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Levothyroxine & blood pressure issues

Posted , 6 users are following.

StelAnd
StelAnd

Hi 

I’m sorry I don’t have my Hormone levels to post (had bloods done Monday) and told were fine. My problem is my blood pressure is becoming raised & cholesterol and I didn’t have these problems over a year or so ago. I don’t want to have to take bp or statins so can anyone help in my quest to address this issue. I keep reading hypothyroidism goes hand in hand with these issues. I have a healthy lifestyle & regular exercise. I’m at my wits end. Please help!

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • MtViewCatherine
    MtViewCatherine StelAnd

    Posted

    Hi Stel, you’re correct that these symptoms often come with hypothyroidism.  Thyroid medication can increase your bp.

    As for the elevated cholesterol, I’ve found this to be a very good indicator of my thyroid condition, and in fact, when my thyroid is really wonky, my cholesterol goes through the roof, before things show in my thyroid tests.

    Some things to consider- standards for BP and cholesterol are guidelines. A number on a piece of paper means nothing unless it supports clinical observation and symptoms in some way. Are the high cholesterol and BP causing you difficulties? Consider this when considering medications, as the side effects of the medications may outweigh benefits depending on your situation.

    I’ve found that with hypothyroid disease, comes a sluggish liver... as metabolism slows, so does the liver. This wreaks havoc with the fluid dynamics of your blood flow, and since the liver produces cholesterol, you hit it, yes, your cholesterol goes nuts. 

    • diane88860
      diane88860 MtViewCatherine

      Posted

      I just posted about my cholesterol being super high and off the charts.  My last TSH was a month ago and it was 0.045.  I've been over medicated since November and about every 6 weeks they've reduced my dosage but I'm not seeing any improvement.  

      The cholesterol really scared me, tho I did read that it can take 48 weeks on Levo for things like cholesterol to begin to return to normal.  

      All these years I've heard people say that thyroid was no big deal. 'Just take a little pill once a day'.  Boy they either never had thyroid problems or were lying!  It's a full time job! 

    • MtViewCatherine
      MtViewCatherine diane88860

      Posted

      Hi Diane, I found that my increase in cholesterol has been a more reliable barometer of my thyroid condition than any other test.  So cholesterol definitely goes high when the thyroid is low. 

      I don’t recall whether my cholesterol eventually improved while on the Levo. I don’t think it did.  The Levo never really worked right for me, all it did was suppress my pituitary and TSH production with minimal improvement of symptoms and many side effects. So I eventually went off the Levo altogether.  I use amino acid therapy now- it isn’t perfect, but better than the prescriptions for sure.  

      I got fed up with my medical care network.  They don’t ever do anything. I realized it wasn’t just me when one of the doctors sued because the parent company refuses to let doctors treat patients.

    • cathy35794
      cathy35794 diane88860

      Posted

      Diane, that is what I heard too and I was in a position that I should have known better, but I was sure  fooled. I got burned badly. Catherine's comment on cholesterol is interesting. Mine was never high, but interpretation of labs and symptoms I have come to believe is a lost art.

  • cathy35794
    cathy35794 StelAnd

    Posted

    Anyone taking Lovothyroxine  will go from a healthy  BP to an elevated BP don't believe me check out the Mayo Clinic site. If you follow the hypothyroid trail you will soon be waking around with a bag full of pills feeling like crap. Do your own thinking and listen to Catherine she knows and understands the human body and its chemistry. She has no agenda. 

  • dave64969
    dave64969 StelAnd

    Posted

    The fact is that the majority do very well on Levothyroxine. We never hear from them here of course, why would we? My concern is posts that assert categorically that Levothyroxine will make you sick, not cure you. This is false and does no service to anybody.
    • sabrina1971
      sabrina1971 dave64969

      Posted

      Dave, Levothyrozine does not cure you either, so we could argue that post is a false service to people. For some people it helps manage the disease, and for others it's extremely damaging and debilitating. It is not a cure in any way! People who read these posts are adults, and able to do their own research and come to their own conclusions. Your posts that make offensive remarks about other people's very valid experiences and personal research does not give service to anybody either. Most people are here to learn and gather information and support. Most of us are open to that. We are not here to just take one opinion and roll with it because it matches our doctor's outdated attitudes to healing.

    • cathy35794
      cathy35794 sabrina1971

      Posted

      Well said and thank you on behalf of all people who  need information  and support. It is really hell when the people who should be supporting the people  they are treating don't. It is lonely when you are following your doctors orders and continue to be sick or sicker. Abusive people like Dave and another if they are so well should find another hobby rather than talking disrespectfully to people

  • dave64969
    dave64969 StelAnd

    Posted

    I made the point in an earlier post we are all different. Everyone’s experience is valid input to this forum. But it’s a very big and disappointing step from there to  “go on Levothyroxine and you will soon be walking around with a bag of pills and feeling like crap”. Most people who post here make responsible recommendations that are unlikely to do harm. That is a standard I urge you to follow.
    • MtViewCatherine
      MtViewCatherine dave64969

      Posted

      Its very important that people are well informed about their medications so that they know when they’re having side effects that outweigh the benefits and can stop before the side effects become permanent and debilitating.

      It’s unfortunate that doctors do not monitor for whether the medication is truly effective.

    • diane88860
      diane88860 MtViewCatherine

      Posted

      Levothyroxine caused me gas cramps for a few weeks when I first began taking it.  I saw that you are to avoid calcium products so sent an email asking my internal medicine nutjob what I could do for painful gas and he said I needed to see a gastro!  Duh......  Called the pharmacy and they said Gas-X as long as it's four hours before or after.  In 2 days the pain was gone.  I HATE taking medication!  

      For the record,  my bp has remained stable at 124/ 76 ish even with way too much levo since November.  

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