opinions welcome

[onetuza]

Seven years ago, I had a quintuple bypass and a heart valve reconstruction. I am on atorvastatin atenolol lisinopril tamsulosin finasteride. My lab work of these years has been kept in the green for the most part. I’ve been hearing a lot lately about how statins have side effects, and how cholesterol is not the cause of clogging of the arteries, but rather insulin resistance and inflammation That damages the intima and lets out small dense LDL.

Three or four months ago, I decided to take myself off of statins. I went on a fairly consistent ketogenic diet. I cut out all sugar 90% of carbohydrates began intermittent fasting and regular exercise via walking and or bike riding. I do not drink any alcohol and I haven’t smoked for over 35 years. I cut out all fast food, all fried food and 95% of all processed food and I take a lot of supplements, all geared to benefit health. I am retired and have no stress. As a result, I have lost about 10 pounds so far and was able to cut my atenolol to half. I began using Himalayan pink salt quite frequently and not restricting my salt intake anymore. Even so my blood pressures have gone down to the 100 teens over 70s where they had previously been in the 140s over 80s.

I recently had blood work, including an advanced lipid panel. I had heard that cholesterol levels rise with a ketogenic diet and that was certainly the case so it didn’t shock me too much, but what I thought was odd is that the triglycerides are very high as well. Needless to say, my general doctor blew a gut and said you’re going to clog up your arteries and you’re gonna have a heart attack. Next month I see my cardiologist for echo/cardio testing and I assume that after three or four months of this may be, it could possibly show that my arteries are clogging. I’m just concerned as to whether I should go back on the statins.

[Batty1]

You should have your thyroid levels checked and not just TSH you need TSH, T3, FT3 and FT4 high cholesterol isn’t only because of diet low thyroid levels also cause high cholesterol.

[sandybrown]

Hello,

As we all are different and we react differently to medication.

" I had a quintuple bypass and a heart valve reconstruction", I understand by pass and valve replacement but not valve reconstruction.

Statin as primary is to protect the arteries, as secondary to make blood flow smoother after any procedure.

You have gone through a number of changes therefore very difficult to say which is giving high lipid numbers.

"what I thought was odd is that the triglycerides are very high as well", try eating a lot of green leaf veg, In UK, now days they check Non HDL cholesterol. Each country is different, UK,NHS protocol is very different, just keep to standard blood check. Only when one is taken to A&E, a lot of blood check is done.

When you go for your echo and cardio testing ask questions, are they planning to do a 12-lead stress test? Any plan for electrocardiogram?

I am 76, 12 years ago after doing the above tests it was decided that there i no need for statin medication. I took station under pressure, total cholesterol came down to 2.8 UK units. That was not good for me.

My numbers are high,only time will tell.

Keep us informed. Take care.

[onetuza in reply to sandybrown]

The term valve reconstruction was my own. It was because I heard that a bovine valve is too big to use in a human so I assume they only use the tissue and construction a new valve with it.

[ALB38]

I was put on statins a few years ago following a stroke.The side effects were horrible and equally bad whichever statin I tried. I eventually gave up and I now self-medicate withplant sterol tablets to keep my Cholesterol down. I would never encourage anyone to take statins.