New taper to 7mg

[Middleton22]

Hi everyone. Just starting a new taper to 7 mg from 8mg via DL tapering plan which hopefully will go well. Had to have my blood sugars done again as they had shot up in April to 48 but thankfully they have reduced to 43 so GP is happy. Not had any flares (yet) on my journey so fingers crossed will be okay. I took advice from you and started a low carb/high fat diet......stopped the low fat yogurt and reduced the carbs drastically. This seems to have worked as my weight has reduced by nearly a stone and I'm feeling much better for it. I'm keeping everything crossed that I can get to 7 mg by middle of September. Going away in October so will take a rest and see how things are on my return home.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Excellent thus far! But don't take too much of a rest from the dietary changes on your holidays!

[Middleton22 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PMRpro. At the moment I'm quite strict on my food intake but hoping that my cholesterol doesn't drastically increase. I've been on a statin for several years and the recent reading was 4 ...GP wants it lower so maybe have to watch the high fat intake. Going to be harder to do this as we are embarking a cruise to the Northern Lights in October and been looking forward to it for ages. Not been away this year as our holiday in July got cancelled.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Middleton22]

Why does your GP want your cholesterol lower than 4…..most would be happy with that figure, or do you have other issues?

[Middleton22 in reply to DorsetLady]

Hi Dorset Lady GP wasn't specific and I thought that 4 was okay. Only other meds which I am taking is one high blood pressure tablet per day and my readings are fine. GP sent me through information about how I could reduce my levels? The reading before was 5 so totally flummoxed as to why GP wants it lower.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Middleton22]

Yes me too..they are usually happy if you’re at 5 or just below . Can remember one GP once saying few years ago whilst I still had GCA and my cholesterol was 4.3 - “wish mine was that low!”

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Middleton22]

There is a fanaticism about reducing cholesterol levels - as if it were a competition. Encouraged no doubt by the manufacturers to improve their profits. There is evidence though that too low cholesterol in older patients is as risky as too high. And that statins do not have a protective effect in women who have not yet had a cardiovascular event. Or in over 70s:"Statins have not been proven to reduce serious cardiovascular events in primary prevention in people over 70. Statins reduce serious cardiovascular events for secondary prevention in people over 70, but the relative and absolute benefit is less than in younger people"

[Middleton22 in reply to PMRpro]

When I started on statins my reading was 6.5 and has never gone any higher. I'm happy that it's now 4 so not worrying about it. Just booked in for my autumn covid booster...hopefully will be okay.

[ubaoz]

If you're curious, it might be worth asking about the levels of the constituent cholesterol readings that make up your total cholesterol reading.

Just as an example, my total cholesterol has been borderline high all my life, but as my HDL is also high and LDL and triglycerides are low, (so therefore a very acceptable LDL:HDL ratio), my GP and I are both happy with the total reading.

Definitely agree with the other comments, particularly as regards the risks of too low cholesterol. I always find it somewhat unfortunate too that it often gets forgotten in the statin hurly burly that cholesterol is a building block for so many essential things in the body, including CoQ10 needed for heart health, cell wall structures and stress hormones.…

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to ubaoz]

I would like to know if there is a connection between low cholesterol due to statins and low vit D ...

[ubaoz in reply to PMRpro]

Good question! Logically it would make sense as cholesterol is the precursor for Vit D in all its forms too and if cholesterol is aggressively lowered then presumably the body has to be selective as to what use it puts the possibly limited amount available. Including for producing Vit D. Wonder if there have been any studies on it?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to ubaoz]

Not that it applies for me - highish cholesterol but low vit D without supplementation so presumably there is something amiss in the metabolic pathway. But it has exercised the brain for a long time - and I doubt there is any reliable research.

[ubaoz in reply to PMRpro]

It appears many people seem to be low in Vit D these days – for a whole host of reasons I imagine. Not least of which being that most of us don't spend that much time out in the sun! Well certainly people like me anyhow, of fair-skinned, red-haired (now white!) Scottish ancestry living in Australia. 😎 Throw in increased immune challenges all around and I think Vit D is needed in pretty generous quantities.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to ubaoz]

I think so too - and yes, not in the sun, when in the sun covered up or Factor a milllon sunscreen from birth ...

And age-related breakdown of the process producing vit D which I suspect is far more common than they thought. Like a lot of things ...

[ubaoz in reply to PMRpro]

Indeed!

[cranberryt]

You may want to try 0.5mg drop. This point is where adrenals kick in and it people tend to get stuck if the drop is too big. Best wishes!

[Middleton22 in reply to cranberryt]

Thanks for suggesting 0.5mg. Getting ready to start 2nd week on Sunday down to 7mg. Hope no problems but if so will go back to 8mg and try 7.5mg. Keeping everything crossed