, high cholesterol is not the problem they make it out to be. It doesn't cause heart attacks or strokes. Statins, on the other day, can do so. I wouldn't take them if you paid me! The body needs cholesterol, it's one of the building blocks.
Many, many posts about cholesterol, if you do a search. There was one today:
All GPs are under a directive to calculate our Cardiovascular Disease Risk score. Age, gender, and health factors such as heart Arrythmia, diabetes and blood pressure are all factored in. Aslo familial heart problems. Your overall cholesterol score is also factored in. I forget the benchmark, but once your score reaches a certain level, they start talking about statins. On the AF forum (I have AF) We call this 'the statins convo'. The way our cholesterol level is calculated doesn't properly take into account that there's 'good' and 'bad' cholesterol. The good (olive oil, nut oils etc) is not harmful and more likely to assist in Cardiovascular health. So, make sure you get the full readings and look at those figures yourself when you discuss with the doctor.
I was challenged on this yesterday so here's a short extract from just the NHS.co.uk site "A cholesterol test can measure:total cholesterol
– the overall amount of cholesterol in your blood, including both "good" and "bad" cholesterol total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio (TC:HDL)
– the level of good cholesterol in your blood compared to your overall cholesterol level
good cholesterol (called HDL) – this may make you less likely to have heart problems or a stroke
bad cholesterol (called LDL and non-HDL) – this may make you more likely to have heart problems or a stroke
When you get your result, you may just be told your total cholesterol. "
Do a bit of reading and don't be afraid to challenge your doctor.
Doctors are a bit obsessed with cholesterol it seems. Almost everyone I know has had that chat with the GP it seems. My diabetes nurse is very straightforward and is only really concerned with triglycerides. She pretty much ignores the other figures as they don’t cause significant harm in her book. I was put on statins years ago after a diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia. Regrettably I have high triglycerides despite a low fat, low sugar lifestyle, I am advised already high levels would be worse without the statin. I continue to take it but always tell people I’d avoid if possible.
Cholesterol 
Cholesterol and Statins
High cholesterol?
Cholesterol levels
Raised cholesterol 
