I am new to the forum and would like some advice.

I am 63. My latest cholesterol numbers are tot 256; LDL 165; HDL 79; tri 60. The LDL is up 20 points since last test. My test was taken 5 days after returning from feasting and drinking my way across Europe for two weeks - 4 pound weight gain from normal.

My doctor wants me to go on Lipitor; I have an aversion to ongoing drugs and am on none at moment. Should I give in or wait three months for a retest when weight and lifestyle is back to normal?

Thanks for any comments,
Mike

Mike,

I would forget about the Lipitor. Your TC and LDL are more than offset by your high HDL and low triglycerides. Don't pay so much attention to a single number. Instead, look at the ratios. A TC/HDL ratio of 4 or less is desireable. Yours is only 3.24. And the LDL/HDL ratio should be less than 2.5, and yours is just 2.09. Taking into consideration your low triglycerides, I would say you're doing pretty good.

I agree with Arizona. Don't put yourself on a lifetime of drugs. Your doctor has a motive which is a permenant patient. I had much worst numbers than yous and reduced it by taking an all natural approach. Do lots of research. Go back and review posts. You are putting yourself at risk of developing other problems by taking drugs. I'm also sure there are books out there that will give you plenty of data of reducing your cholesterol naturally. Don't wait for the info to come to you......go look for it. Seek and you shall find.

Mike,

Try to avoid the drugs and make all the lifestyle changes you can. Some people can improve their blood lipid picture, some cannot.
Then ascertain all your risk factors: age, smoking, overweight, exercise, FAMILY TREE, other diseases like diabetes and hypertension.

Then you can make a well informed decision as to whether whether to take your doctor's advice on the Lipitor or not!

What were your PREVIOUS numbers?

My prior numbers were: 241 tot, 149 ldl, 73 HDL, 81 Tri, in 11/05; 207/123/73/57 in Oct 03. Blood pressure is 120/80 range; no family history of heart disease.

Both of my last two tests were at 5 pounds over my target weight. In October 03 at my best results, I was at my target weight. Does it make sense that 5 pounds would make such a difference in LDL?

Thanks for the comments.

I wouldn't think 5 pounds either way would swing your LDL much. THe feasting and drinking MIGHT show up as a spike in your triglycerides which are factored into a calulated LDL. But that's a dead end because you have very low triglycerides in all cases and your best numbers and your worst show almost identical triglycerides.

But hey, the numbers are so much better in October 03, go for a 10 pound weight loss...it MIGHT be all you need. I say ALL with some jest because I KNOW how much work a 10 pound weight loss is.
Good luck and thank your lucky genes for that excellent HDL.

I am new to the forum and would like some advice.

I am 63. My latest cholesterol numbers are tot 256; LDL 165; HDL 79; tri 60. The LDL is up 20 points since last test. My test was taken 5 days after returning from feasting and drinking my way across Europe for two weeks - 4 pound weight gain from normal.

My doctor wants me to go on Lipitor; I have an aversion to ongoing drugs and am on none at moment. Should I give in or wait three months for a retest when weight and lifestyle is back to normal?

Thanks for any comments,
Mike


Hi Mikenk, I'm waiting for the results of advanced cholesterol testing (VAP) and I've been doing a lot of reading about it. This is a test that not only measures your HDL and LDL levels, it tells you what pattern and type of particles you have. Pattern B is small, dense LDL particles which are more dangerous, and Pattern A is large buoyant LDL particles which are desirable and decrease your risk. From what I've read, the fact that you have a HIGH HDL (wish I had yours!) and a LOW triglyceride - this combination is highly suggestive of the desirable Pattern A. You might want to talk to your doctor about that - you might be in much better shape than you think.

You could ask for the advanced testing to see if you have other factors that put you at risk (such as elevated lp(a)). I would want all that information before agreeing to the Lipitor.

I'm no doctor, but your numbers don't look that bad to me, especially when you look at the ratios.

Good luck and best of health to you!

Mikenk,

If I had your blood results, I'd be sleeping very soundly....

Do some independent research - the link between cholesterol and heart attacks is not as strong as you may think.

Many doctors blindly prescribe statins because that's what the AMA guildelines tell them, and they are a group-think society, largely for legal liability reasons. They don't want to be sued by you if you have a heart attack and they did NOT insist you be on statins. You may have a doctor who is aggressively marketing statins - but it's your body, and you're the one who decide whether you take the drugs or not.

Review some of the prior posts from this site - there's a lot of good info about alternative lifestyles, diets, supplements you can combine with exercise to hopefully not have to go on a drug for the rest of your life.

In the end, it is your choice, with your doctor's guidance, what course of treatment you take.

Whichever it is, Best of luck...

HubbleRules
:cool: