Familial hypercholesterolemia

[Clematisa1]

I have just been diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia and put on Atorvastatin 20mg starting at 2 per week and building up to 1 every day by the end of 6 weeks. I am very active - do about 10 miles a day. I am 5 foot 2 inches and weigh less than 119lbs I'm wondering if anyone can suggest improvements I can make to my diet ... ? And also if anyone noticed if there are any side effects on the tablets ?

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Hi Clematisa. That's something new for you to take on - but maybe you know of family members with the same condition.

You might find this support organisation useful heartuk.org.uk/news/latest/...

There may be a forum here on HalthUnlocked but I'm having trouble searching.

Good luck in finding the info and support you need as you find out more about the condition and how it affects you

[Clematisa1 Maintainer 1st 7lbs in reply to BridgeGirl]

So far I have found out that I have very high cholesterol but that it's genetic apparently. My blood pressure was normal on the same day they did the blood test and as my BMI is healthy at 21.3 it came as a bit of a shock... still doing research at the moment to find out more... I don't have any symptoms at least none that I'm aware of, lol... this was the first time I'd had my cholesterol checked ever... 😅🌈 BridgeGirl

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Clematisa1]

Quite a shock, then. You'll have a lot of research to do but I'm sure you'll find a community that can help you along the way

[Zephyre Restart April 2024 2023 May]

Hello. I am also taking 20mg of Atorvastatin each day. If I can give any advice, try to cut down on red meat, processed foods and eat oily fish when you can. Mackerel, salmon, arctic char, herring etc. For me, atorvastatin reduced my bad cholesterol (LDL) quite easily, unfortunately, the good cholesterol (HDL) also dropped so try and keep it coming.

Side effects... I only had one and it was more of an annoyance than a problem. I am pretty certain it was the atorvastatin due to the timing of it but eventually I managed to go longer periods and even the whole night without having to jump out of bed for some much-needed... relief.

[Clematisa1 Maintainer 1st 7lbs in reply to Zephyre]

Thank you for that. I don't eat Red meat and do eat lots of fish including oily fish. I generally eat a Mediterranean Style diet. With lots of fruit and vegetables but I'm wondering if I am a bit short of beans and pulses...?

[Zephyre Restart April 2024 2023 May in reply to Clematisa1]

Unfortunately, that is a question I cannot answer for you. I would strongly suggest speaking to a dietician / your doctor to be absolutely sure that you are getting all of the nutritional requirements you need from your diet.

[Clematisa1 Maintainer 1st 7lbs in reply to Zephyre]

Thanks Zephyre 💞🌈

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

I wonder if these could help, Clem?

youtu.be/AwG_vxtCy_8(Not working as expected?)

youtu.be/AVaFEanJAUs(Not working as expected?)

youtu.be/HgEv-tOAY8M(Not working as expected?)

[Clematisa1 Maintainer 1st 7lbs in reply to moreless]

Thanks very much moreless you've been a very busy bee. I'll take time and watch all of those. 💞🌈

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to Clematisa1]

My pleasure, Clem

[Clematisa1 Maintainer 1st 7lbs in reply to moreless]

Thanks for linking in the videos moreless they are fascinating. I guess because I only eat low carb and usually unprocessed home made meals that has been my saving grace. But just as well I haven't caught covid as I hate to think how that would have affected me. 🌈💕

[CardiacKid78 Visitor]

I've not noticed any side effects from atorvastatin, been on them since a small heart attack a couple of years ago. You might also benefit from exemitibe which my endocrinologist prescribed for me

[Clematisa1 Maintainer 1st 7lbs in reply to CardiacKid78]

Thanks for the info hope you are recovered from the heart attack now. ❤️ CardiacKid78

[CardiacKid78 Visitor in reply to Clematisa1]

