ValerieField
01-17-2005, 09:45 PM
I am a 50 y/o woman and have just been diagnosed with high cholestrol 8.29 and high trglycerides 4.76, and the doctor has put me on Lipidil Supra 160 mgs daily.
I have no idea what all this means, so I came here to find out what else I can do besides the medication to get these both lowered.
I have started walking and am now doing exercises and have changed my food intake to low cholestrol and low fat foods.
The doctor kinda scared me, because she said that I am at a high risk for having a heart attack or stroke.
My father had a stroke when he was 50 years old.
Anyway...I just wanted to say "hi".
hugzzzzzzzz
Valerie
I have no idea what all this means, so I came here to find out what else I can do besides the medication to get these both lowered.
I have started walking and am now doing exercises and have changed my food intake to low cholestrol and low fat foods.
The doctor kinda scared me, because she said that I am at a high risk for having a heart attack or stroke.
My father had a stroke when he was 50 years old.
Anyway...I just wanted to say "hi".
hugzzzzzzzz
Valerie
Sponsor
Lenin
01-18-2005, 10:45 AM
Valerie,
First to convert to "United States:D:D": multiply cholesterol values by 39 and triglycerides by 89.
Thus you hase:
TC = 329 (VERY HIGH)
Triglyceride = 424 (VERY HIGH)
The drug is generically fenofibrate which causes enhanced breakdoen of the triglycerides which is a good first step for you. Eliminating most of your dietary sugar will also show results.
I's important that you get a breakdown of your total to include the HDL. You probably don't have a value for LDL since it's usually not calculated with a triglyceride value as high as yours.
You may need more than just the Lipidil, though. It's not particularly potent. A lot depends on the value of your HDL (high density lipoprotein)...look on your printout for it.
First to convert to "United States:D:D": multiply cholesterol values by 39 and triglycerides by 89.
Thus you hase:
TC = 329 (VERY HIGH)
Triglyceride = 424 (VERY HIGH)
The drug is generically fenofibrate which causes enhanced breakdoen of the triglycerides which is a good first step for you. Eliminating most of your dietary sugar will also show results.
I's important that you get a breakdown of your total to include the HDL. You probably don't have a value for LDL since it's usually not calculated with a triglyceride value as high as yours.
You may need more than just the Lipidil, though. It's not particularly potent. A lot depends on the value of your HDL (high density lipoprotein)...look on your printout for it.
ValerieField
01-18-2005, 02:59 PM
Thankyou Lenin for your response.
My HDL is 1.01
My LDL is 5.61
My blood sugar level is normal.
I am 50 years old and I am 5 feet 1 inch tall.
I weight 125 pounds and the doctor said that I am in the normal range.
She said that I have three strikes against me.....lol.
I am over 50...I have already been through menopause
and my father had a stroke when he was 50 years old.
My mother has been on cholestrol meds for the last three years.
I smoke about 15 cigarettes per day.
My blood Pressure is normal.
And I wasn't very active, until she told me all this.
Oh...and I am also "pear" shaped (waist smaller than your hips)
That is about all the info that was on the paper that she gave to me,
besides what I wrote in my first post.
I have cut out most of my sugar...I am now using Splenda...but I'm finding it a bit on the expensive side.
I am now eating lots of fruit and vegetables and doing exercises and walking.
I have only been on these Lipidil Supra pills for a week....so I guess I will have to wait and see if they do me any good.
Thankyou for taking the time to respond to my post.
I really appreciate it.
hugzzzzzzzzzz
Valerie
My HDL is 1.01
My LDL is 5.61
My blood sugar level is normal.
I am 50 years old and I am 5 feet 1 inch tall.
I weight 125 pounds and the doctor said that I am in the normal range.
She said that I have three strikes against me.....lol.
I am over 50...I have already been through menopause
and my father had a stroke when he was 50 years old.
My mother has been on cholestrol meds for the last three years.
I smoke about 15 cigarettes per day.
My blood Pressure is normal.
And I wasn't very active, until she told me all this.
Oh...and I am also "pear" shaped (waist smaller than your hips)
That is about all the info that was on the paper that she gave to me,
besides what I wrote in my first post.
I have cut out most of my sugar...I am now using Splenda...but I'm finding it a bit on the expensive side.
I am now eating lots of fruit and vegetables and doing exercises and walking.
I have only been on these Lipidil Supra pills for a week....so I guess I will have to wait and see if they do me any good.
