Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: LePaul on February 23, 2005, 02:58:32 PM
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On any?
My family has a history of high cholesterol...grandparents died of strokes in their 70s, etc etc. I've been very active at the gym, watching what I eat...and still score in between 210 and 280. Its the damndest thing.
Doc put me on Lipitor today, she thinks that will bing me down to normal, lower levels. Have a few bloods tests in the following weeks to make sure there are no liver issues,etc
Anyone else on this stuff, or others?
Id be curious what your before/after was.
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LePaul,
I'm not taking any cholesterol specific meds. I am taking a med for a thyroid deficiency. That problem has a side effect of raising cholesterol especially the bad one. It has come down some since I started that med. Ask you Dr. to check for thyroid function if he hasn't already.
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Taking Zocor. Along with a no fat, no sugar diet. (Which I`m getting quite good at cheating on) Lowered my cholestrol and tryglyceride count to near normal.
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LePaul, I have had the opportunity to research this area diligently.
I can suggest some things besides Lipitor (which isn't cheap and which can cause some side effects) which should reduce your cholesterol somewhere between 10 and 20% with very little change in lifestyle and only very moderate cost.
How high is your cholesterol: what sort of percentage drop are they after?
I'll be glad to share what I've found out.
Here's the quick and dirty.
#1. Switch to Benecol margerine, which contains "stanols", naturally occuring plant substances that fake out your intestines. Your cholesterol receptors grab them and the cholesterol floats on by and out the exit. Good for 7-10% reduction in most folks. About a $1 a day.
#2. Take 1 TBS psyllium fiber per day ( I take 1 teaspoon 3x day). Good for 5-7% in most people. Cost is maybe .50 day.
You really won't notice much change in your lifestyle if you do this.
However, if you were at say 220 on the cholesterol, the Benecol might take you to say... 205. Adding the psyllium fiber might then bring you to 195.
Now that's barely in the acceptable range but it's easily achieved without Lipitor which will probably run you $3 a day.
Total cholesterol is only a small part of the story. Like I said, I'd be happy to chat with you about it.
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Toad,
I have the lab results from the last two tests...I dont have them with me here at work. I'll share them here...it doesnt bother me...and who knows...maybe we'll convince some lurker to have their cholesterol checked.
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LP, after they told me to get mine down I reall went after it.
After three months, my Doc told my I was "the Poster Boy for cholesterol reduction". I had gone from 220 to 97. ;) He asked me to write down how I did it.
I'd be happy to E-mail you the lengthy Word article I wrote for him.
It has a lot in it.
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Toad,
Would you send me a copy as well?
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Toad
PM me on my CheckSix Forums. I'll give you my email.
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See talk about total cholesterol, but FYI --
Main concern now is the LDL "bad" stuff. It's for all purposes the cholesterol on its way to be layed in to the artery wall, while HDL as be cleared out of the wall.
LDL needs to be 100 or less to minimize heart disease.
In higher risk groups like diabetics, or past heart disease should be under 75.
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Rog, LePaul.
Rog, Mav. Stick yer email in the Squad forum, ok? Or give me a call. I'd have printed out for you when you were here if I knew.
Sim, that's true.. which is why I said "Total cholesterol is only a small part of the story" in my first post. Generally though, the stanols and psyllium work primarily on lowering the LDL component. That's where you get the drop in total.
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Something to look for later. One of the pharm corps (Phizer I "think") is working on a couple new drugs, one of which actually reduces the amount of plaque that cholestoral has already deposited/formed in the arteries (something I think can't be achieved by anything currently available), the other, for lack of a better description, kills off HDL (err... whichever's the bad one). Anyway, these things have shown allot of promise, forecast for FDA approval in the next 3-5yrs (:rolleyes: )
Tumor
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Le Paul My wife takes BP meds I think Zocor ./
Not trying to be a smartazz but you might wanna try loosing weight.
When I was at 275Lbs my BP was high.
Now that Im at 250lbs its normal.
A little weight lose will really go a long way.
Case in point my wife has been working out 6 days a week with a trainer and has lost a lot of weight.
Doc says that in the future she might be able to get off the meds.
Good luck.
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I'm 5'10 and 179 pounds...weighed today
Go to the gym 3-4 times a week.
Dr says Im in excellent shape, I feel great...enjoy going to the gym
Its heredity.
