Everyone keeps going back to the thyroid thing but I am in the hyper range - not hypo - in T3, T4, as well as TSH. I don't have the money to see a thyroid specialist.

Um, you may not have the money to see a thyroid doctor, but about 28% of women who have Hashi's show TSI antibodies WITH TPO's and start off 'hyper'. Doesn't mean you have Graves, and either way of the 'swing' can send cholesterol skyrocketing.

I feel for those who do not have the money to pursue their medical options. Usually being on either anti thyroid or having a couple of 'RAI uptakes' can sometimes tell which way you aer going

~gonwtwindo,

cholesterol repairs inflamation ,


supplements will reduce the cholestrerol numbers , proven studies I linked from Pub med etc.

These are fine temporary solutions , while resolving the underlying cause as mentioned in my prev. post,

But the underlying issues which requires attention imho is the Thyroid ,
as outlined in my previous posts,


Lowering the cholesterol is an artifical solution, as cholesterol is being created to "fix the inflamation "caused by Thyroid issues, so yes it all appears to point to the Thyroid,

In your shoes my ideal immediate goal would be a consultation with a good Endo.I hear there are many forward thinking Endo's in the states,

Side note: I would not self medicate with thyroid medication.However tempting it may be. Because of costs.

Without the mentioned supplements, in place . ref: prev post.
Thyroid medication can not work optimally.Its mechanism of bioavailibity would be drastically reduced,

so basically the medication would look good on blood tests but would not be absorbed by the cells optimally , (it would just be floating around in the blood.(and its benefits would be drastically reduced.

Thats why we often see medications doses raised frequently and often.
This in turn knocks other mechanisms out of kilt and causes other issues.
This results in some peolpe say it works for them and others say it does not for them .



Important Note.
All metabolic medications are tested
in a human enviroment where all the other Minerals and vitamins are in place,and sufficient.

Hence the rigourous screening of test subjects for new complex medications.

You mention cost ,
I sincerely believe a good Endo will be cost effective in the long term.
I would say a full thyroid blood panel test,
& tests for Minerals and vitamins .

would certainly shed some light.



goodluck

somebloke

I don't want to hijack the important thyroid discussion, but my job forced me to take a lipid profile among other tests (I would not have done so otherwise). I came to 300+ total cholesterol, 118 HDL and 80 tri. I was also pg at the time (August, m/c in October), and I found that the body produces more cholesterol while pg.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2904773/
http://www.lipidworld.com/content/9/1/58

And that in IVF high HDL=high quality embryo's and women with low HDL didn't have success.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2799562/

So I am awaiting the occupational Dr's response to the tests in August. Obviously, there is no way I would take a statin!

Of course not. Skip the issue until you are done breastfeeding.

Even if\when I give birth and deliver, and finish bf, I will refuse a statin. I am curious what the occupational Dr will say. This year they started to test all of us for heart risk factors, and will try to get us to lose weight while feeding us carbs. I can't wait to see how this one goes.

Well, I'm not pregnant but we have new health insurance and they had me list all my test results and so on, and my cholesterol is GREAT so then at the end they said 'things to work on' and told me I 'eat too much fat and meat' and to 'eat more FRUIT and use SOY for protein', LOL That was after telling me I came in at 98% healthy range in my 'peer group. HA HA!!!

They don't GET IT that the WAY I eat NOW is what put me, a disabled person in the 98% group, lol. Too funny!

Hi ~gonwtwindo

This article imaybe relevant , to much low carbing can affect the thyroid (T3 hormones) and the lipid profile .

"Why Do Extreme Low-Carb Diets Backfire for Some People?

Dr. Jaminet believes that a large part of the confusion about this topic is related to the fact that most of the data in the medical literature relates to high carb diets, and how high carb diets cause high lipoproteins. Generally speaking, if you're on a high-carb diet and suddenly reduce your carb intake, your blood cholesterol profile will improve. Typically, triglyceride levels will be sharply reduced.

"But then as you start going below 25 percent carbs or so, then your body has to adapt to a scarcity of glucose. It does that with some hormonal changes that can also impact blood lipids," Dr. Jaminet explains.

