gug's Journal, 07 January 2009

My sister is a cardiac nurse. I'm pretty sure she would agree with the doc. Some people cannot control it with diet/exercise alone. It sounds like you've made every effort to avoid taking the meds. Just educate yourself about the meds, weigh the risk both ways and then make the decision that is best for you.  

I agree with KellyBo. You may consider trying the medication that your doctor recommends to decrease the cholesterol levels. When your levels are back in a safe range, see if you can then come off the medication and maintain those levels on your own. Just a suggestion. 

Thanks for your input KellyBo. I will consider this. I will do some more research. 

Yes, do some more research. I thought I read in either "Good Calories, Bad Calories" or Michael Pollen's "In defense of food" about a research study that showed higher cholesterol levels didn't have an overall effect on cardiovascular disease. Don't remember the specifics. Maybe do a PubMed search on high cholesterol and effects on cardiovascular effects/health? and see what comes up? Good luck! If you're boarderline, I would go to a cardiologist (one w/an academic position also...he/she will be more aware of current research guidelines) and get another opinion. 

I use a couple supplements to keep my cholesterol in check along with diet and exercise. The two I use are Guggul Lipid and Red Yeast Rice. I tried statins. They were dreadful. I felt like I was hit by a truck while taking them! I told the doc that I would rather take 10 years off my life than feel like that for the next 40! I know that seems extreme but it was very true! Feeling like you were beaten from head to toe on a daily basis all because of statins was no picnic for me. Not everyone has this reaction of course but I totally understand your aversion to them. ~~~~~~~~~~I have had good results with these supplements I mentioned plus the exercise is the biggest help.~~~~~~~~ Best wishes for statin free success! 

I'm in the same boat, Gug. I REALLY don't want to take drugs to lower my cholesterol either. I've been putting off my doctor for years! You got some good advice above. I'm going to consider that advice too. Good luck!  

I agree with kellyBo also. Weigh the risk factor's and make a decision based on what you find out. 

Ditto-I have high cholesterol and started on statins after years of trying to lower with exercise and supplements. Nada. So went on and then lost almost 30 lbs and went off and my numbers shot up again. I am a cholesterol factory! Even though I eat hardly any animal protein and exercise a lot! So back on....at lowest possible effective ose for me. I have family history of heart disease-two brothers have it, so I went back on. After I lose another ten pounds I will try to go off meds again. DIdn't I just hear that statins are now being used to prevent some other disease? 

Before you start on cholesterol meds, ask your doctor about taking Red yeast rice. I have friends that take it... it is the natural herb and sold very cheaply.. but it is the natural herb that the manufactureres of cholesterol lowering drugs uses to make them. It is in the Chinese culture and is what gives some of their dishes that redish color. You can do an online search about it.. and ask your doctor what he/she thinks about it. It's cheap and my friends lowered their cholesterol taking it. I was able to get mine down with diet and exercise, but everyone is right, that is not the case with everyone.  

Thank you so much to everyone for all your concern. I now take Niacin, Zinc, Chromium, Soy and Omega 3 supplements for cholesterol, and have been taking them for about a year now in an effort to lower my cholesterol. I will try red yeast rice supplements. Being on South Beach Diet, I don't each much meat or carbohydrates. The doctor was so concerned that she sent me for a 4 hour stress test, which I passed with flying colors. Like dawn001 said, I have heard so much about statins that it really scares me.  

My husband fought the medication for about 15 years. He is not overweight, exercises several times a week and eats well. The more we controlled his diet and exercise, the higher the number went. Sometimes it has nothing to do with your diet and everything to do with the cholesterol produced naturally by your body. If you have been fighting it for 10 years, I would say take the meds. 

We also tried Niacin and various other supplements. 

Good luck getting it down! 

My husband had boarderline high cholesterol, high LDL, and low HDL. He was able to control it by eating tono tuna (in olive oil), wild sockeye salmon (can get both at Costco), or sardines for lunch (I pack him a lunch 4 days/wk). He also takes Coenzyme Q-10 & Omega 3's in addition to multivitamin. This has helped his levels normalize in the next check up (thank goodness). 

Hi Gug! :-) 

Strolling through the neighborhood and I thought I would drop in for a quick cup of coffee and to check up on you....will try back another time! Hope all is going well with you! 

wow...I like that you're not willing to take the cholest. pills just because your doctor suggested it. these days, doctors are all about treating the symptoms. They make a pill for everything. There is some WONDERFUL advice on this page...you'll have to pour me a cup of coffee too, and then tell me what route you decided to go with! Enquiring minds wanna know, ya know! :) miss ya guggy!  

I LOVE and get inspired by your determination to keep this fight going and not let the doctors win out the easy way!! I don't have much to add to the wonderful advice above, so I'll just say I miss seeing you around! I think it's about time you updated a NEW JOURNAL!!!