I don't know what else to do--high triglycerides

[minkydog]

I have had high triglycerides for years. In April they jumped to 350--the normal high cut-off is 150, so I'm definitely in the danger zone. My HDL(good cholesteral) is very low, around 27, and my LDL(bad cholesteral is way to high.) So, today my doctor calls me about my fasting labwork yesterday. My triglycerides are a whopping 483!! 323 points above the highest acceptable level! Very high triglycerides puts me at very high risk for diabetes, stroke,pancreatitis, heart disease and liver disease I'm only 52.

My doctor says I need to go on a low-fat, low-carb diet--I'm on weight Watchers. I'm already eating low-fat and if I cut out carbs I don't know what else I can eat. I'm at the minimum now: I eat no fried food, no ice cream or cheese at all. No cake or cookies,only low-fat graham crackers, and no more than 1 plank per day with my tea break. I only eat meat about 3 times a week. Salads with a lot of fresh veggies, no cheese, and very little dressing. I eat pintos, red beans, or speckled beans at least twice a week or more. I'm eating a lot of tomatoes, onions, garlic, dark leafy greens and fruit. I only eat a few slices of low-cal bread a week. Occasional fat-free hot dog. Maybe 2 lean hamburgers in the last 12 weeks.

I am completely disheartened. After all my hard work losing weight, it's all for nothing. well, not nothing. I did lose a significant amount of weight(35% of my excess!) and I need to lose about 60-lbs more. But I have really tried. I've been on Advicor for the tryclycerides before and it caused dreadful flushing & itching--I looked like I was having an anaphylactic reaction! I scared people, I looked so bad. It completely disrupted my sleep.And my triglycerides never got into the normal zone. Now she wants to put me on Niaspan, which is a similar drug.

I don't know what else to do. I feel like crying.

 

[mickeyboat]

I have had high triglycerides for years. In April they jumped to 350--the normal high cut-off is 150, so I'm definitely in the danger zone. My HDL(good cholesteral) is very low, around 27, and my LDL(bad cholesteral is way to high.) So, today my doctor calls me about my fasting labwork yesterday. My triglycerides are a whopping 483!! 323 points above the highest acceptable level! Very high triglycerides puts me at very high risk for diabetes, stroke,pancreatitis, heart disease and liver disease I'm only 52.

My doctor says I need to go on a low-fat, low-carb diet--I'm on weight Watchers. I'm already eating low-fat and if I cut out carbs I don't know what else I can eat. I'm at the minimum now: I eat no fried food, no ice cream or cheese at all. No cake or cookies,only low-fat graham crackers, and no more than 1 plank per day with my tea break. I only eat meat about 3 times a week. Salads with a lot of fresh veggies, no cheese, and very little dressing. I eat pintos, red beans, or speckled beans at least twice a week or more. I'm eating a lot of tomatoes, onions, garlic, dark leafy greens and fruit. I only eat a few slices of low-cal bread a week. Occasional fat-free hot dog. Maybe 2 lean hamburgers in the last 12 weeks.

I am completely disheartened. After all my hard work losing weight, it's all for nothing. well, not nothing. I did lose a significant amount of weight(35% of my excess!) and I need to lose about 60-lbs more. But I have really tried. I've been on Advicor for the tryclycerides before and it caused dreadful flushing & itching--I looked like I was having an anaphylactic reaction! I scared people, I looked so bad. It completely disrupted my sleep.And my triglycerides never got into the normal zone. Now she wants to put me on Niaspan, which is a similar drug.

I don't know what else to do. I feel like crying.

That stinks, Minky. But I have to agree with your doctor. You need to try some more meds until you can find one you can tolerate. I might also suggest consulting a nutritionist, who could help you on the diet side.

Are you exercising?

Congrats on your weight loss. Keep up the good work.

 

[Irish9697]

Cholesterol issues run in my family and when I was only about 26 or so (34 now), when I had a routine cholesterol check at my annual ob-gyn visit, I was not pleased with the results. I was young, thin, healthy and exercised regularly! I don't remember the exact numbers, but the total number was just over 200 (at the time 200 was considered safe, it was later lowered to 175, I think), my bad cholesterol was over 150 a bit, but not by much and should've been under. The only saving point was that my good cholesterol was extremely high (seems like it was 60-70).

