I was going to make the same comment as Tex, that the myths about high cholesterol were dispelled a few years ago.
If your doctor is following this outdated totally misguided beliefs, I would source a new doctor..
Question for Mast Cell/Histamine Conquerors
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Histamine
Tex,
Again thank you for your response and I certainly agree with it. I have been eating eggs always because I felt the doctors were mistaken. My GP has said that she would rather see my cholesterol 250 than have it below 200.
I really would like to quit the statins but when I did some time ago, my cholesterol shot up a lot. I probably would not worry about that except that I had a stent put in 3 years ago. I feel somewhat that I might need another one. I will be 85 in March and I have only one cousin that lived to 89. The rest of my relatives died earlier. My mom was 59. My blood pressure has always been on the high side so I am on 4 different pills for that. I now take 2 cholesterol pills - Pravastatin and Zetia. I am thinking about dropping the Zetia. My tests yesterday for lipids were good. Total was down to 221 (had been 480 about 45 years ago) LDL was 134 and HDL was 57. Six months ago it was much worse. That's why I'm in such a quandary. Would I be stupid to quit both of the cholesterol pills? Thanks for your patience with me!
Jean
Again thank you for your response and I certainly agree with it. I have been eating eggs always because I felt the doctors were mistaken. My GP has said that she would rather see my cholesterol 250 than have it below 200.
I really would like to quit the statins but when I did some time ago, my cholesterol shot up a lot. I probably would not worry about that except that I had a stent put in 3 years ago. I feel somewhat that I might need another one. I will be 85 in March and I have only one cousin that lived to 89. The rest of my relatives died earlier. My mom was 59. My blood pressure has always been on the high side so I am on 4 different pills for that. I now take 2 cholesterol pills - Pravastatin and Zetia. I am thinking about dropping the Zetia. My tests yesterday for lipids were good. Total was down to 221 (had been 480 about 45 years ago) LDL was 134 and HDL was 57. Six months ago it was much worse. That's why I'm in such a quandary. Would I be stupid to quit both of the cholesterol pills? Thanks for your patience with me!
Jean
You might think you understood what I said but what you don't realize is that what I said was not what I meant!
Histamine
Tex,
I'm sorry that I missed mentioning that it was the cardiologist that fusses over the cholesterol. I only went to him because of a fear of needing another stent.
Jean
I'm sorry that I missed mentioning that it was the cardiologist that fusses over the cholesterol. I only went to him because of a fear of needing another stent.
Jean
You might think you understood what I said but what you don't realize is that what I said was not what I meant!
Histamine
Gabes,
I just now saw your message after writing to Tex. Thanks! It's the cardiologist that's the problem. My GP isn't too worried about it but I think she hesitates to take me off of statins.
Jean
I just now saw your message after writing to Tex. Thanks! It's the cardiologist that's the problem. My GP isn't too worried about it but I think she hesitates to take me off of statins.
Jean
You might think you understood what I said but what you don't realize is that what I said was not what I meant!
-
Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Jeanie
there can be a few reasons as to why the body has high blood pressure and imbalances with cholesterol.
Inflammation is one main reason for blood pressure issues. I have been able to taper off my blood pressure medication since fixing key deficiencies (magnesium for one) and reducing inflammation in my body via healing the gut and fixing nutritional imbalances. (deficiencies and chelating/clearing excess toxins/metals)
the same for cholesterol - if there is an imbalance of key nutrients then the body does not process correctly and we can have high or low levels.
in my case due to another health issue, I struggle with high copper, and high unbound copper which is very toxic. this high unbound copper affects my cholesterol, nervous system, causes oxidative stress (which affects digestion)
given what you have said above and based on my learnings thus far my suggestion would be, heal the gut, fix the key deficiencies first (Vit D3, magnesium etc) then consider tapering off the statins. If the cholesterol is majorily affected at this point , I would do further testing to see what imbalances are there that are influencing this.
there can be a few reasons as to why the body has high blood pressure and imbalances with cholesterol.
Inflammation is one main reason for blood pressure issues. I have been able to taper off my blood pressure medication since fixing key deficiencies (magnesium for one) and reducing inflammation in my body via healing the gut and fixing nutritional imbalances. (deficiencies and chelating/clearing excess toxins/metals)
the same for cholesterol - if there is an imbalance of key nutrients then the body does not process correctly and we can have high or low levels.
in my case due to another health issue, I struggle with high copper, and high unbound copper which is very toxic. this high unbound copper affects my cholesterol, nervous system, causes oxidative stress (which affects digestion)
given what you have said above and based on my learnings thus far my suggestion would be, heal the gut, fix the key deficiencies first (Vit D3, magnesium etc) then consider tapering off the statins. If the cholesterol is majorily affected at this point , I would do further testing to see what imbalances are there that are influencing this.
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Histamine
Gabes,
Thanks. I surely wish the doctors knew even half of what you do! Do family genetics have much influence on our health? It seems that almost all of my relatives died of either heart problem or a stroke - mostly from strokes. My brother's blood pressure could go up to around 300. (His wife was an RN). Most of the doctors I have seen don't have a clue about diet. They surely know how the prescription pad works though!
I have been taking around 7000 IU of D3 and 3 tablets of Magnesium daily. That might be partly why the lipids were better. I also take a lot of other supplements too. And several years ago I went to a specialist that checked for heavy metals and she did a detox on me. I have been trying to stay away from histamine foods also.
Again, thanks
Jean
Thanks. I surely wish the doctors knew even half of what you do! Do family genetics have much influence on our health? It seems that almost all of my relatives died of either heart problem or a stroke - mostly from strokes. My brother's blood pressure could go up to around 300. (His wife was an RN). Most of the doctors I have seen don't have a clue about diet. They surely know how the prescription pad works though!
I have been taking around 7000 IU of D3 and 3 tablets of Magnesium daily. That might be partly why the lipids were better. I also take a lot of other supplements too. And several years ago I went to a specialist that checked for heavy metals and she did a detox on me. I have been trying to stay away from histamine foods also.
Again, thanks
Jean
You might think you understood what I said but what you don't realize is that what I said was not what I meant!
Yes, most definitely. Cholesterol levels especially are very closely tied to family genetics. And cardiovascular issues also are closely tied to family genetics. If your cholesterol level was 480 45 years ago, you are probably very fortunate to have survived those days, because the first statin (lovastatin) wasn't approved until 30 years ago, and nothing lowers cholesterol levels as effectively as statins.Jean wrote:Do family genetics have much influence on our health?
I wish my cholesterol level was in the 325 range, but unfortunately it's only 200, and nothing I do seems to increase it. But 480 is a little scary. And anything above about 350 is not good. How on earth did you get your cholesterol level down in those days?
With your genetics, you may not be able to completely avoid taking statins if your cholesterol level goes above 350 without a statin.
Regarding blood pressure, I've been taking Plavix (or a generic equivalent) since 2010 because of a second TIA. IOW, I've been taking a minimal dose of lisinopril for 5 years now to lower my stroke risk. But I recently stopped taking it because my BP was consistently too low (IMO). Back before I resolved my magnesium deficiency, my systolic BP was typically in the 130–140 range, except during the winter, when it would increase a bit. This was before I started taking lisinopril. Lisinopril appears to reduce my BP by about 15–20 points.
But since I resolved my long-standing magnesium deficiency early last summer, my BP has been going down. If I take lisinopril, my systolic pressure is usually in the 95–105 range. That seems a bit too low to suit me. Without the lisinopril, my systolic BP for the last 12 days has ranged from 105 to 120. According to what I read, 115 is considered ideal.
So I believe the vitamin D3 and the magnesium you are taking should be very beneficial. But I'm not sure that you can safely completely stop taking a statin. Your GP seems to have a very good understanding of the cholesterol issue. The worst possible cholesterol level (as far as mortality risk is concerned) is around 150, according to published research, and your GP is apparently aware of that.
When I had the second TIA, the ER doctor also prescribed simvastatin, and I took it for a while. But a few months earlier I had undergone surgery that included the removal of part of my terminal ileum, and that in itself tends to lower cholesterol levels, because the terminal ileum is where the bile fatty acids that are used by the body to make cholesterol, are reabsorbed for recycling. So the combination of the loss of part of my terminal ileum and the statin pushed my cholesterol level down to below 150 for a while. That scared the heck out of me. And a few months later I began to wake up with "locked" fingers that I could not fold down, without using my other hand to force them down, so that's when I stopped taking the statin. And after a couple of months, the problem with my fingers faded away.
Sorry about getting side-tracked.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Histamine
Tex,
I shall soon have a visit with my cardiologist . I said about forty years ago that I would not quit eating eggs and I still stand by that. Three years ago, when I left the hospital, they told me I could eat up to 2 eggs a week. Hah! I realize they aren't up on everything so I ignored it. My holistic Doctor is pretty much in agreement with me. But the cardiologist AND the gastroenterologist still have a lot to learn.
Did I mention that it was Ancel Keyes from the Univ. of Minnesota that started the flap about cholesterol fifty years ago. There was an article in the Minneapolis paper recently that refuted his ideas.
I certainly do not want to do anything that would affect my memory. My latest lipids panel indicates that my total cholesterol has dropped to the low 200's. I suppose if I cut back on the meds that it would go up significantly as it did previously. However, I am concerned about my frequent leg cramps in addition to the memory concern.
