Agnes Z's Journal, 01 Feb 24

Sorry about the LDL numbers. I will likely have lab work done in a couple weeks. My intent to not eat red meat until the lab tests hasn't worked so I am crossing my fingers. Great that all your other results have improved! 

Often the LDL increases when you eat better. It may be the fluffy healthy kind of LDL and many doctors don't test for that.  

Fritzy, good luck with your test —I hope things come out well for you. The ironic thing in my situation is that for years I refused to go on a statin when I was much heavier because “l just have to eat better and lose weight and this LDL thing won’t be a problem.” Now I’m at my healthiest in many years and going on a statin because I finally see the limits of what diet can do. I could probably do more on the exercise front but that won’t be enough. Live and learn! 

I could relate; I've been resisting the thought of taking statins for some time now. I began using (rosuvastatin 5 mg) last month as well, but I am determined to discontinue it as soon as possible.  

That’s my hope, too, Morticia, that I have improved my LDL particle size, and I’ll try to get the doctor to test this in the future, especially if I have to decide whether to get off the statin. I want to lower my LDL due to a pretty bad family history of cardiovascular disease (I was reminded of my genetic risks when my aunt died suddenly in December due to a stroke). The doctor gave me a script for coronary calcium scan, so there will be more info. Thankfully I have had no cardiac issues so far, knock on wood! 

Marlene, how are you tolerating the drug? Any side effects? 

Hi Agnes, My muscle discomfort increased when I started taking atorvastatin, so we switched to rosuvastatin, which hasn't caused any unwelcome side effects so far. It's been one month.  

Since the beginning of the perimenopause, I have been experiencing chronic fatigue and widespread muscular weakness. So I'm not 100 percentage if it was the otovastatin, but I have not seen any elevated symtoms from using rosuvastatin.  

Thanks, Marlene, that’s encouraging about the rosuvastatin. Hope it works well for both of us. 

Rosuvastatin caused muscle weakness after 3 years. I was switched to a non statin. Crossing fingers here and wishing you the best. (ezitimbe) 

thanks Agnes, thanks you, it not easy but we need to keep motivated. Fiberoptic, I agree, the side effects long term could cause so much issues, I started using omega 3 1gm. this week. I'm researching other things like red rice yeast, I'm going to inquire about ezitimbe this week with my Dr. thank you.  

Marlene and Fiberoptic, in my research on statins, I came across something about a supplement CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10, also called ubiquinol). Have you heard about it? Some cardiologists thinks it helps their patients with preventing or alleviating statin-related muscle pains, not sure which. Though if I have any issues with the statin, I’m going to drop it like a hot potato. 

Agnes, i had just written a note in my journal about my cholesterol numbers (more to keep track of where my health is at in this process for myself). I am over 300 on LDL labs that just got back and over 3000 total cholesterol. Freaked me out. After initially dropping minimally in the first year of weight loss and adding exercise back to my life these last 6 months my LDL and total cholesterol went up dramatically. So i go look at my food diary and nope it’s not from nutrition. Im averaging between 110-130 grams give or take most days and 200 is the recommendation for women with history of cardiovascular disease which runs in my family 3 generations back not counting myself. All along my mom’s line (and grandma and great grandma and the information trail stops before her time). I dont get it. Im at a healthy weight. I get plenty of exercise. I dont want to go on drugs either. What’s your doc saying? I meet mine on Monday. 

Keep writing my long response to you, YOH, and it keeps disappearing. Wow, we are in the same boat: the genetic risk, the rise in LDL after weight loss, and with clean diets, too. I yielded to my doc (who’s a family physician, not a cardiologist) to take the statin. She’s been telling me for years due to family risk. My numbers are not that bad—Total cholesterol is 200 and LDL is 140, still not considered very high, but the upward trend is concerning and it looks like there aren’t that many dietary changes I can still make. I already have very little saturated fat and lots of fiber in my diet. Though I’m reading up on the Portfolio diet, the only diet proven to lower cholesterol (other than the notoriously unpalatable very low fat diet) to see if there are more tweaks I can make. The doctor suggested to take a calcium scan of the arteries. Presumably, if no calcified plaque, the LDL wouldn’t be such a concern (lower risk). But I have to pay for the scan out of pocket, my insurance won’t cover it.  

Agnes my total cholesterol is 312 and LDL is 190. Freaking me out to be honest. I had a calcium cardiac test done last year and it was in tolerance but my numbers have gone up since then quite a bit. I was 238 total calcium a year ago and 157 LDL at that time so thats a pretty big jump and i weigh over 30 pounds less than a year ago on top of that. Why wont your insurance cover it? I haven’t heard of the portfolio diet tho. I will probably update my journal after my doc appt to over labs on Monday. 

You will get there! Cardio 4x/week and fish oil every day dropped my cholesterol dramatically. Maybe that could help 

Good luck on Monday! Be sure to ask about newer non-statin drugs to lower cholesterol if it comes to the pharmacological solutions. My insurance will pay for those only if statins don’t work for me or have side effects. Anyway, on a more cheerful note, let’s keep in perspective the fact that 1) we are healthier today even with the higher LDL and 2) sometimes it’s just genetics and there is nothing you can do, lifestyle-wise.The bodies will just do their thing. Though I still have the feeling that the higher LDL is just transitory as the body is still adjusting to the new weight, who knows. Wish there was more science on our specific situation. 

Agnes stay tuned…insurance company games. Im so sorry. I am fortunate that my insurance is really good. I worry about when i have to sign up for Medicare tho. Think thats 5 years away. (65?) 

I had to stop simvastatin. It caused liver failure, so get tested often. Now taking ezetimibe. It is $18 a month with Good RX. Otherwise over $100 co-pay with Medicare. 

Hello, Agnes. yes I started using coQ10 before taking statins. It's beneficial for a variety of other reasons, I'm using flaxseed oil daily as well... never heard of Portfolio diet, thanks for introducing this. I will inquire about a calcium cardiac scan test as well. Thank you ladies.