Supplements for high Cholesterol anyone?

Luckygirl3

It sounds as though the balance showed up as good - which is great news for you. Hope it stays that way.

Thank you.

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I know this thread was started in the summer but it’s an important subject. My cholesterol tested 6.8 earlier this year and I was prescribed statins over the phone, by a pharmacist who coukdnt tell me the likelihood of a stroke or heart attack.A quick and easy thing to find out.

I checked on the nhs site and it clearly states that statins should not be prescribed ( for the first time presumably) for anyone 75 or over with no other health issues, heart /lung I suppose. I am 76.
I have odd problems, but nothing that requires regular medication so i decided not to take them, but if I ever am lucky enough to see a doctor I will discuss options in more detail because if I really need to take them I will.

My late husband had, and our 3 daughters all have, familial hypercholesterolemia. We all had an appropriate diet & they were all on statins from a very early age. I just jogged on over the years, declining statins as I saw the problems my family had with it. This time last year I had a blood test. Slightly raised levels so was recommended statins. Before I even started them I had a silent heart attack and in March underwent a triple bipass. I still can’t believe it. Life has changed considerably. I would say to OP to see the GP and start statins pronto. I wish I had! I’ve been given a chance of a ‘new’ life but certainly not without its problems.

Oh, what a shock for you Marmight. Glad you are ok.
How did you know you had a silent heart attack? Was it by chance while you were having a test?
I really need to speak to a gp. If only it were that easy.

I wasn’t offered them Marmight.

But will discuss why/why not at my next appointment in 4 weeks time.

I have appointment envy Poppy it’s almost impossible to get one at my surgery.

silverlining48

Oh, what a shock for you Marmight. Glad you are ok.
How did you know you had a silent heart attack? Was it by chance while you were having a test?
I really need to speak to a gp. If only it were that easy.

An simple ECG will show whether a patient has ever had a heart attack.

I had a heart attack in 2017 and was treated very quickly. Afterwards, I was told that there was no significant damage to my heart, especially my left ventricle. Nevertheless, every time I have an ECG, it shows as "abnormal".

I was put on Atorvastatin but suffered the joint pain (that they say doesn't happen!) in my shoulders, elbows and ankles, so I came off it. However my GP really wanted me on statins so she prescribed Simvastatin, and I've had no side effects at all.

I'm happy to take these pills as at my age I don't want to live a life of total deprivation, although I do watch what we consume - my mantra is "a little of what you fancy does you good", with the emphasis on the "little".

Ok thanks growstuff, . I have had ecg ‘s though not lately.

Incidentally, your total cholesterol isn't the only important figure. You should ask what your cholesterol/HDL and Triglyceride numbers are. You can then Google the normal ranges.

I just felt really unwell. Out of this world type of feeling. No pain but just knew something was really wrong. Called NHS111 who called an ambulance. Thought I was just in for a blood test but 10 days later after umpteen tests I was discharged with the devastating diagnosis. I evrntually saw a surgeon in January who pencilled me in for the op in a private hospital in West London for March, some 175 miles away, on the NhS. In the meantime I spent Christmas back in hospital in Exeter with acute ideopathic pancreatitis 🤦‍♀️. . Hoping next year will be a great improvement.
Ladies get your cholesterol levels checked, take statins or whatever is recommended, and take your symptoms, however mild, seriously. I was lucky

Marmight I salute you. What a shock it must have been hope you are feeling much better.

Never had problems with Simvastatin for over 20 years and I'm 78. No-one has suggested I come off it.

I recently had an enhanced examination at my optometry practice and the detailed scan showed blood vessels in great clarity with plaque deposits. All older people have some plaque in blood vessel lining, but seeing it in black and white as it were, (colour actually) certainly concentrates the mind as to the risk.

Happily my plaque build up was slight but I am certainly going to start statins as my cholesterol was over 6. The optometrist told me that she often refers people to their GP for serious medical conditions of which they were previously unaware. (This check was not routine but an extra paid for)

Was the test expensive Farzanah? Was it a scan of your head?

It was £79 and I was with the optometrist for about an hour. I’ve had free eye scans with the regular NHS check which are very good, but our practice has some much more advanced equipment, and they offer this enhanced test which is more comprehensive than the standard NHS test.

This is basically a scan of the back of the eye as before, but much more extensive and I was amazed at the detail. My cataracts looked scary but was reassured that they are not impeding eyesight and do not need surgery yet.

Oh I’ve recently has a well woman’s going over and my cholesterol is 5.3 and statins are recommended😧.

But I think other risks are taken into account so just looking at the reading means nothing without other risk factors being taken into account. So family of cardiac problems, weight (😳) and age, BP etc all contribute to the decision I think.

The only query I really have that I am 78 and do wonder about the age thing. That was one thing I forgot to ask the clinician on the telephone.

I have been very lucky in so far as I have never taken any long term medicines so far.

WWM I was prescribed atorvastin 20 mg over the phone.
My cholesterol is 6.8. but other than that I am fit and take no other medication.
I havnt started taking the tablets as I saw on the nhs web site that people over 75 shoukd not be prescribed statins unless there are other comorbidities which then need to be considered.
So like you I am hesitant.

I cannot take statins, it causes me to ache everywhere. I tried 4 different types. My doctor has prescribed Ezetimibe. It lowers cholesterol in a different way. Why not ask your doctor if you can try it?

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With cholesterol that high I would take the statins - it's a no-brainer. Mine is way lower than that and I was found to have a major coronary artery that was at one point blocked to 94%. It was caught in time and I have a stent.

Gingster - why do you think your OH's deteriorating mobility is caused by the statins? - if he has been on them for "years" then anno domini/arthritis or any number of other things could be factors - there is no reason to assume it is the statins.

The best thing to do for high cholesterol is to control diet. - that works for some. For various reasons I have not eaten red meat or cheese for decades, but my cholesterol is high. Some people just have high cholesterol - end of.

I cut down my cheese intake, stopped tea and coffee and now drink turmeric tea, peppermint tea and hibiscus tea..
Cholesterol has dropped from 6.7 to 5.2 in 3 months....

I’ve been taking statins for 30 odd years now. I keep to a low dose though my doc wants me to take a higher one. I can cope with the ones I have but the higher dose makes me have aches and pains so I refuse them- quality of life and all that. I have the familial high cholesterol as do many of our relatives including a tiny skinny 21 year old who eats virtually no fatty foods. I am reasonably careful with my diet ( not so much at Christmas !) but for me it doesn’t make a lot of difference. I think statins are life savers for people with the hereditary version of high cholesterol.