Cholesterol

Lavinia

InTheTrees wrote: »

Yes. I am 99% certain it continues to lower.

My gf had really high cholesterol and she went full vegan (no animal products of any kind), six months later it was down to normal levels. She was doing it with her doctors oversight as well.

Which is why it was surprising your doc still wants to put you on drugs.

Hi, thanks for your post, I really do not know too much about ch because no on e in my family ever had problems with it. They have triglycerides, high blood pressure etc, all of which me personally never had and quite the opposite.

So it is confusing.
I have an appointment with her on Tuesday, but that is what she said on the phone.
Basically I cut all of butter, hard cheese etc, stuff that are known to spike ch. Started eating more veggies, and taking care of the calories intake. As I am already vegetarian I don't think there is anything more I could really do, as of milk I started with skimmed milk with added plant sterols, fat-free cottage cheese and basically that would be it.

I feel this type of diet suits me better as I feel better, also lost 2kg over last 2 months so will continue with it, but I am not starving myself either and allow some sweets eg yogurts here and there. Id also have a boiled egg from time to time.

Not sure why but this cholesterol is making me worried though.

InTheTrees

Lavinia wrote: »

So it is confusing.
I have an appointment with her on Tuesday, but that is what she said on the phone.
Basically I cut all of butter, hard cheese etc, stuff that are known to spike ch. Started eating more veggies, and taking care of the calories intake. As I am already vegetarian I don't think there is anything more I could really do, as of milk I started with skimmed milk with added plant sterols, fat-free cottage cheese and basically that would be it.

I feel this type of diet suits me better as I feel better, also lost 2kg over last 2 months so will continue with it, but I am not starving myself either and allow some sweets eg yogurts here and there. Id also have a boiled egg from time to time.

Not sure why but this cholesterol is making me worried though.

It sounds like you're doing really well. You're well on te way. See what your doctor says. My attitude has always been if I can possibly do it naturally I will.

I posted above about Vitamin B. It worked for me. Massive doses of Vitamin B3. It was under my doctors supervision, thats really important, the only serious side effect is liver damage but its easily caught long before it can be a prob with regular blood tests, it was never an issue for me. It took about 18 months to get it down.

I think my doctor is a bit of a ex-hippie and keeps up on the slightly alternative approaches. He listened when I said I really didnt want to go on statin drugs. (I'm in the western USA. Seattle.)

http://www.mayoclinic.org/niacin/art-20046208

Lavinia

I looked at VitB (Niacin) supplement and yes it has side effects also, but I will talk with my GP on Tuesday and see how it goes...

Lavinia

So my GP prescribed me with Inegy for 3 months, when Id have another set of tests and then see how to proceed.
She advised I do not have to be taking this medicine for the rest of my life, but just so till it helps get my cholesterol to safe level.

I started on 20mg 3 weeks ago. Not sure if I should assign some headaches and "light-head-ness" to this or not, but I do experience it.
Can it have a connection with this medication?

Is there anyone who was taking this and have some experience to share?

Thanks a lot!

InTheTrees

Lavinia wrote: »

So my GP prescribed me with Inegy for 3 months, when Id have another set of tests and then see how to proceed.
She advised I do not have to be taking this medicine for the rest of my life, but just so till it helps get my cholesterol to safe level.

I started on 20mg 3 weeks ago. Not sure if I should assign some headaches and "light-head-ness" to this or not, but I do experience it.
Can it have a connection with this medication?

Is there anyone who was taking this and have some experience to share?

Thanks a lot!

Best of luck. Was the doc not impressed by the progress you had made by yourself?

You should read up on the info about that medication. If its only for a few months I hope it helps.

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/15658

Lavinia

InTheTrees wrote: »

Best of luck. Was the doc not impressed by the progress you had made by yourself?

You should read up on the info about that medication. If its only for a few months I hope it helps.

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/15658

Hi InTheTrees, thanks for your reply.
Yes, she was impressed, as from 8.6 to 7.1 was a huge drop.
But she said it is still away from 5, so perhaps meds can help me with that, taking I also continue with my revised diet.
I read the info but somehow cannot take it for nor head nor tail.

I do feel it has an effect to my head - with slight very particular kind of headaches and feeling as a bit drunk occasionally, and do not know if I would assign that o that medication or it is connected to something else.

I am thinking of visiting her next week again and perhaps talk with her, unless this does not go away.

I was a little sick in last few days (had red throat that is now almost okay) so wonder if that also is connected with the effects of this medication.

Oh, I'm up the walls I know - just would love to know what is going on with me.

InTheTrees

Lavinia wrote: »

I do feel it has an effect to my head - with slight very particular kind of headaches and feeling as a bit drunk occasionally, and do not know if I would assign that o that medication or it is connected to something else.

You could ask the Pharmacist at the chemists. They usually know a lot more about the details of drugs than doctors anyway and they'd know about the side effects and what to expect.

They like being asked too.

Lavinia

InTheTrees wrote: »

You could ask the Pharmacist at the chemists. They usually know a lot more about the details of drugs than doctors anyway and they'd know about the side effects and what to expect.

They like being asked too.

