Hospital Appointment

[Red18]

Hellooooo. Does anybody know if when I see my cardiologist on Wednesday will they check my cholesterol? Have tried so very hard to keep off all saturated fats and processed foods. I am so hoping it has come down been making a real effort. Thanks all.

[Loving-life]

Hi in my experience, at a cardiologist app i have never had a cholesterol test.

These are usually carried out by your GP. So would suggest you book an app to arrange this. Unless you are being looked after by a lipid clinic then this is different as they monitor this. I saw a trainee cardiologist once and he looked at me blank when discussing cholesterol and referred me back to my gp to get my questions answered and he said its a different area to cardiology?? I thought choloesterol and the heart would come under cardiology but apparently not.

Good luck with your app.

[Red18 in reply to Loving-life]

Thankyou so much for reply. Yes I'm with you I thought they would want to measure my chlosterol level too??

[DavidG1971 in reply to Red18]

From my experience the Cardiologist is a highly skilled plumber. Knows how to mend pipes, but don’t expect any insightful conversations on diet, cholesterol etc.

[Red18 in reply to DavidG1971]

Hi David. Yes you are most probably right. I do hope he can fix my duff pipes. Many thanks for replying. Good health.

[Loving-life in reply to Red18]

I have had high cholesterol, my body has trouble getting rid of the bad stuff 😬 and i ve incorporated over the years different techniques, changes to diet (though my diet has always been good) etc.. to try and reduce it, as my lipid consultant wanted to add in another drug nooooooo ... so negotiated another 6 months last oct to try one last option.

Didnt tell him what it was, where's the fun in that 😁. I decided to cut out meat. I like steak so thought this would be hard, but told myself its only 6 months its not long . And will introduce it back into diet if it doesn't make a difference. Too be honest ive not really missed it.

Bearing in mind i had a HA 3 years ago and my cholesterol just wouldnt come down no matter what drug i was on, turns out a problem genetically and its at an okish level but consultant would like it to be better.

Back to story, test results on Wednesday amazed my consultant. They were really good and at a level better than he expected. Yay happy days. 😁 so because of the way my body processes cholesterol cutting out meat works wonders for me. If you haven't already you may want to try meat free or meat free days.. dont beat yourself up if you cant do it, its just something that worked for me. Good luck.

[Red18 in reply to Loving-life]

Thankyou. I am trying to cut down on all red meats. Here's hoping. Thanks for replying.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Cardiologists may request various blood tests on the day or before the appointment. I have had some long waits in phlebotomy. The results will usually be communicated to you GP. You probably would be contacted if there is something if concern, e.g. high cholesterol or low haemoglobin.

[Red18 in reply to MichaelJH]

Hi MichaelJH. Not on statins. Was advised. Lost 2 stones and chloesterol down from 5.9 to 4.9 in 10 wks following a mainly plant based diet. No saturated fats or any processed foods. I am at the hospital on Wednesday as I think I have angina. Had a andiogram and shown LAD 70% plaque but back in October not blood flow limiting. Hospital advised statins and aspirin. Aspirin I take every night. They did discharged me and to be truly was fine no chest pains. Felt ok. Since January I have been getting chest pains and after loads of waiting finally I have this appointment on Wednesday. I'm upset because I've bern good and thought because chlosterol had come down and I had lost weight would feel better. My GP thinks it's anxiety. I know what I'm feeling. At first didn't take my NITRATES but now I do. Psychological I guess but it does relieve the pain

[elliebath in reply to Red18]

Angina pain doesn't always mean a problem with the heart itself, it can be a narrowing or a spasm in the smaller blood vessels and they're often too small to show up on a standard angiogram.

Angina pain and/or shortness of breath usually occur during physical exertion ,cold weather or times of anxiety/stress. I get all three.

Angina pain from anxiety is very real.

[Red18 in reply to elliebath]

My pain comes on usually after I've eaten a meal or cold weather. And sometimes first thing in the morning along with a lot of belching. Find if I go for a long walk I have no pain later in the evening. I personallyhave never been anxious or felt anxious prior to a angina attack?? Thanks for replying

[Red18 in reply to elliebath]

Well done to you on losing weight and keeping it off

[elliebath in reply to Red18]

Thankyou. It was only 2.5 stone but Ive felt much better for it

[Handel]

Hi Red. Cholesterol tests are usually run in the GP clinics. It's quite possible that your cardiologist will know what your levels were/are through the magical powers of whizzing documents/information through the clouds!!!

Before hubby saw his cardiologist, he had numerous tests at our GP's. He was put on statins before his appointment to bring cholesterol levels down from 5.1 (which I thought was good!!!).

Best of luck Red xxx

[Deanosbeano]

It takes 3 months for any actions you are taking to lower your cholesterol to take effect to the point it shows on a test

So best to take your statin, cholesterol lowering drink and proactive spread etc , eat a good diet and ask your GP regularly for a check .

Mine was 6.5 and I dropped the high cholesterol foods and now it's been 2.0 and 2.1 for the last 6 months . Had a triple bypass in Feb

[Red18 in reply to Deanosbeano]

Well done you! Great stuff. I am really trying. Lost 2 stone. Keeping off the saturated fats and the processed foods. Thanks for replying

[Avarae in reply to Red18]

My cholestral was 9..no wonder I had HA 8 week ago.i had stent in too..im on diet n low fat but had no tests offered yet to see if it's lowered. I'm walkin 20 mins a day or more but early days yet for me still...

[Red18 in reply to Avarae]

Hi Avarae. You just don't realise how important you're health is until you come a cropper. Well done you for altering you're diet and beginning an exercise routine. Well done you! I'm certain you'll do well with your chlosterol. Big hugs

[Avarae in reply to Red18]

Thanks red 18

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

You can buy a self test at Boots

[Red18]

Hi Kristin. Are they accurate? Thanks for replying

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to Red18]

No idea, sorry.

[Qualipop]

If the nitrates take the pain away then it probably is angina.At least that's what the paramedics told me. Does your GP know this?

[Red18 in reply to Qualipop]

Yes he does. Sometimes my chest feels a bit smothered. I'm sorry I don't know how best to explain. Then sometimes can feel like heartburn in the centre of chest. I can also get a tightening in my throat, as if something pressing against it. I can go a few days feeling great then the dreaded thing comes back..

[Qualipop in reply to Red18]

I know exactly what you mean. I've had that numerous times, long before I had a heart attack or even suspected a problem with my heart. WIth me it was anxiety. I suffered badly with panic attacks for years; always when I had a new health problem. I've been disabled with spinal problems for 30 years and also have fibromyalgia. At first I thought it was costochondritis; inflammation of the ligaments that attach to the breast bone but then I learned that costochondritis actually hurts badly when you press on it. Once I knew that, I realised it was tension because of anxiety. Not saying yours is, just how it was for me. I also went through several months having difficulty swallowing forthe same reason.

[Red18 in reply to Qualipop]

Hopefully on Wednesday I'll have some answers. I'm hoping for good news. Believe me or not I was fine until the andiogram?? I say fine, I just felt a feather type sensation across my chest then gp sent me to cardiologist

[Qualipop in reply to Red18]

I was perfectly fine until the heart attack- came right out of the blue. Good luck; we just don't know what's going on inside.

[Red18 in reply to Qualipop]

That is sooo true but I think medalling can cause harm