I was so disappointed, but at about that time I made a diet switch (unrelated to my cholesterol numbers) and I've been eating that way ever since. I eat no red meat or pork, only lean poultry, low fat dairy and seafood. Very little fast food except an occasional salad. Nothing fried except the occasional chips and salsa or french fries. I eat lots of whole grains (very little refined white flour), lots of salmon, lots of garlic and enormous amounts of green veggies (my favorite). I also drink wine regularly. I try to choose dark chocolate if I am eating chocolate. I love nuts now, too. I'm not a nazi about it by any stretch of the imagination--it just is what I like now and what makes me feel good. I also upped my cardio efforts (started running).

And, within a year of that and even now, all my numbers are perfect (136 for total cholesterol!)...low when they're supposed to be low and high when they're supposed to be high.

So, try tweaking things a bit more and maybe you'll have success. Both of my parents (61) and my brother (38) are on cholesterol meds and none of them are overweight. I'm trying to avoid it as long as possible.

 

[MoniqueU]

I am so sorry. The last time they tested mine I was over 350 as well. I haven't been tested since but assume they are down due to better diet and weight loss, although maybe I should get a retest.

I feel your frustration of the cure being worse then the ailment with the med. I am going thrugh something similar with my insomnia.

Is there another med out there that will help with the cholesteral problem?? Low carb is extremely hard to do for me at least. I know with insurance being what it is getting a 2nd opinion or switching drs is not always east but you might see if another dr has some other ideas that you can implement.

 

[TheGoofster]

Minkydog,

If it makes you feel any better, the first time I had my Tryg's checked they were at 1200. The doctor said that I probably should have been dead, and that my blood looked almost like Molasses.
Since then I've had many other tests, where my levels have ranged from 480 to 200.
Besides taking the medicine that the doctors recommend, I would highly recommend going on a low carb/high protein diet (Atkins, Protein Power, etc...). But of course, get your Doc's opinion first.
There really is quite a variety of food that you can eat, so it's not quite as bad as it sounds when you first start.

I'm also at the step right before Diabetes. If I'm not careful, I can easily become a diabetic, so I understand what you are talking about.

If I had to give any advice, I would say not to look at it like a diet (a really negative connotation, at least for me), but rather as changing your eating habits. Sure it does take a little while to get used to, and believe me, if any tells you that you won't have any cravings they are lying to you. There are cravings and headaches, moodiness, and whatnot at first. But before long, it gets a lot easier, and pretty soon you'll find yourself getting used to the new way of eating (again, avoid calling it a diet, and just makes it feel worse). For example, I used to get massive heart burn. I would take at least a couple of Tums or acid preventives every day. But now, when I eat like I should, I don't get any heartburn at all anymore.

Also make sure you stick with the exercising. It makes a huge difference.

Good luck, and remember, try not to get depressed about this. Look at it as a way to improve yourself, or as a new beginning.

 

[JessicaR]

My answer may not be popular with some but if it were me, I would get off weight watchers. I would do the South Beach program. I might even do Atkins for a while first then switch over to South Beach.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

I don't know much about high cholesterol. You seem to have done an admirable job losing weight. Congratulations. That is going to prevent other chronic conditions. I guess you'll have to keep working with your doctor on this number. You sure seemed to have sacrificed a lot already. It's not fair than your level is still high.

 

[dizluvah]

Sorry to hear about the negative news today. Congrats on the amazing weight loss.

I take my Niaspan at night before bed, that way if I flush it doens't matter because I'm in the dark anyway! Seriously, I have not had any negative side effects. Remember if you can get through the first 2-3 weeks as the body adjusts then the effects (if you happen to suffer any) will subside!

If you need some moral support please pm me. I had a heart attack at age 30 - yes yes...you read that right 30. My triglycerides at the time were also in the 400's - I had never even heard of triglycerides before that! My total cholesterol was only 188 the day I had my heart attack.

I say this not to scare you but to say there is life after high triglycerides - I am 6 years past my heart attack (next month) and managing well. I have had wonderful success on Crestor raising my good cholesterol (much better than I had on Lipitor) it went from 22 to 46!!! I also take 4, 1000mg fish oil caplets per day.

Even though prescriptions are not the perfect solution, you doctor needs to get those numbers under control now and waiting for dietary changes, etc may take too long. So for now please take the RX and then you can taper off as your dietary changes make other improvements.

All the best

 

[Deb in IA]

Try eating oatmeal every day.

Also, Metamucil has been shown in at least one study to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides.

Cholesterol and other lipids are only partially related to what we eat. We also make in endogenously, and that is more related to genetic factors. You can eat almost no fat/cholesterol, and still have high readings. So, because of that, I think you should try the medication again.

