Gf Has Crazy High Cholesterol

[bangkokburning]

My girlfriend has crazy high cholesterol issues. Worse, she is quite negligent in the dealing with it. Anyway, after our checks last year she was prescribed Simvastatin (20mg).

I finally nagged her enough to get another test and the medicine has done essentially nothing to lower her LDL and total (triglycerides are acceptable, HDL is not poor as well). She tested at 312 Total and 204 on her LDL. She weighs 40kg.

She loves pork, loves fried foods and does not eat enough vegetables - especially greens (although does like them). She does not eat a lot of junk food or sweets, her condition is hereditary. A benefit of her work is free food and often it comes home with her (for us). Stuff is tasty at times, but is rarely healthy fare.

** I had read that this medicine is not very effective without a diet change.

**I had read that this medicine is should be used in conjunction with other meds if the issue is hereditary.

She has in past months starting eating fresh salads with me and agreed to do so more often, especially after our trip to the US. That is a plus. She loves fish - but does not liked canned tuna (figure)> So I am going to force her to go with the higher quality stuff.

All this is important because we will marry next year if/when we make it to our third year. So her problem is also my problem.

QUESTIONS:

We have annual check ups in April. We will make changes in diet but should we up her medicine without a consult from a doctor. That would give us a few months to get new numbers on her and allow the physician to size it all up.

Is there any issue with a 40kg woman daily consumption of 40mg of Simvastatin? I have come across a number of websites that state that 40mg is the upper end of a "normal" dosage.

She takes late at night, would there be a better time? She is very good and consistent with taking her medicine.

Thanks

Edited November 25, 2011 by bangkokburning

[Sheryl]

What type of hereditary disorder is this and hwo was it diagnosed?

I suspect from the information provided that she needs an additional medication rather than an increased dose of Simvastatin.

I suggest consulting a doctor specializing in dyslipidemia for a full work up and advice.

[bangkokburning]

Thanks so much for your response Sheryl.

She has stated to me that her mother, father or both (I think mother) has high Cholesterol as her brother. I just can't recall.

The Simvastatin was prescribed initially by a GP on routine examination 1+ year ago.

This is quite a common problem for Thai's are specialists easy in locate in BKK?

It's not easy to get her to take it seriously (ie she loves pork and fried foods and is now too strong and healthy to care)**

Thanks again, you are always such a help.

[Sheryl]

OK so she hasn't really had a proper work up to determine the type of dyslipidemia

Suggest one of these doctors (based on qualifications, I have no direct experience with them). She should try to get a morning appointment and fast beforehand as they will need to do some further blood tests. Including if it has not already been done, a thyroid panel as her LDL elevation is unusual for her body weight

BUMRUNGRAD HOSPITAL

Dr. Chortip Phattanasri (female)

- M.D., Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand, 1995

- Diplomate of The American Board of Internal Medicine, 2001

- Diplomate of The American Board of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, 2004

- Diploma of The Thai Board of Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2006

Fellowships:

- Clinical Nutrition, Tufts-New England Medical Center, USA, 2002-2003

- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Tufts-New England Medical Center, USA, 2002-2004

Special Clinical Interests:

- Diabetes, Lipid, General Endocrinology

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 9 AM – 4 PM, Sundays 5-8PM

Dr. Sarat Sunthornyothin (male)

M.D., Faculty of Medicine (First class honor), Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, 1990

- Diplomate of The American Board of Internal Medicine, 1996

- Diplomate of The American Board of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, 1999

- Diploma of The Thai Board of Internal Medicine, 2000

- Diploma of The Thai Board of Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2000

Fellowships:

- Endocrinology, Baylor College of Medicine, The University of Texas, USA, 1996-1999

Academic Rank: Assistant Professor, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

Special Clinical Interests:

- Endocrine Neoplasia, Lipid Metabolism, Osteoporosis and Hypertension

Wed & Fri 5-8 PM, Sat 9 Am – 12

BANGKOK HOSPITAL

Dr. Sithiphol Chinnapongse (male)

2002Diplomate American Board of Endocrinology and Metabolism / University of CaliforniaSan DiegoUSA

1997Diplomate American Board of Internal Medicine / Temple Medical SchoolPhiladelphiaUSA

1989Medical Doctor / CEBU Doctor's College of Medicine (CDCM)Philippines-Fellowship in Endocrinology and Metabolism / University of California, San Diego, USA

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9 AM – 3 PM, Sat 8-11 AM (every other Sat)

In terms of her diet,she must avoid fried foods from markets and restaurants, can make her own fried dishes at home as long as she uses a healthy oil. the oil used in the markets etc is the worst possible.