"So, for instance, when you're eating very low-carb, one thing your body does to conserve glucose and protein is lower the level of T3 and thyroid hormones. So, that reduces glucose utilization by cells. That's good. It's conserving the glucose so that it can be used for the most important functions, but now you have lower thyroid hormone levels. Thyroid hormone also activates the fat metabolism. It activates LDL receptors, and some other things.

It's possible, if you're eating too low-carb, to get elevations of blood lipids. I have to say this is an issue we're still exploring. We did a lot of work on my blog this year trying to track down why some low-carb dieters have high blood lipids. Usually it's either a thyroid hormone response to too little glucose in the diet, or various micronutrient deficiencies. Copper deficiency is a common one – selenium, magnesium can affect it.

It's important to be well-nourished. If people eat very low carb and let themselves get malnourished, then they are very likely to have some kind of problems with their lipid profile."


http://articles.mercola.com/sites/a...20107_DNL_art_1

Goodluck

somebloke

Dr. Broda Barnes had the best studies on AUTOIMMUNE hypothyroid (which is the most common type in women) and lowcarb. He said that it was a 'mixture of calories AND carbs'. One can go 30GROSS grams of carb and be fine as long as their calories are above 1400 or so.

I find that to be true.

BTW, Dr. Mercola generally gives HIS autoimmune hypothyroid patients (mostly women, of course) T3 as well as T4 hormone. Hmmm...perhaps HE should do a study.

Most of these doctors don't realize that many of WE autoimmune hypothyroid and hyPERthyroid patients are tucking away about 1900 calories a day WITH our less than 10% carbs...where are THOSE studies (oh, do believe Eades has some..KNOW that Barnes did MANY).

When I ask some of these 'mainstream' doctors at seminars how many calories or WHAT we lowcarbers (long time lowcarbers..I do it as my lifestyle, many others with autoimmune thyroid disease do too) are eating, they write up lists of butter and eggs and bacon, with NO vegetables and they take a look at me and guess I'm in the 1000 calories range!!! Shocking they just won't do the studies of the REAL people with the REAL lowcarb lifestyles!

I have a problem with my iipid profile. It generally is the best of any seen by any of my five specialists (I have five autoimmune diseases) and they are generally shocked.

I have a couple of words to say about going lowcarb to those with autoimmune disease, thyroid disease: DO NOT CHEAT!!!!!

This has been a very timely thread for me. I just received lab results, and my TC was 344. The doctor was very anxious to medicate me because my LDL was about 255. However my HDL was 77, and my Trigs were 14. Still the 344 number surprised me. I've been low-carbing for three years, and I'm fairly close to an Atkins-type diet.

Oops, I need to correct that triglycerides number. It was VLDL that was 14. I can't remember the trig level now. I will need to get a copy of the results as I am going from memory of the doctor's phone call. I do recall he thought the trig and HDL numbers were fine.

Well, nobody's going to like to hear this but I am taking Crestor, half a tab a day, and my numbers are now:

Test 2/13 9/6

TC........179 .... 317
Tri ...... 141 .....123 (88 the year before)
HDL ...... 64 ......64
LDL .......87 .....228
Ratio .... 2.8 ....5.0
ALT .......28 .....(didn't test last time)
hbA1c .. 5.4 .... just throwin' that in lol

My Tri's are up 18 points. I literally got the test the day after returning from 4 days visiting vegetarian friends. I avoided about 50% of the carbs offered, but did eat beans and yams. And a couple of apples. Some greek yogurt with shaved dark chocolate in it. I wonder if carbs of this type can cause your tri's to rise?

I think you've just proved that they do

Well, it's your body, ultimately you get to decide what risks you are willing to accept. The best you can do is be informed about them.

Stay informed, though, that's the best thing to do.

Thanks Nancy. I'm not going only on the numbers. Both sides of my family are diabetic (only one female relative over 40 is not - large families, too!) and on the Hispanic side...early death due to heart attack as well. One aunt has been on statins since they came out in the 80's and is still up walking around at 87. Bottom line is, we're all going to croak but I'm choosing to hedge my bets a bit this way. The genes may be stronger though. We'll see!

edit: I just remembered a chart I studied from the World Health Organization...where the TC levels correlated with the lowest mortality were 200-259. Mine's 179 now. I think I'll skip 2 pills a week.