 

[dizluvah]

My answer may not be popular with some but if it were me, I would get off weight watchers. I would do the South Beach program. I might even do Atkins for a while first then switch over to South Beach.

My cardiologist has recommended South Beach diet to me many many times. While I have not opted to try it, I know he swears by it. Says he and his wife follow that eating plan daily, lots of fish, etc.

 

[Disney Doll]

Daily oatmeal.
Also there's something calle dRed Yeast Rice which comes in tablet form which is supposed to decrease cholesterol. IT's an herbal, so discuss it with your MD.

I do agree though, that you have to keep trying the cholesterol meds till you find one that works. DH was on Zetia, is now on Vytorin.

 

[purplegirl247]

My triglycerides are high due to genetics. When I went in a few years ago for my first blood test in years, they were 450. I swore off sugar (as best I could) and ate really, really well for 3 months. They dropped to 386. Big whoop.

My doctor put me on Tricor. There are two different doses. I'm on the higher one, and I've had no side effects. I've been on it for several years now, so I can't remember what side effects there were. It focuses mainly on triglycerides, not cholesterol, so it might not help you, but it can't hurt to ask/research. GL!

P.S. I was only 25/26 when I went on Tricor and I'm going to be on them for the rest of my life. Even with it, my trigs are still in the 130s/40s, which is medium high.

 

[purplegirl247]

P.S. Be careful with the red yeast rice or whatever it's called. It gave me funny leg cramps. Took me several weeks to connect it with the supplement I was taking.

Oh, and congrats on the weight loss and diet changes!

 

[nuttypretzel]

I have been taking polycosinal for my cholesterol. I use the GNC cholesterol formula. It lowered my cholesterol 30 points but my triglycerides did not change and were still over 200. I added Gugulipid (Natrol 500 mg) and on my next test my triglycerides dropped 100 points. The combination of these two supplements has my results near the target levels.

 

[AnnR]

I feel your frustration, I too had high cholesteral that I could not lower. I went on Lipitor which really helped. Due to insurance I had to switch to simvastatin (sp?) I also found out that some of my medicines (I have panhypopituitarism!) contributed to it. Have you had blood tests to check other things (thyroid etc)

Oatmeal is a great idea, also fish oil capsules.

I have put myself on a low bad carb diet -basically have cut in half the white flour and sugar that I eat. I do not limit fruits or other good carbs. I also try to lower the fat in my diet. With weight watchers you probably do most of this anyhow. I know it is frustrating. I have gone on diets and gained weight! Just be grateful for the weight that you lost, that is very important. Stay with it don't give up.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Gotta chime in and say congrats on the weight loss!

My total cholesterol has never been under 230 and was around 270 the last time I was checked. My cardiologist was never concerned about my cholesterol because my ratios were so great (he said part of the reason my cholesterol was a bit high was because my good cholesterol is high).

Well, he checked my cholesterol panel twice last year and each time my ratios were crummy. My HDL had dropped. I can only attribute it to my lack of exercise, so I am wondering if you're getting enough exercise. If not, I recommend a recumbent exercise bike--very comfortable, and you can watch TV or read while you pedal.

I am giving myself until my next cardiology appt. in October to get my cholesterol better before I go on zocor! (Dr. has given me prescriptions twice that I've never filled--this time I will have to fill it if my numbers haven't improved ).

 

[daisax]

My cardiologist was never concerned about my cholesterol because my ratios were so great (he said part of the reason my cholesterol was a bit high was because my good cholesterol is high).

That's actually a seriously outdated mindset... the cardiology community has switched to a "lower is better" approach -- even if normal! The LDL:HDL ratio is still important, but in terms of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, the overall numbers are more important, and if you can lower them, you should do so, by lifestyle modification or medication or both, whatever gets those numbers down.

And if your C-reactive protein levels are elevated, then a statin would seriously reduce your risk of death even if you had completely normal (low)cholesterol. So if you haven't had that test done, it's worth doing, because that would truly make it a no-brainer.

 

[GoodFairies]

I've heard good things about flaxseeds (or flaxseed oil if you don't like them), fish oil/omega-3 fatty acids supplements, and garlic pills with respect to cholesterol reduction.

 

[wowsmom]

Eating walnuts and almonds are supposed to raise your HDL.

Instead of eating low-cal bread, whole grain bread might be a better choice.

Also, instead of the low-fat graham crackers, see if you can find some whole grain ones. A lot of low-fat products tend to have more sugar in them (to make up for the lack of fat).

When I did South Beach diet a few years ago, it helped a lot with my cholesterol numbers (all of which were high). You might ask your doctor about that.