Cholesterol, self medication etc

[cooked]

Hi.

I have been visiting a private hospital for a year now. I originally went because I had the feeling that I maybe had a thrombosis in my leg. (fluttering, slight swelling). The doctor decided to treat my rather high blood pressure before looking at that. I can say that my blood pressure is back to normal now. Thrombosis paranoia gone away also.

The last time I went I was told I should take a blood test next time. I assume that this will mean that this, together with my blood test results from a year ago, will confirm that I have high cholesterol levels (the bad ones). I do not want to have to drive to this hospital (2 hours) every three months in order to receive more medicaments, and there is a guy locally that can check my blood.

Is it a good idea to go one more time for this check up, and then start self medicating? I could go back after a year for a checkup?

My budget is limited and I have no out patient insurance.

Thanks.

 

[wgdanson]

Get yourself some Bestatin from local pharmacy, it lowers cholesterol production in the body. Cheap as chips, but don't taste as good.

[JimmyTheMook]

Red Rice Yeast 

[theguyfromanotherforum]

14 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Get yourself some Bestatin from local pharmacy, it lowers cholesterol production in the body. Cheap as chips, but don't taste as good.

 

Is this safe?

[KittenKong]

I've been taking Bestatin for several years and have just been told that I can stop as my cholesterol level is stable and low enough.

 

I was prescribed Bestatin by a specialist but I bought it at Fascino rather than pay the inflated hospital prices. Every year I go back to the hospital for a full check-up and blood tests (costs about 3000+B), and my prescription is revised by their doctor as needed (basically statins for cholesterol and something for high blood pressure), and I carry on buying all the medicines at Fascino. So I get the best of both worlds. I would not care to guess the amounts needed myself.

[Sheryl]

IMO it is worth getting a doctor's advice initially on which meds to take, there are more than one family of meds and not all dislipidemias are the same.

 

There is no reason at all to drive to the hospital to get medications though, they can all be bought without prescription at a pharmacy.

 

So see the doctor, get the initial advice, then buy the meds on your own at a pharmacy and continue to do so as long as periodic blood tests show good result. If they do not,then back to the doctor for advice on adjustments to meds. When you talk to the doctor ask him specifically for medications that have a generic equivalent made in Thailand and explain that cost is a consideration, Sometimes at priovate hospitals they assume you want the very latest, high priced imported drug.

 

if you want to further save money, get the blood tests done at a lab first and bring results with you when you consult the doctor (assuming local lab is reliable) . You want a full lipid panel: triglycerides, HDL, LDL  plus an Hb1AC. Needs to be done first thing in the morning before eating.

 

I assume you are aware that diet and exercise can make a big difference and reduce or eliminate the need for medication?

 

 

[Destiny1990]

My cholestrol is 208 mg/dl

[tropo]

27 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

My cholestrol is 208 mg/dl

Perfecto!!!

 

Recent articles:

 

People with high cholesterol live the longest:

 

http://www.ravnskov.nu/2015/12/27/myth-9/

 

High cholesterol is associated with longer life:

 

https://medium.com/the-mission/higher-cholesterol-is-associated-with-longer-life-b4090f28d96e

 

Reading between the lines here. Cholesterol-lowering medication could be responsible for earlier death in people with high cholesterol that have been convinced to take it and show lower numbers.

 

And here's an interesting read for people who are terrified by dairy fat:

 

https://academic.oup.com/advances/article/7/6/1041/4568638

Edited August 30, 2018 by tropo

[cooked]

4 hours ago, tropo said:

Perfecto!!!

 

Recent articles:

 

People with high cholesterol live the longest:

 

http://www.ravnskov.nu/2015/12/27/myth-9/

 

High cholesterol is associated with longer life:

 

https://medium.com/the-mission/higher-cholesterol-is-associated-with-longer-life-b4090f28d96e

 

Reading between the lines here. Cholesterol-lowering medication could be responsible for earlier death in people with high cholesterol that have been convinced to take it and show lower numbers.