As lipid and gluciose metabolism are closely interrelated a switch to broiwn rice would also be helpful

[w11guy]

You need to discuss with a doctor not ask on a forum such as this.

[bangkokburning]

I am just getting some basic advice to go on w11, ye with < 500 posts. The initial question was a simple one. I trust Sheryl's judgement and knowledge implicitly.

Thanks Sheryl. Potentially thyroid issues. Yikes. I know this is quite common in women.

The diet thing is almost unenforceable. At least yesterday she brought home 5* chicken rather than deep fried - but she will still eat the skin and ask me if she can have mine too :-)

Sheryl - These are the two most expensive hospitals in BKK and I have serious issues the the BKK Hospital chain. Could other hospitals have acceptable specialists? I bought full check up packages at Pra Ram 9 as they were super discounted a few mos ago. We will do that in April.

Thanks - your input is always welcome.

[chiang mai]

Mrs CM has similar thing, higher than wanted cholesterol levels derived from the Thai diet, avoiding shrimp and coconut goes a long way to helping reduce it.

[MissesGrin]

High cholesterol runs in our family as well. But we try to tackle it the natural way through diet rather than resorting to medications. So far so good, you really have to be considerate about what you eat, and if you're disciplined enough and completely change your eating habits to a much more organic, raw and natural one than you will most likely see that cholesterol level drop on its own. Each case is different depending on the individual...but diet is absolutely one of the biggest factors.

[Sheryl]

I am just getting some basic advice to go on w11, ye with < 500 posts. The initial question was a simple one. I trust Sheryl's judgement and knowledge implicitly.

Thanks Sheryl. Potentially thyroid issues. Yikes. I know this is quite common in women.

The diet thing is almost unenforceable. At least yesterday she brought home 5* chicken rather than deep fried - but she will still eat the skin and ask me if she can have mine too :-)

Sheryl - These are the two most expensive hospitals in BKK and I have serious issues the the BKK Hospital chain. Could other hospitals have acceptable specialists? I bought full check up packages at Pra Ram 9 as they were super discounted a few mos ago. We will do that in April.

Thanks - your input is always welcome.

Well they may but unfortunately the websites of places like Pr Ram 9 do not list doctor qualifications so impossible to say.

Bumrungrad does have the best selection of specialists in this area (endocrine/metabolism).

Remember youi are not consulting the hospital, you are consulting an individual physician,

[Tolley]

I am just getting some basic advice to go on w11, ye with < 500 posts. The initial question was a simple one. I trust Sheryl's judgement and knowledge implicitly.

Thanks Sheryl. Potentially thyroid issues. Yikes. I know this is quite common in women.

The diet thing is almost unenforceable. At least yesterday she brought home 5* chicken rather than deep fried - but she will still eat the skin and ask me if she can have mine too :-)

Sheryl - These are the two most expensive hospitals in BKK and I have serious issues the the BKK Hospital chain. Could other hospitals have acceptable specialists? I bought full check up packages at Pra Ram 9 as they were super discounted a few mos ago. We will do that in April.

Thanks - your input is always welcome.

Well they may but unfortunately the websites of places like Pr Ram 9 do not list doctor qualifications so impossible to say.

Bumrungrad does have the best selection of specialists in this area (endocrine/metabolism).

Remember youi are not consulting the hospital, you are consulting an individual physician,

Fish oil works well for some cholesterol problems. But the liver produces most of the body's cholesterol in any case. Controversial area and a lot of research suggests pharmaceutical companies have been milking people for years with scares of high cholesterol.

[bangkokburning]

Thanks again Sheryl.

Thanks for others input.

Yeah, we need a change of wholesale diet. Wouldn't hurt me either as I have high blood pressure. Thai food is so cheap, easy and yummy.

Fish oil ain't gonna solve this :-)

[meatboy]

through eating all what is not good for you,fried foods,fatty meat like you get on thai barrows where you cant tell if its meat or fat i to was put on simvastatin 20mg at the begining i ended up on 80mg for 5years before i had to have a double by-pass,iwas over 115kilo's so that didnt help,like whats been sugested stop eating food from outside,my wife has.

[Sheryl]

Thanks again Sheryl.

Thanks for others input.

Yeah, we need a change of wholesale diet. Wouldn't hurt me either as I have high blood pressure. Thai food is so cheap, easy and yummy.

