Thanks. I am concerned about lowering my triglycerides. Researching that. And a week ago I started exercising every other day. I am 5'10" and weigh 217 lbs. by my calculations, I'm about 30-40 lbs overweight. Ideal weight would be 180lbs.
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Medications
- Thread starter Huntn
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Thanks. I am concerned about lowering my triglycerides. Researching that. And a week ago I started exercising every other day. I am 5'10" and weigh 217 lbs. by my calculations, I'm about 30-40 lbs overweight. Ideal weight would be 180lbs.
My numbers were:
Cholesterol 230
Trigycerides 167
HDL 42
LDL 155
My doctor said NOTHING of putting me on any kind of Statins or anything. Of course, I'm 33 (34 in 3 weeks) but the only one that was where they "want" it was the HDL at 42 (they want to see 40 or higher). Same doctor my parents go to so he knows the family history.
FTR, my Triglycerides were down almost 100 pts. from last years tests with just a change in diet and activity level, the total cholesterol went down slightly but my LDL went up.
The older you get the lower your HDL and the higher your LDL.
According to the old Cholesterol myth and your age, your readings are actually pretty bad.
Your doctor didnt say anything beacause he is smart and knows that just one reading doesnt say much
Hutn please don't take any stock into the nonsense you've read in this thread. The links are atrocious. Please seek a real medical expert's opinion and have them examine you and discuss treatment. Not the internet quacks that make absolute fortunes peddling conspiracy theories and their own vitamins and supplements that do nothing and have no evidence.
Just a heads up on Meister's links;
Russell Blaylock believes in a lot of ridiculous pseudoscience. He is anti-vaccination, against water fluoridation, and believes in chemtrails. He is not a reliable source.
Mercola makes a fortune of peddling psudoscience on the internet. Among his beliefs are that vaccines are dangerous, that HIV doesn't cause AIDS, that microwaves are dangerous and shouldn't be used because they alter food etc. He has been in trouble with the FDA on multiple occasions through making fraudulent claims about products he sells. He is not a reliable source.
Talk to a real doctor. Do not make medical decisions based on internet conspiracy theorists who wish to sell you supplements.
Microwaves do alter food.
A friend of mine got his medical PhD by proofing that microwaves destroy folic acid.
Who would fluoradite water? WTF?
I do agree that one should always take sources with a grain of salt but you are discarding valid arguments.
The OP should visit doctors and inform himself some more.
My general practitioner, a normal medical doctor, shares my opinion about cholesterol.
There is two sides to this topic and his doctors were certainly incompetent by prescribing drugs based on one harmless bloodcount. Even I know that cholesterol needs to be monitored over a longer period of time. Stuffing him full with meds based on one reading is almost criminal.
Pharma corporations make a much larger fortune peddling their drugs than any "pseudoscientist".
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Damn you autocorrect!
About the staining thing...well...I'm old.
Never mock the afflicted...
That's okay.. We all produce stains.
Now.. whether or not people wipe.. that is a bigger issue.
BL.
This is again a terrible logical fallacy. The likes of Mercolo and blaylock make millions upon millions of dollars peddling conspiracy theories and selling vitamins, books, and advice full of unsubstantiated claims are not a legitimate "side" in any debate. This is the same logical fallacy that creationists and climate change deniers use.
Any cooking destroys food acid. Please source for your friend's phd publication(s).
Chemtrails, anti vaccination, microwaves, and fluoridation are not valid arguments. They are all conspiracy theory nonsense of the highest order. The government is not trying to control your thoughts through spraying chemicals into the sky from jets or spiking drinking water.
Which again is another fallacy and incorrect on a number of levels. Making money off statins does not discount the evidence of their effectiveness. It is again buying into the tinfoil hat conspiracy.
The alternative medicine market is many times the size if the modern medicine market. It is the same pharmaceutical companies that make the vitamins and minerals Mercola and his kin peddle for far more money than any doctor makes. You have been sold a lie.
I dont exactly know what chemtrails are. I did not write that I am against vaccinations, i own a microwave (i wouldnt cook all my food in it though), from my knowledge fluorid is a poison and why would you put it in water
.This thread is about cholesterol and not about 'conspiracy theories'. Accusing people of conspiracy theories has become a modern way of calling someone a wich and discredit them. You brought up the issue of money making and you are right that it doesnt say anything about the effectivness.
I would not advice anyone to discard what government agencies promote in regards to health behaviour.
Nevertheless I would not take everything for granted either.
