Anyone else with high cholesterol?

**Thevail** · 04-25-2009, 03:10 AM

So...I have high cholesterol...but I really don't know what to do about it. It's hereditary in my case..untreated my father's is in the 400 range and my mother is over 300. With drugs they're both still in the 185 range.

That sounds pretty silly since there are only entire books about it, but I've tried so many things and they just haven't worked for me.

I tried the all wicker (high fiber) diet... my bowels were truly impressed, my cholesterol was not..it went UP 5 points. And no I didn't even cheat.. no salad dressing, etc.

I tried Lipitor..which did lower my cholesterol some, but it had some side effects. And they were kinda scary. At first I thought my arthritis must finally be really catching up to me, then I went and bought a new firmer mattress, then I started just sighing and chalking it all up to old age...

Then one month I just couldn't afford the lipitor so I didn't take it that month...and I felt FINE.

The next month, back on the lipitor, and back on the Aleve too...

So I quit taking it.

I know it's important to keep the high cholesterol under control, plaque etc. Anyone know of anything else??

**pollypurebred39** · 04-25-2009, 03:38 AM

http://www.dukehealth.org/HealthLibrary/News/9412

I've known for many years that a low carb diet works in favor of health, if you can stick with it. My son MUST follow a low carb, no sugar, no mold diet. He is allowed only whole grains in very limited amounts throughout the day. This diet was prescribed by his doctor when he was around 9-10 he will be 15 in June. His blood test are perfect and the original health concerns as to why he must follow this diet are absent as long as he does not cheat. Of course there are all kinds of nay sayers out there that are horrified that a doctor would prescribe such a diet to anyone let alone a child, to them I say, the proof is in the pudding!

Wishing you Good Health!

**ladytoysdream** · 04-25-2009, 06:48 AM

Mine is up more than I want it to be. It started last June after I got laid off from work. Always used to be about 210 and I used to catch H for that from the doctor, but I fiqured that was a normal reading for me. My doctor was having me come in every 3 months for a checkup with prior bloodwork. My next appt is coming up soon and I dread it. The heart specialist put me on Tricor. I did get the prescription filled but have not took any yet. Bad me. I have done some research on it, and still not comfortable with the whole idea.
I have a severe case of sleep apnea and last year, my regular doctor thought I should see the heart doctor to rule out any problems in that area. Even had the stress test and pictures. I came out quite good with that. The bloodwork numbers got me handed the prescription. I would rather go a more natural route if possible.

**2ndGenGranola** · 04-25-2009, 07:47 AM

We just got our reports back yesterday. DH's and Dad's is actually down from near 300 to just above 204.

We eat a lot of oatmeal. I use it as filler in meat loaf, instead of bread crumbs and will sometimes even grind it down in place of flour.

I "make" them take their vitamins. Niacin and garlic are biggies here but also B-complex. Anti-inflammatory vits are important too. It is actually the inflammation that causes the problems with cholesterol instead of just the cholesterol.

I try to get them both walking too. Of course exercise is good for many things.

**jas** · 04-25-2009, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by 2ndGenGranola

We just got our reports back yesterday. DH's and Dad's is actually down from near 300 to just above 204.

We eat a lot of oatmeal. I use it as filler in meat loaf, instead of bread crumbs and will sometimes even grind it down in place of flour.

I "make" them take their vitamins. Niacin and garlic are biggies here but also B-complex. Anti-inflammatory vits are important too. It is actually the inflammation that causes the problems with cholesterol instead of just the cholesterol.

I try to get them both walking too. Of course exercise is good for many things.

That is what I take also. Niacin and a really good fiber I order online. Oatmeal is great and you can put in your diet in many ways. Even a good oatmeal cookie. I quit taking my meds for the high cholesterol about 6 months ago and didn't tell my dr. and my blood work can back good. I still didn't tell him yet, maybe next time in 6 months. The last month has been rough on me, I have been dealing with kidney stones and I have not followed through with the niacin and fiber ect... everyday. Partly because I was in the hospital and partly because I am on other things for the stone problem. I had my bloodwork done during this time and it was still in the good range. I know I need to get back to it. I just got off track with this other problem.

A great book to read on the subject in the New 8-week cholesterol cure by Robert E. Kowalski. I follow his recommendations in the book and it has worked for me.

**onencgirl** · 04-25-2009, 09:11 AM

I need to eat more oatmeal. That seems to help mine alot.

**2ndGenGranola** · 04-25-2009, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by jas

I quit taking my meds for the high cholesterol about 6 months ago and didn't tell my dr. and my blood work can back good. I still didn't tell him yet, maybe next time in 6 months.

That's what my Dad did. He was ticked at the dr for not listening to anything he said and just started writing Rx. He called me and asked for Mom's vit and diet thing and I gave it to him. He went in and the dr was just praising himself (himself as in Dr )for his good work. Dad never told him he didn't fill a single med. He hasn't been back to that guy either.

