finally had another follow up scan for my lung issue . Though not fully recovered, my Atelactasis has reversed/ cleared up. So that is great news. Have lost some weight so BP is improved 132/83. Funnily enough got a call today from my GP surgery ( Gp assistant) about not having been prescribed any statins recently, and told them i am not taking them. Told them it was a hard sell, by the GP at the time to take them, gave my reasons for not having them, and the possible health negatives. Being Hypothyroid etc. This was accepted. Said i would do a Cholesterol test again in about 3 months. I feel i could do with something to help cholesterol on the EPA/ DHA front. As i had done a very recent private test but have seen very little change 6.4 in overall cholesterol levels. ( Didnt mention this in my call today) I may have messed up somewhat, and not helped myself by having my thyroxine, a few hours before i did my blood sample for the test. I need to tweek my diet further, and hopefully get more exercise ( walking) now the weather is improving. I gather omega 3 can help but its which brand and getting the right balance. I believe the EPA levels are the one to focus on. Any thoughts on this Please.
levothyroxine & statins : finally had another... - Thyroid UK
levothyroxine & statins
what are your most recent TSH, Ft4 and most important Ft3 results
Plus vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin levels
TSH =1.75. T4 =20.5. T3= 4.1. Vit D = 46. Total cholesterol =6.4 . Diabetes HbA1c =38 . All results 2 days ago. Didnt test for a anything else.
Vitamin D is presumably 46nmol as you are in U.K.
how much vitamin D have you been taking daily
Aim to maintain vitamin D at minimum of 80nmol
GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol.
Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol
leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...
GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)
mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...
But, improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...
vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...
Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.
Test twice yearly when supplementing
Can test via NHS private testing service
Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.
There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7.
One spray = 1000iu
amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...
It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average
NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required
panmerseyapc.nhs.uk/media/2...
Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7
Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine
betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...
medicalnewstoday.com/articl...
livescience.com/61866-magne...
sciencedaily.com/releases/2...
Vitamin K2 mk7
what’s the range on Ft4 and Ft3
Was test 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)
How much levothyroxine are you taking
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription
ESSENTIAL to test folate, B12 and ferritin
Test here
monitormyhealth.org.uk/anae...
test was at lunchtime. 100mg taken daily. Brands alternate depending what my local pharmacy has. Generally its Accord. I havent had tested the others tested since 06 /09/24. B12 =327ng/l. Folate =11.2ug/l. Ferritin = 138 ug/l
B12 and Folate were low
Suggest you retest
TSH would be higher at 8-9am
Was last dose Levo 24 hours before test
No i had the Levo a few hours before.
Tested at lunchtime and Levo 5-6 hours before test
TSH =1.75
TSH would have been at least over 2 if tested at 8-9am
Possibly nearer 3
T4 =20.5
Ft4 would have been significantly lower if last dose Levo 24 hours before
Probably below 18 ……possibly lower
T3= 4.1
Need ranges on Ft3
Result below 5.5 is likely low
work on improving low vitamin levels for 2-3 months
Then retest thyroid levels correctly
Suggest you also retest vitamin levels
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)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
Post all about what time of day to test
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing
Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
B12 =327ng/l.
Folate =11.2ug/l
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement
A week later add a separate vitamin B Complex
Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week
Highly effective B12 drops
natureprovides.com/products...
Or
B12 sublingual lozenges
uk.iherb.com/pr/jarrow-form...
cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...
In-depth article on different forms of B12
perniciousanemia.org/b12/fo...
B12 range in U.K. is too wide
Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
perniciousanemia.org/b12/le...
And why aiming to keep B12 over 500 recommended
perniciousanemia.org/b12/le...
Great reply by @humanbean on B12 here
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Low folate
supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)
This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too
Difference between folate and folic acid
healthline.com/nutrition/fo...
B vitamins best taken after breakfast
Igennus B complex popular option. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose and may need 2 per day and/or may need separate methyl folate couple times a week
Post discussing different B complex
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
endocrinenews.endocrine.org...
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12 if last test result serum B12 was below 500 or active B12 (private test) under 70
Thank you for the reply. A lot to digest.
I just want to take something i can take regularly together with my Thyroid medication.
You can NOT take anything at same time as levothyroxine
Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.
Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away
(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)
Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime
verywellhealth.com/best-tim...
markvanderpump.co.uk/blog/p...
markvanderpump.co.uk/blog/p...
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
IBD currently in remission, constipation, Chronic fatigue syndrome as well as Hypothyroidism)
Irritable bowel, constipation and fatigue are all symptoms of being hypothyroid ……not separate issues
inflammatory Bowel Disease is a totally separate issue. As is Chronic fatigue syndrome, had a separate diagnoses long before i became Hypo.
As you have taken levothyroxine just before your blood test, this will have influenced your results. The peak plasma concentrations after taking levothyroxine is reached after around 3h, so you would have measured your T4 and T3 when they were highest. To get an accurate picture, you need to be fasted with your last levo taken 24h prior to your test.