Over decades people in the Unitd States have become mobidly sick and that seems to be caused by government info spread about diet connected to cholesterol.
I looked into this topic myself about six months ago and and i found a current medical discussion going on. The links i posted were a quick asortment to point out two sides.
I strongly agree with you that the OP should follow the advice of a real doctor.
Thanks for the info! My impression is that high cholesterol is high colesterol, so I'm sure not how more leeway you'd get for being in your 30s, since your doctor made no recommendations. Since this medication gave me something along the lines of flu symptoms, I think I'll work a bit more on altering lifestyle.
Thanks for your concern and advice. It seems like more research is in order. I appreciate it!
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This is a complex topic, but I'll add the following comments:
1. All other things being equal, reasonable, sustainable lifestyle modification is preferable to medication, assuming both are equally effective.
2. #1 notwithstanding. statins may have beneficial effects in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease beyond the changes in LDL and HDL that are achievable through lifestyle modification.
3. Like all medications, statins have side effects that must be balanced against benefits. However, current recommendations from groups such as the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK) all recommend more aggressive statin use.
4. FWIW, the cardiologists I know well (whose opinions I trust) take statins themselves.
Thanks for this info! This doctor I am currently seeing is on the timid side. It's all most as if I have to pull info out of him. Consequently I'm not happy and I am looking for another Doctor. We moved to the Houston area about 4 years ago. I'm used to going to a clinic with several doctors and consequently, a single doctor office turn me off. They tend to rely too much on their "assistants" and I don't like being at the mercy of their schedule. On the other hand in a clinic, I might not always see my doctor on a short notice appointment, but I can always get an appointment. In addition clinics tend to have their own labs. The problem is that clinics seem to be hard to come by, where in Minnesota they were the norm. My timid doctor is at a Kelsey Seybold clinic nearby. My wife was seeing a doctor for a while who expected her to go to another facility for blood work. Unacceptable to her and me.
Anyway, I just used the American Heart Association Risk Assessment Tool and at my current readings, I have a 12% risk of a heart attack in the next 10 years. The highest risk factor was low HDL. I'm looking into ways of upping that number and lowering cholesterol and triglycerides. At this point, I'll think I'll work more on my lifestyle changes. and avoid medication for now.
WebMD.com seems to be a good source of info. Just read 23 Foods that can save your heart.
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I will call you out on this again Meister. Please source for your friend's phd publication(s) that microwaving food destroys folic acid.Meister said:
Because as far as I'm aware it's the opposite, microwaving is a much better way to retain the folic acid in food than boiling. Folic acid is water-soluble and leaches out with boiling. If you are keen to retain folic acid you want to cook your food in a microwave. I await your reference.
Yesterday I talked to a doctor friend and he told me exactly what you just wrote here.
He said that new studies show that less of the food value is destroyed.
The PhD thesis I was refering to is from the 1980s and I will have to look for it.
My personal feeling is still that microwaving food is best avoided. In general its best to not heat certain foods.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18024182.000-microwave-cooking-zaps-nutrients.html
From observing my own bodyreaction to food i came to the conclusion that most cooked foods are energy draining.
Best to eat raw if possible.
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At my last physical, I told my doctor that recently heartburn started bothering me frequently. His answer was take an antacid or a medication that partially blocks acid production in the stomach. Since this seems to be becoming a daily occurrence, I purchased some over the counter lansoprazole oral also known as Prevacid.
But I'm also reading about what long term effects can be at sites like MedHelp and it can sound scary.
I'm also trying to change my diet which is not that terrible, low sugar cereal/oatmeal and almond milk (breakfast), coffee (bad), low calorie juice drinks like diet cranberry (anything acid is bad), Greek yogurt, beef/chicken, oranges (bad), Mexican food (bad!), some sweets, carrots, but changing seems to be a challenge to do.
Anyway, just wondering if any of our members have experiences with this kind of medication pro or con? Thanks!
But I'm also reading about what long term effects can be at sites like MedHelp and it can sound scary.
I'm also trying to change my diet which is not that terrible, low sugar cereal/oatmeal and almond milk (breakfast), coffee (bad), low calorie juice drinks like diet cranberry (anything acid is bad), Greek yogurt, beef/chicken, oranges (bad), Mexican food (bad!), some sweets, carrots, but changing seems to be a challenge to do.
Anyway, just wondering if any of our members have experiences with this kind of medication pro or con? Thanks!
I've decided to take Prevacid, starting yesterday. Anyone have any experience with this medication?
