Cholesterol is sky high! Rant!!

[deeindiana]

*long string of angry curses* My cardiologist says that my cholesterol is sky high. It's 238, with a bad cholesterol score of an "at risk" 178!

I thought losing 40 pounds would bring it down but nooooooo! It's higher than ever! I might as well be gobbling down Twinkies!!!  Now I have to go on medication -- as if I'm not on enough already!! AAAUUUGHHHH!!!

For those who know me - I have a real paranoia of medication and now I have to add another one. Simvastatin 20mg. I'm just devastated at the thought of popping another pill into my mouth.

Any advice? The doc says that the new medication won't cause any side effects at all. Yeah...right...famous last words.
Deb

[Scottietottie]

Hi Deb 

I have no memory and can't remember whether you have thyroid issues or not. What I DO know is that an underactive thyroid can put choreserol sky high. Ours is measured differently from yours and in this country they like the number to be 4 or preferably below 4. Mine was 9. When I went onto thyroxine is fell back to 6 with no drugs for cholesterol. I still figured 6 was too high but the GP said it was spread between 'good' and 'bad' cholesterol and evened out.

Take care - Scottie 

[deeindiana]

The doc says my thyroid is fine. He says my recent stress might be contributing to the high score, but that if diet and losing weight didn't help then it must be hereditary. darn these genes! 
Oops. Cussing probably isn't allowed here. No offense meant. I'm just so frustrated!
Deb

[inga]

Hon, it's high, but not sky high....it's gonna be OK.  My numbers are similar....and I know, exercise is key.  (So that is why I am sitting on my behind lately??).  You can whip that into shape, it isn't a lost cause.

[LizM]

I take a cholesterol medication.  I have not had a problem with side effects and I have been on it for 2 years.  I am at higher risk because my mother had a near fatal heart attack at age 55.  I turn 50 next year.  It has brought my numbers into a better range.

I hope it all works out for you.

Liz

[newhorizons]

LizM,Just wondering... What cholesterol med do you take? 

[rnathans]

I agree with Inga. it is elevated but not sky high. I am also trying to bring mine down with diet . If that does not work we will consider meeds but not any of the statin drugs as I have enough muscle and nerve problems already and statins can cause such problems. I honestly do not mow what the non statin alternatives are. My doc said we will discuss that next time, early Marxy, if my levels are still high.
Ruth

[deeindiana]

The doc seemed mostly concerned over the 'bad' cholesterol score of 178.

He's been letting me try to get it down for two years by myself with natural remedies and diet with no success. But I really thought I'd see some improvement with the weight loss. Couldn't believe that, instead, my scores jumped at least 50 points!

I guess there's no alternative now. I've got to take the statin.
Deb

[inga]

maybe get them done one more time....also, weight lifting really gets rid of fatty tissue...even with weight loss, if you haven't increased muscle mass, your numbers don't change.  (I hate to lift, but, it does make a difference....when I lifted weights I got my body fat down and my cholesterol was great...and I was in my early 50's)

As a previous poster said, statins are not good for neuropathy or myopathy....if you CAN, try other methods....but, do what you feel is best.

[Prairie Gal]

Deb, I know it's worriesome to add another med because we take so many already, but is sounds like you will have to with your levels that high. 

I'm sorry losing weight didn't produce the results you anticipated, but I remember years ago a dr. told my friend to limit the amount of icecream, etc. she gave her 7-year-old son, since his cholesterol levels were high.  He was a skinny little kid.  Some people's bodies just make more cholesterol on their own -- a family legacy.

[Pegasus47]

Hi:

I don't take statins because it causes muscle weakness and joint pain.  I take 1 gram of Niacin and 2 capsules of Red Yeast Rice every day.  I use to have sky high cholesterol but not any more.  My HDL the good cholesterol is high and LDL is low.  Doctor is very happy.
You do get a short hot flash with Niacin, but over time, it reduces and as long as I expect it, just go through with it.

Yes, I prefer natural and no more pills.

Pegasus

[puccini914]

Don't feel bad.  My DH's cholesterol is over 300.  His doctor said that with numbers that high, it is usually heredity and diet and exercise alone won't do it.  He is also taking Zocor, when he remembers to take it.  He's not real good about taking his meds, and I've had to really push him to do it.  He whines about taking one little pill, that's when I get up and show him the 8 pills I have to take that night and everynight.  I have the same doctor as he does and have mentioned this to him.  He's a bit like HOUSE from TV, so he says,"well I hope he has good life insurance".  Great.  I do know that he has had some muscle pain and some joint pain.  I personally would not be able to take it because of my current joint issues.  It's a lot to weigh out and I would make sure to talk to your rheumy about the joint issues.  Let us know how things turn out.  It's really a tough one.  Take care.     Jennifer

[irish]

Dee, THat is exactly the same cholesterol reading I had when I was put on Zocor back in 1992. I took that for about 10 years and then changed insurance companies and had to go o Lipitor.

I got along fine and my numbers went down. Yes, the thyroid disease does cause higher cholesterol. My LDL was high also and like you I lost 40 pounds. Ohhhh, scratch that, I had cholesterol of 298 and lost 40 pounds and went down to 238. I was on such a low fast diet that even cardiologist couldn't believe that my LDL didn't go down.

I was able to cut down from 20 mgm lipitor to 10 mgm in the last year or so. Right now my cholesterol is about 208 but my LDL is in the high 60's or so. I have no clue why except that I eat peanuts or peanut butter every day. However, when I had my lipid level checked in April I was one point below the reading that would have put me on Lipitor again. As a diabetic now they are watching me more closely. I expect that they will want me to go back on and I don't know what I will say to that.

I took the zocor and lipitor around 13 years or so. Another pill does not excite me. Irish

[Carebear]

Hi Dee,

Pegasus mentioned niacin to help with your cholesterol, and I second that suggestion.  I know from personal experience that 1000 mg of Niaspan daily can be very beneficial in both reducing the bad and increasing the good cholesterol.

You may "flush" but that's a good trade off, in my humble opinion.  Good luck with your treatment.