Anyone on Cholestrol meds?
 

I been fighting going on these for years. I do everything right.
I am walker, do not smoke, eat faily well, no beef, fatty foods, cake,etc
unless I'm at a party. My HDL keep going up! I lost 20lbs this past year
trying my best to be good and I just got my results back and the HDL
went up again! I give up. She wants to put me on Crestor. I just
read the side effects and no way am I going on this! I need some
input here as I'm flipping out because I know I can't keep ignoring
this problem. I guess I just make it myself! Anyone with some
comforting suggestions?

Sounds like you are doing everything you can and it is just genetic. My husband has been on crestor for years and so side effects. Although I don't think I read what they would be, maybe I should do that. I think their are some natural remedies you could try.

That's comforting to know Patti. I tried Fish Oil for the past yr and
nothing! Very frustrating.
thanks

MY husband has been on crestor for like 4+ years and no side effects. His cholesterol problem is hereditary. The only drawback to being on meds is you have to go twice a year for blood work.:(

Thanks

This is a must have book. Barnes & Noble.com - Image Viewer: The Schwarzbein Principle, by Diana Schwarzbein, Paperback

She's a Endocrinologist in Santa Barbara. In this book she has a chapter on cholesterol levels and how not all HDL, LDL, VLOL levels are the same for everyone. It's an amazing book on a lot of other things too, but you really should read this.

OK, I MUST post this information that is a section of the chapter on cholesterol:

You could eat too many carbohydrates, drink alcohol, smoke tobacco, ingest artificial sweeteners, eat damaged fats, drink caffeinated beverages or be too stressed, and your cholesterol panel could look perfectly normal for the time being. But these bad habits destroy your body on a cellular level, and this destruction cannot be detected immediately by a blood test. In the meantime, while your blood tests look normal, your body is making cholesterol and triglycerides at a very high rate, because all of these lifestyle habits raise insulin levels. Remember that the liver converts sugar into fats when insulin levels are elevated. Your body can then store or use these fats for energy; therefor, the blood levels do not immediately change.
Abnormal cholesterol panels are a late indicator of abnormal cholesterol metabolism. The damage being done on a cellular level from overconsumption of carbohydrates or use of stimulants has to occur for years before an abnormality will show up on a blood panel. That is true even if the damage is substantial.

The following two examples show hypothetical ideals of HDL, LDL, and VLDL lipoproteins.

EXAMPLE ONE: Which cholesterol panel do you think is better?

Panel 1: Total cholesterol 240 = HDL 80 + LDL 140 + VLDL 20
Panel 2: Total cholesterol 240 + HDL 40 + LDL 170 + VLDL 30

When evaluating the three lipoproteins, higher HDLs and lower VLDLs are desirable. By following a healthy lifestyle, HDLs increase and VLDLs decrease. So Panel 1 is much better than Panel 2. But note that the sum of the lipoproteins of each panel both arrive at the same total of 240. Hence total cholesterol levels are meaningless.

EXAMPLE TWO: Which cholesterol panel do you think is better?

Panel 1: Total cholesterol 240 + HDL 60 + LDL 160 + VLDL 20 Tg = 200
Panel 2: Total cholesterol 180 = HDL 60 + LDL 80 + VLDL 40 Tg= 200

In comparing these two cholesterol panels, you want the VLDLs and the triglycerides to be lower even if this means accepting higher total cholesterol and LDL levels. Therefore Panel 1 is the better panel.
The last example illustrates why cholesterol panels do not show your risk for heart disease. Furthermore, it demonstrates how easy it is to misinterpret cholesterol profiles.

EXAMPLE THREE: This example is from two different people. Which one has the lower risk for a heart attack?

Person 1: Total cholesterol 180 = HDL 60 + LDL 100 + VLDL 20
Person 2: Total cholesterol 180 = HDL 60 + LDL 100 + VLDL 20

Without knowing anything about these people's eating and lifestyle habits, there is no way to determine their individual risks or which one of them has the higher risk of a heart attack. Their doctors would likely tell both of them that they were low risk. But you now know that the risk of heart attack has nothing to do with cholesterol numbers but everything to do with where you are on the accelerated metabolic aging track, which is dictated by eating and lifestyle habits.

She writes more on this subject. Again, a must have book!

That was very interesting.
I will look into it. I so wish the doctor would talk
about it instead of giving meds! Thank you for your
info.

Mine is a problem right now, well the past two years, and I'm on Zocor. It's because of my kidneys failing, and they can't filter it, and blah blah blah. lol Soooo it went up to like 600...! :eek: And I'm only 17! :eek: But Zocor works for me, it's down to like 300 or something now. haha That's still not good, but it's great considering the circumstances. :)

How awful to go through something like that at such a young age.
I am glad the Zocor is working for you. Think positive sweety.
You sound like a very strong young lady. Good for you.
I hope it continues to improve.