Jean
I shall soon have a visit with my cardiologist . I said about forty years ago that I would not quit eating eggs and I still stand by that. Three years ago, when I left the hospital, they told me I could eat up to 2 eggs a week. Hah! I realize they aren't up on everything so I ignored it. My holistic Doctor is pretty much in agreement with me. But the cardiologist AND the gastroenterologist still have a lot to learn.
Did I mention that it was Ancel Keyes from the Univ. of Minnesota that started the flap about cholesterol fifty years ago. There was an article in the Minneapolis paper recently that refuted his ideas.
I certainly do not want to do anything that would affect my memory. My latest lipids panel indicates that my total cholesterol has dropped to the low 200's. I suppose if I cut back on the meds that it would go up significantly as it did previously. However, I am concerned about my frequent leg cramps in addition to the memory concern.
Jean
You might think you understood what I said but what you don't realize is that what I said was not what I meant!
Jean,
When I "Googled" the keywords "magnesium statins", the first hit on the top of the list was the interesting article at the link below.
Run From Your Statin Recommending Cardiologist
If you scroll down the page to the section subtitled, "The Real Reason to Run From Your Cardiologist", there's a lot of good information about magnesium and cardiovascular health.
Tex
When I "Googled" the keywords "magnesium statins", the first hit on the top of the list was the interesting article at the link below.
Run From Your Statin Recommending Cardiologist
If you scroll down the page to the section subtitled, "The Real Reason to Run From Your Cardiologist", there's a lot of good information about magnesium and cardiovascular health.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Histamine
Tex,
Thank you, thank you. Great article! After taking statins for many years, I am now on my second cancer and I also developed type 2 Diabetez around 10 years ago!
I shall continue the magnesium and coQ10 and probably drop the statins. It should be an interesting visit with my cardiologist. Would you agree I should give him that article? Would it do any good?
After I had the stent put in 3 years ago I had to visit a cardiologist. Did not like her. She told me blankly that she did not want to discuss anything except my heart! I am not just a heart. There are a lot of parts to me and they need to work together! I have refused to see that Doctor! The current one is okay but still wooed by the drug companies!
Jean
Thank you, thank you. Great article! After taking statins for many years, I am now on my second cancer and I also developed type 2 Diabetez around 10 years ago!
I shall continue the magnesium and coQ10 and probably drop the statins. It should be an interesting visit with my cardiologist. Would you agree I should give him that article? Would it do any good?
After I had the stent put in 3 years ago I had to visit a cardiologist. Did not like her. She told me blankly that she did not want to discuss anything except my heart! I am not just a heart. There are a lot of parts to me and they need to work together! I have refused to see that Doctor! The current one is okay but still wooed by the drug companies!
Jean
You might think you understood what I said but what you don't realize is that what I said was not what I meant!
That's a tough question, because a lot of physicians (especially specialists) get downright upset when a patient brings up something they found on the Internet. Some even "lose their cool" when they encounter an "educated" patient who challenges something the specialist recommends. They are certified by the state to be experts, so they assume that they are the last word in expertise regarding their specialty, whether their working knowledge is current or out of date.Jean wrote:It should be an interesting visit with my cardiologist. Would you agree I should give him that article? Would it do any good?
And yes, I get the impression that many specialists become specialists just so they won't be expected to know anything about how the rest of the body operates. It really simplifies their job. But it does their patients a huge disfavor, because most of them even ignore other issues when prescribing medications, and that can cause some real problems. And the truth is that what happens in virtually any system of the body affects some (often many, and sometimes all) other body systems and the organs that make up those systems. They expect every patient's PCP to take care of overseeing the "big picture".
But of course most PCPs may not have the information needed to do that because they don't have specialized training (so they may feel obligated to trust the specialist). IMO a physician who insists on using "tunnel vision" when diagnosing and treating a patient can sometimes turn out to be that patients worst enemy, because they can cause more problems than they correct. Fortunately that doesn't happen very often, though.
You're most welcome,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Histamine
Tex, you said that so well! I totally agree. Your first paragraph reminded me of the time I mentioned to my oncologist something I had read on the Internet. He went rather ballistic. They seem to fear we may learn something! I realize he fears we might find something wrong, but where would I be without the internet. Actually I first learned about my MC when I found your forum. I certainly didn't hear about it from my Gastroenterologist. I went to him because of my diarrhea so he did a colonoscopy and actually found that I had Collagenous colitis but then did not even tell me about it. A couple years later I called and asked for the report and there it was! Meanwhile I had ordered the stool sample and found out about it from that.
Mucho thanks!
Jean
Mucho thanks!
Jean
You might think you understood what I said but what you don't realize is that what I said was not what I meant!