I forgot to ask this about cholestyramine .....my cholesterol last year was 136... this med also removes cholesterol, so would that put me at risk for having too low a level of cholesterol? I've read that older adults should be careful about too low a level of cholesterol How would I compensate for that?
I also read that it interacts with blood thinners and beta blockers and I take Coreg CR for heart failure. And it also impacts kidneys.
So I'm kind of in a corner...the WD and D is problematic so I need the best med with least side effects...
And then there's Budesonide with its side effects...my doc is willing to try what I think is best. And I just wish I knew! Stopping the Pepto has lessened the amount and intensity and lessened the amount of times of WD so that was a good choice for me.
Can you help me think this next choice through?
Sunny
Forgot this in reply to Tex, Gabes, Vanessa, & Brandy
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Forgot this in reply to Tex, Gabes, Vanessa, & Brandy
"It is very difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it. "
Upton Sinclair
Upton Sinclair
Sunny,
This is a really tough question, because cholestyramine will surely lower your cholesterol level, and I don't know of an easy way to increase it (especially with dairy off the list of options). I may be all wet, but personally, I consider cholesterol to be a vital prerequisite for longevity due to its important role in the production of natural vitamin D, and the neuroprotective benefits it provides for the myelin sheaths that preserve nerve fibers throughout the body and especially in the brain. Because of that, cholesterol is protective of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of age-related dementia. And if you are taking medications for heart failure, cholestyramine is sure to have some limiting effect on them, although that can usually be minimized by careful timing.
Most doctors seem to feel that the lower one's cholesterol level, the healthier one must be. And they probably practice what they preach, because doctors seem to have one of the higher longevity ratings. But as you point out, research exists to suggest that significantly higher cholesterol levels are associated with the highest longevity rates after the age of 65, and especially after the age of 75. So obviously something else is involved besides just cholesterol. Longevity is determined by a complex relationship among many, many factors, and it's difficult to pinpoint which ones are the most important.
All that said, perhaps it might be more important to try the cholestyramine to see if it would stop the D, and worry about cholesterol levels later. As all of us are well aware, secretory diarrhea can be extremely hard on our health, and the sooner it is controlled, the better.
But let's consider another possibility. The fact that stopping Pepto-Bismol helped, suggests that you may be sensitive to salicylates. It's even possible that salicylates may be your main food sensitivity issue. A lot of foods contain salicylates. I wonder if one or more of the few foods you are eating might contain a high level of salicylates. If so, maybe you can substitute safer options.
Please be aware that similar to the situation with histamine sensitivity, it's impossible to totally avoid salicylates, so the goal is to minimize the total amount ingested each day. The site at the following link contains lists of foods in various groups that are high in salicylates. Please see how your current diet rates against those lists.
https://www.drugs.com/article/low-salicylate-diet.html
Tex
This is a really tough question, because cholestyramine will surely lower your cholesterol level, and I don't know of an easy way to increase it (especially with dairy off the list of options). I may be all wet, but personally, I consider cholesterol to be a vital prerequisite for longevity due to its important role in the production of natural vitamin D, and the neuroprotective benefits it provides for the myelin sheaths that preserve nerve fibers throughout the body and especially in the brain. Because of that, cholesterol is protective of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of age-related dementia. And if you are taking medications for heart failure, cholestyramine is sure to have some limiting effect on them, although that can usually be minimized by careful timing.
Most doctors seem to feel that the lower one's cholesterol level, the healthier one must be. And they probably practice what they preach, because doctors seem to have one of the higher longevity ratings. But as you point out, research exists to suggest that significantly higher cholesterol levels are associated with the highest longevity rates after the age of 65, and especially after the age of 75. So obviously something else is involved besides just cholesterol. Longevity is determined by a complex relationship among many, many factors, and it's difficult to pinpoint which ones are the most important.
All that said, perhaps it might be more important to try the cholestyramine to see if it would stop the D, and worry about cholesterol levels later. As all of us are well aware, secretory diarrhea can be extremely hard on our health, and the sooner it is controlled, the better.
But let's consider another possibility. The fact that stopping Pepto-Bismol helped, suggests that you may be sensitive to salicylates. It's even possible that salicylates may be your main food sensitivity issue. A lot of foods contain salicylates. I wonder if one or more of the few foods you are eating might contain a high level of salicylates. If so, maybe you can substitute safer options.
Please be aware that similar to the situation with histamine sensitivity, it's impossible to totally avoid salicylates, so the goal is to minimize the total amount ingested each day. The site at the following link contains lists of foods in various groups that are high in salicylates. Please see how your current diet rates against those lists.
https://www.drugs.com/article/low-salicylate-diet.html
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.
Sunny
I have been on Cholestyramine (1.5-2 scoops/day) for the past 15 months. My cholesterol before starting was 198 and when I checked it last month it was 178, so I only had a 10% drop in cholesterol. I also checked vitamin D and it was 48, a year ago my vitamin D was 63. Cholestryamine may have interfered with some absorption of vitamin D, so I have increased how much I take.
I take the Cholestryamine at 8 am and 9 pm, and any medication either 2 hours before the am dose of Cholestryamine or in the middle of the day.
Hope this helps,
I have been on Cholestyramine (1.5-2 scoops/day) for the past 15 months. My cholesterol before starting was 198 and when I checked it last month it was 178, so I only had a 10% drop in cholesterol. I also checked vitamin D and it was 48, a year ago my vitamin D was 63. Cholestryamine may have interfered with some absorption of vitamin D, so I have increased how much I take.
I take the Cholestryamine at 8 am and 9 pm, and any medication either 2 hours before the am dose of Cholestryamine or in the middle of the day.
Hope this helps,
Donna
Diagnosed with CC August 2011
Diagnosed with CC August 2011
Hi Sunny,
I have a similar experience to Donna's. On cholestyramine (average - 2 scoops/day) my total cholesterol went from 227 to 196. The LDL went from 114 to 96. Vitamin D went from 70 to 58, so I upped the dose some. I am not concerned about the impact of cholestyramine on my cholesterol levels for 2 reasons - we have longevity among women in our family and I enjoy a very high HDL (always over 100), which some believe is protective.
What did you decide to do?
Polly
I have a similar experience to Donna's. On cholestyramine (average - 2 scoops/day) my total cholesterol went from 227 to 196. The LDL went from 114 to 96. Vitamin D went from 70 to 58, so I upped the dose some. I am not concerned about the impact of cholestyramine on my cholesterol levels for 2 reasons - we have longevity among women in our family and I enjoy a very high HDL (always over 100), which some believe is protective.
What did you decide to do?
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
HI Sunny,
I am similar to Donna as well....as I vary between 1.5-2 scoops a day and have been on it for 4 months now and it has been the helping factor to stop my WD....I have yet to get my cholesterol checked just yet....but I had started taking 10,000 D3 when I started my cholestyramine process plus upped my Magnesium too....I was at 45 with my VitD so I don't want to let it get lowered if I can help it, as I have a hard time keeping it up as it is, but not having WD sure feels really good right now.
Hope you have made a change that was positive for you.
Cheers
Erica
I am similar to Donna as well....as I vary between 1.5-2 scoops a day and have been on it for 4 months now and it has been the helping factor to stop my WD....I have yet to get my cholesterol checked just yet....but I had started taking 10,000 D3 when I started my cholestyramine process plus upped my Magnesium too....I was at 45 with my VitD so I don't want to let it get lowered if I can help it, as I have a hard time keeping it up as it is, but not having WD sure feels really good right now.
Hope you have made a change that was positive for you.
Cheers
Erica
To Succeed you have to Believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a Reality - Anita Roddick
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007