Thoughts?

[Calceolaria]

I had a text yesterday from my GP Practice - a text mark you, not a conversation, a telephone call or heaven forfend , an appointment . To say blood tests ( haven’t had any recently) show I have chronic kidney disease and I should start taking a statin. First reaction was - it’s a mistake. Second was - when did I last have FBC? Put myself on list for call back from surgery. Long story short, I was told by admin to ignore as it was ‘historical’, no, I needn’t speak to a doctor about this ‘diagnosis’ but I could have a statin if I wanted! I asked was this a cock up and was told calls are recorded to she couldn’t say any more. It’s Christmas week so I’m letting this go for now!

There is a question here though, if by some unhappy chance I do have CKD, what does a statin do to levo or thyroid in general? I play roulette daily with supplements, fibre, coffee, certain vegetables etc.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low Ft3 can cause poor kidney function (low GFR)

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

The GFR is reversibly reduced (by about 40%) in more than 55% of adults with hypothyroidism[40]

This is not connected to cholesterol other than being under treated for thyroid, with low Ft3 also likely to result in high cholesterol

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.

What were your last Thyroid and vitamin results

[Calceolaria in reply to SlowDragon]

I decided to wait until after Christmas. It’s here, waiting for me.

[Calceolaria in reply to SlowDragon]

In addition, my cholesterol levels have always been good.

Do you have any ideas about how my GP practise has suddenly identified me as having CKD when I have not knowingly been tested for it or for anything at all recently. And have not had any doctor express any interest in it?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Calceolaria]

sounds like a complete mess up

[Calceolaria in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. I’m afraid we must be extra, extra watchful these day!

[meme in reply to Calceolaria]

My surgery informed me twice this year that I needed an appointment with them. On both occasions when I attended it transpired they had got my name mixed up with another patient ! So my time and the embarrassed GPs was wasted twice! Mistakes do happen, make sure they have not mixed you up with someone with a similar name as they did with me.

[Calceolaria in reply to meme]

I am alert to that possibility. Unlike my name on here, I now have a very commonplace real name! Crazy days!

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

What did your latest results show you were going to do a private one?

[Calceolaria in reply to TiggerMe]

I decided to wait until after Christmas. It’s here just waiting to be done.

[cody_lamonica]

I had 2 doctors tell me I had stage 3 CKD. I did not see a nephrologist. But I had chronically low eGFR.

That was on T4 monotherapy 200mcg where I lived with above range T4 and barely in-range T3 (near bottom).

Since I switched to either T3 mono or combo my eGFR improved significantly. I have no kidney disease whatsoever. It was a misdiagnosis and the GFR improvement coincided perfectly with the change in thyroid hormones.

This could be entirely unrelated to your own situation, but the CKD "diagnosis" scared me so much, I wonder if this information will help someone else in the future.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to cody_lamonica]

Same for me, kidneys (and everything else) much happier with a decent level of fT3

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to cody_lamonica]

And many GP’s and endocrinologist seem clueless about this connection

[Marz]

Hubby recently had routine tests. We received a text saying he should pick up a script for Statins as he was at risk of heart attack or stroke and needed lifestyle advice ?

He is 84 and takes T4/3 and is remarkable for his age. On obtaining his results his cholesterol is just fine ! There was a note with the result - normal - patient does not need to be informed.

So what is going on ?Methinks they are under orders to increase their numbers.... how many will be fearful of such a text and comply ? Shocking !

[Calceolaria in reply to Marz]

Trying to avoid my innate conspiracy theories, I however do wonder if pushing statins makes a GP practice more attractive to any buyouts?

I later received a text asking me if I’d like to be part of a programme which analyses my dna and health predictions. Or words to that effect. Despite assurances that this is completely protected info, I’m just not buying it.

[arTistapple in reply to Marz]

It made me so happy to read the bit “He is 84 and takes T4/T3 and is remarkable for his age”. Brilliant. They don’t note these patients but they really should. I remember many years ago discussing research for treatment with people with AIDS. I asked was any research going into the people who really ought to have it (long time sexual partners of patients with full blown AIDS for example) and don’t, if it was purely ‘catching’. Shouldn’t researchers be checking and looking at their immunity for example. I remember the guy was utterly dumbfounded. Their focus (as we know) is often not in the correct place.

[Marz in reply to arTistapple]

AZT was the culprit...😒

[arTistapple in reply to Marz]

Not sure what you might mean. However it was 1987 before AZT was made public. They thought they had something which might work but I am pretty sure the name was not even given at the time.

[Marz in reply to arTistapple]

A 'treatment' that caused deaths ??

[arTistapple in reply to Marz]

Ah I definitely have not heard that. Thanks for the info.

[Marz]

I would avoid DNA collection if possible if trust is an issue ???

[Calceolaria]

Wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole!

[serenfach]

I know I am the only person with my name (its unusual) and also the only one with my date of birth. I still got mixed up with some poor woman with piles...