 

And here's an interesting read for people who are terrified by dairy fat:

 

https://academic.oup.com/advances/article/7/6/1041/4568638

I'm not too happy with these articles as they only mention 'cholesterol'. There are good and bad cholesterols. But thanks, I'll look into that.

[cooked]

8 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

I assume you are aware that diet and exercise can make a big difference and reduce or eliminate the need for medication?

 

I have got a little lazy lately but I will look into diet questions, thanks.

[Sheryl]

My cholestrol is 208 mg/dl

Total cholesterol is not what matters. Its only utility is to screen for people who need a full lipid panel done. But nowadays the vist if full panel vs total C alone is not much.

Need to know triglycetides, HDL and LDL.

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Sheryl]

I have got a little lazy lately but I will look into diet questions, thanks.

Reducing processed carbs and getting more fiber will help -- contrary to what used to be believed dietary fat per se is not the main culprit.

Just adding a serving of oatmeal a day and some fresh veggies, and cutting out or down processed carbs will make a difference. Not only to your lipids but slso help prevent risk if diabetes and other problems.

If your HDL is low either eat more fish or take fish oil supplement.

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Destiny1990]

12 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Total cholesterol is not what matters. Its only utility is to screen for people who need a full lipid panel done. But nowadays the vist if full panel vs total C alone is not much.

Need to know triglycetides, HDL and LDL.

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Hi ok i see then here are my more complete Cholesterol results.

Cholesterol 208 mgdl

triglycetides 149 mgdl

HDL 51 mgdl

LDL 159 mgdl

[tifino]

7 hours ago, cooked said:

I'm not too happy with these articles as they only mention 'cholesterol'. There are good and bad cholesterols. But thanks, I'll look into that.

Yeah that is the downside of 'statins... they kill offthe LDLs yes, but just like how weed killers are not choosy, 'statins  rip out the good HDLs with disregard. .. 

Thats why I told my Dr that I now take COQ10  instead. He did not disagree with this! 

Edited August 31, 2018 by tifino

[tropo]

8 hours ago, cooked said:

I'm not too happy with these articles as they only mention 'cholesterol'. There are good and bad cholesterols. But thanks, I'll look into that.

You can't have read the articles, because...

 

The first article I linked mentions LDL (bad cholesterol) 16 times.

 

The second article mentions LDL 8 times.

 

The third article on dairy fats mentions LDL 59 times and HDL (good cholesterol) 36 times.

 

These are not trivial reports. The first article has 21 references to scientific reports/studies, the second, 6, and the third has 67 references.

[mamypoko]

Eat nothing that has cholesterol。

Sent from my vivo 1609 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Sheryl]

4 hours ago, Destiny1990 said:

Hi ok i see then here are my more complete Cholesterol results.

Cholesterol 208 mgdl

triglycetides 149 mgdl

HDL 51 mgdl

LDL 159 mgdl

 Your triglycerides and HDL are within normal limits (though can still be improved on).

 

Ypur LDL is high. The resulting Cholesterol to HDL ratio is 4, less than 4 is recommended.

 

See here re ways to lower your LDL.

 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/reduce-cholesterol/art-20045935

[Sheryl]

3 hours ago, mamypoko said:

Eat nothing that has cholesterol。

Sent from my vivo 1609 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Completely impractical  (would eliminate a wide range of healthy foods, including most protein sources) and also wrong advice.

 

The majority of cholesterol in the blood is manufactured within the body, and cholesterol per se is necessary to health.

 

There is no need at all to avoid foods that are high in HDL  type of cholesterol , in fact increased consumption is advised. 

 

In addition, foods that tend to increase unhealthy cholesterol in the blood are not necessarily foods themselves high in LDL cholesterol.  Foods high in processed carbs/sugars, for example, can indirectly raise LDL by contributing to insulin resistance.

 

And do not overlook the negative effects of elevated triglycerides, which while a type of fat (lipid) are not a cholesterol.

