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Hypothyroid, high cholesterol and low kidney function

Posted , 5 users are following.

russell58658
russell58658

Hello

I've been diagnosed as hypothyroid and the blood tests also showed that my kidney function was very low and my cholesterol level very very high. (9.3)

I am a physically active, healthy eating and non-smoking 40 year old man so I was surprised by these results. 

Anybody else have similar results and how did these things respond to thyroxine tablets?

Background:  I was fit and healthy and my symptoms hit me like a wall.  Very cold, muscle cramps everywhere, muscle fatigue prevented any repetitive movements like doing my teeth, dry skin, brain fog, swollen face/neck/fingers and legs, huge weight gain in a few weeks.  Since taking the pills most of the symptoms have thankfully gone away but the doctor says the kidney and cholesterol levels were unlikely caused by thyroid issue alone.   (Worst cholesterol levels he has seen all year / stage 3 kidney disease and equivalent to an 84 year old lady) 

 

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • StelAnd
    StelAnd russell58658

    Posted

    I like you am a non smoker, very healthy & do cardio exercise 3 times a week. My cholesterol was high 6.5 but my diet is very good. I am in the process of trying to reduce this. I have taken thyroxine for 16yrs & I am now experiencing this. I do believe since joint this and another similar forum that the thyroid has everything to do with this situation but I have been told my levels are in the correct range but my T3 is slightly low. I’m at my wits end as I really don’t want to eat anything but fruit & salad as I fear my cholesterol will go out of control 

    • MtViewCatherine
      MtViewCatherine StelAnd

      Posted

      Thank you for posting. Really, I’ve found my cholesterol spikes even before my TSH shows high. So I’ve considered cholesterol a good indicator of thyroid health. I do frequent liver cleansing, and find I cannot digest fats well so limit my fat consumption. 

      Also, like both of you,  I was in stellar shape with the onset.  Glad to hear from others do I don’t feel crazy.  My research indicates a sluggish liver follows hypothyroidism, and leads to gallbladder issues, high cholesterol and digestion issues to name a few.

  • MtViewCatherine
    MtViewCatherine russell58658

    Posted

    Hi Russel, I’ve found cholesterol spikes to be strongly correlated with hypothyroid disease. I’ve also had difficulty with kidney function and bloat.

    I had no luck treating thyroid disease, as the synthetic meds worsened thyroid disease, and related problems. 

    I have severe belly bloat and eventually self diagnosed pancreatitis, treated with digestive enzymes and fasting/ white rice diet until the pancreatitis improved and I could eat. I don’t know how long I’ve had the pancreatitis, but it surely should have been obvious when on the meds and none of the dozen docs I saw mentioned anything other than a slightly high a1c glucose level to watch. 

    After a ton of reading, it seems pancreatitis, hypothyroid disease, liver and gallbladder issues seem to go together... liver produces cholesterol. Adrenals process into hormones. You likely have adrenal exhaustion too.

    I understand the rapid wright gain and bloating. In my case, I suspect much if this was a symptom of pancreatitis. And yes, came on out of nowhere, as you also described. 

    I treat the thyroid disease with essential amino acid complex and extra phenylalanine as needed. I also do acupuncture, herbs and cleansing.

    Keep me posted on what works for you, I’d love to know of other options.

  • lvkitty7777
    lvkitty7777 russell58658

    Posted

    Hi there,

    I have had hypothyroidism for 14 years, I also hereditary have high cholesterol. Recently with my bloodwork showing my thyroid is off again and the dr is adjusting my medicine she noted that my cholesterol counts should improve once my dosage is regulating my thyroid. Interesting how they seem to go hand in hand. I am also fit, do yoga 4 days a week, hike 3-6 miles on the weekends and cardio TRX classes 3 days a week. 

  • russell58658
    russell58658

    Posted

    Update (for those who my have a similar set of symptoms)

    My cholesterol levels have now dropped back from 9.7 to 3.8 which puts me back in the normal range.

    Also, my kidney function is back to healthy.  Both, it seems, can be very related to hypothyroid although my doctor was convinced their were underlying issues for both as he had not seen this in his experience. 

    (A kidney specialist suggests that I may have had a very severe case of hypothyroidism and this doesn't normally effect 40 year old men so I am a bit more of a rarity for the average GP)

    Thanks for all your replies.  

  • diane88860
    diane88860 russell58658

    Posted

    My cholesterol and my tumor markers were both elevated while hypothyroid.  After four or five months on levothyroxine, my tumor markers dropped over 50 % to 'perfect' and my cholesterol is almost normal. LDL was still slightly elevated.  

    My original script was 100 mcg and I'm now on 25 mcg because my TSH was .222 after being 0.056 after my first round of 100 mcg.  

     

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