Fish oil ain't gonna solve this :-)

As you don't want ot go to the big privates, another alternative would be Chulalonghorn. They have an after hours clinic now whereby it is possible to make direct appointment with a specialist.

Referred to as "Clinic nok wela" and there is a reception desk on I think the 13th floor of the main building where you can make appointment.

i can't give you a name but if you ask there for a doctor specializing in lipid disorders, they should be able to hook you up with one.

Will also need to do the usual registration bit on the ground floor to get a patient number if she has never been a patient there before.

Good luck

[bangkokburning]

Thanks again Sheryl - that is a great tip worth looking into. We are in central BKK and her office is sort of near Chula. I have a feeling that when the whole dx thing is over it will be big money so anything we can save...

Thanks MB your point is well taken but I sense you had other issues weighing in at 115kg. Her problem is obviously hereditary. We eat the same foods and more or less the same meals.

[CaptHaddock]

Thanks again Sheryl - that is a great tip worth looking into. We are in central BKK and her office is sort of near Chula. I have a feeling that when the whole dx thing is over it will be big money so anything we can save...

Thanks MB your point is well taken but I sense you had other issues weighing in at 115kg. Her problem is obviously hereditary. We eat the same foods and more or less the same meals.

I was diagnosed with high cholesterol twenty years ago. High cholesterol is a life-style disorder, not really hereditary. Genes haven't changed much in the last 100 years, but metabolic disorders like high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes have exploded. Without a change in lifestyle and medication my total cholesterol level would be 300. I stopped eating the bad stuff (red meat, cheese, fried foods, pastries, etc.), but that did not lower the cholesterol enough. And it's clear that dietary changes are not enough to lower it for most people. I started an exercise program, lost 35 lbs, and that still didn't lower the cholesterol enough. So, I took statins for five years. Statins work. The cholesterol went right down. However, I was also among the 5% of statin users who have serious side effects. Now, I take niacin (mail order from www.endur.com). All my lipid levels are in the optimal range and have been for years. I have increased my exercise and still never eat any of the bad things.

Unfortunately, that eliminates most Thai food. No fried food, no meat other than chicken, no shrimp or squid, no pastries, no coconut. Not much left, except cooking healthy food at home. I note that the WHO lists heart disease as the leading cause of death in Thailand. So, Thai food is apparently not very healthy for Thai people either. Although they don't get fat.

If you make a commitment to the necessary changes in life style the quality of your life can go up a lot. If not, you can look forward to a heightened risk of heart disease or stroke. Up to you.

[czGLoRy]

I'd check out some of the research on cholesterol, the benefits of statin drugs, and the actual "threat" of high cholesterol are DRAMATICALLY overstated. Having low cholesterol seems to increases the risk of cancer, stroke, and overall death risk, and only extremely high blood cholesterol levels were problematic for females (I believe life expectancy dropped slightly started at 250+). Some docs in Japan are recommending cholesterol-increasing diets to reduce risk of cancer, etc. Good discussion in the book Good Calories, Bad Calories. http://www.second-op...rol_myth_4.html

Edited December 20, 2011 by czGLoRy

[moe666]

Bangkokburning, check out the Cholestrol Myth a very informative read about the danger of cholestrol. Yes your girlfriend needs a full check up low hormones such as estrogen and testosterone can cause high cholestrol. Cholestrol is the base for these hormones and the body will make more trying to increase these hormones.

Diet as a tool to lower cholestrol is not that effective as the body will slow its on production of cholestrol to allow for the higher intake of cholestrol rich food. When you lower the intake of these foods the body increases it own production. Does your girlfriend consume orange juice? if she does tell her to stop. Sugar in any form will elevate your levels of cholestrol.

You may want to google Ray Peat he has made a career of cholestrol research and has a lot of information about controlling it he will also answer emails.

I have low cholestrol and he recommended drinking orange juice to raise my cholestrol levels but the excess sugar was just too much and caused other problems.

The problem with the medications prescribed for controlling cholestrol are the side affects. The drugs tend to work on the liver and can cause liver damage with long term use, they also enterfer with the production of coq 10 which is important in the production of energy in the muscles especially the heart muscle. If she is taking medication she should be on at least 100 mg of coq 10. heart attack victims have very low levels of coq 10 in the heart muscles.

good luck to you and the girlfriend do your own reaserch there is a lot of information out there. More and more Drs. are starting to question what has been the official party line on cholestrol and its treatment. But you will need to make the decisions that suit you.