Thankyou for taking the time to respond to my post.
I really appreciate it.
hugzzzzzzzzzz
Valerie
patricia22
01-18-2005, 04:01 PM
Valerie,
Your HDL level is too low - you need to increase it. (I'm strugging with the same problem - for me it took effort to increase - mostly exercise - so I can sympathize.)
If you do manage to increase your HDL, it will help decrease your LDL/HDL ratio -which is way too high. A high LDL/HDL ratio is a better predictor of heart disease than the total cholesterol level - so that's what I'd be most concerned about. You want relatively more 'good' cholesterol (HDL) and relatively less 'bad' cholesterol (LDL).
Some suggestions on how to do increase HDL:
- cut out cigarettes - they lower HDL and raise LDL
- eat more cold-water fish (like salmon) and take fish oil supplements to
increase Omega-3s in your diet
- exercise regularly (30 minute sessions at least 3-4 times/week)
- talk to your doctor about the advisability of taking time-released niacin
The 2nd thing I'd concentrate on is reducing your triglyceride level (which is also too high, and a serious risk factor). Some things that can help with this:
- continue eliminating sugar and sweets
- continue with the veggies (not the starchy ones) and fruits
- increase the amount of fibre in your diet
- cut out cigarettes
You have several good things going for you - so don't despair!!!
- your weight is fine
- you have seen a doctor and have been prescribed a medication that
should help
- you're motivated to do something about your health and have already
made some beneficial life-style changes
Be sure to go back to your doctor for the follow-up testing (to make sure you're tolerating the Lipidil Supra without any side effects, and to see if it's working) - this is vital!!! Also, if you note any muscle pain/weakness or a general 'tired' feeling, call your doctor - could be a side effect of the meds...
Best of luck... Let us know what your next test results are...
MrBob
Your HDL level is too low - you need to increase it. (I'm strugging with the same problem - for me it took effort to increase - mostly exercise - so I can sympathize.)
If you do manage to increase your HDL, it will help decrease your LDL/HDL ratio -which is way too high. A high LDL/HDL ratio is a better predictor of heart disease than the total cholesterol level - so that's what I'd be most concerned about. You want relatively more 'good' cholesterol (HDL) and relatively less 'bad' cholesterol (LDL).
Some suggestions on how to do increase HDL:
- cut out cigarettes - they lower HDL and raise LDL
- eat more cold-water fish (like salmon) and take fish oil supplements to
increase Omega-3s in your diet
- exercise regularly (30 minute sessions at least 3-4 times/week)
- talk to your doctor about the advisability of taking time-released niacin
The 2nd thing I'd concentrate on is reducing your triglyceride level (which is also too high, and a serious risk factor). Some things that can help with this:
- continue eliminating sugar and sweets
- continue with the veggies (not the starchy ones) and fruits
- increase the amount of fibre in your diet
- cut out cigarettes
You have several good things going for you - so don't despair!!!
- your weight is fine
- you have seen a doctor and have been prescribed a medication that
should help
- you're motivated to do something about your health and have already
made some beneficial life-style changes
Be sure to go back to your doctor for the follow-up testing (to make sure you're tolerating the Lipidil Supra without any side effects, and to see if it's working) - this is vital!!! Also, if you note any muscle pain/weakness or a general 'tired' feeling, call your doctor - could be a side effect of the meds...
Best of luck... Let us know what your next test results are...
MrBob
ValerieField
01-18-2005, 04:20 PM
Thanks MrBob.....I appreciate your post.
I was just talking to the nurse in my doctor's office and she is sending me to
a place that will help me to quit smoking.
This is a siminar...and they give really good advice, a support system and free patches. My boyfriend smokes two packs a day....and we feel that it will be harder for me to quit if he continues...so he can go too..free..now all I have to do is talk to him about it.....eek !
I have only been on these pills for a week, but I have had no side effects yet...so hopefully they will be ok for me to use.
I have started walking about a mile a day and I exercise for about 20 minutes a day......and as I said earlier...I have practacally no sugar in my diet now.
I am eating lots of veggies and fruits and we actually do have fish about twice a week.
I will be going for another test in about a month...I think...lol.
They didn't tell me when.
Thankyou so much for your post......I don't feel so alone anymore.
hugzzzzzzzzz
Valerie
I was just talking to the nurse in my doctor's office and she is sending me to
a place that will help me to quit smoking.
