Heart Attack Support Group
Heart attack is a serious, sudden heart condition usually characterized by varying degrees of chest pain or discomfort, weakness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and arrhythmias, sometimes causing loss of consciousness. It occurs when the blood supply to a part of the heart is interrupted, causing death and scarring of the local heart tissue.
I just learned that I have a highly elevated level of Lipoprotein(a)- mine is 222, when less than 75 is normal. I'm 47 y.o., & had a significant MI on Nov 20, 2009 with 100% blockage of my LAD, 2 episodes of cardiac arrest, cath, & 1 stent placed. I've always had low bp & fairly optimal cholesterol. My known risks were Dad's MI at age 32, high stress, and too much saturated fat consumption. I'm starting to read more about Lp(a), and it sounds like that helps explain the link between my Dad's heart attack & mine, since high Lp(a) is genetically transmitted. I'm about to switch to a highly recommended cardio. I also just got myself a good new PCP- he's the one who found the Lp(a). I'd already read about Lp(a), so I had some initial understanding of the issue. I'd heard that the only thing known to reduce Lp(a) is niacin, but that it's unlikely to be effective when not at prescription strength as niaspan. My doc called in a prescription for niaspan. I'm aware of its side effects of flushing & itching (sounds great!), but my doc said I can reduce that (well he actually said block that) by taking an aspirin (which I'm taking daily anyway by just moving it from AM to PM) 30 to 60 minutes before taking the Niaspan. I'm going to read a bit more before I start the Niaspan. I see the research on the link between Lp(a) & heart disease, & that niaspan can reduce Lp(a). I just don't know yet if there's research showing that reducing Lp(a) leads to reduced risk of MI. I'm both encouraged and worried about this new information & recommendation. I'd love to hear from other folks who have info and/or experience with Lp(a) & Niaspan. Thanks for any help you can provide. Sue
-
Is anyone here allergic to Sulfa that is currently taking Diamox? I have been diagnosed with IH now for almost 2 years. I am allergic to Sulfa drugs meaning that my throat will swell up so my Neurologist put me on Topamax. I was suffering from major loud whoosing noises and the topamax helped that but everyday I still hear those mainly between 6 - 12 pm. I am at my wits end and have not went...
-
My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...
i dont have lp(a) but my family doc has me taking niaspan been taking it for 9 weeks its only a vitamin i had to do the same thing take my asprin at night 30 to 60 min before bed i have had no problem it also raises your hdl while lowering your ldl plus tris its not bad if i know im going to be doing something i skip my niaspam for the day but take your asprin as normal 30 to 60 min before you would take the niaspan
its really no biggy i have had no flushing or iching nothing im taking 500 mg daily you will be fine remember its only a vitamin
god bless
john
p.s talk on sat unless you need to before its o.k.
It's great to hear that you're taking niaspan and it's been ok. Tell me a bit more about what you said, "if i know im going to be doing something i skip my niaspam for the day". Like if you're going to be doing what sort of thing? Why do you skip the niaspan on such days? Thanks, Sue
if im going to be playing cards im going to have a couple beers or couple glasses of wine i take mine at 8 pm my asprin at 7 pm i have only missed it 4 times like i take it at 8pm i wont have a drink after 6pm and i dont drink a lot just a glass of wine 3 times a week doc ordears my cardio beer or wine thins your blood i will call you today and tell you
god bless
john
I was not a flag for cholesterol problems except my tri's were 250+.
total cholesterol was
Lipoproteins are carrieres for all types of cholesterol. I take 1000mg/day may need to up it to 200gm?day. Don't reduce the LDL just aid in increasing the HDL. Some evidence that CHD is reduced with a manageable HDL increase. more so with womewn than men.
Medicine is really out to lunch on the increased favorable prognosis of a Niaspan nregimen. I will be fooder for their research though and I guess you , Sue , will be also.
Best Eewagrds,
Just Joe.
you wont even know your taking it
and i think joe should tell us on sat how he plans to keep on not smoking and eating and a prayer for rich
johnny
mine is pink you should like that color lol
Boy I bet the Eastern Shore is getting hammered. Hope you are all cozied up.
I just spent 20 mins. writing you this long prose regarding niacin.
Went to send and the internet went down and I can't find the archive of the reply. Really Chapped My Butt.
But I will give you a shorter version. I take the 1000mg/day w/an aspirin. First week was itchy and looked like I had a real bad sunburn.
These symptoms passed within 1 week. My blood pressure also runs low because of meds and of course my laid back easy going personna. Not. And pulse 35-47 BPM due to the Bigeminy and trigeminy. No feinting per se but some light headedness if I get uypiu too quick.
Also the color of my pills are peach. But if you chew them up they don't taste like peaches at all. So much for "Truth in Advertising"
But they do resemble suppositories. There's an idea. Flshing won't matter down there seeing my Butt is chapped eh?
Talk to you later today Sue if lines are still up
Been on Niaspan since my MI last Feb. and have experienced hot flashes and the skin tingling sensations occasionally. It has brought my numbers under control quickly. My HDL was extremely low and the niaspan raised it to normal levels very quickly. Good luck with new PCP.
UNSU
Ya know- I never got my nerve or motivation up to start taking the Niaspan- I just didn't gain enough trust that the side effects and risks would counter-balance the potential gains. The thing is that my overall cholesterol numbers and ratios have been very good, and have gotten better each time I go to the doctor. I mean total around 115, HDL around 60 (has risen each time), LDL 200, which is way above normal.
Research shows that niaspan can reduce Lp(a), but that reducing Lp(a) has not reduced heart risk. So I have left the niaspan in the drawer. I've been taking OTC niacin, but it hasn't moved the Lp(a) numbers at all (I like to think it helps me anyway- who really knows?!).
Hey, by the way, if any of you take OTC niacin and want to switch to prescription Niaspan, make sure you doc knows about the OTC niacin- you can severely damage your liver if you're not careful.
So far, I'm going to believe, true or not, that changing the rest of my health for the better has reduced my heart attack risk. I feel really well, and my physical capacity is really good. I go again to my cardio this spring, and I'll see what he says then.