High cholesterol? Need advice

PepsiLvr · #1 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 06:32 AM

Ok, my last checkup came back and everyting was good... A1C was 5.8 blah blah blah except my doc said that my cholesterol (LDL) was a bit high. He said that it came back at 90 and he wanted it below 70. I did some research and read that anything under 100 was optimal. I am T1 and have not had any problems with cholesterol or blood pressure or anything of the sort. Now my doc wants to put me on Zocor 10mg (sp?) to bring it down. Is there a different standard for us diabetics as far as cholesterol goes? I really don't feel comfortable taking a medication when I don't think it is necessary. I am going to talk to the doc again and get my labs done again as well just to make sure there wasn't a mistake. Should I get a second opinion? Any help is appreicated.

PepsiLvr · #2 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 06:39 AM

Ok, just read that "Zocor is a cholesterol medication proven to significantly reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with heart disease or diabetes regardless of cholesterol level

I am almost thinking doc might be pushing this to get a kickback of some sort? Is anyone else on this?

Clint · #3 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 06:56 AM

My doc wants mine under 100 but they have told me that in people @ extreme risk of heart disease, they (the medical community) are now shooting for under 70. At some point, they will want mine under 70 as my family has heart disease running rampant.

duck · #4 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 06:59 AM

You'll find a lot of us here are leery of taking additional drugs, especially when they don't meet common criteria. Is it possible for you to get a second opinion? Or maybe one of the esteemed members here can ask their doc/endo during their next visit (hint hint).

LauRa Lu · #5 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 07:14 AM

I had high cholesterol at my last doctor visit too. I was told that if it didn't come down by my next visit that i'd need to take some medication for it.

I've been avoiding cheese, cut out eggs all together and eat lots of fish and veg now. Hopefuly It'll come down, but it might not.

Is there anything you can change with your diet that might help so that you dont need any medication for it?

2Cert · #6 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 07:26 AM

My doctor also wants the LDL under 70. I'm taking Zocor now and have had no problems with it. However, some have severe leg cramps and it can also damage the liver. Some things you can do on your own to bring it down are to limit red meat, hard to do if you are like me. Also, peanuts as well as other foods with vegetable oil can lower the LDL level. Eating fish also has the same effect, just don’t fry it

middnite03 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 07:27 AM

I was just taken off of zocor, and my ldl was at 120, and put on vytorin, after a month my ldl was at 70, which made my doc very happy. I guess it's all over now that doc's want people in that range if you have diabetis????

PepsiLvr · #8 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duck

Is it possible for you to get a second opinion?

Quote:

Originally Posted by LauRa Lu

Is there anything you can change with your diet that might help so that you dont need any medication for it?

Yes, it is possible to get a second opinion and I am really thinking about that. I read that in testing this drug in animals that optic nerve damage occured (with extremely high levels of the drug) and cataracts (sp?) developed. I also read that fertility in rats was affected as well. With all of the drugs being pulled from the market lately I don't think eye problems or fertility is something I want to chance. I think I am just going to tell the doc that I don't want to take this unless it is NECESSARY and also ask him to try to find something that didn't cause so many problem in studies.

As far as diet goes, I just eat whatever I want. I'm the kind of person that thinks cheese should be it's own food group

I guess I'll have to watch that and other things I eat as well. I can probably get this number down on my own but we'll see.

Jamie · #9 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 08:01 AM

I'm on lipitor for cholesterol and experience no problems. I have reduced my cheese and completely cut eggs out of my diet. I try to eat only lean meat, but sometimes I still cheat with a nice fat prime rib steak covered with fried onions and mushrooms.

TvBabe · #10 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PepsiLvr

Ok, my last checkup came back and everyting was good... A1C was 5.8 blah blah blah except my doc said that my cholesterol (LDL) was a bit high. He said that it came back at 90 and he wanted it below 70. I did some research and read that anything under 100 was optimal. Any help is appreicated.

Do yoy exercise at all? I was on Lipitor for around 5 years, started a walking program and all my clolesterol numbers really fell! I am now off Lipitor as a result. Walking made a huge difference in my case.

PepsiLvr · #11 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TvBabe

Do yoy exercise at all? I was on Lipitor for around 5 years, started a walking program and all my clolesterol numbers really fell! I am now off Lipitor as a result. Walking made a huge difference in my case.

I don't specifically exercise but I am pretty active. My GF has a very active 3yo son and we are always out doing something like theme parks, going for walks, or running around the yard. The only thing is at my job I just sit all day which doesn't help. I think I'm going to tell doc that I am not taking the zocor and just wait until my next visit to discuss further. Meanwhile I am going to watch my diet and see if the numbers come down. It only came back at 90 so I don't think there's too much to be concerned about yet.

duck · #12 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PepsiLvr

I don't specifically exercise but I am pretty active. My GF has a very active 3yo son and we are always out doing something like theme parks, going for walks, or running around the yard. The only thing is at my job I just sit all day which doesn't help. I think I'm going to tell doc that I am not taking the zocor and just wait until my next visit to discuss further. Meanwhile I am going to watch my diet and see if the numbers come down. It only came back at 90 so I don't think there's too much to be concerned about yet.

I'll betcha real money the doc will INSIST you take Zocor. But I'd do the same thing you're doing; your numbers are proposterous, try to lower them first through behavior modification and then if that does not work, resort to more drastic measures.

koblenz · #13 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 12:31 PM

My cholestorol was a little high as well (110). I went on Lipitor and have had no problems. My last checkup had me down to 86 and I was like Woo Hoo.

My doctor then said... "not so fast...". While 86 is good, I want to see it under 70. So then I hit him with the ... " I've read in lots of places that the goal should be under 100...".

He said that the new goal that most experts agree on is below 70; expecially if you are in a "high-risk" group like diabetes.

He could have just been blowin' sunshine... but that is the 411 I got!

ksa01 · #14 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 02:36 PM

I've been told by my endo and a cardiologist that the new standard for diabetics is for cholesterol to be below 70. Unfortunately, they both said that the only way to actually achieve this goal is to take a drug such as Zocor.

I agree with you about not wanting to take any medications that aren't absolutely necessary, but I still I will consider such a drug when the time comes. For now, the docs don't want me taking anything like this--it's not safe for women to be taking if they planning any pregnancies because of the risk to the baby.

Ultimately, I think it's your own personal decision no matter what the doctor reccommends. You're wise to look into the drug and to consider your own lifestyle and risk factors for heart disease before just jumping on board.

MarkMunday · #15 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 11:34 PM

PepsiLvr,

These doctors are crazy!

90 is not high for LDL. And by istelf, it does not indicate heart disease risk. That depends on the relationship between HDL and total cholesterol. As long as your HDL isn't tool low, you should be fine.

The conventional wisdom is that the Total/HDL ratio should be less than 4.5 for heart disease risk to be acceptable. I have the same LDL as you. But my Total/HDL ratio is 2.3. So my heart disease risk is extremely low. My LDL doesn't need to be any lower because of my high HDL. And your situation could be similar. Check it out before you start taking more drugs andmaking the supplier richer.

Besides which, cholesterol is essential for the human body to function. Without it, your cells would disintegrate and you would become an amorphous mass. INMHO Statins have become become big pharma business. And doctors have become unwitting pawns in a money making chess game.

Cheers,

Mark