Total cholesterol 275
Triglycerides 261
HDL 60
LDL 163
Ratio 4.5

My doctor gave me a prescription for 40 mg. Lipitor.
I've been eating high carbs and sugar and would like to try
changing my diet first. He insists on starting the meds
immediately. All my other results came back normal.
I've filled the prescription but would like to hear some
opinions before I begin. Thanks.

Ah, I get to say it again. Just remind yourself that YOU are your own health manager. The doctor is your paid consultant. A manager typically listens to the advice offered by his/her paid consultants including the reasoning behind it, but is ultimately responsible for the decision on whether to take that advice or not. Some doctors can't handle that kind of relationship, preferring a situation where their orders will be blindly followed. In that case, the patient has to decide if it is time to change doctors.

IMHO you have a good chance of getting your numbers down a lot with just dietary changes. 52 of those LDL points came from the triglycerides. If you could get your trigs down to 100 or less (which you could likely do given your indication you've had a high carb diet), your LDL would still be 131. That's still a bit high, especially if you have other heart health risks like family history, high blood pressure or the like. But with additional lifestyle changes, it is within reason that one could do it. It is certainly worth a try.

One problem with starting the meds first, then trying to change your lifestyle is that then you will have no way of knowing how much impact changing your lifestyle was having. And of course, your doctor is likely to attribute the whole improvement to the Lipitor.

In addition to cutting the bad carbs, saturated fats and trans fats, try to increase legumes, oat bran and other sources of soluble fiber in the diet. It can help usher dietary cholesterol out of the intestinal track before it is absorbed and will thus help keep your serum cholesterol down.

Thanks Uff-Da!

If only doctors would take the time to explain the options like you have.

Total cholesterol 275
Triglycerides 261
HDL 60
LDL 163
Ratio 4.5

My doctor gave me a prescription for 40 mg. Lipitor.
I've been eating high carbs and sugar and would like to try
changing my diet first. He insists on starting the meds
immediately. All my other results came back normal.
I've filled the prescription but would like to hear some
opinions before I begin. Thanks.


Autumn...As Uff said, I think although your numbers are a bit high, they could be reduced with diet and exercise. Unless U have other risk factors like, diabetes, history of heart disease, family history of early heart disease, then I think the dr. wanting U on Lipitor, especially 40 mgs. is overkill. My numbers were very similar to yours in 200, and they gave me 10mgs. of Lipitor, which I couldn't tolerate after 3 months, but within one month, my TC went from 266 to 168. I can't remember what my other numbers were exactly, but know they were about like yours, so if 10 mgs. got me that big of a reduction, I can't possibly imagine what 40 would do. Due to nasty side effects I stopped all statins and have been trying to control numbers with diet and exercise, so far, not too bad.

I assume U already talked to the dr. about lifestyle changes and he isn't about to listen to it, don't feel bad, many of us have had the same problem. If it were me, I would give it at least 2-3 months of a new eating lifestyle and see what happens. U can also try taking a 1/4 to 1/2 Tsp. of cinnamon each day, that is suppose to be good for not only cholesterol, but keeping blood glucose levels stable. I started 5 months ago doing the cinnamon thing and also drinking alot of green tea, and 2 months ago my TC went from 239 to 198 and LDL from 161 to 126. Didn't do a thing for my Trigs or HDL, but who knows, it might at least help U. I just use the regular cinnamon U use from your spice rack, don't take any cinnamon oil, too strong. At least the cinnamon is cheap, about 1.39 at any groc. store, some even cheaper!!!

Best wishes, and good luck...... :wave:

Cinnamon, low carb, less saturated fat, legumes, oat bran and 30 minutes of walking. I'm going to try this for 90 days and then have it re-checked. If there is little change, then I will start on meds at a lower dosage. I'm hoping I don't have to. I'll check back
and report. Thanks again.

Cinnamon, low carb, less saturated fat, legumes, oat bran and 30 minutes of walking. I'm going to try this for 90 days and then have it re-checked. If there is little change, then I will start on meds at a lower dosage. I'm hoping I don't have to. I'll check back
and report. Thanks again.

Sounds like a good plan to me. Make sure U take a good multi vitamin, and some extra vitamin C. I take a multi and 500 C in the a.m. For breakfast Oatmeal, cinnamon and my normal cup of coffee, then after dinner, I take 600mgs. of Calcium, a garlic pill, 1200 mgs. and another 500 C.

