Huge increase in LDL: 4 weeks ago... - British Heart Fou...

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Huge increase in LDL

Winimops profile image
40 Replies

4 weeks ago stopped Rosuvastatin 10mg due to back muscles pain. The pains stopped. At that time my LDL was 1.4, HDL 1.4, Tg 1.1, ratio 1.8 and total cholesterol 3.3.

Bloods were done exactly 4 weeks after stopping the statins and my LDL has shot up to 3.7! I had a shock. HDL is now 1.3, Tg1.3, ratio 2.3 and total cholesterol is 5.6.

Seeing the GP in a week to restart a statin most probably.

Is this huge increase normal after stopping Rosuvastatin?

thank you for listening to my worries ☺️

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Winimops profile image
Winimops
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40 Replies

It seems the rosuvastatin was doing the job intended.! There are other statins to try if you have not tried them already, and these may not give you the same side effects as rosuvastatin, but if you are truly statin intolerant your GP should be offering other medication such as Ezetimibe or even the Inclisiran which is periodically injected. There is an NHS England pathway linked below to a pdf which covers cases of statin intolerance. It only covers England but there will be similar provisions covering the other home countries. If you can wade through it it should give you some discussion points for when you see the GP.

england.nhs.uk/aac/wp-conte...

Winimops profile image
Winimops in reply to Lowerfield_no_more

Thank you. Hopefully another statin will do the job just as well but without the side effects.

Wooodsie profile image
Wooodsie

Hi Winipos, as Lowerfield states there are alternatives. Has your back pain subsided since you stopped the rosuvastatin? If it has, then I would definitely try another. I have swapped once, perversely to rosuvastatin and I haven't had any adverse affects. We all react differently.

Survivor1952 profile image
Survivor1952

For me, like Wooodsie, I can tolerate Rosuvastatin but others give me issues with the side effects.

Winimops profile image
Winimops in reply to Survivor1952

What side effects did you get from them? My nurse suggested I tried the one starting with P.

Survivor1952 profile image
Survivor1952 in reply to Winimops

I had swelling of my legs and muscle pains with the others I tried.

Caminante2024 profile image
Caminante2024

Try the whole food plant based diet. No animals products, No oil! It works!

davebal67 profile image
davebal67 in reply to Caminante2024

I wonder why you think that, my triglycerides are 0.5 my diet is low carbs and no sugar. I have been tested for insulin sensitivity which I am.I have had a full lipoprotein profile done privately and all my markers are low apart from lipoprotein (a) which is the hereditary marker.

I eat cheese nuts and meat everyday and my average blood sugar is 5.1mmol/l.

Iits now been proven by scientists thar plant based diets are actually detrimental to your health.

Caminante2024 profile image
Caminante2024 in reply to davebal67

Well, I don't know you're source of information, but maybe, you want to read this?

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

All the best!

Winimops profile image
Winimops in reply to davebal67

Where did you get your lipid profile done please? I am thinking of getting it done.

davebal67 profile image
davebal67 in reply to Winimops

I got mines done in Warrington at Pall Mall Medical. My best piece of advice is to get a fasting insulin and fasting glucose done that will tell your overall metabolic state.

I have 3 siblings and 2 never made it to retirement so also get Lipoprotein little a done. Mines was 79 which is just inside the medium risk. From that I can control my overall risk with diet and excercise.

I had a 90% blockage in my LAD at the very top of my heart so I know I cheated death.

I had a bypass done in July without a heart attack and my fitness was back to preoperative values within 3 months.

Winimops profile image
Winimops in reply to davebal67

Did you see someone there as well or just got the bloods done? I have been discharged from Cardiology - so don't know what to ask for when I phone the clinic up. Also how how much did it cost? Thanks.

davebal67 profile image
davebal67 in reply to Winimops

My private health covered them. It was over 1000 in blood work. Costs are as follows

Glucose Tolerance with Insulin £505 (3 samples required, 1 hour apart). Turnaround time: 2 working days. Fasting required.

Lipoprotein (a) £58. Turnaround time: 1 working day

Insulin £90. Turnaround time: 1 working day (you would need to fast for this test)

For LDL particles A & B, I'm not sure about the price.

Apolipoprotein B (12hrs fasting required). £94

The 58£ Lipoprotein (a) is worth it but you could get that one through the NHS as well as fasting glucose.

You really should get glucose and insulin drawn at the same time.

I asked my GP about these tests but he was pretty clueless. It is all described in Dr Ben Birkman book why we get sick you can see him discuss with Dr Casey Means and both these Dr I would trust with my life.

I watched the videos but still got the book.

So the premise is Tryglycerides get metabolised into LDL (large and small)then VLDL and finally apolipoprotein b.

Because my trigs are low and I don't have any small dense particles then my apolipoproteinb is low. My apolb was 0.4.

Triglycerides in a fasting state is the concentration of the amount of sugar you have in your liver.