 

The best dietary advice is to reduce  consumption of saturated fats, consume more unsaturated fats/ foods high in Omega 3s, minimize consumption of processed carbs and processed foods in general, eat more fruit and vegetables and whole grains. Increased fiber intake is very important but will automatically occur if eating more fresh fruits & veggies and whole grains.

 

 

 

[tropo]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

And do not overlook the negative effects of elevated triglycerides, which while a type of fat (lipid) are not a cholesterol.

Yet 20% of your triglycerides make up the total cholesterol result. i.e. LDL + HDL + (triglycerides/5) = total cholesterol.

[Taggart]

Hi,

 

I'm not a medical professional and can't tell you what to do.  I can only tell you what I personally do to battle high cholesterol.  

 

I'm in Canada and today I went to see my MD regarding the results of my annual blood test.  I should also tell you that about three years ago the doctor halved the statin I took Rosuvastatin 10 MG down to 5 MG.  I'm near 69 and usually people my age seem to go in the opposite direction when taking statins.

 

Today's results:

 

Total Cholesterol 3.37 MMOL = 130 MG/DL

 

LDL 1.64 MMOL = 63.42 MG/DL

 

Triglycerides  1.27 MMOL = 112 MG/DL

 

HDL 1.15 MMOL = 44 MG/DL

 

The above figures are better than last year's results after the annual checkup, which weren't bad, but not great at that time.  Needless to say I'm pleased with today's results.

 

Aside from fish/seafood perhaps one to three days a week, I try my best to minimize all other animal products.  I've found after many years of trying this, that my cholesterol goes up with the more meat, dairy and eggs I eat.  I've limited junk food for years now, so that's not an issue anymore.  I first got prescribed cholesterol medications by my MD well over twenty years ago and though I don't have the cholesterol figures from then, I know I wouldn't of got prescribed in the first place if my cholesterol was normal.

 

I'll be returning to Thailand in a few months, for a vacation with my Thai wife and I'll be doing a similar way of eating as I do here in farangland.  Although I'm not vegetarian, I focus mostly on eating plants and grains, preferably unrefined, and eliminate/minimize added oils.  I managed to find some great tasting baked potatoes/sweet potatoes from market vendors last visit, so hopefully I'll find same again.

 

  When in the Thailand malls or airports I've learned to keep far away from the foods I used to eat when visiting there in the mid-80's through the 90's.  No more fried chicken, burgers, fries. soft drinks, doughnuts, ice cream, potato chips or other crap food.  I just stick to whatever healthy Asian fare I can find and eat, anywhere.

 

Reading blogs from whole foods, plant based medical doctors, while also visiting the Pritikin and Blue Zones websites and reading their books, has helped me greatly over the last few years in sticking to this path.  I refuse to go back to what I was before.

 

Anyhow, I'm not the perfect dieter, but that's what worked for me.  As always, YMMV.

 

 

 

[mamypoko]

17 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Completely impractical  (would eliminate a wide range of healthy foods, including most protein sources) and also wrong advice.

 

The majority of cholesterol in the blood is manufactured within the body, and cholesterol per se is necessary to health.

 

There is no need at all to avoid foods that are high in HDL  type of cholesterol , in fact increased consumption is advised. 

 

In addition, foods that tend to increase unhealthy cholesterol in the blood are not necessarily foods themselves high in LDL cholesterol.  Foods high in processed carbs/sugars, for example, can indirectly raise LDL by contributing to insulin resistance.

 

And do not overlook the negative effects of elevated triglycerides, which while a type of fat (lipid) are not a cholesterol.

 

The best dietary advice is to reduce  consumption of saturated fats, consume more unsaturated fats/ foods high in Omega 3s, minimize consumption of processed carbs and processed foods in general, eat more fruit and vegetables and whole grains. Increased fiber intake is very important but will automatically occur if eating more fresh fruits & veggies and whole grains.

 

 

 

The healthiest sources of protein always have zero cholesterol.