Guest guest Posted August 16, 2005 Report Share Posted August 16, 2005 In a message dated 8/16/2005 2:04:58 PM Eastern Standard Time, staceypmartin@... writes: > did you try policosanol after stopping a statin to see if the policosanol > would work as well, or did you just try the policosanol with the lower > numbers after not being on a statin and find that your numbers went up with it? The latter. I was never on a statin and tried the policosanol as a means to lower my numbers. Policosanol had the opposite effect of what I had expected. It made my numbers considerably worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2005 Report Share Posted August 16, 2005 In a message dated 8/16/2005 3:10:51 PM Eastern Standard Time, gretchen@... writes: > Wasn't this the period during which you went to the hospital and had a > stent inserted? I'm sure this affected your physiology. For instance, I suspect > the hospital didn't include Merlot on the menu, and you were probably getting > different drugs. All true, but I had the cholesterol tests about 25 days after discontinuing the other meds and restarting the Merlot. I'm going to get a meter to do my own testing of the lipids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2005 Report Share Posted August 16, 2005 In a message dated 8/16/2005 5:00:38 PM Eastern Standard Time, marysue@... writes: > Why don't you want to take a statin, ? Since you've already had > cardiovascular problems, it couldn't hurt, could it? A good question, Sue. I've read about the impact of statins on muscles and because of polio I'm very concerned about anything that might adversely effect my muscle function. It's all a trade off. A small station dose may be worth a test, if all else fails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2005 Report Share Posted August 16, 2005 Were you doing any other things differently? Wasn't this the period during which you went to the hospital and had a stent inserted? I'm sure this affected your physiology. For instance, I suspect the hospital didn't include Merlot on the menu, and you were probably getting different drugs. Gretchen > Well, I finally got my results from using policosanol. Not good, but at least > it was a test . . . now discontinued > > TOTAL = 236 was 215 > > LDL = 162 was 113 > > HDL = 76 was 89 > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2005 Report Share Posted August 16, 2005 Why don't you want to take a statin, ? Since you've already had cardiovascular problems, it couldn't hurt, could it? Sue > > The latter. I was never on a statin and tried the policosanol as a > means to > lower my numbers. Policosanol had the opposite effect of what I had > expected. > It made my numbers considerably worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 In a message dated 8/17/2005 7:34:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, andreafrankel@... writes: > One thing to try first is Red Yeast Rice (I use Doctor's Best brand from > iherb.com). It has a low level of natural lovastatin, along with other stuff, > and by taking 2 capsules twice a day, I was able to bring my total > cholesterol down from over 240 to 181 in about 6 months. (Could have been sooner, but > that's when I was retested.) Again, supplement > with CoQ10. That's a great result, , (el) Thanks for the suggestion. Because of PPS I have to be very concerned about muscle loss. I'll be testing about once a month, therefore positive or negative results with any new protocol should be apparent fairly quickly. The first step is to wash out the policosanol effects and establish a new unmedicated reference condition. Cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 > Numerically, close Gretchen. My triglycerides were 57. I think Total Cholesterol = HDL + LDL + TG/5. So something is wrong. Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 > > Numerically, close Gretchen. My triglycerides were 57. > > I think Total Cholesterol = HDL + LDL + TG/5. > > So something is wrong. > > Gretchen That was also my understanding. However, a directly measured LDL can be different to calculated - but that's a big difference in 's case. His measured LDL was 162. With a total of 236, HDL of 76 (excellent btw) and trigs of 57 - also excellent, calculated LDL would be 149 compared with 162 measured. With that low trigs level and a trigs/HDL ratio of 0.75 (indicating low insulin resistance) I wouldn't have been very concerned if it was me; however I haven't had heart surgery so I can understand that the doc's would be looking for low LDL. In the circumstances, I suspect VLDL would be quite low and most of the LDL is fluffy. These are all guesses based on reading, not expertise - so don't take much notice, just musing. Cheers, Alan, T2 d & e, Australia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 DEKEP@... wrote: > In a message dated 8/16/2005 5:00:38 PM Eastern Standard Time, > marysue@... writes: > > > Why don't you want to take a statin, ? Since you've already had > > cardiovascular problems, it couldn't hurt, could it? > > A good question, Sue. > > I've read about the impact of statins on muscles and because of polio I'm > very concerned about anything that might adversely effect my muscle > function. > It's all a trade off. A small station dose may be worth a test, if all > else > fails. If you have PPS, I'd be very, very cautious about taking a statin. You run the risk of losing more muscle function, permanently. If you do decide to, you will definitely need to supplement with CoQ10, 100 mg up to 300 mg a day. One thing to try first is Red Yeast Rice (I use Doctor's Best brand from iherb.com). It has a low level of natural lovastatin, along with other stuff, and by taking 2 capsules twice a day, I was able to bring my total cholesterol down from over 240 to 181 in about 6 months. (Could have been sooner, but that's when I was retested.) Again, supplement with CoQ10. I do not have PPS, but I do have CFS with fibromyalgia. I tried a statin, and by the second day my muscles were starting to show alarming weakness plus muscle pain. Needless to say, I stopped taking the statin right away. But I do not have that problem with the Red Yeast Rice. -- el (andreafrankel at sbcglobal dot net) " wake now! Discover that YOU are the song that the morning brings... " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 Prior to going on a statin, my cholesterol was not bad -- for a non-diabetic.Total 202. But LDL was 98 and HDL 96/great ratio, Trig 89. However, my PCP wanted me to try to get the LDL down to 70. So, I started taking 10 mg/day of Lipitor. It worked--got LDL down to 73 without change in diet. Also, gained close to 20 pounds in 3 months without change in diet. Couldn't figure it out. Thought I might be eating more. So, cut back on food. Next 3 months gained 15 pounds even though carefully watched portions. (Yikes! Gained 35 pounds of the 50 I so carefully lost over a year!)PCP ran tests and found I was sub-clinical hypothyroid. Also took me off Lipitor because all statins can cause weight gain. I'm now taking 75 mcg/day of Synthroid. We will see what happens over next 3-6 months with regard to my weight loss. She is not keen on me trying a statin again but would like to try Niaspan again (which can increase insulin resistance--and did in me). We will see.... Since by BG is within normal range (last A1c 5.5), my BP is 90/60, if my weight normalizes again (actually I was about 40 pounds overweight and losing at about a pound a week before the Lipitor experience), I'm not sure I really need to lower my LDL given my total chol level and my ratio. They say all diabetics should be treated as if they have heart disease but with labs like mine and being so well-controlled, I wonder. Your thoughts? Alyne T2, Dx 8-03, D & E and Metformin __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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