Supplements I take are Diabetone, Niacin and Psyllium Husk.

I swear by Apple Cider Vinegar which helps lower blood glucose

Since my bypass, I came off beta blockers and BP medication

I still take low dose aspirin, atoravastatin, clopidogral, and landszoporozole.

My cardiologist isn't fully committed about me stopping my BP meds, but my daily average is 120/85, so he has not insisted I retake them.

Winimops profile image
Winimops in reply to davebal67

Thank you for all that. My Lipo (a) was 214 (ouch!) GP has done my glucose - I will get results on Thursday.

I am going to contact the Clinic tomorrow regarding the Lipo particle test, & will have a look at the book.

I am doing clean eating which has definite + impact.

davebal67 profile image
davebal67 in reply to Winimops

The particle test is called LDL 7 subfractions. With a lipoprotein a that high I would avoid sugar at all costs.I do eat sourdough bread bought from the coop but only once a week.

I haven't eaten cereal, pasta in the last year but have an occasional Indian once per month.

That is the sticky protein that causes the small dense particles to stick to your arterial walls and causes plaque to build up.

The way I think is that of I don't have small dense then there is nothing for the lipoprotein (a) to stick.

Buy the book he explains it way better than me.

Remember the most important test is fasting insulin.

Anyone on here with atherosclerosis should go to the doctors and demand that blood test.

davebal67 profile image
davebal67 in reply to davebal67

Thought I would put my lipid results showing the power of Keto and real food.

Serum total cholesterol level 3.2 mmol/L 2.50 - 5.00mmol/L

Serum triglycerides 0.5 mmol/ L 0.40 - 1.70mmol/L

Serum HDL cholesterol level 1.19 mmol/L 1.00 - 1.90mmol/L

Serum LDL cholesterol level 1.8 mmol/L 1.00 - 3.00mmol/L

Serum non HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol level 2 mmol/L 1.50 - 4.00mmol/L

Serum cholesterol/HDL ratio 2.7 2.00 - 6.00

LucyBoo21 profile image
LucyBoo21 in reply to Caminante2024

I disagree.

My brothers cholesterol was high, he really didn't want to take statins so for a year tried to reduce it by diet. He is pretty much vegetarian as his wife is and he went even healthier and denied himself any treats. He was miserable.

And his cholesterol went up!

He the agreed to go on a statin and it instantly went down (he had a health check 11 days after starting and it had gone down by 2.9).

Some people have a genetic reason and no amount of eating healthier will work.

Winimops profile image
Winimops in reply to LucyBoo21

Thank you for your input. I like your family am eating low carb diet and my numbers improved dramatically. I have now come to the conclusion that I need a statin of some sort.

Bluelobby profile image
Bluelobby in reply to Caminante2024

Utter nonsense, my partner has just come off a 4 year vegan diet , it made her ill and she looked like death warmed up , I've been doing a ketovore diet for 3 months, I've lost a stone in weight and never felt better in my life

Caminante2024 profile image
Caminante2024 in reply to Bluelobby

Well then, good for you!

Schora1 profile image
Schora1

Hi, when I stopped Rosuvastatin my levels shot up and I believe from my doctor this is common.

Winimops profile image
Winimops in reply to Schora1

So it’s just not me 😁 What happened next to you?

Tiggs876 profile image
Tiggs876

I’m statin intolerant and had to stop rosuvastatin due to an adverse skin reaction and it making me feel very unwell. I was switched to Bempedoic Acid (Nilemdo) by the lipid clinic and it is bringing my cholesterol down. Ask your GP/Lipid clinic about switching. It can also be prescribed in combination with ezetimibe.

davebal67 profile image
davebal67

I would not trust anything from the NHS as its all based on lies when it comes to nutritional advice.All the testing done has been sponsored by the food industry or big Pharma.

The best way to keep people sick is to get them to follow flawed advice.

Before the eighties there was never a condition called non alcoholic fatty liver disease.

All my inflammatory markers are as low as they can be following a Keto lifestyle.

I have reversed placqing due to me following a Keto diet and lost over 6 stone but don't let that stop you believing what you read.

My diet flattens blood sugar and I use a CGM.

Read the book by Dr Ben Birkman why we get sick.

Look at the data from 1970s and the cause of that is process and ultra process food which is the main driver for heart disease.

I do eat fruit and vegetables but also excercise 2hrs a day and also do 10k steps.

But you go on believing the big lies from the food industry, I would rather do my research and get my bloods done regularly.

We are all different and that's why the best advice would be buy a cgm and don't eat any foods that cause high blood glucose spikes.

I follow this and my last 4 hb1ac was 33. I am a 57 year old male with a metabolic health of a 43 year old.

Eddie64 profile image
Eddie64 in reply to davebal67

You can’t reverse plaque you can only manage it

davebal67 profile image
davebal67 in reply to Eddie64

My cardiologist seems to think you can reverse soft playing but not hard plaque. I had my Cardiac CT done on Wednesday, my followup has been scheduled for Apr 2nd when I will get a definitive answer.