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Originally posted by LePaul
I'm 5'10 and 179 pounds...weighed today
Its heredity.
Very well may be.
I have found that weight lose does help some folks but if its in your genes then meds may be the only way.
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I have hereditary high cholesterol and borderline high BP (actually have Dr. appt tomorrow for decision on BP meds)...anyways....I've been taking Zocor for about 2 years. Lowered my cholesterol from 275 to 180. Only take 1/2 pill (20mg I think) every day. Diet and exercise wasn't enough for me, but the Zocor worked.
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Originally posted by LePaul
I'm 5'10 and 179 pounds...weighed today
Go to the gym 3-4 times a week.
Dr says Im in excellent shape, I feel great...enjoy going to the gym
Its heredity.
Oh pshaw LePaul, I've seen your most recent pics of you posing with the R2D2s and, frankly, they have better bodies than YOU do!
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Well I'll be damned.
First person on here to ever say another nice about my robot project!
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Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) lowers cholesterol when taken in relatively high doses (600-1000mg). One study I read showed pretty dramatic results in lowering cholesterol in Japanese patients.
Check it out.
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Originally posted by LePaul
Well I'll be damned.
First person on here to ever say another nice about my robot project!
LOL. Now that's downright Hi-Larious.
Seriously now, drink beer like I do. It's lowered my cholesteral level quite a bit.
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Yes, Drunky...but you wont have a liver in 5 years! :p
Toad, got your Private Message over to CheckSix.Net Forums. Thanks.
Also, here's what the lab results were from my 2 recent tests...
HDL = Good
LDL = Bad (Should be less than 130)
Date Total HDL LDL TG
------ ------ ----- ---- ----
9/28/04 246 53 171 105
2/08/05 272 61 194 85
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Originally posted by Toad
LP, after they told me to get mine down I reall went after it.
After three months, my Doc told my I was "the Poster Boy for cholesterol reduction". I had gone from 220 to 97. ;) He asked me to write down how I did it.
I'd be happy to E-mail you the lengthy Word article I wrote for him.
It has a lot in it.
Toad,
I have high Cholestorol also. I've been shying away from Lipitor because of the "will not reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke" that's in the fine print in the end of their commercials.
May I have a copy of your program please?
My email's in my profile, Thanks!
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Will do Saburo.
Don't panic when you read it. When they told me I HAD to get it down, I went pure Vegetarian for a while. Since I got it under control, I started eating MEAT again.... but with more discretion and in smaller amounts. You don't have to go Veggie (it works fast though); there's other stuff in there to do.
Rog, LePaul. You have a great HDL number; you're blessed there. Your LDL is way too high; you're going to have to work on that one. The tri's below 100 is OK.
Just guessing, but I think you're going to have to do more than just the Benecol and Psyllium fiber.
Not too worry though, check out this product from one of KC's best Cardiovascular Groups. It's legit... the real heart doc's came up with it:
CardioTabs® was created in 1999 by James O'Keefe, M.D. and the other cardiologists at Cardiovascular Consultants, managers of the Mid America Heart Institute of Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City.
Dr. O'Keefe and his colleagues were convinced of the health benefits from taking certain nutritional supplements but were not satisfied with the formulations and quality available in the marketplace.
CardioTabs CardioTea with Policosanol (http://www.cardiotabs.com/cardioTea.asp)
Policosanol is natural compound found in the waxy coating of plants. Scientists have been investigating the cholesterol lowering benefits of policosanol for over 30 years. The most recent studies show an impressive reduction in LDL cholesterol.* The exact mechanism whereby policosanol improves lipids is not entirely clear, but it appears to block the formation of cholesterol in the liver. Policosanol is also an effective option for raising HDL cholesterol, the good cholesterol.* CardioTea with Policosanol contain 20mg of policosanol.
Importantly, CardioTea is non-pharmocologic and has no known side effects.
I've just started using CardioTea.
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Sent you a note Saburo, let me know if you get it.
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Originally posted by LePaul
On any?
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No.
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Originally posted by Drunky
Seriously now, drink beer like I do. It's lowered my cholesteral level quite a bit.
Finaly a medical suggestion I can live with.
How much I owe ya doc? :D
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Originally posted by Toad
Rog, LePaul. You have a great HDL number; you're blessed there. Your LDL is way too high; you're going to have to work on that one. The tri's below 100 is OK.