Yes, it is hereditary and stress can also add to it. My doctor told me that my number was really high and I told her that so much was going on with me and that my diet was indeed a factor. She gave me six months and if it didn't come down, she was going to put me on something.

I hightailed it and got my diet back on track (not loosing weight but eating properly) and watched for the triggers of stress. Still under a lot of stress but managing it better. You need to take time for yourself and regroup...at least I've learned that. :)

I had a girlfriend who was doing the fish oil and something else. I'll have to ask her and get back with you. She swore by it. It was another vitamin type. I'll check with her and let you know.

Omega 3 fatty acids?! I bet that's it. :D

This is what I would do if I were in your situation. I would switch to a vegan diet for 30 days and see if your situation improves. Even if you don't eat beef, other animal products (including dairy) are high in cholesterol. I personally would not take the cholesterol medicine. I suggest that you do a LOT of research before agreeing to that. Just my 2 cents.

I wish you the very best!

you WANT your HDL to go up! That's the good cholesterol. It is recommended that you try to have at least a 60, but the higher the better for HDL. The best way to raise your HDL is through aerobic exercise. Being a woman helps too. Red wine can help, and 3 fish oils a day can't hurt!

LDL is the bad one.

Maybe you don't have a problem after all!

I have been on Vytorin for about a year now. I haven't had any side effects. Good luck.

Ihave been on captoril for a few years for high cholestorol and I dont smoke either, am also on lipitor for high blood pressure along with many other pills. I hate being 53.:(

Crestor
 

I am a terrible one to talk about diets and eating right, I am a type 2 diabetic, have RA, firbomyalgia, high blood pressure, high choel, you name it I've probably had it. I had uterine cancer 6 years ago and now am cancer free, had my gallbladder out last January and in February had a stress test and ended up in the hospital to have a stent placed in my heart. Think that would be enough to make me become a health nut and do everything right. My husband says the commercial on TV with the hospital gurney following people around is me. He says I am the worst diabetic ever. Even though I know I should be walking everyday and eating healthy (my husband tries to get me to eat really healthy stuff) I just don't like most of it. I have been on Crestor since my stent and tons of other meds. No side effects and my choel. is under control. I hate this getting older, I just turned 58 and it's all down hill. Our prescription costs are terrible. You'd think out of guilt I'd do healthy things, just can't seem to make myself. Right now my depression is pretty bad so that doesn't help. But, in your case, if your doctor really feels you need the Crestor, try it for awhile and see if it works for you. I worked in an ER and can't believe the number of younger and younger people have heart attacks. Pills suck but sometimes your body just needs that extra help. Good luck.:(

thanks --I am going to get that book. My cholesterol has hovered in the 220 range for the past 20 years. But I have high HDL and low triglycerides, so all my doctors have said not to worry about it. My mother and grandmother had almost the exact same numbers (isn't heredity amazing?) and never had heart issues.

My husband, on the other hand, had low total cholesterol --about 140, but very low HDL and he had a heart attack 3 years ago!









m

Found this article and thought it might be helpful:
Pistachios

Well, well, well...welcome to the world of doing everything right and still having a cholesterol problem! I remember 2 years ago when my Dr. wanted to put me on meds. I nearly went out of my mind! I'm was 45 years old, a runner, eat right, sleep right, workout six days a week and I need meds? R U Kidding me? But guess what...I did! Turns out it's hereditary. I always thought my parents/sibling took it because they didn't eat right or exercise. Certainly nothing like me! (if anyone knows a runner, they know how obsessive we are!) My cholesterol has been borderline 200 since I was in my early 30's. By the time I hit my 40's it was 256. :-) My Dr. put me on the lowest dose (10 mg) of simvastatin (generic Zocor). After 2 years....we brought my cholesterol under control and my Dr. said he's willing to try to take me off it. But after all the tears of 2 years ago I still take it...about 3-4 days a week and I still have no problems. So, once you just accept the fact that it is not what you're doing wrong, but genetics indstead...you come to accept it. I have NO side affects with Simvastatin. talk to your dr. about that med? Good luck!

Oklay, the other stuff my girlfriend was taking is Flax Seed. She said that there was no medical prescription or anything from the doctor about this but she started taking these 2 things--fish oil and flax seed and her cholestrol went down and her good stuff was up. Her son is into herbal stuff and she has followed his advice for a number of remedies. Good luck!

OMGosh. How could I forget Flax Seed? yuck I had to take that. It probably wasn't that bad tasting, but to me I'm thinking "eww it's medicine I don't want it." It comes in a liquid and solid. You can put it on your food but not allowed to cook with it at all. Example: You make a salad you can sprinkle it on, you make grilled cheese sandwhich and you can't because it's hot and the Flax Seed will melt. The liquid you can use as a salad dressing, and the solid is just like popcorn shells. lol :)

I did add walnut's and chashews for awhile but it didn';t help.
I did not try pistachios tho. Love those.
I guess I'm giving up. Appt tomorrow to talk.
Doc said just stop for prescription:eek: I don't think so.
I wanna talk.

