New level

[annenic]

So, I recently had my cholesterol retested and it was down to 7.2 I know this is still high but it was 9.3 in December. I haven't taken any mess and haven't given

anything up, what I have done is cut down on cakes and biscuits and sweets bread and the like too. It's obviously worked for me and the Doc is really pleased. So here's hoping it continues xx

[sandybrown]

Good news, 2 point drop by only cutting "cakes and biscuits and sweets bread ".

If you went on a full life style change and regular exercise, cholesterol may drop down more.

What was the reason for cholesterol test?

[Kas14 in reply to sandybrown]

This gives me hope. I have just been told that my cholesterol is 8 and have been referred to a specialist but have to wait quite a while. I really don't want to be put onto statins and am trying to change my diet but have been told that there is no way I can drop it to an acceptable level with diet alone.

[sandybrown in reply to Kas14]

Yes, there is hope. Cholesterol levels are man made numbers. Life style change and regular exercise can help to enjoy a healthy life. One doctor once said when I was in medical school the total cholesterol number of 7.5 was considered good.

NHS over the years lowered numbers for what ever reasons.

Enjoy a healthy life.

[Weeannie in reply to sandybrown]

Thanx bala, I do x

[sandybrown in reply to Weeannie]

I am happy that I have been able to help.

[kopgun in reply to sandybrown]

I know exactly why the NHS have lowered number for both chol and BP. The lower the number, the more ppl who 'require meds' big pharma have a lot to answer for.

[Weeannie in reply to Kas14]

Yes you can, but you need to cut out most things to start with. I was given two months to prove I could do it (over xmas and new year too) and went from 9.3 - 8.6 Although this doesn't seem huge it was enuff to keep me off drugs and keep trying. I reintroduced most things but only on a limited scale, so I had a wee treat everyday. I'm 8mths in 2points down and my Dr is very very pleased with me. Good luck xx

[Kas14 in reply to Weeannie]

Thanks for this. Can I ask what you have cut out and what sorts of things you are eating? .

[Kas14]

Thank you. I have been referred to the familial hypercholstranemia clinic which is a bit scary. I do not feel ill in any way. I have normal blood pressure, a good resting heart rate, I walk miles every day and for the vast majority of the time I eat pretty healthily. I do not eat processed food, have cut down on red meat consumption and have started to take fish oils recently but am so confused about the saturated fat connection. I have read the great cholesterol myth and it all seems to make sense, but against any regular high cholesterol advice given by the NHS. My cholesterol seems to have gone up since menopause, so not sure if there may be a connection there. Part of me believes that this number is not a problem but with doctors telling me otherwise I am scared to go against any advice they might give me. I have read in so many publications that FH can only be treated with statins which I am very anxious not to go on.

[sandybrown in reply to Kas14]

Go for your check up, write down all the questions that you want to ask. Please do not worry, my cholesterol number is bit high. My wife and I we both go to gym every day and eat freshly cooked food. When I GP wanted me on statin, I went for a echo cardio gram and a 12-lead stress test, all OK and the cardiologist said there is no need for any medication.

FH, cholesterol numbers can be in double digits!!! At later stage in life cholesterol is very important, eating healthy and regular exercise is the best thing.

you could ask your GP for a referral to a cardiologist.

[4BBK in reply to Kas14]

I gave up my statins, and like you was very frightened to go against medical advise, and my wife. My Dr. finally told me that she could only tell me what was in the Medical journals and nobody can force any drugs on me.

Instead of going off on my own, I started reading on-line debates as the one we are conversing on. HealthUnlocked. there is many facts on both side of the coin, read them thoroughly and try making a unbiased decision.

Read all of BALA'S POST. she has good information for everyone and as she has said on many occasions don't worry about your Cholesterol as much as having a healthy lifestyle. and diet. Remember one diet does not fit all. so use your own research and make up your own diet.

[Weeannie in reply to 4BBK]

My Doc was very supportive of me choosing to "go it alone" and wished more of his patients would try.