Just guessing, but I think you're going to have to do more than just the Benecol and Psyllium fiber.
Not too worry though, check out this product from one of KC's best Cardiovascular Groups. It's legit... the real heart doc's came up with it:
I've just started using CardioTea.
Well, Ive just started the Lipitor last night. I received your email and its a good read. The age old question of "how chlogged up am i?" is there, especially since Clinton had a bypass. So a scan might be a good thing in the near future.
I dont use butter...but the Benecol looks interesting.
Psyllium fiber/metamucil...Im just not sure what kind of dosage to go with.
I see the Cardiotabs too, another interesting read.
In short, I've got some good information to show my Doc on my followup appointment, once we see what the Lipitor is doing. I dont want to pile on a lot of changes to my diet since that wont accurately show what the medicine is doing.
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Originally posted by Toad
Sent you a note Saburo, let me know if you get it.
Thanks! Just replied :)
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Side effects? Just stay away from that Lipitor s**t. It's like hosting a Filipino drag-queen knife fight in your skull.
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Saburo, it's on the way.
LePaul, if there is ANY history of early death by heart attack in your family (particularly the males).. grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles.... just go get the heart scan. It's down to like $250 here in KC for just the heart. If you catch this stuff early, you have a much better prognosis.
As for the Lipitor, if I had the CardioTea option way back then, I'd have skipped the Lipitor/statins and tried to get the numbers down without them. I've had leg pain and fatigue with them but just figured it's the price you pay.
Now, I think there are options. You've had the high cholesterol long enough that 3 more months won't matter IF you're doing the other things to lower it.
It WILL come down with the Benecol, Psyllium and CardioTea. It will likely come down as far as your doctor desires with all three.
(I think the amount of psyllium is in the article and it is most certainly on the package. Take 1 TABLESPOON per day. I divide mine into 1 teaspoon 3X a day. Use LOTS of water with it, a full glass. I usually take it before a meal.)
So, were I you, I'd try those three.. and watch what I eat too... for three months and then do another test. If the cholesterol is still high, THEN I'd try the statins.
Your call though.
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Thankie Dr Toad!
Well the Lipitor aint cheap, but Im taking it. Diet is as healthy as can be...I aint cutting back to vegetarian but I follow a smart diet.
I'm going to do the fiber stuff you mentioned and perhaps the cardiotab stuff do.
My family history is strokes at a ripe old age. No heart attacks at a young age, etc.
Basically, from what I've read from your previous posts has egged me into keeping a better eye on this stuff. I have a 20 year headstart on ya :)
And for now, that's all I can do. The Doc was impressed when I told her what I generally had for meals, exercise routines and frequency. Now we just have to see how the meds and adjustments effect the chloesterol level and adjust course accordingly.
Thanks for your enthusiastic offering of info!
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OK... have it your way. ;)
If you're going to take the Lipitor, take about 50mg of CoEnyzme Q10 3X a day, usually take it with your meals.
There is research that the Lipitor also inhibits your bodies' production of Q10 and it's a key thing with respect to the muscle soreness.
Put "Q10 Lipitor statin" in a search engine and you'll get more than you want to know.
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I hear ya, Toad....but Im inclined to do what the Doctor says and ask her about the many suggestions you've made.
There are some health guidelines you take from a flight sim BBS....and some you honor from the Doc ;)
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Short story.
Real short.
I have a REALLY good internist. REALLY good. Some say the best in KC.
When I first thought I had a problem, I asked him if I should get a body scan. He said no way, those things are a waste of money.
If I had listened to him, I'd be dead now. The blockage was 98% (or more!) in the LAD.. the Widowmaker.
You can put all your faith in a Doc or you can educate yourself.
You go, bhoy. There's TONS of info out there. Read and sift.
Good luck!
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Thank you. I'll post the follow up.
Again, Im not at death's doorstep as you were! But I am aware of my count and working it down. We'll see how well the meds and the info you've provided me help. Wanna place bets on what the next result will be? As I said, Im going to use the fiber stuff for sure...that's easy, and the Lipitor.
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Oh, it'll come down. You may not like the Lipitor though. Lots of folks don't.
Oh, yeah.. Sam's Club is the cheapest psyllium. Get the Metamucil.. the Sams imitation tastes like eating sand.
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Toad,
Thank you very much for the info. A definite good place to start. :)
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Yer welcome! Good luck.