I saw my doctor told her my troubles so she prescribed me now something else called Atozet, which is 10/10 mg combo.
I think so far it sits better with me but will see.

She also asked me to do a blood test in 3 weeks and see her in 4 when my results are back.

Lavinia

So my new results show my total ch level dropped to 4.01 - after just a month of 10/10 atozet.

LDL dropped to 1.6.. triglycerides also are very low now at 1.3.

But my doctor told me I anyway have to continue with this drug.. due o family history... and I was completely not happy with it.

I am searching online for experiences of people with this - and people who stopped taking it and what happened - as I want to stop but nothing comes up. which is really strange, absolutely not a single like to lead to some health forums or whatever.




...

InTheTrees

Lavinia wrote: »

So my new results show my total ch level dropped to 4.01 - after just a month of 10/10 atozet.

LDL dropped to 1.6.. triglycerides also are very low now at 1.3.

But my doctor told me I anyway have to continue with this drug.. due o family history... and I was completely not happy with it.

I am searching online for experiences of people with this - and people who stopped taking it and what happened - as I want to stop but nothing comes up. which is really strange, absolutely not a single like to lead to some health forums or whatever.

...

Try asking the pharmacist at the chemists. They're always willing to answer questions, and they will know the answer.

Odd that there isnt more information online.

(Congrats on the lower numbers.)

Save

Lavinia

InTheTrees wrote: »

Try asking the pharmacist at the chemists. They're always willing to answer questions, and they will know the answer.

Odd that there isnt more information online.

(Congrats on the lower numbers)

Thanks, yea I will do. It is really odd nothing comes up, except for pharmaceutical info.

The thing is I have side effects such as, I constantly feel as if my throat is on the verge of getting red (but it does not). I also have a small amount of headache constantly. And also my joints feel really strange and they crack more then ever before when I walk or squat.

But none of these symptoms are as severe as when I was on those first meds (Inegy).

caviardreams

You could try searching under the generic ingredient names for more info (Ezetimibe with atorvastatin) or alternative brand names - I think liptruzet is one.

Lavinia

caviardreams wrote: »

You could try searching under the generic ingredient names for more info (Ezetimibe with atorvastatin) or alternative brand names - I think liptruzet is one.

thanks, more or less same range of results, just few more links on some health clinic reviews.. but no reviews from people who actually used it..

InTheTrees

Lavinia wrote: »

Thanks, yea I will do. It is really odd nothing comes up, except for pharmaceutical info.

The thing is I have side effects such as, I constantly feel as if my throat is on the verge of getting red (but it does not). I also have a small amount of headache constantly. And also my joints feel really strange and they crack more then ever before when I walk or squat.

But none of these symptoms are as severe as when I was on those first meds (Inegy).

Oh I think with those side effects I'd be going back to talk to the pharmacist who gave them to you st to make sure they're not serious.

YFlyer

The Lancet review does not contain any substantially new information or data. Many of the studies used in the analysis had pre-randomisation run-in periods which means that people who complained of side-effects from statins were excluded from the trial. As pointed out by cardiologist and editor of JAMA Internal Medicine Rita Redberg 35% of statin users were excluded during the open-label run-in TNT trial. Thus, the actual adverse events rate is certainly higher than in the trials.


http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/views/blogs/why-i-disagree-gps-have-been-misled-about-statins/20032777.blog

Bull76

Hi Folks,

My Ch has been slightly elevated for the last 8 years. Have cut my diet and that just made it higher. Sitting around 6.9. As I have an under active thyroid and take eltroxin. The Thyroid can and does affect my levels. But my bloods are showing everything in balance. My good CH is low but my Bad CH is high a throwing my ratio out.

GP was saying as a history in the family, my day has high CH and on meds, he also had a double bypass. This puts me in the category of risk. She wants to put me on a statin. As a compromise, she has proposed seeing a specialist in St.James to get assessed through them.

Has anyone been to the specialist in St.James for CH? Appreciate your time and comments.

Lavinia

Hi Bull, my GP sent me in the end of August for genetic screening re cholesterol to St.James as they are the only clinic in Ireland to doing that, however they have a huge backlog seemingly so she called last week and they said it can take another month or two to get the results back. however I am very happy to do that as if I do not have that gene she may consider taking me off the cholesterol pills, and I truly hope for that outcome .

shugy

get a room wrote: »

Im predisposed to high cholesterol. Normally 7.9.
Meds on last bloods had it down to 6. Cant get it lower, as Johnny Logans Doctor once said "whats another tablet".

*modsnip*

Colser

shugy wrote:

*modsnip*

Are you on that diet?Mine is also 7.9 and I don't take the tablets. How long would it take to reduce it using the diet in your opinion?

shugy

Colser wrote: »

Are you on that diet?Mine is also 7.9 and I don't take the tablets. How long would it take to reduce it using the diet in your opinion?

Mine was 8.5, stopped eating processed food and a plant based diet and ended up just over 4. Felt great until started eating bad again, started eating the plant based diet and felt amazing again. Once when it was at 7.5, I started eating 6 cloves of garlic a day, apple cider vinger and ate okish, dropped to 5.5 in no time. *modsnip*