Dan Murphy
We are family.
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2000
- Messages
- 84,085
Cholesterol that is.
I have been on cholesterol meds for a number of years, but still was always above the recommended guideline. I suppose if I did the 'proper' amount of excercise and was able to knock off some weight, I would do better also. However, those two, proper weight and excercise, have alluded me for over 40 years. 
Back a good number of years ago, when the overall guideline (back then we never heard about good and bad, just plain old cholesterol) was at 240, my reading was generally right there, around 240. The year that the desired number was lowered by the Heart Assoc. to 220, my reading went up to the high 200's and the doc put me on Mevacor meds, and brought my reading down to around 230, still too high. A few years later, the Heart Assoc. lowered the desirable again, to 200 or lower. I was still around 230. Doc put me on Zocor, 20's, and I stayed about 230, upped it to 40's and I was about 220. A few months back, he increased it to 80 mg, still a normal dose.
A few days ago, I received my blood work results (from blood tests I had done after my sojourn to the ER back in July
). My overall cholesterol is now 184, guideline is 200. My HDL (good stuff) is 38, desired range is to be above 35, and my LDL (bad stuff) is 112, desired range is below than 130.
So, for the first time in ages, my good is good, my bad is good and my overall is good.
It is is through meds though, and it would be nice if it was through proper weight and excercise. I do have a family history, dad's side, of high readings and that can be hard to beat without meds at times, as I understand. I am happy however, that at least the numbers are good.


Back a good number of years ago, when the overall guideline (back then we never heard about good and bad, just plain old cholesterol) was at 240, my reading was generally right there, around 240. The year that the desired number was lowered by the Heart Assoc. to 220, my reading went up to the high 200's and the doc put me on Mevacor meds, and brought my reading down to around 230, still too high. A few years later, the Heart Assoc. lowered the desirable again, to 200 or lower. I was still around 230. Doc put me on Zocor, 20's, and I stayed about 230, upped it to 40's and I was about 220. A few months back, he increased it to 80 mg, still a normal dose.
A few days ago, I received my blood work results (from blood tests I had done after my sojourn to the ER back in July

So, for the first time in ages, my good is good, my bad is good and my overall is good.