I am recovered from it, two stents later and a change of diet and lifestyle, combined with 8 tablets a day (so I rattle when I walk!) means I'm lots better. How are you feeling now since taking the Atorvastatin? The en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezeti... may be of benefit to lower cholesterol, there are some great suggestions about diet here but the endocrinologist suggests we can only move the dial so far with diet alone. I have to say, I've found it useful being part of this group and seeing what other people's experiences have been. Did you find out which of about 900 types of hypercholesterolemia you have? I had blood tests about 9 months ago and I still don't know, is the reason I ask

[Clematisa1 Maintainer 1st 7lbs in reply to CardiacKid78]

I think they have just tested and presume the FH because of my brother - he has had a stent put in too. But I have since discovered that Grandmother had a heart attack in her 60s ( she dead nearly 30 years) aunt deceased had a triple bypass op and another aunt also has heart problems so I'm guessing it's definitely genetic with me. And I'm just very lucky that I have always eaten Mediterranean style and no red meat... and done loads of exercise. @CardiaKid78

[CardiacKid78 Visitor in reply to Clematisa1]

Yes my family history is similar, littered on my paternal side with heart attacks, stents, bypass surgery and a full on massive heart attack is what killed my dad ten years ago. They told me there used to be about ten types of FH and now it is like over 900. I guess this kind of study could help eliminate FH genetically in the future. Me getting tested tells me if my full and half siblings need to get tested too

[Familytree67 4st 7lbs]

Hi Clematisa1 sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis, I’m on atorvastatin 20mg and have been so since June 2017 . My cholesterol then was 6.8 and is now 3.5. I’ve had no side effects . I was at risk of a stroke with my family history as both parents had major strokes. I agree with the food suggestions Zephyre suggests except I do not like oily fish . I’m also on blood pressure tablets and several times I have done a weekly record of my blood pressure and sent it in to my GP. He’s recently reduced my bp tablets from 50mg to 25mg so losing weight has played a major part in these results.

Good luck with everything

Sue

[Clematisa1 Maintainer 1st 7lbs in reply to Familytree67]

Thanks for all the information Sue, My overall was 7.9 ( the brother who had the heart attack said his was 6.8) so I guess I've possibly been a walking time bomb recently.... Brothers can't understand why mine is so high when I told them what I usually eat - I think it's possibly my age or maybe it's the jelly babies once a week... may have to give those a miss for a while. Good 2.16 ( Should be 1.80 or less) Bad 5.3 ( Should be 3 or less) I haven't a clue about how the figures work so hopefully the Atorvastatin will make things better when I see the nurse again. Familytree67

[Familytree67 4st 7lbs in reply to Clematisa1]

Hi Clematisa1 With health problems ours is not to reason why . Good job that you went to the GP to get checked out. Don’t really think the jelly babies did much damage though! Hope the nurse is pleased with your progress when you go back

Sue

[Clematisa1 Maintainer 1st 7lbs in reply to Familytree67]

Go back at the beginning of August - I'm off here for all of June but back hosting at the start of July and hopefully if my weight has gone up while I'm out of circulation here I can get things back on track from then on. Familytree67 Support here is always second to none when we stray off piste lol!

[Familytree67 4st 7lbs in reply to Clematisa1]

Sounds a good plan.,Are you going away in June if so have a lovely time , see you back on here in July . The support on here is always second to none definitely. The virtual friends I’ve made on here are all brilliant too . Have a lovely week

Sue

[Clematisa1 Maintainer 1st 7lbs in reply to Familytree67]

Does your Dr give you a heart monitor for your blood pressure or have you bought one? Familytree67 just wondering... ❤️

[Familytree67 4st 7lbs]

I bought my own from Boots a few years ago.

Sue

[Clematisa1 Maintainer 1st 7lbs in reply to Familytree67]

I must check that out... thanks Sue

[Familytree67 4st 7lbs in reply to Clematisa1]

You are very welcome

Sue x

[Clematisa1 Maintainer 1st 7lbs]

A new committment / study by World Heart Foundation was published in 2020 but possibly been lost due to covid pandemic...

world-heart-federation.org/...

[Clematisa1 Maintainer 1st 7lbs]

familyheart.org/familial-hy...

[Clematisa1 Maintainer 1st 7lbs]

world-heart-federation.org/...