I love cheese, always did, but lately I have been eating more cottage cheese, 2% and also a thing of Columbo yogurt each night about 9 while watching tv. God only knows if I am doing things right, but hey, ya can't say I'm not trying..... ;)

Good luck, keep us posted how it goes, and hopefully U can avoid meds., and if it is a must, definitely start low..... :wave:

Try reducing the sugar. Regardless, Don't do the Lipitor. I have spent over 250 hours doing research on cholesterol and cholesterol medications. I would debate your doctor at any time. Also there is nothing wrong with your ratio, which in turn means there is nothing wrong with your numbers. HDL is always good to have higher, but people try to lower there LDL when LDL is used by the heart for energy. Triclycerides can be increased by eating too much processed sugar. I don't know if you're male or female, but if female, lowering cholesterol has never been shown to decrease mortality. It has been shown to greatly increase cancer rates in women. If you're a male, there is only a small statistical increase at young to mid age. Where do I get my results...? They are from the Statin Study, and other sources. The Statin Study used all of the cholesterol lowering studies that doctors THINK they are quoting. THe difference with the Statin Study is that they complied all of the results and read the reports carefully. Careful note was made of the exclusions, ages, duration, side effects, cancer, and many more points in the study. All the Statin Study did was pick the studies/tests apart and find the flaws/short comings I have read the reports also. Even though I have no medical background, I don't need one to review test procedures ages,population used, and results. I also have the personal expierence from my mother's condition. Her myopathies, which resulted to her being in a wheelchair, were caused by Zocor, Lipitor, Zetia, and Welchol. It does not have to be a statin. Lowering of cholesterol is the problem. I don't mean to be rude to doctors, but they need to get the studies, and READ them, and not just the conclusion from the drug reps or drug company literature. Hope you do well, and your ratio is JUST FINE.

I agree to much of what has been said here. I'm SHOCKED :eek: that your Dr went RIGHT to 40 mg without wanting to try 10 mg first :nono: That's a MASSIVE dose and should be the LAST resort. Based on my experience, 10 mg should get you to a total of under 200 and LDL below 100. Should your diet fail to produce results, I would DEMAND that he have you try the lowest dose (10 mg) FIRST! Your trigs are way too high. I think Omega 3 fish oil ...2 Grams of DHA/EPA content (NOT total of oil itself) daily... will bring the trigs down.
Good Luck!

Are you, by chance, a female without a history of heart disease or diabetes? I haven't read the research study myself, but according to the source below, in the ASCOT study, women taking Lipitor had 10% more heart attacks than those taking a placebo! If you're female, I'd read this before going on Lipitor, and perhaps do some additional research:

http://www.communitycatalyst.org/index.php?doc_id=944

I'm female, 50's, and take 50 mg. of Atenolol for high blood pressure. (due to
poor eating habits, not exercising enough and extra weight, in my opinion)
No heart disease in my family. No other meds or medical problems.
I work as a Journalist and frequent the Health Boards often. A common thread
is the caution patients talk about when deciding whether or not to take statins.
The side effects are similar and shared, yet so often dismissed by doctors. Now I am facing it. I had hoped my doctor would have given me a few alternatives. But out came the prescription pad for 40 mg. I've decided to give myself 3 months on a new
eating and exercise plan. If my results are still high after that, I will start on a lower
dose of statins.

Total cholesterol 275
Triglycerides 261
HDL 60
LDL 163
Ratio 4.5

My doctor gave me a prescription for 40 mg. Lipitor.
I've been eating high carbs and sugar and would like to try
changing my diet first. He insists on starting the meds
immediately. All my other results came back normal.
I've filled the prescription but would like to hear some
opinions before I begin. Thanks.


Autumn1,

You should be aware that 40mg Lipitor is a very high and potent dose. You should be extremely careful if you go on that doseage, and be extremely careful about any sudden, unexplained muscle pain or weakness or tingling sensations. It could be a sign of adverse reaction to the Lipitor.

Frankly, I think your doctor is completely irresponsible for suggesting statins without even trying lifestyle changes. He sounds like a classic 'pill pusher' to me. I'd take his advice with a huge grain of salt.

Follow some of the recommendations above. Try to stop using sugar - cut way back on sweets. Look up 'glycemic index' on the internet, and stick with carbs that have a low glycemic index score.

Best of luck,

HubbleRules
:cool:

Good for you...I don't know if i'm allowed to give phone numbers here, but look up the statin study. Then call them. Marvin (ext. 215) will be able to help you. You need their research imformation on women and cholesterol. ALso, part of my mothers problem was taking high blood pressure medication with Lipitor. She took cartia/diltiazem. It is a substrate/inhibitor of the cytochrome 450 3A4 pathway. In effect it intesified the serum concentration of lipitor by 3.9 times, eventually causing a buildup in my mother.