**jas** · 04-25-2009, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by 2ndGenGranola

That's what my Dad did. He was ticked at the dr for not listening to anything he said and just started writing Rx. He called me and asked for Mom's vit and diet thing and I gave it to him. He went in and the dr was just praising himself (himself as in Dr )for his good work. Dad never told him he didn't fill a single med. He hasn't been back to that guy either.

I know what you mean, my dr acted pleased too! I had been taking a statin drug, what they usually perscribe and just felt I needed to really give it a solid try with food and vitamins. I know it works and it is great not to have to take them.

Now to just get the stone thing taken care of naturally, I hope. There are a few things I can change to up the chances of keeping them at bay.

**forHISglory** · 04-25-2009, 06:12 PM

My cholesterol was high and it was hereditary, too. My doc recommended 3000 units of fish oil a day. I also started a low carb diet. My last few blood tests have shown that the count has dropped. I'm now on the high side of normal, which is much much better!

**Judi Dial** · 04-25-2009, 06:30 PM

I got diagnosed last Sept. with borderline high blood pressure and had 2 months to get it down or they were going to put me on meds. So, I did a few things: cut out a lot of the meat in my diet, walked more (and made myself do it 2 or 3 times a week at least), and watched how I cooked things. I started simmering onions in water instead of sauteing them for example, and then I'd drizzle just a little bit of olive oil into the dish to compensate, about 1/4 tsp max.

Anyway, it worked! Two months went by and my blood pressure had come down enough that they didn't put me on drugs.

In the process of this, of course, I got a few books: a low salt cookbook (used) and a beating high blood pressure (from Reader's Digest, new) cookbook too.

Judi

**Thevail** · 04-26-2009, 02:50 AM

I tried the niacin thing...does that turn anyone else beet red, make them sweat, and itch for about an hour? It does me, like I've got a BAD sunburn. I don't think I'm allergic to it..but I just wonder if that's normal..

Our diet tends to be pretty low carb except for veggies. It's not a strict diet thing, just we don't tend to eat a lot of high carb stuff. (surely carrots can't possibly be bad for your cholesterol??)

I shall valiantly attempt the "oatmeal cure"...god I HATE oatmeal... time to get creative!

Fish oil...I can do that! I like fishies anyway

I get lots of exercise, more in the summer than the oh so rainy winter, but I did 4 hours of tree climbing and pruning just today. Oh my freakin' middle-aged KNEES!

**jas** · 04-26-2009, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by Thevail

I tried the niacin thing...does that turn anyone else beet red, make them sweat, and itch for about an hour? It does me, like I've got a BAD sunburn. I don't think I'm allergic to it..but I just wonder if that's normal..

Our diet tends to be pretty low carb except for veggies. It's not a strict diet thing, just we don't tend to eat a lot of high carb stuff. (surely carrots can't possibly be bad for your cholesterol??)

I shall valiantly attempt the "oatmeal cure"...god I HATE oatmeal... time to get creative!

Fish oil...I can do that! I like fishies anyway

I get lots of exercise, more in the summer than the oh so rainy winter, but I did 4 hours of tree climbing and pruning just today. Oh my freakin' middle-aged KNEES!

Regular niacin will do that to you. You need to use a non-flushing niacin. I have had no problems with the kind I take.

**McD** · 04-26-2009, 08:22 AM

I have high cholesterol--it goes hand in hand with my low thyroid. For awhile I was on a statin medication, but I had to to stop that when I found out I was pregnant.

So now....I'm not really doing much.

**mauimagic** · 04-27-2009, 02:31 AM

I too have high blood pressure and high cholesterol and am on too many medicines. Appreciate all the advice and ideas. Was eating oatmeal every morning - need to get back on that track. Take fish oil. Need to watch the carbs. Let's keep this topic going - we all deserve the support!!

**CrazyHomemaker** · 04-27-2009, 06:53 AM

TheAvail...my DH took a prescription Niaspan (high dose niacin) for his cholesterol. He couldn't handle the womanly flashes that accompany it. He went back to Lipitor even though it makes him ache.

I am glad to see there are some docs out there who prescribe food and supplements as a weapon against disease. All of my docs want to give me meds because 'I'm getting to that age'. I changed my diet and am within range.

This may sound harsh to try, but no meat no dairy lowered my cholesterol well over 20 points in a month and a half. Now, this was during Lent and that meant no meat/no dairy for that amount of time. I'm sure if you can do no meat/no dairy for just several days a week, it would work wonders. I am cutting out a lot of meat/dairy again because of arthritic problems. I just had a pain-free month and a half during this Lent and I loved it! Diet has a lot to do with our ills.

Good Luck.