Cholesterol amazement!

[Katlou63]

Hello everyone! I've posted a few times over the last couple of months since I went into A&e with chest pains. However I've just had the results from my first blood test since I've been on statins and I'm very pleased with the outcome- on 22nd April my total cholesterol was a shocking 10 but today it's down to 5.3! I'm amazed! Clearly the atorvastatin is working. I'm still on bisoprolol for high blood pressure and that's taking its time to come down to a normal level but I feel so much better! Good news I think. Just got to have an endoscopy next week to check my oesophagus and hopefully I will be OK.

👍🤞

[Chappychap]

Congratulations! There are few things more motivating than watching your key health metrics move into the safe zone.

Blood pressure is a critical one, personally I found that medication, regular exercise, and reducing salt all contributed roughly the same towards bringing my blood pressure down to where it needs to be. So don't give up on that one just yet!

Good luck!

[Hidden]

They have had a bad press from some quarters, because particularly in the US they are handed out like smarties, but for people who really need them I believe they are literally a life saver. I tried to lower mine by diet alone once, sticking to a really low fat vegetarian diet, and was not successful, although I am still vegetarian and steer clear of as much diary as possible. As the other poster said, regular exercise will definitely help lower your blood pressure.

[Acidaccount77]

Hi there Katlou - I'm just responding to reassure you regarding an endoscopy procedure. I had to have one for a different reason - related to my stomach acid after nothing found in ultrasound etc - I was so so worried and put it off 3 times - but finally once my appointment had been changed from a clinic department ( which had a special unit ) to the main St James's hospital in Leeds I decided I would feel safer.

I have to tell you that what I feared was greatly in my mind and not based upon reality and I would willingly return to do it again - I made sure that I had lots of discussion about myself - at the time bit worried I was on the borderline for type 2 diabetes which has resolved now. The endoscopy team were very kind and there is a whole team of professionals who look after you.

They guide you in simple actions which they need you to do - I recall leaning into the nurse who held me close to her as they helped me tip on one side to my left - I was asked to hold a small item between my lips to keep my mouth open I had no sore throat afterwards. I would say relax go with the flow - think of how you can be helpful to them by listening to what they want you to do

Its over before you can even process it all - there is no pain in the process no gulping etc - the best thing is to definitely ask for the sedation which is not what you would imagine - you are wide awake but relaxed and you would think perhaps that you had not had any sedation but as time just goes in a flash I would think this is the effect of the sedation.

You are placed on a bed and wheeled out into recovery for a wee while - but you will wonder why as you don't feel any different to when you walked in ! They observe you for a 30 minutes. At this point you consider how simple this had been and feel that you have done it !

I hope this is your experience too - remember they do this all the time and have everything in place to keep you safe. ( remember to ask for the sedation if they don't ask you )

All the best for your test.

[Katlou63 in reply to Acidaccount77]

Thank you - that's really reassuring. I'm actually quite relaxed about it surprisingly. Just want to find out what it is and hopefully get some treatment.

[Acidaccount77]

yes of course - all the best with that - in the end I had nothing to report about after endoscopy - the specialist finally said I have a "sensitive Stomach " but no biopsy was taken so I don't know if there was any pyloribacter or if I am celiac however they told me they didn't take a biopsy because there was no need to do this as it was no indicative I guess the mucosa looked okay The specialist has allowed me to continue to take Gaviscon on a night laying down - because I can't take the PPI's they don't seem to do for me - recently it seems to have begun to resolve.

I am not sure if I had not burnt my gullet with hot food or damaged my stomach some time ago with too many ibuprophen tablets and its taken me a few years for my body to repair itself - I really believe we can repair our own bodies and I avoid tablets at all costs - I have osteoarthritis in my hip it has a cyst and one knee too but I only take two paracetamol tablets when after walking I have pain I use ice and heat and swimming and have been doing this for the last 7 years - only after prolonged walking or activity do I begin to walk oddly with the hip etc its due for replacement possibly 6 months left on it now but I would prefer to avoid it if possible - just not sure looks like it will need to be done because of the cyst which may make it inoperable if it moves on the joint

I am not certain about how my stomach became so acutely sensitive I do limit my diet so this might have helped repair it as since I began with my symptoms two years ago I have been very careful (its a bit narrow but healthier ) .... I did wonder if I had caught the virus into my stomach at one stage ( the GP said we just don't know anything could be the case !)

Anyway I do wish you all the best with your results its important to have these diagnostic tests but for me I always read the worrying side effects and then I begin worrying with the worst possible outcomes ! ( I do think I have health anxiety ! ) -

Al the best - let us know how you go on