My grafts are patent and have no build-up and the blocked arteries are still open. Cabg performed July 28th.

The point of statins is to harden soft plaque so it doesn't break away and cause heart attacks as well as lowering ldl.

I have also had my ldl particle size tested and my blood contains no detectable small dense particles which is directly related to atherosclerosis.

Eddie64 profile image
Eddie64 in reply to davebal67

Thy as a better cardiologist than me lol

Bluelobby profile image
Bluelobby in reply to Eddie64

Chondroitin, but no profit for big pharma, drrichardstalksback.wordpre...

MoretonCross profile image
MoretonCross in reply to davebal67

Hello, I certainly agree with your first three sentences, indeed I might go further. I'm pretty much 'high fat, low carbs' myself. In other words, the nutritional pyramid reversed. I eat red meat, rib-eye steak and eggs tonight for example, followed by Cheddar and Stilton cheese. I also eat lots of very good butter. I'm 78 with a 32 inch waist. In my view the 'low fat, high carbs' diet as recommended is unhealthy to the max. Take a walk down the high streets of the UK and observe the results of this diet. As you quite correctly say, do your own research- it's never been easier. Best regards, MC.

Bluelobby profile image
Bluelobby in reply to davebal67

Post of the day 🕺

Bluelobby profile image
Bluelobby in reply to davebal67

knowledgeofhealth.com/the-m...

Have a read of that pal

davebal67 profile image
davebal67 in reply to Bluelobby

That's very interesting might buy some. Definitely will wait till I get the results of my Cardiac CT. I will then take them and get another CT done when out in Cyprus in October. Can get it done at a fraction of cost of. the UK.

davebal67 profile image
davebal67 in reply to davebal67

It's everyone's right to challenge medical opinion. This is why I do my research and although my diet is against all the advice my cardiologist cannot argue with my bloods.

My last appointment he said I should write a book about my journey.

I am off to Lanzarote today but before I left for the airport I went on my Peloton,, I burnt 760 calories on a 20 mile ride.

My plan is in 2 year to retire in Cyprus.

I now have no angina, my BP is normal and I have no plaque in my grafts.

MWIC profile image
MWIC

had similar probs with Atorvastatin - had to drop dose down to 20mg but added Ezetimibe - muscle pain much better and cholesterol levels still low so worth exploring alternatives as the muscle pain and worsening flexibility some people get is no joke and becomes quite debilitating

Winimops profile image
Winimops in reply to MWIC

Thank you. Looking forward to seeing what the GP says on Thursday

Comfycousin1 profile image
Comfycousin1 in reply to MWIC

I had terrible diahorria when on 80mg Atorvastation after my heart attack three months ago. My GP dropped my dose to 40mg last week which improved things significantly but I still have ibs...so ibs problems each morning on waking. Ive had ibs flare ups for years but this is every day.I'm giving it another week or so to see if it settles down before going back.

She did say we could drop it still more but I'm afraid of an increase in cholesterol. It could even be something else.

C

MWIC profile image
MWIC in reply to Comfycousin1

Often really hard to hone in on the cause of one thing or another - I didn’t get that with the 80mg and dropping to 40mg didn’t change the muscle pain but we’re all different. What other medication are you on. I have some similar problems with the drug Trulicity (which is really helping with my diabetes when you can get it) but can cause some digestive issues and I’ve noticed when I get this problem I also get masses of ectopic heart beats - when the digestive problem goes so do the ectopics - very much believe that all linked. I’m now in 20mg Atorvastatin and added Ezetimibe - this is maintaining a low cholesterol level for me and muscle pain way better after about 4 weeks

Comfycousin1 profile image
Comfycousin1 in reply to MWIC

Hi. I'm on Clopidogrel. Bisoprolol, Aspirin, Losartan and Lansoprazole. I don't get muscle pain. Just digestive problems but I do suffer occasional ibs flare ups so my stomach is sensitive anyway.

bluemoon572 profile image
bluemoon572

I've had a lot of experience with rosuvastatin & unlike atorvastatin or zimvastatin, I find it's a rare cause of muscle pain. Was your muscle enzyme,total CPK checked & found to be elevated which would validate muscle inflammation? You may wish to give rosuvastatin another chance. I consider it the best & cleanest of all statins.

MB1969 profile image
MB1969 in reply to bluemoon572

That's interesting. I am switching from Atorvastatin after being on them for 2 years to Rosuvastatin due to deteriorating muscle pain. I then noted on my last two tests at the lipids clinic last year my CK enzymes were raised. However the consultant wrote that he wasn't too concerned. Maybe he isn't but I was and I am pleased I asked to switch. I am stopping them for a few weeks and then starting the new ones along with the Ezitimbe I also take. I will be asking for another CK test along with a lipids profile in a few months.

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