Cholesterol progress, what will the doc do?

[Uncle_Bob]

Its been a full five months since my nightmare lipid panel. I've been improving my diet and taking supplements of CoQ10 and Red Yeast Rice daily. Exercise has remained about the same, 75-100 miles cycling a week along with doing my own yard work etc.

Initial panel in Red, months panel in Blue, difference in green

Total 355 mg/dL
Trig 310
HDL 49
VLDL 62
LDL 244


Total 274 mg/dL
Trig 98
HDL 80
VLDL 20
LDL 174


Total -81
Trig -212
HDL +31
VLDL -42
LDL -70


This seems like a pretty good outcome over 5 months ? Its just my total and LDL that are out of range now. I've also lost just over 30lbs in weight too

The thing that worries me is that my doc still wants to see me. I wonder if he will just say keep it up or if he will put me on some kind of medications?

[Emilia]

I would think he would congratulate you on such wonderful results in just 5 months. Now, if you can duplicate those over the next 6 months, you will be in the normal range and no medication will be necessary. I hope your doctor will give you that time in which to achieve that goal without meds. Congratulations!! and Good Luck!!!!

[Shack]

Hey Uncle Bob,

With all that you are doing, have you looked into Niacin therapy?

A couple of years ago my cholesterol showed up high (I can give numbers later, they are at home) and my DR. put me on pravastatin... well, I don't like taking drugs, so I did some research.

I have been taking Niacin for 2 years now and my numbers are all below the top end of normal. I don't take the pravastatin at all.

BTW, do some research on Red Rice Yeast, the statin chemical that it used to contain can no longer be sold in the US (thanks you FDA and big drug companies). So you may just be wasting your money. Now they sell a strain that doesn't contain the statin.

The thing is, you have to do the research. Nicacin comes in many forms, and some forms don't do squat for Cholesterol.

I started off using the brand "Slo-Niacin" from Costco. It worked out well, but I had some flush experiences with it. After I finished a couple bottle I switched to a time release Niacin from a company called Endurance Products Company. Their time release Niacin is called Endur-Acin and I very rarely have any flush. I take 1500mg a day. Three 500mg pills morning, noon, and night.

I will give you my numbers later, but it worked well for me.

[Julie]

I was dx'd with high cholesterol years ago and ran out and tried everything on the market (and maybe some that weren't ), plus changed my diet, etc. etc. Nothing made more than a very little difference. Then two things happened - I found out that my chol. was 'familial', inherited, and then I was put on statins. Within a few weeks my numbers just dropped in half like a stone! However, for various reasons I am no longer taking them and so my levels have gone back up, but a) being female - recent studies have shown that cholesterol lowering is not necessarily always much use for us, and b) I otherwise am careful about what I do, eat, etc. etc. and am now on Apap, I've just decided to live with the numbers (that have levelled off, if on a high note) because something will get me anyhow, and I can only worry about so many things at one time. This is not to say you ever should feel the same, it is to say that if you have an inherited predisposition, you might as well go onto statins and be done with it because they certainly work if you want to get your numbers down.

[Uncle_Bob]

Hey Uncle Bob,

With all that you are doing, have you looked into Niacin therapy?

A couple of years ago my cholesterol showed up high (I can give numbers later, they are at home) and my DR. put me on pravastatin... well, I don't like taking drugs, so I did some research.

I have been taking Niacin for 2 years now and my numbers are all below the top end of normal. I don't take the pravastatin at all.

BTW, do some research on Red Rice Yeast, the statin chemical that it used to contain can no longer be sold in the US (thanks you FDA and big drug companies). So you may just be wasting your money. Now they sell a strain that doesn't contain the statin.

The thing is, you have to do the research. Nicacin comes in many forms, and some forms don't do squat for Cholesterol.

I started off using the brand "Slo-Niacin" from Costco. It worked out well, but I had some flush experiences with it. After I finished a couple bottle I switched to a time release Niacin from a company called Endurance Products Company. Their time release Niacin is called Endur-Acin and I very rarely have any flush. I take 1500mg a day. Three 500mg pills morning, noon, and night.

I will give you my numbers later, but it worked well for me.

I took some advice from a forum member called Joy way back and she recommended the following supplements which i have been taking

Doctor's Best, Best Ubiquinol, 50 mg
Nature's Plus, Herbal Actives, Red Yeast Rice, Extended Release
Enduracin Niacin timed release

I only take the one Niacin though because when i took the three i thought i was having a panic attack

[Uncle_Bob]

it is to say that if you have an inherited predisposition, you might as well go onto statins and be done with it because they certainly work if you want to get your numbers down.

I'm going to give it another 5-6 months before i go back to the doctor. I do have a family history, my father is on Statins and my uncle died of a heart attack at aged 30 while playing soccer. He was my Uncle Bob.

So i'm still motivated by my progress so far and just plan on keeping up what i am doing.

Thanks
UB

[Uncle_Bob]

I would think he would congratulate you on such wonderful results in just 5 months. Now, if you can duplicate those over the next 6 months, you will be in the normal range and no medication will be necessary. I hope your doctor will give you that time in which to achieve that goal without meds. Congratulations!! and Good Luck!!!!

I think I'll just skip the visit and go for a re-test in 5-6 months. I'm scared of going to the doctors office now. Last time he noticed the veins on my right leg, apparently some varicose veins that need to be taken care of. So I'm off to see the vascular doctor next week, whatever next varicose veins and I'm not even 40 years old. I need to trade my body in for a new one

[LoQ]

I'm just curious to know what this is:


It looks like a plate of something, but I can't tell what. I'm always a bit reluctant to consume food I can't identify. Is it food? If so, what kind of food?

[Uncle_Bob]

I'm just curious to know what this is:

It looks like a plate of something, but I can't tell what. I'm always a bit reluctant to consume food I can't identify. Is it food? If so, what kind of food?

Its a fried breakfast and its not good for your cholesterol

let me talk you through it. clockwise from the left side its fried bread, fried eggs, baked beans, bacon rashers and then sausage links.

buts it's Yummy

[LoQ]

It does look yummy. The bacon threw me off.

[DoriC]

Bacon, Schmaken, put the photo of your boys back!! Good job on your Chol. numbers, you're going in the right direction!

[JeffH]

I've gone from over 300lbs to 228 this year. From a 56" waist to a 40" waist. Did it cutting down on carbs and eating a high protein / fat diet. Here are my numbers from the Doc's visit 7 days ago.

More proof that what "they" say to eat is BS

A1C 5.6
Total Cholesterol 182
HDL 50
TRG 66
LDL 118

Doc just shook his head. I pointed out it was the carbs not the fats and meats and he didn't say anything....LOL

I eat an omelet pretty much every morning cooked in real butter, with meat, cheese, and sometimes veggies.

FWIW

JeffH

[M.D.Hosehead]

I have to agree with Julie. You received a genetic gift that keeps on giving (keeps on giving you an increased risk of premature death, that is). It's no defeat for you to take statins IMO. You've done yourself a tremendous favor with exercise, diet and supplements. Statins won't diminish any of that.

[LoQ]

Statins won't diminish any of that.

True, but they might do him some harm. I think he's wise to be cautious about taking them.

[Hawthorne]

First thing I thought of when you posted about your cholesterol and saw that picture of an admittedly yummy looking breakfast, was -I HOPE HE IS NOT EATING THAT TOO OFTEN!!!!

I put the laugh symbol but am very serious when I say that!