Heart Disease Risk :: Cholesterol - Good Vs Bad Cholesterol
I had a general health check at doctors yesterday. Am a 41 year old male and am taking co-codamol painkillers and amitriptyline on regular basis for back/nerve pain. Try to be physically active when I can but have real issues with my back and legs that limits anything too physical or for any length of time, but in general I manage at least 30 mins of some kind of physical activity each day. My diet isn't brilliant but it isn't terrible either (can be improved I'm sure).
6ft tall, waist measured yesterday at 38" and I'm just under 80 kg in weight.
My health check said my blood pressure was good, and that my pulse was nice and steady but also that my good cholesterol was above average (over 1.5) but that my bad cholesterol was not where it needs to be at 7.2.
The bad reading has freaked me out a bit. I've never had a cholesterol test before so cannot compare reading to a historic level but nurse has requested me to have a further blood test and probably a chat with doctor.
So, question is does having an above average level of good cholesterol and good blood pressure help manage the higher levels of bad cholesterol? My overall risk of having some kind of cardiac issue in next ten years came out at 1.49% which seems fairly low, but I forgot to ask how low you can get this % ie a risk of 0.01%?
I can try to up my physical activity a little bit but how dramatic would you change your diet based on above? I have lost two relatives to heart disease on my father's side of family (his sister and his father) but both parents appear to be fine although not aware they have ever had their own cholesterol tested.
I'm going to try and lose a few kg in weight which I'm sure will help but any advice in how to better manage my bad cholesterol appreciated.
High Cholesterol :: Cholesterol Vs. CPK Number
For several years I took Simvastatin lowest dose (cut in HALF) and had good cholesterol numbers that satisfied the internist. That doc retired and new internist did a CPK test last year (my first one ever) and found it elevated to 243 so stopped the statin due to fears of muscle damage.
A year later (last week) the retested CPK, after taking NO statin for a year, was 303 and chol. numbers were back up (see below)!! So, doc says go ahead and take atorvastatin because there is a percentage of people who have high CPK with no other apparent problem. He said atorvastatin is more effective re chol. lowering than simvastatin which I'd had years ago. Is that so?
I am female, 64 years old and at age 55 had a calcium scan of the heart which showed ZERO calcium score. This was because I had similar TC numbers to current numbers and one doc (a cardiologist!) said 'have the scan' -- "find out if you need a statin." When he saw the ZERO calcium score for someone 55 he laughed and said I did not need a statin.
Years later, however, this new internist/gerontologist says that's fine but that is just the hardened cholesterol seen in the zero score, not the 'soft,' which is what travels and causes heart attacks and stroke. Great! Money spent for nothing on the test! Guess I need to educate the cardiologist?
My current chol. numbers before re-starting a statin last week were: Total Chol: 251; HDL: 77; LDL: 157; and Trigs: 87. Ratio is 3.26 -- Doc says he does 'not like' the 157 LDL.
So... a week ago I started on atorvastatin at a super low dose (I cut the 10 mg. pills into quarters so 2.5 per day. I have read in multiple places that it's stronger than simvastatin so wanted to start LOW and research shows that 2.5 is often enough to bring numbers to reasonable levels. I am not aiming to have the world's lowest cholesterol.
Last night and today I developed sharp pains in upper mid section and read the 'side effects' -- sure enough -- it's a possibility. Have also experienced increase in heartburn since taking these pills for a week. Started almost immediately. Is there a connection?
NOTE: Gallbladder removed in '04, before ever starting on any statin at all -- I'm one of the many who still has occasional GB related pains, likely from sphincter of oddi problems (sludge or stones formed by liver). It is called SOD III and it's not uncommon and since it's not a frequent occurrence, there is nothing to do about it per gastro doc. I have not had an episode in three+ years until last night/today, though this was mild.
Any relation to start-up of atorvastatin and these pains? Who knows? I would prefer taking NO statins since they are known to raise glucose a little and can bring on Diabetes type 2. My fasting glucose is high normal already at 98 and type II runs in my family at older ages. Swell.
What do YOU experts think of this? Would you be concerned about taking atorvastatin (or switching to simvastatin, which I took with no obvious problems for a few years?) Or would you just say forget the statins and live your life and don't worry about it? There is NO history of heart attack in anyone on either side of my family before age 80 and no 'strokes' at all.
Had Sigmoidoscopy - A Good Experience
it's not as bad you people think. I must admit I was fearing it a lot and this might be one of the reasons why I overreacted to the discomfort felt by the pumping of air to distend the bowels. There are no nerves in the bowels so you cannot feel any pain. Proof of this was when they did a random biopsy on me and ripped out samples of tissue from my bowels (as I watched on the screen). There was no pain at all apart from the odd sensation which felt like someone flicking a rubber band inside my gut.
