Newbie advise

[Marcus243]

Hi All.

Thank you for letting me join the forum.

Last week I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Today I visited the doctor to discuss my results and have been told that I also have familial hypercholesterolemia.

Can anyone offer some insight into this condition? Does it mean I am going to have a heart attack or am I in a position to reverse this. Doctor wants me to take 40mg astrovastatin daily, however the last time I took these I suffered terribly with side effects, the doctor said even so I have to take them.

I am very worried about my health and would appreciate some advice, am I looking at the dark side of this condition or is there a light side to it.

Thank you

[Zena166]

Hi Marcus I too have familial hypercholestraemia was diagnosed last year. One of my sisters also has it. There are other statins available so you may be able to swap. I get seen in a lipid clinic annually because of FH so you could ask to be referred there. I also follow a very strict vegan diet and that has helped so I have lost 5.5 stone and am improving. Unfortunately I had a heart attack last year but not everyone with FH goes on to have one. As with everything if you follow a healthy lifestyle you will reduce the cholesterol and the risk. The positive is that you know about it and can address the issues. Hope this helps.

Take care. Zena

[Marcus243 in reply to Zena166]

Thanks for your reply Zena166.

It came as quite a shock to be honest. I've always been up and down with my cholesterol and have taken statins in the past, but due to the nasty side effects I stopped taking them. I also suffer with health anxiety and going to the doctors is probably my worst nightmare. To cut a long story short I had been suffering dizziness after meals, the dizziness was becoming more frequent and I just didn't feel right. I bought myself a blood pressure monitor and found my blood pressure was slightly high, and then bought myself a blood glucose monitor and my sugars where very high. After many sleepless nights (because of the health anxiety) I decided to go and visit my GP.

I made a appointment and the Doctor suspected type 2 diabetes and did a range of blood test. I received a call from the surgery receptionist last week telling me I have type 2 diabetes and my cholesterol was 7.5 and I was booked to see the nurse this Wednesday. I asked the receptionist if I needed to see the doctor and she said no, doctor not asked to see you. I was puzzled because I have just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and very high cholesterol yet the doctor does not need to see me, so I asked for an appointment and saw my GP today who told me about my genetic condition and prescribed me 40mg statins. My cholesterol has been as low as 4.5 in the past and this is my highest at 7.5 and I do believe this is because I stopped the statins and was eating junk food on the go due to my demanding job. I cannot understand why it's taken until now to diagnose me because I have read you are born with the condition?

I am going to start an healthy diet and exercise more. I am unsure on taking the statins due to the side effects in the past, if they help then I will have to take them. I did ask for something different but was refused.

Thanks again.

[Zena166]

Once you change your diet it should help to reduce cholesterol levels. Start the statin and if you get side effects ask to be changed there are others available. Also add in some exercise. 30 minutes per day. And I am sure it will improve. Take care and keep us posted. Zena

[Helen_BHF]

Hi Marcus, welcome to the community. The BHF has some info on this which might be helpful: bhf.org.uk/heart-health/con...

You can also contact our Genetic Information Service on 0300 456 8383. They’ll be able to give you more details on where FH services are and how you can contact them. Really hope this helps

[Marcus243 in reply to Helen_BHF]

Thank you Helen