OT -- I have high cholesterol :(

[Princess-in-Training]

Yikes! Here I am thinking I was all healthy!! I exercise alot (I'm an aerobics instructor) and I generally make good choices outside of my ice-cream habit. And my cholesterol is in the 260s! My doc wanted to put my on meds right away but I said I would try changing my diet first. Sigh.


I just wanted to complain.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

If it makes you feel any better, I was in my 20's...a karate instructor and a vegan...and I couldn't get my cholesterole under 200. I didn't have an aversion to medication though and I went on Lipitor. Now I'm in my 40's and haven't had an issue since. I will say I never had such high numbers as you have...mine hovered around 205-210. I wish you a lot of luck trying to control it through diet-that is going to take an obscene amount of self discipline on your part. I know even with meds, my cholesterol only dipped just below 200. Good luck...as long as you get a handle on it, its really not the end of the world. Oh...chocolate, red meat and cheese are your biggest enemies.

 

[snoopy5386]

My husband had high cholesterol too and I got his cholesterol to drop by 50 points with very little in the way of diet changes (he hates veggies and stuff). First, seriously cut back on ice cream, cheese, eggs and red meat if you eat these things. Shrimp too is high in cholesterol. Start eating ground flax seed and oatmeal. My DH mixes the flax seed into his oatmeal. Both have been proven to lower cholesterol. I also had him take red yeast rice and fish oil supplements.
Good Luck!

 

[Microcell]

My Cholesterol was 224 when I was 17... both my parents had heart attacks in thier forties so when I was in my early thirties I got on medication and still have trouble with the bad cholesterol.

I am 35 and feel healthy though. It is a silent disease for sure, I feel no different than I ever have, so I am glad I got checked and you should be too!

 

[mickeyjen]

I'm sorry! I have the same issue, mine was 254 I believe... I was first told in my early twenties (not long after I'd been a college athlete, I might add, and still active and not overweight). I've had good luck with the 8 week cholesterol cure (its a book). The most important info from there for me was OAT BRAN! I don't eat enough as I should, but I use oat bran the same way as oat meal. It really does bring the numbers down! Good luck!

 

[1000th happy haunt]

My husband's cholesterol jumped up because of some medication he was taking. We got a product made by Nature Made called Cholest-Off and that dropped his cholesterol significantly.

http://www.naturemade.com/ProductDatabase/prd_prod.asp?tab=Products&productid=62

 

[scootch]

Do you have a family history?? I too have high cholesterol and did everything humanly possible to get it down.... and finally my dr said, keep doing all your doing, but your cholesterol is up due to your genes... not what you are eating. I ended up on prescription fish oil(the over the counter ones were too hard on my stomach) and actually fish oil is really healthy for you... so that might be an option to try first. Hugs...

 

[Aardvarks]

Coronary artery disease and cerebral artery disease are known as multifactorial diseases.

In the UK, we only intervene if your 10 years risk of an event is greater than 30% for cholesterol and 15% for raised blood pressure.

Our doctors take into account the following and plot them into a computer program or table

1 Age (younger is better)
2 Gender (female good)
3 Body mass index (25 or below is good)
4 Blood pressure ( 120/80 or lower is good)
5 Familial History ie mother /father/ sibling having an even before the age of 70 is bad
6 presence of diabetes is very very bad.
7 diet
8 excercise (more is better)
9 LDL level (high is bad)
10 HDL level ( high=good)
11 Smoking probably second only to diabetes as a risk

In general with strict diet you can probably move your cholesterol numbers by 10%. A good excercise program with increase HDL which is good. If you smoke, this must stop as it is worse than high cholesterol as a risk factor.

Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids found in fish oil and olive oil may lower your LDL and are thought to offer some protection.

If you have genetic high cholesterol ,that is one of the familial types, diet will have zero effect.

And remember for most types of raised cholesterol, most of it is made in your own liver and not taken in in the diet.

A small increase in cholesterol in the absecnce of all other risk factors would not be treated here. Having said that, over here, the government picks up the tab and so sets guidlines for intervention a little on the high side.

 

[DVCJones]

I have cholesterol issues too. My entire family is on cholesterol lowering meds. (mom. 3 brothers) My father had a heart attack at 51 and died at 61 from a stroke.

I am 38 yo and I used to have cholesterol in the 230's I have been able to lower it to 171 by eating lots of whole grains and omega 3 and 6 oils. I don't eat much red meat either. maybe once a week. not even.

The problem I have is that the bad cholesterol is high and the "good" cholesterol is low.

My doctor has not put me on medication yet, but I think I might ask him why. He has suggested I start drinking red wine though He said it will help the good cholesterol.

anyone else have low "good cholesterol"?

 

[aheape1979]

Do you have a family history?? I too have high cholesterol and did everything humanly possible to get it down.... and finally my dr said, keep doing all your doing, but your cholesterol is up due to your genes... not what you are eating. I ended up on prescription fish oil(the over the counter ones were too hard on my stomach) and actually fish oil is really healthy for you... so that might be an option to try first. Hugs...

Family history is HUGE!!!! My dad had a massive coronary and died at 42. Mom, grandparents, and aunts all are on cholesterol meds. I've been on a "heart healthy" diet as long as I can remember, but diet and exercise weren't enough for me. Even losing 40 pounds after my children were born (freshman 15 and newlywed weight stacked up over the past 10 years) didn't help.
My LDL was 162, which is really high. My other numbers weren't so bad, but since LDL is a big heart disease indicator, my MD put me on Crestor. In 3 months, my LDL was 81. I am not a person who likes to take medicines, but if it keeps me alive to see my children and grandchildren, I'll go for it!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I'm reading about all the luck some of you folks had with flax seed, oat bran and fish oil...I tried those home remedies myself and I am wondering...am I the only one that spent a heck of a lot of time in the bathroom as a result of those things? Don't get me wrong...its great to be "regular"...but it was starting to become a way of life that was rather annoying. So how do you get around that issue, or was anyone not bothered by it?

