To All:

Thanks. I looked into 'statins today because I blithely suggested that a friend in a group meeting take them for her moderately high cholesterol because they didn't have serious side effects. A student nurse in the group responded, "That's not true. Exercise and diet are best." But she didn't elaborate. The posts and links herein have alerted me. I guess the fact that simply being over 55 yrs. old is one of the "symptoms" for which 'statins are prescribed as a treatment made me think they were entirely benign.

I take atorvastatin. Seven years ago, I had been a vegan for years, and I signed up to run the "Bay to Breakers" footrace here in San Francisco. The race attracts about 80,000 participants so the Expo before the race is pretty big. Pfizer had a booth there doing instant cholesterol checks. Mine came back at 330. Six weeks later, a regular cholesterol check came back at 380. I wasn't worried. My HDL / total cholesterol ratio was excellent. But I started on Lipitor at 10 mg. and it came down to the hundreds.

However, since my family has no history of atherosclerosis, I may be treating myself for an illness that I don't have. I hadn't associated my increased muscle aches with anything other than age.

I'm going to try an alternative treatment. Fish oil is out due to ethical considerations. However, Niacin is a possibility.

Thanks.

Cordially

Was at the doc today for quarterly thryoid check-up and of course cholesterol and triglycerides come back high.

Also showed impaired glucose tolerance and insulsin resistant. This was based on 2 hour glucose test. For this she suggested low dose of metformin and diet and exercise.

But she also mentioned something related to statins called Gemfibrozil? A lipd Fibrate to help with high triglycerides.

You would be rpoud though whenshe mentioned statins I said no way....not yet and if so...only zetia but lets try a mor natural way first.

Time to really get off my butt and try to improe. My diet has been like crap lately. And I thik the birth control pills the GYN had me on affected the insulin. I have read that progesterone raises insulin and blood sugar.

Any insight? I wil also google.

Thanks all!

is an old drug... but not a benign one.

Did you ever do the fish oil?

You know lipids change when one has thyroid issues. I don't think the interventions we use for thyroid work 100%...cholesterol is typically elevated in hypo people.

Metformin is okay if you can tolerate it. I took it for several months, and developed acidosis and a severe case of vertigo because of the acidiosis.
I lost almost 40 lbs on it, and liked it, but it also was a huge diarrhea inducer.
I just couldn't go on with it. Even though my blood sugar was 90 fasting, I was having hypoglycemia symptoms in the mornings too. So I had to stop it.
If you are normal and not diabetic, it might give you huge side effects.
If I were you I'd try it... and see. It is the premier drug for insulin resistance that is not diabetic yet. The metformin may lower your cholesterol a bit too.
It did for me. I just got sooooo sick on it.... groan...

I lowered my triglyerides 10 yrs ago and they have stayed down. I don't eat alot of carbs, and I take fish oil, and they stay in the 170-180's now. That is where they were when I was pregnant, and good enough for me.

Thanks Mrs D ok a couple of questions....

I toally agree, thyroid conditions absolultey impact cholesterol.

Current readings.....

TriG....298 - I have gotten them as low as 170. And I have been bad of late with carbs and candy.

Cholesterol 273
HDL 60 - which is good
LDL 153 which is bad - doc wants it under 100 for insulin resistant people.

I think the rest to add up to the 273 is the Vldl which at 60 would be bad. I think those are small particles of LDL.

I did try the fish oil but have fallen off of it. I even got the prescription kind.

Ok starting back up on those immediatley.

Also starting new diet.

Question is if I start the metformin can I still supplement with any of these?

R-lipoic acid
Cinnamon

There are also two metagenic formulas I have been reading about insinase which helps with insulin control and Metaglycemx which has cinnammon and chromium and vandium and alpha lipoic acid in them.

Am going to Vegas this weekend so I think I will start the metforim next week. Dont want any bathroom accidents on the strip.

I know at one point I also read that you recommend niacin for cholesterol. I have it in my b vitamins can I also add a stand alone on top of that?

Thanks!

Definitely wait to start Metformin AFTER Vegas! You could end up an expert on Vegas lavatories!

Metformin reduces gluconeogenesis by the liver. Over 50% of your glucose maintenance comes from this mechanism. This is what was getting to me I think. I became so dizzy I couldn't walk at times. I had to do a fasting blood test at the hospital, I had people all over me when I got stuck in the parking lot! (after the test they gave me a thing of OJ). I was so embarrassed and frightened. That was the end of Metformin for me. The ER version is easier on the gut...and I found that taking AlkaSelter before the pill, stopped alot of the GI stuff. But even then I could not take the dizziness. And that came later, about 4 months later.

I would NOT use other agents to lower blood sugar while on metformin. You shouldn't need them.
My doctor would not give me metformin without a kidney panel, and tests every 2 months.

But if you want my opinion, you are at about where I am...except my triglycerides are lower. Everyone goes thru a period of insulin resistance. Everyone. Some are dramatic, others less so. Some progress to diabetes quickly some never do. I have read papers that claim everyone over 40 has a degree of insulin resistance.

Your choices are :
get those triglycerides down...they are the worst risk factor.
Do the alternative interventions carefully without metformin for 6months.
Don't skip the fish oil. Watch carbs. I know this is hard...but it is the heart of the matter. You need some carbs, but if you get cravings..I'd do the chromium. It seems to stop that for me.

If no effect:
then you can try the metformin (but do not do the other interventions).
Many people cannot tolerate metformin. I hear sob stories about it all the time. I'd say about 30% cannot tolerate it.

I have found so far that the R-lipoic is very powerful. I really don't do the cinnamon anymore since I started the R-lipoic.

Niacin works for some people. It is worth a try if you can tolerate it.
Some people say the no flush works, but it did not for me.
I haven't done a concerted niacin yet. I don't really believe that cholesterol is sooooo terrible...so I am holding firm at my levels for now.