Cholesterol level

[Mike262]

16 months ago I had a mild MI whilst trail mountaining biking in extreme cold. At the time my cholesterol was found to be 7.8 and I've had a blood test this week and it's down to 3.1 which is a reduction of 63%. You can imagine I'm over the moon!

[Hidden]

Wow! That is incredible. Give me some of what you're on!

[Mike262]

It's a long story, I was on Atorvastatin originally which messed up my liver function and ferritin levels. Nick Palmer at Liverpool H&C suggested rusavastatin which I initially took every other day on his advice. This reduced it to 5.1 by last September and after my PCI I was recommended to take the rusa every day.

I also take Omacor and my wife is very good with the diet and giving me super foods and I also have oat bran sprinkled on my breakfast. I don't eat cheese, crisps or pies/pasties etc - I find it easier to avoid them completely than tempt myself.

I have always been very fit, I used to be a runner(marathons, cross country etc) and I was able to keep cycling and swimming last year to a low level before I had the PCI(keeping my heart rate under 130bpm). Since November last year I have been working to a programme at my local gym (Lion Quays, Chirk) under the supervision of the Head Coach who is Cardio Rehab Trained. This consists of about an hour in the gym and swimming(up to 700m) and then some relaxation in the hydro therapy pool, steam room and Sauna. I've recently returned to trail mountain biking after 16 months and am beginning to feel fitter than before the MI - I am one lucky, lucky man!

It's probably a combination of all those things - statins, omacor, diet and regular exercise. Hope that doesn't bore everyone Best wishes Mike

[Hidden]

Hope you don't mind a couple of questions as a lot of people are here because:

(1) They have had some sort of heart event

(2) They have FH

(3) They have high cholesterol

Obviously - to most people not in (1) - the fact you have been through this could be of great help.

a) Did you know you had a MI at the time. Probably a silly question but I'm always curious as to what signs to look out for. A previous post indicated a numb arm coupled with chest pain as a good summary of symptoms and the statement 'you will know'. You mentioned you had a mild MI. Was it any different?

b) Do you have a history of heart events in your family (in other words - do you think it was the high cholesterol that caused your problem as you were obviously fit and ate well). How was your BP / weight / smoking (which I'm assuming were fine due to your lifestyle).

c) Did the hospital confirm the cause of the MI was atherosclerosis e.g. did you require stents?

Thanks for the info! It's something you faced and is a spectre for the rest of us.

[Mike262]

I had what was eventually diagnosed as having had a heart attack whilst trail mountain biking in January 2011 which was an activity I was regularly taking part in at that time. It's was an extremely cold day(moisture freezing on the frame) which I am told is classic for MIs. I didn't know what was happening my head went to feel funny, I felt as if I couldn't push up the next hill and my chest was tight. I got off and walked with my son for a short distance and then we cycled back into the the centre at the end of a 12 mile off road route.

I actually went to bed when I got home and took a couple of paracetamol and had a sleep. I went to work next day, but after nagging from my wife went to see my GP a couple of weeks later. He initially though it was nothing but arranged a ECG the following week which showed something up. I then got referred to my local hospital Cardio Dept - treadmill test, echo cardio gram and angiogram followed. The latter revealed a blockage in my left coronary artery and a narrowing on the right. Due to various problems I didn't have an angioplasty until October last year at LIverpool H&C supervised by Dr. Nick Palmer. During a two hour procedure I had drug eluting stents inserted and the PCI was completely successful, thank god!

There is a history of problems on my Dad's side which led to my Grand Father, Dad and Uncle having strokes which eventually led to their deaths. I believe that in my case it was atherosclerosis, I have never smoked, my blood pressure is fine and I have a low resting heart rate from years of running, swimming and cycling which has helped me I am advised by the medical people.

Hope that helps?

[Chorley-Joe]

Hi Mike

thanks for the post I like you had an MI just after completeing a half marathon training run also on a very cold day in february that was 22years ago at the age of 24 my Cholesterol at the time was 14.

22 years later after having cardio rehab and the old of age of 47 i still do Sprint distance Triathlon (badly i might add!) and my average cholesterol is 4-6 depending on how good have been etc.I ahve also done Lands end to Jogn O Groats cycling, 1 mile lake swims and the worlds biggest cycle event (200km) in Sweden.

Life is still for living and I would encourage everyone who has an MI with proper medical support and guidnace to do whatever they can like you i consider myself to be very lucky to have survived the MI hence my enthusiasm for just about everything I do now.

[Issipy]

My doctor hasn't prescribed statins despite my cholesterol of 8.00- this I think is partyl because he 'doesn't like them' and maybe because I have a cyst on my liver. I think I have a really healthy diet- any other tips from enyone would be welcome. He hasn't asked for another blood test until next spring.

[Mike262]

That sounds bordering on the negligent! I think you need a second opinion, has your GP not seen this week's research in the Lancet?

[Aliwally]

However, it could be because you have liver problems. There are other drugs to lower cholesterol, it's just that statins get all the attention (personal opinion only)!