At my last physical, I told my doctor that recently heartburn started bothering me frequently. His answer was take an antacid or a medication that partially blocks acid production in the stomach. Since this seems to be becoming a daily occurrence, I purchased some over the counter lansoprazole oral also known as Prevacid.
But I'm also reading about what long term effects can be at sites like MedHelp and it can sound scary.
I'm also trying to change my diet which is not that terrible, low sugar cereal/oatmeal and almond milk (breakfast), coffee (bad), low calorie juice drinks like diet cranberry (anything acid is bad), Greek yogurt, beef/chicken, oranges (bad), Mexican food (bad!), some sweets, carrots, but changing seems to be a challenge to do.
Anyway, just wondering if any of our members have experiences with this kind of medication pro or con? Thanks!
i drink coffee every day and never had any acid problems
i would cut out the sugar though
I've been drinking coffee for the last 3 decades and have never had a problem until 2 weeks ago, although I'm not insisting that coffee itself is the central cause of the issue. I'm getting old... or feel that way.
If diet, it could be a culmination of multiple foods. My primary concern is that this is just old age and something else is not going on. After researching this, I have decided to stop taking the Prevacid until I see a gastro doctor which I am doing on Wed. I really want to resist putting myself on a permanent medication with possible long term effects and I feel the need to speak to a doctor about this type of medication.
Heartburn Medication price comparison:
*Prevacid (Lansoprazole) 30 mg, 30 day Walgreens pharmacy cash price: $380, generic version:$161; insurance price Prevacid: $181; generic Target Brand OTC (over the counter), 15MG, 28 day supply: $14.
*Prilosec (Omeprazole) 20mg OTC: Walmart 28 day: $24, Walmart generic: $17, Target generic: $16, Insurance price: 90 day supply: $18.
I did not check the prescription strength of Omeprazole, but for Prevacid, the drug companies really stick it to ya. It's be much more economical to take two of the lesser Lansoprazole OTC tabs. Insurance for Prilosec is a no brainer.
I've been taking the 15mg Lansoprazole for 30 days and it controls my heartburn. I've discovered that the my insurance company does not provide any discount for the OTC strength, so I'm going to try a trial of the Omeprazole 20mg which I can get a price break on, to see if it is effective. Anyone have any experience with these drugs at these strengths? BTW, I am working with my doctor on this.
This article comparing Lansoprazole to Omerprazole had a small test group and for this group the Lansoprazole seemed to be more effective, but note, the Lansoprazole was given at a prescription dose of 30mg, while the Omerprazole was given at an OTC dose of 20mg.
Thanks!
*Prevacid (Lansoprazole) 30 mg, 30 day Walgreens pharmacy cash price: $380, generic version:$161; insurance price Prevacid: $181; generic Target Brand OTC (over the counter), 15MG, 28 day supply: $14.
*Prilosec (Omeprazole) 20mg OTC: Walmart 28 day: $24, Walmart generic: $17, Target generic: $16, Insurance price: 90 day supply: $18.
I did not check the prescription strength of Omeprazole, but for Prevacid, the drug companies really stick it to ya. It's be much more economical to take two of the lesser Lansoprazole OTC tabs. Insurance for Prilosec is a no brainer.
I've been taking the 15mg Lansoprazole for 30 days and it controls my heartburn. I've discovered that the my insurance company does not provide any discount for the OTC strength, so I'm going to try a trial of the Omeprazole 20mg which I can get a price break on, to see if it is effective. Anyone have any experience with these drugs at these strengths? BTW, I am working with my doctor on this.
This article comparing Lansoprazole to Omerprazole had a small test group and for this group the Lansoprazole seemed to be more effective, but note, the Lansoprazole was given at a prescription dose of 30mg, while the Omerprazole was given at an OTC dose of 20mg.
Thanks!
...thread revival
I'm going to point at people who live in Texas, just because I live in Houston, but anyone applies.
Who here is on maintenance medications to control blood pressure, cholesterol, and acid reflux, and are expected to return to the doctor's office every 3-6 months for blood tests?
I lived in Minnesota for 3 decades and our doctor there was happy to prescribe "maintenance" medications for a 1 year period until the next annual physical. Down here in Houston, I found a Doctor who told me 6 months max, but I've been seeing him for 3 years and have gotten him to fill Rx for a year until this year.
I called for filler RXs to get me to my next annual physical which is 45 days away, and he's decided that he is only going to give me a 30 day supply. WTF? I called another clinic and asked what their policy is and they told me for maintenance medications, they want patients coming in every 3-6 months and when I complained, the nurse told me that this is "good medicine". It strikes me as a money grab for the medical profession. But it could also be a regional group-think thing, a common perception to maximize income, while thinking "helping the patient", yeah right.
