Update on progress.

[markjasongreen]

Just an update on my progress.

Got diagnosed with FH on Thursday. Family especially my kids will be tested to see if they have it. Levels have come down nearly 50% just with statins with no side effects. 

Just a yearly check up from now on.

[sandybrown]

What were your numbers and what are your numbers?

[markjasongreen in reply to sandybrown]

Total C - 9.9 to 5.2

LDL - 8.5 to 3.9

Not much change in HDL and Tri at moment.

UK values.

That's over a 6 month period with no diet change or exercise change, just statins.

[sandybrown in reply to markjasongreen]

Thank you, my total cholesterol came down to 2.8 on statin for three months but gave up due to side effect. My GP talk to me about statin every time I go, my response is that I am happy with my life style change. I asked my GP can the total cholesterol go down to zero if I have continued the statin, there were  no satisfactory answer.

Any way we all need cholesterol in our body to function.

The question is who is responsible for making the decision on cholesterol levels??? Years ago double digits cholesterol levels were accepted!

[BAUS in reply to sandybrown]

Hi Bala, what is your current cholesterol ? mine was 6.7 last month ...I lost 20 kgs and it went down from 7.4 to 6.7 Im eating eggs meat and cheese but smaller amounts ... I refuse to give up on these foods ...I also exercise a lot so Im hoping that will help bring it down more ..I tried a plant sterol supplement for a few months I dont feel it did much and it was costing me $2 a tablet a day so I stopped buying it when it ran out. What do you do to control your cholesterol? did it start creeping up again when you stopped statins?

[sandybrown in reply to BAUS]

My cholesterol went up soon after stopping statin. I am not worried. My, GP wants me to go on statin!

I am controlling my weight with food and drinks intake control, I am not giving up on any food I like to eat to reduce cholesterol. Watching my weight and waist, regular trip to gym is helping me, total time one hour, walking time 30 minutes and 30 minutes on the tread mill. nothing more.

I am afraid I do not take any supplements as they are very costly in UK. I eat hand full of nuts every day, fresh fruits that has black seed or pips, green leafy vegetables cooked in butter with tomatoes for lunch, porridge with cinnamon  for breakfast and anything for dinner.

Do six monthly blood tests to monitoring on the numbers.

[BAUS in reply to sandybrown]

Good for you .... I refuse to take statins too ... U mentioned years ago double digit cholesterol levels were acceptable ... Is what was the normal range back then ? I have a feeling the current "normal range" is a sneaky plan to get people to buy statins ... It all comes down to $$$ for doctors and pharmaceutical  companies ...and statins are the most prescribed medications out there

[BAUS in reply to markjasongreen]

Mark the tryglecrides will only go down if you reduce your calorie intake and lose weight ... Mine went down to normal from 2.4 to 1.7 but the other cholesterol numbers are still a bit above normal ... The reason being I eat less calories a day

[eraruc44]

Excercise like cycling on a bike or ergometer, helps/burns-off fat in your blood, it also reduces your blood pressure. Jogging, skipping, swimming, calysthenics, yoga; they all help to control the amount of Cholesterol in your blood. The following IS NOT an alternative to exercise; drink a mouthfull of olive oil together with a moutful of rape seed oil daily, for the rest of your life. This was recommendeded by my cardio specialist and a heart (professor) surgeon at a local clinic, and another thing, stop worrying about your weight, stress/worry makes things worse.

And remember, a woman needs Cholesterol to 'make a baby'.

A lack of Cholesterol can lead to Altzheimers.

[eraruc44]

You are happy with Statins! No muscle pain in your Gluteus Maximus?

I found 59 definitions of the abbreviatin FH; so please educate us numbskulls and explain which FH you mean. 

Thank you and best wishes to you and your family at Easter.

[Penel in reply to eraruc44]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fam...

[AliciaA54763]

Sounds good

[janette-1]

Good for you! I as well have FH. Taking statins and have gotten good results. Now i have to work on bringing up hdl though as its lowered that of course. Taking panthenine 900mg suggested by my NP. 

[Hidden]

Hi Mark

Did you have a genetic test, or did you just get diagnosed using the Simon Broome criteria?

I have been told I have possible FH for 3 years and a genetic test reveals I haven't  got it.

If you have FH, it usually doesn't respond that well to statins, which is the only reason I am asking.

[markjasongreen in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I had a genetic test and it was confirmed I have FH. I was surprised with the results. I've only been on Statins for 6 months. Started on 20mg atorvastatin then got increased to 40mg after 3 months to get it down more. I haven't changed by eating habits, I don't really exercise and I still smoke. 

[Hidden in reply to markjasongreen]

Please try to give up smoking. Statins or not, it's still a risk for heart disease.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

My family mostly have 'high' cholesterol like mine, and very few of us are on statins, but the only ones with heart disease/strokes are the smokers. It's a real killer, don't let it kill you!

[markjasongreen in reply to Hidden]

I'm working with my GP to stop. I'm trying Champix in May because I couldn't stop with gum or lozenges. My family is full of heart related issues. My consultant did say I'm showing no signs of CVD, which was good news. Next step is to test my kids and family to see who else has FH. 

[Hidden in reply to markjasongreen]

Worth trying hypnotherapy if you can afford it. It can work when nothing else does, and you'll save a fortune if you give up.

If not, you could at least switch to e-cigs, which are supposed to be safer.