High cholesterol, high blood pressure & subclin... - Thyroid UK

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High cholesterol, high blood pressure & subclinical

KatyMac68 profile image
16 Replies

So I've had dodgy blood tests for some years and finally forced the gp to treat me in November 25 levothyroxine 12 weeks later with little or no change I'm put up to 50 levo and given a lecture about high cholesterol and high blood pressure; and a refusal to check my bloods for a further 12 weeks

If my TSH ever drops (it's not very high) will the cholestersol drop or is it a lost cause?

And my bp is very high in the evening, is that connected to anything thyroid?

new thyroid results

Serum TSH level 5.13 mIU/L [0.27 - 4.2]; Above high reference limit

Serum free T4 level 15.7 pmol/L [12.0 - 22.0]

12 weeks ago

Serum TSH level 5.61 mIU/L [0.27 - 4.2]; Above high reference limit

Serum free T4 level 14.5 pmol/L [12.0 - 22.0]

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KatyMac68 profile image
KatyMac68
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TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe

Always lovely to have a supportive GP 🙄

So you aren't going to really start to feel any benefits from Levo until you are up to a full replacement dose... you are probably only half way there as you have to build up slowly (it's going to take longer as they started you on a child dose 😕)

12 weeks is excessive and they should be testing you after 8 whilst you are building up your dose, have they tested your folate, ferritin, B12 and Vit D as you can be working on these

KatyMac68 profile image
KatyMac68 in reply to TiggerMe

I supplement with B12 (greater than 2000), methyl folate, iron (floradix) and vit D (118) - the numbers in the brackets are my last blood test level, I'm not sure what folate or ferritin can called on a blood test tho'

I felt very bullied and gaslight talking to the gp; I am struggling to walk and sometimes falling over & I cannot possibly feel this ill with thyroid levels like that - so take statins

I am somewhat overweight at 75kgs, i exercise lightly as i have CFS/ME and I have a fairly poor diet as I have bowel damage and I tolerances but I don't drink or smoke I can't see how statins would help at this point

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe in reply to KatyMac68

So you could probably save yourself some expensive pee by dropping you B12 a little as 900 is generally adequate unless you are injecting?

When GP's don't know what they are talking about they generally seem to become pretty bolshe rather than admit they need to research the issue 🙄

Ferritin and folate both show as is on results, if you have online access worth trolling back through your records

You will likely find that once you are on a decent dose of Levo your stomach issues will also improve as things speed up along with your cholesterol levels, absolutely don't take statins, lets see where you are once properly treated

Not unusual to be intolerant of dairy/ gluten and for me nightshades, we all tend to suffer with low stomach acid so using Betaine HCI or apple cider vinegar can help with this

We'll get you there but it is a slow climb so be kind to yourself 🤗

KatyMac68 profile image
KatyMac68

Yes injecting so....its pennies

I'll look I thought they'd be in the full blood count or something

Nov 21

Serum ferritin level 194 ng/mL; Female Ferritin Reference Range

17-60 years: 13-150 ng/mL

Feb 24

Serum folate level > 20.0 ug/L; Please note change in the reference range for Folate

effective from 08/10/2018.

<3 ug/L suggestive of folate deficiency.

Please note there has been a change to the folate

reference interval in accordance with clinical

guidance from the British Society of Haematology.

And I checked back and they have been ok since at least 2018

Gluten is ok but flour improvers are bad!

Dairy & egg are a no or at least as very little as possible

Soya, almond and coconut are a strong no along with artificial sweetners!

And green veg goes through without touching the sides!! Consultant said I had a very fast transit time and I said that's a Symptom not a diagnosis!

Interesting about low stomach acid as I've recently (last 9 m) had indigestion after years of never having it (last time was pregnancy)

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to KatyMac68

Symptoms of low and high stomach acid are pretty much the same.

Consultant said I had a very fast transit time and I said that's a Symptom not a diagnosis!

Well done, you! lol I would have said that's an observation, not a diagnosis. Amazing how they take their observations and opinions for diagnosis. They think we're all idiots! lol

KatyMac68 profile image
KatyMac68 in reply to greygoose

So I'll try some vinegar (yuk!)Desperately trying to stay off the omeprazole!!

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to KatyMac68

Apple Cider Vinegar? Add it to orange juice and drink it through a straw to protect your teeth. :)

KatyMac68 profile image
KatyMac68 in reply to greygoose

I was wondering, I gave up Pepsi at Easter and have only really had indigestion since

I'm guess it must have been fairly acidic, I wonder if that's part of that particular problem.

I gave it up because they added artificial sweetners and they don't agree with me

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to KatyMac68

Artificial sweeteners don't agree with anyone, when you come down to it! They are not something anyone should ingest.

Possible that the citric acid in the Pepsi did counteract your low stomach acid, to some extent. Try taking vit C instead. :)

KatyMac68 profile image
KatyMac68 in reply to greygoose

They should be banned!!

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to KatyMac68

I agree with you!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

which brand of levothyroxine are you taking

As you are dairy intolerant you may need lactose free levothyroxine for best results

50mcg is only standard STARTER dose

Get bloods retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord

Mercury Pharma make 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets 

Mercury Pharma also boxed as Eltroxin. Both often listed by company name on pharmacy database - Advanz

Accord only make 50mcg and 100mcg tablets. Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots, 

Wockhardt is very well tolerated, but only available in 25mcg tablets. Some people remain on Wockhardt, taking their daily dose as a number of tablets 

Lactose free brands - currently Teva or Vencamil only

Teva makes 25mcg, 50mcg, 75mcg and 100mcg

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine.

Teva is lactose free.But Teva contains mannitol as a filler instead of lactose, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Mannitol seems to upset many people, it changes gut biome 

Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet.

So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half

But for some people (usually if lactose intolerant, Teva is by far the best option)

Aristo (currently 100mcg only) is lactose free and mannitol free.

March 2023 - Aristo now called Vencamil

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

List of different brands available in U.K.

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...

Posts that mention Teva

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Government guidelines for GP in support of patients if you find it difficult/impossible to change brands

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/l...

If a patient reports persistent symptoms when switching between different levothyroxine tablet formulations, consider consistently prescribing a specific product known to be well tolerated by the patient.

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).

And here

pharmacymagazine.co.uk/clin...

Discussed here too

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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)

KatyMac68 profile image
KatyMac68 in reply to SlowDragon

This box of meds is Mercury pharma hut its significantly dissferent to the 24s

I wonder if I have the old packaging yes they were wockhard

KatyMac68 profile image
KatyMac68

I cope with small amounts, like a bowl or cereal or a yogurt once a week or so but every day would not be pleasant

I'll look what make I have

My last 2 tests were at 8am, obviously I had no meds for the first one and it was about 23 hrs for the 2nd

The GP tells me the lab will refuse to test before 6 weeks

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to KatyMac68

The GP tells me the lab will refuse to test before 6 weeks

Yes, correct. Wait at least 6 weeks, and waiting 8 weeks might be better

Suggest you request Teva - lactose free Levo to trial

KatyMac68 profile image
KatyMac68

I started taking the 50 levothyroxine on 13th, it couldn't have has such a quick response from my blood pressure can it? There must have been something else causing a short term increase or something

Spreadsheet with dates and blood pressure readings morning and night

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