Now that I am retired, I don't want to be paying for office visits and lab work every 3-6 months. My track record is that my vitals are not changeable within a 6 month period. I know if I have acid reflux or not, and I track my blood pressure regularly, several times a week. The only thing that might change would be cholesterol, but it has not so far, and I maintain I'd last the extra 6 months until my next physical.
Also I've run into at least one place Kelsey-Sebold that does not accept new medicare patients, even if I have secondary coverage (which primarily helps me, I don't think it gives them any more revenue.) So my search continues. I have no idea if I'll be successful or not finding someone who will give me the 1 year refills. What is your experience? Where do you live? Is there an alternative I have overlooked?
Thanks!
I'm going to point at people who live in Texas, just because I live in Houston, but anyone applies.
Who here is on maintenance medications to control blood pressure, cholesterol, and acid reflux, and are expected to return to the doctor's office every 3-6 months for blood tests?
I lived in Minnesota for 3 decades and our doctor there was happy to prescribe "maintenance" medications for a 1 year period until the next annual physical. Down here in Houston, I found a Doctor who told me 6 months max, but I've been seeing him for 3 years and have gotten him to fill Rx for a year until this year.
I called for filler RXs to get me to my next annual physical which is 45 days away, and he's decided that he is only going to give me a 30 day supply. WTF? I called another clinic and asked what their policy is and they told me for maintenance medications, they want patients coming in every 3-6 months and when I complained, the nurse told me that this is "good medicine". It strikes me as a money grab for the medical profession. But it could also be a regional group-think thing, a common perception to maximize income, while thinking "helping the patient", yeah right.
Now that I am retired, I don't want to be paying for office visits and lab work every 3-6 months. My track record is that my vitals are not changeable within a 6 month period. I know if I have acid reflux or not, and I track my blood pressure regularly, several times a week. The only thing that might change would be cholesterol, but it has not so far, and I maintain I'd last the extra 6 months until my next physical.
Also I've run into at least one place Kelsey-Sebold that does not accept new medicare patients, even if I have secondary coverage (which primarily helps me, I don't think it gives them any more revenue.) So my search continues. I have no idea if I'll be successful or not finding someone who will give me the 1 year refills. What is your experience? Where do you live? Is there an alternative I have overlooked?
Thanks!
Anyone familiar with https://plushcare.com/about/ and have experience with it? My primary interest is maintenance RXs.
@Huntn never heard of plush. Very interesting.
You know your body doesn't like medications when you wind up with several side effects as a result of taking Aleve (NSAIDS).
I just ordered Tylenol.
Aetna has been mostly very good to me as far as paying for my hospitalizations etc. I am very grateful I have them. Ditto Aflac supplemental insurance who live up to their commercials.
Thinking good news about my favorite arm on Tuesday.
Just need to get my diet back on track and exercise more and I will be good.
You know your body doesn't like medications when you wind up with several side effects as a result of taking Aleve (NSAIDS).
I just ordered Tylenol.
Aetna has been mostly very good to me as far as paying for my hospitalizations etc. I am very grateful I have them. Ditto Aflac supplemental insurance who live up to their commercials.
Thinking good news about my favorite arm on Tuesday.
Just need to get my diet back on track and exercise more and I will be good.
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Referencing post 45, I’ve found a new doctor, let’s see what happens.
Probably not good advice for someone with high cholesterol!
I have been taking Lovastatin for mildly high cholesterol for many years. (don't know when I started) And I've been taking Omeprazole for several years also. I see my doctor once a year, and have blood work on the same schedule. I think I had blood work done only a few months after first going on Lovastatin, then annually after that. I've had no ill effects from taking these medications. I asked to stop the Lovastatin once as a trial, and my doctor agreed. The next blood test was not so good, so I agreed to go back on it.
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For these type medications, to insist on office visits every 6 months, I regard it as a revenue enhancement for the doctor. 🤔Probably not good advice for someone with high cholesterol!
I have been taking Lovastatin for mildly high cholesterol for many years. (don't know when I started) And I've been taking Omeprazole for several years also. I see my doctor once a year, and have blood work on the same schedule. I think I had blood work done only a few months after first going on Lovastatin, then annually after that. I've had no ill effects from taking these medications. I asked to stop the Lovastatin once as a trial, and my doctor agreed. The next blood test was not so good, so I agreed to go back on it.