It's always fear of the unknown which scares of most. After the procedure the only pain I really experienced was wind as they had probably pumped the world's gas supply into me (ok so I might have exaggerated a bit) but seriously, it's not all that bad and you'll feel ok right after one big release.
(Age 18-24) Pregnancy :: Is Walking Good?
Is walking good for pregnancy
View 6 RepliesVasectomy A Good Experience For Me
I had my vasectomy done and I wanted to add my experience to a balanced discussion as usually only people who have problems complain. The doctor told me the risks and I went for the snip after consideration. Met a fellow patient whose grandfather and father had it done too and recommended it. We were nervous of course....who won't be? Now the love life is great no hormones or reduced sensation, no worries, no more expensive little ones, no nappy changes! All the wives waiting at the vasectomy clinic thoroughly supports it and I realised lots of colleagues had it done without problems...be warned they will take the mic out of you before you go for it. Thoroughly recommend it. No problems. Do consider the risks but life is risky. I took it and won.
View 7 RepliesForget To Tell Someone Something - Good Way To Remember?
Before you forget to tell someone something, how is a good way to remember?
View 1 RepliesSertraline :: Increasing From 100 To 150 Mg - Good Or Bad
Can anyone let me know what their experience(s) were of increasing from 100 to 150 - good or bad! I feel like I have reached a bit of a lull and am not feeling like it's as effective as it first was. Also my head feels a bit funny, almost like a brain zap but not quite - does anyone relate to that? So I was thinking of increasing (well going to speak to Dr about it first!)
I used to be on citalopram and was on the highest dose of that.
Good Smoking Alternatives?
I am interested on feedback on other's journey and method to a smoke free life. I have quit time and time again for a month to weeks at a time only to have a smoke again and then back at it..
View 12 RepliesColonoscopy :: My Good Experience
Just came home from a colonoscopy this afternoon and with the experience fresh in my mind -
I thought I'd share my thoughts.
Never having had a colonoscopy before, I was really wound up and worried in the days before the procedure.
The question in my mind was, just how painful is this going to be? Would I be able to deal with it ?...
So on the day - after a delicate conversation with a nurse on the day, I decided to go for entonox with sedation as a backup if things proved too much.
To get to the nitty gritty - So how painful is a colonoscopy? Well there is a difference I believe between pain and discomfort.
During a colonosocopy - With all that endoscope piping inside you, your insides will get thoroughly pushed and pulled, and so your body will be stretched.
The best I can describe it, is that feeling when you're carrying very heavy shopping bags for some time and your arms really really ache. Not pain but potentially a lot of discomfort.
So If you are someone who struggles with any discomfort, then maybe sedation is the way to go.
However- if you're someone who is prepared to put up with some stretching pulling discomfort (again not really pain) then confidently go for entonox.
In the examination room for the procedure, I was handed the mouthpiece and not given any instructions at all. So here is my take...Just take what you need. When you feel a bit of pulling and pushing, just take one or two lungfuls of gas and then breathe normally for 30 seconds or so. Don't take any gas if you are not in any discomfort as it was simply make you feel lightheaded and woozy. Again just take what you need. It kicks in with 20-30 seconds. Gas & Air is really quite *powerful* pain/discomfort relief.
Best advice - The most important thing is to try to relax.
Two reasons :-
1 By consciously trying to relax, it makes it easier for the job to get done, there is less pushing and pulling needed to fight your tense muscles and so therefore is less discomfort.
2 if you really think anything is going to be unpleasant and focus intently on it, your mind will create a sensation despite what is actually happening... A self fulfilling prophecy.
Just listen to the radio and take your mind somewhere else...
In my case, with a few lungfuls of entonox here and there, the whole procedure was very manageable. Important - accept you will have some discomfort, but it really is no worse than overstretched shopping arms...The staff at good Hope Hospital Birmingham were brilliant, and looked after me very well.
So in summary, I found the experience nowhere near as bad as some of the horror stories you read the forums. I suspect it is only when things go wrong, or people just have a bad experience, that views get shared.
Hip Replacement - Good Sex Positions
Sexual positions that are good for THR patients, blue is the man. Pink woman. I was really glad to find this. I'd die before I asked my doctor!!! I know it's a touchy subject, but I think it's important to not be scared. Live a full life and stop anxiety. See pic below .....
View 34 RepliesCan Cholesterol Be Too Low - 129?
Just got my results after 6 months on atorvastatin:
Total cholesterol; 129 (down from 185)
LDL: 66 (Down from 117)
HDL: 40 (down from 44)
Triglycerides - 96
My cardiologist is very happy with these numbers, but I'm wondering if they could get too low. My total has never been below 150 until now.