This is a siminar...and they give really good advice, a support system and free patches. My boyfriend smokes two packs a day....and we feel that it will be harder for me to quit if he continues...so he can go too..free..now all I have to do is talk to him about it.....eek !
I have only been on these pills for a week, but I have had no side effects yet...so hopefully they will be ok for me to use.
I have started walking about a mile a day and I exercise for about 20 minutes a day......and as I said earlier...I have practacally no sugar in my diet now.
I am eating lots of veggies and fruits and we actually do have fish about twice a week.
I will be going for another test in about a month...I think...lol.
They didn't tell me when.
Thankyou so much for your post......I don't feel so alone anymore.
hugzzzzzzzzz
Valerie
Lenin
01-19-2005, 10:54 AM
Valerie,
Like Bob said, your HDL is marginally low.
This is the protective factor in the cholesterol picture. It is important becasue all your other numbers are wretchedly high.
Your HDL is 39 with 40 as a bare minimum.
Your LDL is 219 and is more than DOUBLE what it should be given your risk factors. Although the number is apt to be quite unrelieable in face of the high triglycerides...calculation method gets faulty.
But the ratio of the TC/HDL of over 8 is downright dangerous. Make sure you get retested in 30 days.
I think a STATIN drug is very much in your future. I'm surprised your doctor didn't use that drug class first. Though your triglycerides are very high, they should not be the main focus of treatment.
Don't EVER miss your daily aspirin.
(Pear shaped is safest for women...big bellied is dangerous!)
Like Bob said, your HDL is marginally low.
This is the protective factor in the cholesterol picture. It is important becasue all your other numbers are wretchedly high.
Your HDL is 39 with 40 as a bare minimum.
Your LDL is 219 and is more than DOUBLE what it should be given your risk factors. Although the number is apt to be quite unrelieable in face of the high triglycerides...calculation method gets faulty.
But the ratio of the TC/HDL of over 8 is downright dangerous. Make sure you get retested in 30 days.
I think a STATIN drug is very much in your future. I'm surprised your doctor didn't use that drug class first. Though your triglycerides are very high, they should not be the main focus of treatment.
Don't EVER miss your daily aspirin.
(Pear shaped is safest for women...big bellied is dangerous!)
ValerieField
01-19-2005, 12:20 PM
Hi Lenin...I thought it was strange too.
The doctor seemed more concerned about my triglycerides than my cholestrol....and she made a point by saying that they were going to concentrait on those first before the cholestrol.
I have never been in this position before...so the only thing I can do is rely
on my doctor.....but I thought that the cholestrol level would have been the most important.
I guess I will just have to wait and see how it all pans out.
If they don't suggest that I should go for a follow up blood test in a month...I will phone them and tell them that I want to go...lol.
thanks so much for your input...I really appreciate all your help.
hugzzzzzzzzzzz
Valerie
The doctor seemed more concerned about my triglycerides than my cholestrol....and she made a point by saying that they were going to concentrait on those first before the cholestrol.
I have never been in this position before...so the only thing I can do is rely
on my doctor.....but I thought that the cholestrol level would have been the most important.
I guess I will just have to wait and see how it all pans out.
If they don't suggest that I should go for a follow up blood test in a month...I will phone them and tell them that I want to go...lol.
thanks so much for your input...I really appreciate all your help.
hugzzzzzzzzzzz
Valerie
Lenin
01-20-2005, 12:02 PM
Valerie,
A heads up BEFORE it happens: If they decide to put you on a statin MAKE SURE TO GET OFF THE LIPIDIL FIRST. You really don't want to mix these two unless it is ABSOLUTELY necessary and unless you are vigilant it might happen with a careless doctor.
Like the Boy Scouts: "Be prepared!"
A heads up BEFORE it happens: If they decide to put you on a statin MAKE SURE TO GET OFF THE LIPIDIL FIRST. You really don't want to mix these two unless it is ABSOLUTELY necessary and unless you are vigilant it might happen with a careless doctor.
Like the Boy Scouts: "Be prepared!"
ValerieField
01-20-2005, 12:08 PM
Thanks Lenin for the heads up.....that is good info, since I
don't really know much about all the meds...I have to rely on the doctors.
hugzzzzzzzzzzz
Valerie
don't really know much about all the meds...I have to rely on the doctors.
hugzzzzzzzzzzz
Valerie