Does anyone really understand cholesterol? So confused!

I like the Benecol but when my DH went to the practice nurse for a healthy heart check, she said that the Aldi one works just as well. It is about half the price but I prefer the taste of Benecol.

DH's cholesterol is 3.5 yet GP still has him on statins ???? He's a tablet controlled type 2 diabetic.

One morning in 2008 I noticed that I was developing a small Xanthelasma as I was peering into the shaving mirror. I put it down to the cheese habit that I'd developed, I could eat the stuff until it comes out of my ears.

I cut down on the fat in my diet, and within 18 months it had gone, and my cholesterol measured 4.48 in 2011. Before I cut down, my fat consumption was 35.7% of total calories, which is about the recommended maximum, but I've been down at 25% for years now.

What's intriguing is that I my heart arrhythmia started at about the time I cut my fat intake, and I recently found a study which noted an association between low cholesterol and higher incidence of atrial fibrillation. Post hoc? Who knows....

hondagirl - They are those Benecol ones but I buy supermarket own brands. I would never have thought that anything like that would work and I don't know if they have in my case as I haven't been checked yet. However, my sister and a friend have both told me that their cholesterol had come down after a month of taking these drinks. The friend said her GP had suggested them to her. I take one every day and am hoping that when I get checked mine will have come down. I try to eat healthily too. If you buy them, make sure that they say 'cholesterol lowering'. I have sent my DH for them in the past and he has come back with yoghurt drinks which are not the same. Of course if may be coincidence that these two ladies cholesterol is down, but to me it is worth a try.

I haven't either Falconbird.

I've never been called for an Oldies check up.

Had lots of things done as and when e.g an ECG but I've never been sent a letter for a check up.

I hear about other people of my age getting a letter but I never have.

It's reassuring to read that others have high total levels and are not overly worried.

KatyK - I haven't heard about the cholesterol lowering drinks. I would be interested to hear more.

I took statins for a while several years ago and had dreadful pains in my calves. As I was having trouble with my achilles tendon at the time, I didn't realise immediately that it was the statins disagreeing with me. A physiotherapist that I saw about my achillies was horrified at how weak my legs had become and now I am trying to build them up again on an exercise bike.

I have managed to avoid having blood tests for a few years but they have got me again! I am resigned to being told off about my cholesterol, liver function etc. It's a bad time to have a blood test as I am just back from holiday when I drank more than usual and brought some duty free bacardi back.

One of my DD's developed side effects on a number of different statins. Hair loss, tiredness and aching joints. She was only in her teens and decided with the Consultant to stop taking them. In her late twenties she was put back on them after her Harefield visit and seems to be ok so far. I think you have to find one to suit you and obviously over the years they have improved considerably.

I've been on statins for about 10 years now and the only thing they've done to me is lower my cholesterol.

DH has always eaten really badly, loads of sugar and saturated fat (hence his Type 2 diabetes) but he has amazingly low cholesterol. Life is really very unfair.

I took a low dose statin for a year after having a ultra sound test on my carotid arteries. There was a small amount of plaque found in one. I went back and it's has gotten smaller but all of a sudden I've developed greasy hair with very thin spots. I did some research and alopecia and changes in your hair is a side effect. I've always had nice hair.now it's a wreck!

I had a slight heart attack a few years ago and since then have had countless blood tests for cholesterol levels. I know now that C. HDL is good and C. LDL is bad, but still don't understand why.
I believe there's an inherited element in the tendency to create more cholesterol than normal, and it seems to exist in my family.
We eat a very healthy diet, exercise regularly, not overweight, and still mine needs watching.
So I take two kinds of statins (I think) and TG I have no side effects.

My report had a starred abnormal at the top and my GP said it was because the good cholesterol was abnormally high!

I did say before that a friend refused to go on statins, due to the bad press- but died in his early 60s, despite being very slim and having a very healthy vegetarian diet. His wife wanted to sue the GP for not forcing him to take statins and save his life!

People on statins should however monitored regularly, and their liver and kidney function checked on a yearly basis. And I agree that putting everyone on statins just in case would be ridiculous.

Years ago when DH did fasting bloods he was told a cup of green tea before coming was Ok but its years since he had to do a fasting blood.

Don't want to go over this, yet again- but many GPs are totally against being paid for achieving targets- as it does distort the perception of many patients. But for many, statins are true life-savers and will stop them having a stroke- which is my real fear. I have naturally low cholesterol, but OH has a family history of heart disease and has had arythmia (cured by having a shock to he heart a few years back which was really successful).

He is a retired (excellent) GP and was happy to go on statins- and has never had side effects. Why would an experienced doctor take a bad drug, with so called bad side effects- unless he truly believed the benefits were worth it??? That is good enough for me.

My husband and I eat the same diet. I have low cholesterol on it and he has high. I would just continue with healthy eating and exercise- and not a diet that makes you miserable.
I am determined not to have statins ever, for any reason.

I believe GPs are paid to prescribe statins; DH was put on them and had bad side effects including pasting blood in his urine which led to a plethora of tests and the statins were stopped. He's not had any long lasting side effects but it does make you think!
Personally I'd refuse to take them and watch my diet carefully.

Liz - we have always been told only water is permissible. Perhaps you could Google it or ask at the surgery.

I have been told to fast for 14 hours before the test.

My husband was told a few years ago that it is o.k. to have black tea. Can anyone confirm this?

crossed posts granjura

When I have to have a fasting blood test, it means not eating or drinking anything at all for 10 hours before the test. I have to go along to a local clinic and they take a phial of blood and send it off for analysis.

fasting blood test is when you have to go early in the morning BEFORE having anything to drink or eat or drink at all.

My cholesterol is really high but I have been reassured on countless occasions that it all good in fact one GP said it was very good cholesterol apart from one bit which was bad - too much chocolate I think.

I wonder if its predominately good because I've been a vegetarian for over thirty years.

When you get called for an oldies' check-up, and they test your blood glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure, is that a fasting blood test? I got called for one a year or two back but I haven't bothered.