High Cholesterol Support Group
High cholesterol is the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood. It is not a disease but a metabolic derangement that can be secondary to many diseases and can contribute to many forms of disease, most notably cardiovascular disease. If you have high cholesterol, join the community to find support and share your experience.
last year my numbers were TC 230 HDL 48 Triglycerides 333 LDL 129 During that time I ate anything and everything . I decided to "get healthy", so I stopped fast food and cut out red meat to maybe once a month, chicken maybe once a month, stopped eating the yolks of eggs, but I did still eat cheese, I lowered my sugar intake, but I had a problem with cutting it out. I went a few weeks ago to get my new lab work done, thinking I was going to have fantastic numbers (I thought wrong)...here are my new numbers...TC 294 (too high) HDL 64 (went up 16 points which is good) Triglycerides 238 (went down 95 points, but still too high) LDL 175 (went way up). I was shocked that my total cholesterol and my LDL went so high up. I am surpriced my docter didnt want to throw statins at me, but wants to retest in 3 months. I read an artical that sugar and simple carbs can make your cholesterol go sky high. I did eat alot of pasta, rice, bread and potatoes, so maybe thats it? I have now cut out simple carbs, sweets & cheese. and eatting more oatbran, beans, complex carbs, veggies, promise Activ spread, nuts and fruit (but not a lot). Im hopeing this works and I dont get another surprice. It just blows my mind that my numbers were better when I ate everything and anything.
1) High consumption of simple carbs makes high triglicerides number and lowers HDL. Soln: replace simple carbs with fiber and complex carbs, reduce grains
2) High saturated fats in the diet help to drive up HDL levels. This is great until you have too much of it. IMHO anything past 60 on HDL is not really helpful and only drives up your overall TC level.
3) All the numbers normalize when you cut your calories some. So you can do 1 and 2 and still have high cholesterol if you overeat.
4) High consumption of non-root vegetables provides fiber and anti-inflammatory activity.
5) Balancing your fat intake for a 4:1 ratio of Omega-6 fats to Omega-3 fats gives an optimal level which reduces inflammation.
6) Limit Omega-3 fats to 3 - 3.5 g per day. More could cause unwanted bleeding.
7) If you require more fats in your diet, make them from mono-unsaturated fats. Avocado is a good example.
8) Make sure your diet contains both vitamin B12 and Folate. Together these two help to control homocystine levels which can trigger heart problems.
I hope that helps. It has worked for me very well.
TC 230 -> 138, Trig 230 -> 45, HDL 23 -> 56, LDL 135->71
Cheers, Keith
PS: Give up the spreading margerine on bread. Instead spread salsa. margerine has very little nutritional value and is just extra calories on your hips!!
"I did eat alot of pasta, rice, bread and potatoes, so maybe thats it?"
Yes, that's likely why your numbers weren't very good. Replace all that with cooked veggies like spinach, broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, beets, lentils, beans, yams, brown rice and some nuts.
A few days ago I stopped Crestor because I was struggling the last 2 months with pain in both hands to the point where I couldn't even pick up a pencil. I don't have an app't with my general doctor til October and will do bloodwork before the visit. I'm imagining now the numbers will go up, but also planning on what I should do. I love the lower numbers but the crippling that Crestor has caused doesn't make it worth it .. though I know my doctor won't agree.
If you have experience or advice I'd love to hear it and thank you for any help in figuring this out.
Years ago I was on Lipitor and had to stop when my leg and back muscles hurt where I couldn't walk. My doctor's mother had the same problem while on Lipitor so at least he didn't tell me it was my imagination and to stay on it for my own good. I'm giving up Crestor because my hands are so severely in pain. Also, I exercise 30 minutes a day, eat less than 1200 calories a day, and gained 20 pounds in the last year. I'm hoping the hands will heal and the weight will come down within a few weeks, and think they will.
I hope to hear more of your results when you get them. Again, thank you for the advice, it's appreciated.
The best it could do in the last trial was 241 people had to take Crestor for 2 years to prevent one heart attack. The other 240 people got no benefit.
For strokes 288 people had to take crestor for 2 years to prevent one stroke, The other 287 people got no benefit.
These are the numbers big pharma would prefer you not know.
But now you know.
Dr Barbara Roberts is a women's cardiologist at Miriam hospital. She has witnessed the damage statins do to people, which is why she wrote book about it.
Since you have thyroid nodules, I would look into it again with a FULL Thyroid panel.
You're right about the thryoid numbers. The specialist that keeps track of the nodules' growth didn't even call with the results. I don't think doctors worry and wait it out... wait for what? death? geeze!! L(
I wouldn't have known the scan results if my general practitioner hadn't rec'd a copy of the report too. No changes, but the care is lacking and next set of scans I'll just have the GP go over it and also run the bloodwork. Something has to give. I almost wish I had thyroid problems so I could blame that for not losing weight. But a few weeks off Crestor will see if that medicine is to blame, and now figuring out what to do about my hands if they don't heal. I really am ticked by the drug company .. .thank you again!