Having said that, your T4 and T3 appear to be low even though you have taken your meds beforehand, especially your T3, which is the driver of your metabolism. And even the TSH is a tad high for someone on replacement. If we do not have enough T3, your metabolism is slow and dietary components such as glucose and cholesterol cannot be effectively cleared from your system, and hence the levels will rise. The high cholesterol is therefore not a dietary problem, but a metabolic one and due to the lack of T3.
Statins are just a patch to fix the cholesterol, but do not address the underlying problem - which is a lack of thyroid hormones! If you can, you could do another test (fasted with no levo beforehand) to test your TSH, T4 and T3 so you get a better idea where your actual levels are. You may need an increase in your medication. And as slowdragon has advised you, you should also work to increase your folate, B12 and vitamin D, as these will help your body to make the most of your thyroid hormones and assist with the conversion of T4 to T3, which you will need.
Thank you for your replies a lot of information and a tad confusing. I am thinking of getting these and giving them a try. I am mindful of over loading my system. ( Due to IBD currently in remission, constipation, Chronic fatigue syndrome as well as Hypothyroidism) I just want to take something i can take regularly, together with my Thyroid medication. As well as the following ( not taken daily, but will probably do so now ) H& B Omega 3 Fish oil 1000mg and H & B Vitamin D 3 400 iu 10ug & Vit C 1000mg. I do sometimes take H&B Alive mens energy gummies, as well. But thinking of binning them. pure-encapsulations.co.uk/m...
Thank you for your replies a lot of information and a tad confusing. I am thinking of getting these and giving them a try. I am mindful of over loading my system. ( Due to IBD currently in remission, constipation, Chronic fatigue syndrome as well as Hypothyroidism) I just want to take something i can take regularly, together with my Thyroid medication. As well as the following ( not taken daily, but will probably do so now ) H& B Omega 3 Fish oil 1000mg and H & B Vitamin D 3 400 iu 10ug & Vit C 1000mg. I do sometimes take H&B Alive mens energy gummies, as well. But thinking of binning them. pure-encapsulations.co.uk/m...
Vitamin D3 400IU is far too low a dose and will not help you raise your Vitamin D levels. You need at least 3000IU of Vitamin D to get your levels up. You also need to take Vitamin D3 with Vitamin K2, so the calcium from your diet gets build into your bones - quite important. I can recommend Nutravita Vitamin D3 3000IU + 100mcg K2, available on Amazon. Really good and no fillers or things that should not be in there. Slowdragon has given you good information on Vitamin B complexes as well, I take the Igennus one, which are small tablets easy to swallow and very effective in raising your B-vitamins (especially folate and B12). At the beginning you can take 2 tablets a day, then after a while you can just take one. Supplementing with the right products will not overload your system, on the contrary, you will add important nutrients your body needs to make the most of your thyroid medication. Vitamin Bs also helps with energy levels, so definitely worth a try. You can take the B-complex after breakfast (at least 2h away from your thyroid medication) and your Vitamin D at lunchtime (at least 4h away from levo). It is very easy to incorporate into your daily routine and once you start to see improvements, you will know that it has an effect.
I would ditch the energy gummies, multivitamins are not recommended - they have too many things that are not needed and this specific one also contains iodine, which you should not take, when hypothyroid! You get all the iodine you need from your thyroid medication, so the extra addition is not needed. Folic acid is not well absorbed and the other B-vitamins are not dosed high enough for your needs, hence the recommendation of the good quality, separate B-complex (Igennus).
If you suffer from constipation, magnesium citrate can have a laxative effect and is a very good form of magnesium to take, as many people are deficient in magnesium anyway. Hope you will find something that works for you.
Thanks… 400iu Vitamin D3 was suggested by GP as my Vit D levels were rock bottom, and have raised them taking it every other day. I will be taking it every day for a while and see how it progresses . But will definitely bear in mind yours and Slowdragon’s recommendations and look into them. I must say i am some what wary of having too many different kinds of vitamins, as i have had intolerance issues in the past, as well as with my levothyroxine when i was given Teva ( nasty stuff for me) Im very wary of fillers, and agents used.I will see how it goes.
If you take a too small dose of Vitamin D3, you cannot raise your levels sufficiently. 400IU might be the recommended daily intake in the UK, however, given that 1 in 6 Adults and 20% of children are deficient in Vitamin D, it is clear that these guidelines are not fit for purpose. And if you are deficient, taking 400IU every other day is certainly not enough, especially if you have absorption issues (IBS?)!
If you continue on your current dose, yes you may see a small improvement over a very long period of time, but as long as your Vitamin D is below 75nmol/l, it cannot help to support your thyroid hormones, hence you will continue not feeling well. If I may give you my example, my Vitamin D level was 54nmol before I started supplementing. After taking 3000IU every day for a year!, my level rose to 96nmol and after another year my level was at 126nmol/l, and I am on a maintenance dose now. You can perhaps do the maths and see how long it would take you to reach 100nmol on 400IU only, given that you very likely have absorption issues as well.
Of course, we can only make recommendations and advise you what has helped other people (including ourselves) and how we have successfully managed to raise our levels, seen improvements and helped to support our thyroid. It is up to you.
Changing from natural thyroid to Levothyroxine
Should I stay on statins? 
Stress and Levothyroxine
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