Author Topic: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...  (Read 47772 times)

noisycrank

  • twitter @noisycrank
Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #25 on: 24 January, 2010, 04:35:17 pm »
If you don't like my haircut you can suck my socks!

Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #26 on: 24 January, 2010, 05:00:46 pm »
I get LDL/HDL results (with other stuff) back tomorrow.  From about 1985 to earlier last year I was 11.5 stone, now am ~12.5 stone (78kg).  Re caffeine, wonder if the new job and filter coffee everyday has had an effect...  Actually 12.5 is probably an ideal weight, but I know it's not muscle I've put on.
Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

simonp

Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #27 on: 24 January, 2010, 05:08:36 pm »
I watched a programme about dieting the other day and they were talking about all the so-called "heart healthy" versions of stuff (containing omega 3) and saying basically it's bollocks because the amounts are so small as to be useless - you'd have to eat ridiculous amounts of the product to get the required omega 3 which means you're eating far too much fat overall (quelle suprise).

Best thing for omega 3 is real actual fish, cod liver oil, etc.  If you're veggie then you need to be drinking linseed oil.  :)

Regulator

  • That's Councillor Regulator to you...
Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #28 on: 25 January, 2010, 02:35:36 pm »
Hmmmm... interesting.

I had my appointment with the GP this morning.  He wants me to try changing my diet and has referred me to the GP - but he thinks they'll probably simply say stick with the WeightWatchers diet plan.  He has also given me a thumbs up for the recent weight loss and told me to carry on cycling.

He also wants me to see the liver specialists again as he's not happy that my liver function tests are still awry.

There was no mention of statins.
Quote from: clarion
I completely agree with Reg.

Green Party Councillor

Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #29 on: 26 January, 2010, 05:15:33 pm »
Reg, easy to say but you have to 'just' ditch all the cigs; smoking and nicotine itself (so patches too I guess) increases LDL lipids.  I heard also that one can be outwardly thin, but have significant build fat build up in and around internal organs.

Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

Regulator

  • That's Councillor Regulator to you...
Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #30 on: 27 January, 2010, 07:34:35 am »
Reg, easy to say but you have to 'just' ditch all the cigs; smoking and nicotine itself (so patches too I guess) increases LDL lipids.  I heard also that one can be outwardly thin, but have significant build fat build up in and around internal organs.



That's happening.  I'm 3 weeks into the 'giving up smoking' thang...
Quote from: clarion
I completely agree with Reg.

Green Party Councillor

Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #31 on: 28 January, 2010, 01:31:00 pm »
Well done - keep up the good work then :)

My total cholesterol came back as 3.7.  It's UV light has been my main problem.  :-\
Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

border-rider

Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #32 on: 28 January, 2010, 01:38:02 pm »
It's UV light has been my main problem. 


Why's that then ?

Lupus ?

Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #33 on: 28 January, 2010, 01:54:26 pm »
It's UV light has been my main problem. 


Why's that then ?

Lupus ?

No - sun damage and various '-omas' excised; having a fair skin and growing up under a tropical sun.  We did generally wear hats and apply sunscreen, but I can remember getting burnt on occasions.
Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #34 on: 28 January, 2010, 03:42:50 pm »
If you don't mind me asking, how long and what ages were you living in tropical areas?

skin 'omas' are my albatross, having grown up on a farm in australia. Not found any yet, I just check frequently and hope.
<i>Marmite slave</i>

Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #35 on: 28 January, 2010, 07:48:22 pm »
 Just posted reply here, so as not to 'divert' any more, see Sun damage...
Cycle and recycle.   SS Wilson

Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #36 on: 28 January, 2010, 08:28:30 pm »
Reg, easy to say but you have to 'just' ditch all the cigs; smoking and nicotine itself (so patches too I guess) increases LDL lipids.  I heard also that one can be outwardly thin, but have significant build fat build up in and around internal organs.



I was outwardly thin (when I smoked) but my arteries were inwardly fat.
Giving up the ciggs is great (Zyban, it's the only way id will power alone won't cut it), but it doesn't help weight loss... Andy, I'm 90kg's and a tad shorter than you as you know  :o

Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #37 on: 28 January, 2010, 08:40:49 pm »
Statins at night and Ezebitimide in the morning
Interesting. I take my Ezetimibe at night with my 40mg Simvastatin and a candesartin.

I've no idea why the difference either.  I don't take Candesartin though, just Simvastatin at night.
I thought that a while back they were concerned about the combined Statin/ezetimibe pill, so it seems odd that both are taken at the same time.  I'd kinda guessed that was the reason why I took mine morning and night... to keep 'em seperate, but it's only a guess.

Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #38 on: 31 January, 2010, 10:53:46 pm »
Statins at night and Ezebitimide in the morning
Interesting. I take my Ezetimibe at night with my 40mg Simvastatin and a candesartin.

I've no idea why the difference either.  I don't take Candesartin though, just Simvastatin at night.
I thought that a while back they were concerned about the combined Statin/ezetimibe pill, so it seems odd that both are taken at the same time.  I'd kinda guessed that was the reason why I took mine morning and night... to keep 'em seperate, but it's only a guess.

