High cholesterol : Just had telephone... - Thyroid UK

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High cholesterol

Geegee777 profile image
21 Replies

Just had telephone consultation with my gp, he said my cholesterol is 8.2 and I have high triglycerides. He offered me statins, I said I d think about it.Im writing this because I am a bit shocked and unsure what to do next.

Any advice most welcome.

Im taking 75/100 mcg teva levothyroxine alternate days

alongside 15mcg Liothyronine, split into 3 doses

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Geegee777
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21 Replies
Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase

I don’t know what your thyroid levels are but there is mention of having an under-active thyroid sorted out before starting statins, if you scroll through this link you will see it nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

I also know that when I was hyperactive with Graves’ disease my cholesterol levels were the lowest I have ever known them but once my thyroid was fixed and my TSH increased my cholesterol levels increased too. So it would be worth looking at your thyroid levels before making any decisions. If you do decide to take them then take CoQ10 as well - your doctor probably won’t mention that!

Geegee777 profile image
Geegee777 in reply to Fruitandnutcase

Thanks for your quick response, I m a bit concerned, like many others.... just another thing to add on the thyroid journey.

greygoose profile image
greygoose

I echo what Fruitandnutcase has said. High cholesterol is often down to low FT3 levels. Or, high inflammation damaging arteries. Cholesterol is natures sticking plaster to be used in the arteries to heal them and prevent heart problems. It is not the cause of heart problems. You'd be better off taking vit C than statins.

Artificially reducing cholesterol is not the answer to anyone's problems, and could very well cause more problems than it solves. If we have high cholesterol it's for a reason - it's a symptom, not a disease - and your doctor's job should be to find that reason, not throw pills at it.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Have you got TSH, Ft4, Ft3 results from endocrinologist yet

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

And need vitamin results

Geegee777 profile image
Geegee777 in reply to SlowDragon

Endo results not much good as only tsh and ft3.Im collecting recent rezults from gp tomorrow, not sure whats included in those.

Ive got a private blood draw 16th October. Will post them then.

McPammy profile image
McPammy

Along side checking your thyroid levels are you checking your diet. Triglycerides are sugar related. Maybe start now to reduce sugar. Sugar is so bad.

Geegee777 profile image
Geegee777 in reply to McPammy

Yes, Im checking diet. I do love red meat and rendered fat, alas, no more of that now😐sugar not a problem, but re evaluating my diet to include more vegetables and fruit, also went for a short bike ride, first time since before lockdown and felt really energised. So will incorporate 15minuit bike ride daily🚲🚲🚲

penny profile image
penny in reply to Geegee777

Why no more red meat and rendered fat?

Geegee777 profile image
Geegee777 in reply to penny

Because of saturated fats, I presume raise cholesterol?

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to Geegee777

Saturated fats don't increase cholesterol. It is sugar and carbs that increase cholesterol and triglycerides.

I strongly recommend going to Youtube and searching for "Paul Mason saturated fat". He's a very good video presenter. He's also a medical doctor.

McPammy profile image
McPammy in reply to Geegee777

Exercise will definitely help. Don’t think red meat can increase triglycerides? But maybe I’m wrong. Red meat and sugar all bad in our diets, everything in moderation. I’m getting mine tested this week. Cholesterol top figure normally around 5’ish. What is your top line figure?

Geegee777 profile image
Geegee777 in reply to McPammy

Not sure of exact results, havnt had time to collect them yet. Will post them when I do🌸

Geegee777 profile image
Geegee777 in reply to McPammy

Any advice most welcome 🌸

These are my recent results
McPammy profile image
McPammy in reply to Geegee777

8.2 cholesterol is quite high. It needs to be below 5 if possible. It’s generally about your diet. But under medicated thyroid can cause high cholesterol too. A couple of years ago before I was put on T3 combined with T4 my cholesterol went up to 6.9. Once I started taking the T3 and joining a gym it dropped to 4.9 within 6 weeks. So that’s proof having the correct thyroid levels is important. It’s stayed at around 5 ever since. But I do watch my food intake and try to eat fresh fruit and veg every day. I don’t eat meat. High cholesterol can be reversed by diet and better choices of food and exercise. But some people inherit high cholesterol too. I’d try diet improvements and ensure your meds are optimal before taking any statins. Also exercise more.

Miffie profile image
Miffie

Trigylerides are raised by high fat and sugar levels in diet. Remember that all carbs turn to sugar in the body so watch the starches as well as obvious sugars. Don’t forget many fruits are high in sugar so watch those. Processed foods are frequently much higher in both fat and carbs than making from scratch at home. Red meat is no problem I enjoy liver once a week to counter low iron as well as beef, pork, chicken and lots of oily fish not forgetting eggs. You can eat these and green veg in abundance with zero effects on triglycerides. I unfortunately have familial hypercholesterolaemia so have the dreaded statin as part of my daily routine. Luckily my diabetes nurse is super chilled re all cholesterol levels except triglycerides. As it happens my results are all excellent except triglycerides which have been raised for the last year despite the most cautious diet. I hope you get yours resolved soon.

Geegee777 profile image
Geegee777 in reply to Miffie

Thats interesting, regarding red meat, so id be ok to eat all meats? Rendered fat is a treat now and then, but I would be very happy if I can still have meat. Going to have a go at making bread with almond flour, just to vary my meal timez

Jack123456 profile image
Jack123456 in reply to Miffie

following your post l two am a case for FH currently waiting on blood test to confirm, did you have to take a higher dosage of statin once FH was confirmed?

Geegee777 profile image
Geegee777 in reply to Jack123456

Hi, ive refused statins for now, firstly I need to optimise my medication and fine tune my diet🙄🙄🙄

Miffie profile image
Miffie in reply to Jack123456

No statin was only prescribed once it was confirmed. It was previously discussed but thyroid bloods showed under treated at same and prior testing.

Miffie profile image
Miffie

Yes protein rich foods are great for regulating blood sugars. My meals for all high protein and selection of salad leaves or above ground grown veg. Root veg in serious moderation. I may eat a bread type product a couple of times a month but no more and often less. At one point I tried making all the lower carb alternatives but soon realised I was happy to do without. I am never hungry if stick with these high protein meal meals and my blood sugars are balanced. I eat lean beef or lamb with fat cut off 3-4 times a week. . Liver once, chicken 1-2 times and fish or eggs at other meals. I do have bacon although it’s processed it’s delicious, sadly sausages aren’t so good for me unless it’s something like Heck then perhaps once a month or so. I love cheese but it’s a rare treat due to high fat content. Good luck

penny profile image
penny

I recommend the books of Dr Malcolm Kendrick…and this:

youtube.com/watch?v=iZctVYx...

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