I'm new here. - High Cholesterol Message Board

ValerieField · 01-17-2005, 06:45 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

Lenin · 01-18-2005, 07:45 AM

Valerie,

First to convert to "United States

": 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, 11:59 AM

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

patricia22 · 01-18-2005, 01:01 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

ValerieField · 01-18-2005, 01:20 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