Concerns, Worries, Scared!

[JJ]

Just hang in there and see what happens. Sometimes being sick can cause your bloodwork to go a lil nuts, or so I am told. Sounds like your cholesterol is like mine, kind of up and down. I tried statins and had very nasty side effects, so I just do the best I can with diet and exercise.

I know folks with much higher numbers then mine and they are just fine, and also know other's with great numbers and they still have problems, so who really knows.

Whatever strain of flu, or what ever it is going around, man it knocks U for a loop. I know so many folks who said they can't remember last time they were so sick, and it hangs on like a best friend. A friend like that I, no anyone else needs. Like I said, don't stress out too much, that won't help, and believe it or not, stress can affect your numbers also. Guess they are right when they say stress can kill ya!! OH JOY!!! Best of wishes...


BTW, have they also checked your Thyroid, as if that is out of wack it can cause high cholesterol. My Thyroid is a bit sluggish, has been for over 25 yrs., so they are always testing me for that too. Oh the joys of getting older...DON'T LOSE IT!!!

Have a glass of wine, that is suppose to be good for cholesterol. I can't tolerate booze, one drink and I'm looped, but happy...

[Anxiety Man]

Well, I just had a conversation with the nurse, and she says that I definitely need to be taking something in the way of a med. This whole thing has me very upset because I am so sensitive to side effects of any medication. I mentioned being scared of the statins due to reading of so many horror stories of people getting neurological conditions from it. I have had problems for years off and on, with inner ear muscle spasms, and I'm almost certain the Zocor caused a flare up of that, and I can't take that. It unnerves me horribly to have those spasms!

I'm not in a very good mood now and will sign out.

[Lenin]

Anxiety Man,

Those symptoms are not likely with Zocor. But why not wait a week with NOTHING and then switch to Lipitor and see what happens. If BOTH are a mess for you then you'll need an alternative. THe Spartan life helps lots of people but it's a lot of "avoiding."

No you won't drop dead from a 160 LDL, but over a decade or a score, you might very well run into some problems that you would have avoided with a 130 LDL, especially with that gruesome set of genes you inherited.

[Anxiety Man]

I see my physician this afternoon to hash this all out.

[JJ]

Anxiety Man, have U ever had any tests done about your ear, that is kind of a strange symptom? Usually it is muscle weakness, pain and sometimes GI problems. On Lipitor I had the muscle pain and weekness, and on Baycol I had horrid GI problems. They tried me on Whelcol also, but that made me feel like a bloated, constipated whale.

Have a good talk with your dr. and ask if there isn't something else U can try, maybe even Niaspan???? I know your disgusted, been there too, as have so many, but U have to try and figure out a good diet, do exercise, lose weight if U need to, and possibly a few good suppliments. I tried fish oil, but they took me off as it raised my LDL, which is rare, but the dr. said it can happen. I hate fish, love to GO fishing, but not eat it, but I make sure I eat some each week now.

Definitely get some fiber into your system also, and watch those carbs. especially potatoes, white bread, white rice, and pasta. Any store has brown rice, so switch to that and whole wheat bread. I know it sounds rotten to give up alot of things U like, but if U can't take the meds., it is your only choice. I haven't given up everything entirely, just cut WAY back on alot of things I do like. Definitely stay away from fast foods and fried stuff, that is just asking for trouble.

Hope ya find a solution, and keep us posted how it is going....