thyroid and high cholerestrol

[Sandy6B]

My doctor told me that my cholerestrol is to high but when I did all the ratios they were excellent.  I have a very high HDL but also a high LDL and I have been on thyroid medicine for 30 years.  Is there a cooralation?

[Barb135]

Hey, wait -  I had my dog tested for thyroid...... because she was a chubbo like me.... turned out she needed more exercise; I needed more thyroid med and was too tired to walk her..  once I got a higher dose of thyroid med, she got more exercise, and lost weight; unfortunately, I didn't (lose weight) because I still need more thyroid med.

oscar999 - agree with goolarra - once thyroid levels are brought into line, the cholesterol should also.  For the most part, my cholesterol goes with thyroid -- thyroid hormones (FT3 and FT4) go down, cholesterol goes up; thyroid hormones go up, cholesterol goes down.  I do find that exercise also has a direct reflection on my cholesterol levels.  Even with relatively good thyroid levels, my cholesterol stayed on the high side, until I started walking 3-6 miles/day; then it dropped to normal levels.

[goolarra]

OMG, you actually have your dog tested for cholesterol???  But, yes, your cholesterol levels should lower once your thyroid levels improve.  I think you did the right thing putting off Lipitor until you get your thyroid under control.

Your FT4 is very low in range.  Midrange is the target for FT4.  Your doctor should also test FT3.  FT3 is the test that correlates best with symptoms.  FT3 is the biologically active form of the thyroid hormones, so it's very important that levels are appropriate.

[oscar999]

Indeed high cholesterol is a symptom of HYPOTHYROID.  
I confirmed this with mine ; normally about 185 - 200 ; recently 235 ! ouch...  before starting on Lipitor or other thing , I want to address the thyroid issue first ; maybe it 'll correct itself.
My TSH prior to treatment wa 7.0  ( normal range 0.4 -4.5 ) and FT4 1.0 ( normal range 0.8 - 1.8 ) .

I also notice this high cholesterol level with dog who is also HYPOTHYROID.   This level dropped after treatment.

[flyingfool]

High cholesterol can be a symptom of low thyroid.  Some people have found that once they were taking medication for thyroid to be optimized to them that their cholesterol was also brought back into control.

Do you have any lab results for thyroid. Particularly FT3 and FT4 and their reference ranges.  While you've been on medication, that doesn't mean that you are at the correct dose for you!  Many people the Dr's unknowingly under medicate their patients.

Are you having any other low thyroid symptoms?