Sure I cheat sometimes but I'm only human. I guess it's just time to throw
in the towel and get on the medications wagon like the rest of the world.
The pharmacutacal companies are making a fortune aren't they?
Yes, my sister said it's heriditary, I said it isn't. She's very overweight
so I didn't believe her. Me all I do is diet! I'm in my sixties, healthy,
active and keep busy. I don't want to retire and buy drugs! Guess
I just have to call it quites and give up.

My father was on statins ( among many other medications) and passed away about a year ago. I wish I had known then what I know now about the serious complications concerning these drugs....I believe they contributed greatly to his declining health.....He really should not have died with the problems he had and as soon as he did.....

I just would like everyone to do their homework on cholesterol, statins and the heart, especially look into the importance of supplementing with COQ10 if your still going to use statins.....COQ10 is depleted with the use of statins and the heart is greatly effected, which will actually increase the likelihood of a heart attack....Please do some reading on this.....

I hear this book is excellent......

Amazon.com: The Great Cholesterol Con...

Carol, here are some links to read on....Note the links at the end of the first site, they're good articles too.....:)

Researchers Detail Statin Drug Dangers

Dangers of Statin Drugs: What You Haven’t Been Told About Popular Cholesterol-Lowering Medicines

No doctor knows everything, so it is ultimately up to each individual to take charge of their own health.......:)

I printed this whole thing because I totally agree with it, hence, my
determination to stay off these. Well, I totally refused to not use
Crestor I told the doc so she precripted the lowest for lipitol.
Not sure If I will take but have prescription. The only thing that
does scare me is I have HBP also. That is heriditary. My whole family
has this and my HDL is very high, the LDL is excellant.
Thank you for this infomation. It's so confusing to know who and what
to believe.

Carol--you WANT your HDL to be high. THat's the good cholesterol. I think you need to see another doctor if you are being told to go on cholesterol drugs when you have high HDL.

:thumbup::thumbup:
You said everything I would have liked to have said but much better!

I probably got the two mixed up.
I know my good cholestrol is above average which is good and my
bad is above where they say it should be. My total is 220 and although
I spent $50.00 on lipital after reading the above literature over the weekend
I will not be taking any cholestrol meds. I am healthy and resent being
told to take meds when I'm not sick. Then I read that these meds
DO NOT AID IN THE PREVENTION OF HEART ATTACKS OR STROKES!
It's printed right on the Libitol label! So why take them?
I feel better knowing about Statins now and how they work.
Sorry but not thanks, I'll just keep eating as healthy as I can, walk,
take fish oil and vitamins and leave those meds for the people who
can benefit from using them. I am not one of them.
Thanks for all the info. I plan on reading it again.

Carol, from the reading I've done the total cholesterol number is not the first number to be worried about. About 50% of the people who have heart attacks have a normal or low cholesterol number.. The LDL and triglyceride numbers are a bit more important.....

I see you said you are trying to eat better for your cholesterol. I was wondering if your looking at the labels for trans fats?....These are hidden in a lot of foods and they contribute to heart disease and high cholesterol readings. I switched to butter and virgin coconut oil years ago and stopped using all margarines. When I started looking at labels I was shocked at the foods with transfats in them....

I look for any hydrogenated oils on the label....even if the front of the package states "no trans fats" most of the time it's not true....The food manufacturers can get around this by making the serving size so low that if there's less than half a gram of hydrogenated oil it it it's legal to say it has none at all.....Ain't that a kicker....

I drive my husband nuts looking at all the labels. It's gotten so tiring with the bad products that sometimes I just grab one with the "USDA Organic" label on it so I don't have to wonder it the product is safe.....My DH and my son are diabetics which already puts them at risk for heart disease so I try and stay on top of bad products. We are not perfect but I have defiantly cut a lot out.....

They are also taking fish oils.....That topic is a whole other subject to go into. After weeks and weeks of reading about fish oils I found out there are also good and bad fish oils out there.....Sheesh, all this reading gets so frustrating at times......:rolleyes:

I have seen a few articles about blueberries and cholesterol you could try looking up this info and see if it has any merit.....Hopefully you won't have to eat a bushel of them...;)...Good luck girl, and don't give up, just get healthy...:)

I forgot to mention.....Dr Suzy Cohen is a pharmacist who wrote a couple of books about medications. She got fed up with people not having the information they should have on drugs so she decided to speak out. I haven't read it yet but I plan too.....There are some articles to read on here too.....

DearPharmacist