High Cholesterol

[MikA]

Catherine

sad to hear of your ongoing problems.
I was put on Simvastatin after heart problems and i minor stroke. They made me feel very ill so after just 2 days I went back to my doctor and he changed me onto Pravastatin straight away. I have had no bad effects from these at all.
I would suggest you try to get back to your doctor and see if you can get the same relief.

Good luck

MikA

[glallotments]

As part of a routine medical I was told that my cholesterol was higher than they would like at 7.2 but I was told my good cholesterol was higher than the bad cholesterol and so I didn't need to take any medication but I was given a diet booklet.

I'm not overweight, I eat all the sorts of things that I should and only occasionally each the 'bad' things as treats etc. I am fairly active and so can't think of much else I can do to lower my levels.

My sister also has high cholesterol as well as diabetes and was taking fluvastatins. She had really bad side effects from this meaning every other week she was virtually confined to her bed having pains in her feet and legs and swollen fingers. Since coming off the statins she quickly improved and the doctor has agreed that the benefits are outweighed by the side effects suffered

[Catherine]

Thanks OH, I hope it comes back soon.

NB We don't eat any cakes, biscuit or chocolate in our house, never had the urge, more of a savoury household here, my OH loves cheese and oat biscuits. I like to think that we eat very well with loads of veggies (I could easily be a vegetarian but my OH likes his meat so we eat half and half in our meals)

Anyway I wont be taking them till I see the doctor next month.

[glallotments]

Catherine:
It is annoying isn't it when people think your cholesterol is high because of what you eat or because you are ignorant of what causes cholesterol to be raised! As I said I've always eaten the things that are supposed to keep cholesterol down. In fact when I tell people mine is high they are incredulous! I was stunned when I was told mine was up but my husband's is fine and he eats cake and biscuits!

[Nature's Babe]

Hi Catherine, I did read what you said about eating a healthy diet, but as Gallotments says the good cholesterol can help mitigate problems when there is a family tenedency to high cholesterol, the advice regarding three portions of oily fish is particularly helpful in cleaning the arteries. We also have that tendency in my family, father and grandfather died young, so far thankfully, with including omega 3, my blood tests have been ok.

[Parsons Jack]

The main thing that made a huge difference to mine, is giving up dairy products.
Apart from the very occasional small cheese pizza, I don't have any dairy at all. I use soya milk and soya yoghurt.
I've done this for just over a year now, and my cholesterol is down as well as losing almost a stone in weight

[Tigger]

I have given in this year and started on Simvastatin, as my fasting results were concerning. I have a family history of hypertension and heart disease - no-one has yet drawn their pension. My dad had his first heart attack when I was in junior school and died 11 years later. I've had problems with my blood pressure since my teens and have had ten year spells of control - no salt, diuretics, beta blockers, anti cholinergics and now cholesterol busters.

We are real foodies and don't use processed products. We don't have manufactured biscuits or cakes, we make our own bread, cakes and biscuits, grown all our veg and most of our fruit, drink within recommended limits and have very little butter or cream.

Ironically - husband is a larger than life person, family history of living until late 80s or beyond and has a cholesterol of 3.5, loves cream and butter. There's no justice!

I haven't had any real problems with the statins, except that I have had some weird allergic incidences this year that some of the doctors I have seen think may relate to the drugs. Others don't. I used to be allergic to a whole host of things, but have grown out of them, over the last 25 years or so.

We'll watch and see.

[Primrose]

I wonder if some people are genetically more disposed to higher cholesterol levels than others. Obviously the oily fish route is a sensible one - if you don't like mackerel, tinned pilchards or sardines in tomato sauce might be an alternative option, and in terms of commercial foods, experimenting with Flora instead of butter might help. My OH takes a daily Benecol drink which he believes did help to reduce his cholesterol level. Hope you get it sorted soon.

[glallotments]

Yes sometimes to is genetic which I think is my problem. Much admit to not liking much oily fish although I do like tuna and salmon. Tuna steaks are just so expensive when you can find them!