[Kas14 in reply to 4BBK]

Thank you. I am trying to read loads but like you say there seem to be convincing arguments on both sides. Yes, cholesterol being high is dangerous, no, it's protective. Yes you shouldn't eat fat, no, eating fat is good for you its sugar that's the culprit. Seriously confused.

[Weeannie in reply to Kas14]

Hi again Kas14, I'm exactly the same my cholesterol went up only after the menopause (could be something in that) I defo wanted the chance to drop it by myself, not an easy way out but I have managed as I say to drop just over 2points. If you overhaul your diet by the time you get your appt you could have dropped it a bit and prove you can do it. I highly recommend the benecol spread as a replacement butter it's tasty and I would say contributed to my drop. It's not easy but it obviously works. My starting number was 9.3 so higher than you I I'm now 7.2 . Worth a try I think xx

[Kas14]

Thank you for those reassuring words. I am going to trust my body and keep doing what I am doing as I feel good. I will wait and see what the clinic say next month. Just wish the Drs wouldn't just throw this scary label at you and then basically walk away for 3 months, having offered no advice or explanation.

[Penel]

Hi Kas

Cholesterol levels do go up naturally at the menopause, but 8 is on the high side. If you can, try cutting out cakes, sugar etc rather than cutting down. Try increasing your fibre intake, eating things like oats and a wide variety of vegetables or salad every day.

If you do have to take statins, please don't panic, not everybody has a problem with them.

[Kas14 in reply to Penel]

Thank you for the advice.

[Kas14]

Wow, thank you for so much good information. I have been so supported on here and starting to feel a little less like a rabbit in the headlights now. Here's hoping the specialist I am seeing at the end of next month is forward thinking.

[Kas14]

Ok, so I have just revisited my results which were as follows

Cholesterol level 8

Triglycerides 1.5

HDL 2

LDL 5.3

Hba1c 36 mmol/mol

CRP Less than 10mg/L

EGFR 76ml/min

I think, and please correct me if I am wrong, that this means I do not have signs of inflammation, I am not eating too many carbs and am not diabetic. My HDL is quite good but my LDL is pretty high. Any advice based on this?

[Weeannie in reply to Kas14]

That's what I was tackling my OLD. It was 5.3 and is now 3.9. I just cut out All Bread. Cake. Biscuits. Sweets for 2mths and this seemed to do it. I did eat a lot of all of these things. Now I'll have 2small slices fibre loaf and 1 small sweet treat a day. Life's hard enough some times without a wee treat. I'll also add that I have Coeliac Disease as well (no gluten) xx

[4BBK]

Hey I wrote a big reply,but my computer shut me down:

So being as how this is so important to me I will try my rant again.

when I first started reading and writing on this blog, I felt my independent life was completely over and I was just going to fade into lifelessness.

Nevertheless, I did not want to go out like that. So I wrote, "I am 76 and wanted to live";well something like that. I still don't know if my bad health was due to my open heart surgery my strokes, my age or a combination of all. but I am on the road to recovery.

A fellow blogger, I don't remember his handle, wrote and said if we watched the episode, of "The Fugitive" again the cover up they was talking about and killing for was really The Pharmaceutical company that was putting out statins and they knew it caused liver damage some 20 years ago; that leaves me sad and disgusted, the cover up of harm to the human body if not death itself for the mighty buck is a disgrace and they should hang their heads in shame, even if it while counting their billions of dollars.

I still don't know if high cholesterol is a killer or a protector. I still don't know if eating fat is good or bad for your health, I do know from many, many moons ago it is helpful in feeling good and losing wt.; therefore I have taken the controversy to hand, and gave up all my statins, I am on a high fat low carb diet, I cut down on my Beta Blockers and have been able to increase my walking.

I am feeling much better, I feel as through i might see the sun rise tomorrow and I might be alive for the TrailBlazers fall season.

I haven't any of the answers, I don't think one diet fits all, or one pill cures all. I am not nearly as good as I want to be, but thanks to my higher power, that i am better than I was just 3 month ago.

I will keep reading and keep learning, I am thankful for all the support

BBK