 

[DVC Sadie]

My chloresterol level was 278 before I started caduet. Now my level is 163 and still dropping. I have no problem taking medication for my high chloresterol, it is a lot better than having a heart attack or stroke from clogged arteries.

 

[Princess-in-Training]

Coronary artery disease and cerebral artery disease are known as multifactorial diseases.

In the UK, we only intervene if your 10 years risk of an event is greater than 30% for cholesterol and 15% for raised blood pressure.

Our doctors take into account the following and plot them into a computer program or table

1 Age (younger is better)
2 Gender (female good)
3 Body mass index (25 or below is good)
4 Blood pressure ( 120/80 or lower is good)
5 Familial History ie mother /father/ sibling having an even before the age of 70 is bad
6 presence of diabetes is very very bad.
7 diet
8 excercise (more is better)
9 LDL level (high is bad)
10 HDL level ( high=good)
11 Smoking probably second only to diabetes as a risk

In general with strict diet you can probably move your cholesterol numbers by 10%. A good excercise program with increase HDL which is good. If you smoke, this must stop as it is worse than high cholesterol as a risk factor.

Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids found in fish oil and olive oil may lower your LDL and are thought to offer some protection.

If you have genetic high cholesterol ,that is one of the familial types, diet will have zero effect.

And remember for most types of raised cholesterol, most of it is made in your own liver and not taken in in the diet.

A small increase in cholesterol in the absecnce of all other risk factors would not be treated here. Having said that, over here, the government picks up the tab and so sets guidlines for intervention a little on the high side.

Hi there! OP here. that is all great info!

Yes, i do have a family history of high cholesterol. I'm pretty good in all the other areas (I'm 33, don't smoke, good BMI, no diabetes in family...). But looking back at my diet, I've been fairly bad lately. DH has been working nights and I've been eating LOTS of kid convenience foods (mac n cheese, burgers, hotdogs, fries, oh my tummy hurts thinking about it).

So, we're doing a slow makeover, gearing up for a major change. Slow, mainly because I hate throwing away food and I want to use up what we have in the house. Trying to add more fruits and veggies. So today, when I made my kids their PB&J, I made myself a salad with a couple of pieces of turkey breast. And I didn't have any popcorn at the movies (Kung Fu Panda was awesome!!!) and I am staying away from my freezer (because Edy's Slow Churned Peanut Butter Cup is in there...)

I"m planning on either oatmeal or cheerios for breakfast for a few weeks to try that, and I'll look into the supplements!

Does anyone know if there's a way to test cholesterol at home to monitor progress?

thanks for all of your replies!!!

 

[Terry36]

The problem I have is that the bad cholesterol is high and the "good" cholesterol is low.

anyone else have low "good cholesterol"?

Yes I am just like you...I take fish oil pills and have increased my fruits and veggies, cut back on ice cream, butter, cheese and mikl.

 

[npmommie]

for all those posting their high total numbers.........did you doc tell you the breakdown? it is very important to know the LDL HDL triglycerides .........treatment is based on those numbers..........

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

for all those posting their high total numbers.........did you doc tell you the breakdown? it is very important to know the LDL HDL triglycerides .........treatment is based on those numbers..........

I always get a copy of the lab report. Aside from the cholesterol breakdown, I like to check out everything else.

 

[aheape1979]

for all those posting their high total numbers.........did you doc tell you the breakdown? it is very important to know the LDL HDL triglycerides .........treatment is based on those numbers..........

We went over all of my numbers and I got a copy. I had tried fish oil, etc. along with diet and exercise. I am just one of those people who pretty much "has to" take the meds to keep mine down. I'm on the absolute lowest dosage possible, and have my liver enzymes checked every 3 months, even though I have had no problems. I am only 13 years younger than my dad was when he died, and I refuse to just sit back and wait to see what happens. My husband and children are too important to me to want to leave them alone.

 

[bjakmom]

When my cholesterol came in at 295 last year, I followed my father's (84) formula - he has kept his down from 295 to 160 for years taking Niacin 500 mg (non-flush) daily. That is all he takes - honestly, at his age he still eats ice cream, meat, etc. I also took fish oil as per my Drs recommendation and couldn't 'tolerate' it - tried several brands, but no go (not worth the stomach distress- which I don't normally suffer)! In addition to the Niacin, I also take Red Yeast Rice. Within 4 months my cholesterol came down to 220!! My Doc was thrilled and said I don't have to take meds if I can keep it down - trying for even lower. That was 8 months ago and I'm a bit overdue for another test - feel pretty sure that the #s will be even better now. I also eat oatmeal several times a week - it's my fav 'dinner' when I need to eat late and still sleep well.

 

[DVC Sadie]

We went over all of my numbers and I got a copy. I had tried fish oil, etc. along with diet and exercise. I am just one of those people who pretty much "has to" take the meds to keep mine down. I'm on the absolute lowest dosage possible, and have my liver enzymes checked every 3 months, even though I have had no problems. I am only 13 years younger than my dad was when he died, and I refuse to just sit back and wait to see what happens. My husband and children are too important to me to want to leave them alone.

What a smart, loving parent and wife you are to insure that you will be around for your family.