Update Fatbloke:

Just recieved a letter from the Doc's regarding patients on Ezetimibe, apparently " new information about these medicines has been published... and there may be a change in the way it's prescribed".
Ezetimibe - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I'll let you know.

Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #39 on: 20 February, 2013, 01:50:22 pm »
crap.

My family has a seriously bad history of heart disease.

Now and then I get a cholesterol kit from pharmacy and test - erm maybe did one 3 years ago.

Just got results back from doc:

7.2 total

4.5LDL

Since the last test, I drink far less milk (as in maybe some on cereal once per week), hardly ever eat eggs. Lots of butter on toast but that's only 2-3 days a week. Two cups of strong coffee per day. Red meat not eaten in our house and very little other meat. A lump of cheese in lunch every day.
<i>Marmite slave</i>

Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #40 on: 09 April, 2013, 11:00:34 am »
Going on another health kick. Had my cholesterol tested 5.2

Diet is changing, lets see what it's like in 4 weeks time.


Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #41 on: 09 April, 2013, 11:04:09 am »
Only 5.2?  Wuss.


It's probably partly due to dropping dairy out of my diet and partly due to the holiday in Mostar (had cold and only ate one meal a day), but I've lost 11lb since the 15th of March.
Somewhat worrying as I haven't had much exercise in that period.
<i>Marmite slave</i>

Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #42 on: 03 June, 2013, 11:53:26 am »
crap.

My family has a seriously bad history of heart disease.

Now and then I get a cholesterol kit from pharmacy and test - erm maybe did one 3 years ago.

Just got results back from doc:

7.2 total

4.5LDL

Ok, 3 months of being dairy free and another test. Had to argue with doctor's receptionist to actually get the figures (she said the screen says 'normal'; that's bollocks).

total 6.5
HDL 1.2
LDL 4
serum/HDL ratio 5.4

So, an improvement - down from 7.2 to 6.5 and LDL down from 4.5 to 4.

Not a *huge* improvement; I'm a little disappointed. As I was borderline 'may need statins' before, I guess I'm 'don't bother' now.
<i>Marmite slave</i>

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #43 on: 03 June, 2013, 12:59:27 pm »
I think you might benefit from discussing this with your GP, who should be able to put your cholesterol levels in the context of your diet and family history.
That level is still quite high, despite all the effort you are making.
Statins suit some people but give others side effects.

Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #44 on: 03 June, 2013, 01:03:45 pm »
It is interesting that you think that; that is my gut feeling as well. My diet and lifestyle (apart from too much alcohol and not enough sleep) is about as good as it gets for the average Westerner.

I can't quite believe that the path lab marked the results as 'normal no change'!

Maybe the GP is fed up of seeing me; when I showed them the discoloured pink/red patch on my forehead it was dismissed with "too early, go away for 6 weeks and see if it changes".
<i>Marmite slave</i>

Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #45 on: 04 June, 2013, 10:32:56 am »
Years ago (maybe 25) I used to get biennial health screening as part of my employment. My cholesterol was high, so for 2 years I tried, by modifying my diet, to reduce it. Nothing much had happened by the following check, and the GP I saw that time that only really quite extreme changes to diet ("living on seeds and grain") would have a significant difference. As other factors (reasonable weight and exercise, not smoking, moderate alcohol intake, no family history of heart attacks) were low he said not to worry over much - after all who knew what was a "normal" level for me / my family.

Now I just have to address weight/exercise/booze issues and I'll be right as rain again  :-\
We are making a New World (Paul Nash, 1918)

Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #46 on: 10 December, 2013, 10:29:30 am »
Re-assessment with GP today.

I'm doing really well and getting such good results, I don't need statins.


So that's been achieved by cutting the animal fats to a minimum (no dairy at all), reducing saturated fat intake overall and careful consumption of the 'right' oils.
<i>Marmite slave</i>

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #47 on: 10 December, 2013, 12:55:57 pm »
I'm really pleased for you, mrcharly!
Given how miserable statins made my low-risk Mum, I would not recommend them too keenly.

There again, you are not 'low-risk' and may well have to be very careful forever. Hope your cholesterol stays low and you remain healthy!

simonp

Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #48 on: 10 December, 2013, 02:42:28 pm »
I got a letter about a health check the other day. About time I found out if I have any cholesterol.

T42

  • Apprentice geezer
Re: Cholesterol and all that gubbins...
« Reply #49 on: 10 December, 2013, 02:55:53 pm »
We all have cholesterol: can't live without.  Trouble is that exactly what the import of high levels might be is a matter of doubt.  "Good" cholesterol and "bad" ditto is an oversimplification.  From what I can gather it's the very light fractions of LDL that are the main cause for concern, i.e. triglycerides & similar.

Also: if you're from the North you likely have a proportion of Norse blood in you, and many Scandinavians bear a gene that raises the amount of LDL manufactured by the body.  In that case, reducing dietary cholesterol might not have much of an effect.  Mrs T42 falls into this category, and only serious exercise keeps her triglycerides down.
I've dusted off all those old bottles and set them up straight