I'm a 42-year old male in good health but with a family history of heart disease and borderline high BP.
(Age 18-24) Pregnancy :: Whats A Good Sleep Aid
Whats a good sleep aid while 18 weeks
View 8 RepliesPregnancy :: Exercise Good Or Bad At 6-7 Months?
So I heard its okay to be active during pregnancy.. But is running bad? My aunt told me running was very bad around 6-7 months because it can "flip" the baby is this true? Did any ladies exercise while pregnant?
View 2 RepliesPregnancy :: What's A Good Way To Do A Gender Reveal?
What's a good way to do a gender reveal?
View 1 RepliesGood Experience Of Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
To start with, my pain tolerance is zero. I'm such a wuss that even with simple dental filling or cleaning I have to get anesthetic. I had a flex sig done 5 hours ago and in all honesty it doesn't hurt at all. I read a lot of negative reviews about it and decided to write my own to maybe help people like me who gets scared easily. Two weeks before the flex sig I always go online to research, read forum (which made me more scared). The worst part for me is the preparation. Clear liquid diet and the laxative. Which is two days before my sig test. Once in the examination room, I was so nervous to the point that I almost passed out, I anticipated the worst (probably because I read somewhere in this forum that it is worse than childbirth) and I was surprised that it doesn't hurt at all. Little background, I have internal and external hems, and reason for this test is because I had experience rectal bleeding (bright red blood) about a week ago. Going back to the topic, as the doctor begun to insert that camera tube that was the worst part. If I would rate the pain 1-10 and 10 being the most painful I would say this is easily a 2 just because of the pressure and 2 because I have external hems which is sore (because of the laxative last night). If I don't have external hem I would easily say this is a 1, walk in the park. Then came the camera inside and the air start blowing to expand my colon. This is another discomfort that I felt because it gave me a weird feeling in my abdomen. If I were to describe it, it feels like you're about to take a massive poop. Then again tolerable. It really is just uncomfortable. As the minute passes by I was just watching the monitor and taking a good look at my own colon which is pretty amazing. Then the first corner, they have to turn to the first corner and the nurse gave me a mothers tap like everything is going to be okay and it is. I didn't feel a thing. Honestly just the air and the weird sensation of trying to stop a poop of coming out and the abdomen cramp. Then they found two polyps which they needed to remove (biopsy). Removal of the poly, I didn't feel any pain. I'm not exaggerating this. I'm honestly telling the truth. Then it was all done. If I timed it correctly it took about 12 minutes. Now I know everyone's experience is different and again I decided to write this because two weeks ago I've made the mistake of going into so much forum and read the horror stories, and thought that this review might help balance the reviews. So if you're like me who's super scared, please don't worry too much. Go with the test, the peace of mind that you'll get after is priceless. I'm 28 years old by the way, male. As for the result, just the two polyps and the internal hem is the abnormality that was found. The biopsy they took (polyp) was sent to the pathology dept for further examination. The doctor said that he can almost guarantee me that the polyps are the innocent ones (not the pre cancerous ones). I wasn't recommended further testing like colonoscopy. One last thing, if I were to do this again, for peace of mind, I will certainly do it in a heartbeat as I already know that it is not that bad versus what I've read so far. And p.s I respect everyone's opinion and I understand that everyone's different. I'm just a guy who gets hurt easily with everything and can get easily scared with anything. But I did it, and I aced it.
View 3 RepliesStretch Marks - Any Good Remedies?
I'm 31 weeks and just started getting stretch marks, any good remedies or something I should use?
View 5 RepliesCold / Flu :: Good Idea To Get A Massage?
I'm a bit under the weather and it feels like I'm coming down with the flu. Would it be a good idea to get a massage?
View 2 RepliesPTSD :: Cannot Get A Good Night's Sleep
So my main issue when dealing with my PTSD is the really vivid terrifying nightmares. I was controlling them for a while with trazodone, which I will admit I did not have a prescription for and received from a friend, but as I really don't feel like becoming addicted to medications, I've stopped taking it for the time being. Most of the other symptoms of my PTSD have so far not affected my day to day life but I cannot get a good night's sleep to save my life right and I was wondering if there was any type of meditation or something that you might recommend? I don't have the time or money right now to see a therapist or trauma expert.
View 2 RepliesMenopause :: Fever And Just Not Feeling Good
Does anyone ever experienced having a fever and just not feeling good. Today I was feeling bad running a temp of 100.1 with a high heart rate of 110 and just feeling tired weak and not myself please can you ladies let me know why postmenopausal symptoms make you feel sick run down tired and give you hi heart rates and make you run a temp of 100.1 Feeling bad all day so confused about all this just want to cry and hide away
View 4 Replies