Please Help Me Interpret My Numbers! - High Cholesterol Message Board

nancyinnewjersey · 06-21-2002, 06:53 PM

Hi! I hope some of you can help me. I am a 47 year old female, in excellent health, not overweight, with normal blood pressure. I exercise very regularly and am very fit. You can imagine my surprise when I got my bloodwork back!
Total Cholesterol 270
Triglicerides 168
HDL 66
VLDL (whatever that is!) 33
LDL 170
LDL/HDL Ratio 2.5
When I called my internist to discuss these numbers, he said something about "family history" (which I DO have) and doctors coming under fire for "undertreating women." He then put me on 40 mgs. of Zocor daily.
I would love to hear from all of you as to what you think of my numbers and my doctors' suggested treatment. Thank you so very much!

JJ · 06-21-2002, 10:30 PM

Did he give U an option of trying to lower the numbers with diet? Even though U have family history of cholesterol problems, I don't see where your numbers are that bad. Maybe a slight change in diet, especially less carbs. might just do the trick for you.
I would call and ask if he/she thinks it is worth a try. JMHO.... Good luck!!

JJ

nancyinnewjersey · 06-22-2002, 05:18 AM

Hi JJ~ Thank you so much for your reply! I kind of thought my numbers were not so unmanageable that I couldn't at least attempt to lower them through my diet (altho honestly I don't eat badly at all.) Has anyone ever lowered their numbers significantly through diet?

HMason · 06-22-2002, 07:05 AM

Hi Nancy

I've been taking Lipitor for 2 years (similar to Zocor) with great results. Overall chol has been reduced from 240 to 160. Your LDL and Triglycerides are too high and the Zocor will bring both numbers to good levels. 40 mg sounds a bit much but your Doc should know best. I do 10 mg of Lipitor. Take it in the evening b4 bed because your cholesterol rises naturally during the nite. Trying to reduce your LDL (should be 100 or less) and Triglycerides (should be 100 or less) by diet alone will not work. Not to worry - I think your on the right track. Good luck!

JJ · 06-22-2002, 09:03 AM

Nancy, I would ask to at least have a 6 months try of changeing your diet. I know U said U eat well and exercise, but there just might be something U could change? I know most folks that have done well with diet have really cut back on carbs. like , potatoes, pasta, bread etc. Then again there are folks like myself and hubby who seem to get nowhere with diet and exercise, but we took the statins and some fibrates and got lousy side effects, so ours is a never ending battle.

I know when I took the Lipitor and the Baycol, both brought my numbers down 98 pts. in a month, I was well into the 160's and hubby was into the 140's. If U can take those drugs they do work, but alot of us can't
so the search goes on. Good luck with which ever method you do and keep us posted.

JJ