July 2012. (this one)

--from today's NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/18/he...awed.html?_r=0

Makes you wonder if anyone really knows what s/he is talking about.

This is totally depressing! No one is looking at the toxic potential of statins...at least clinicians. The research is ongoing and the data, alarming..and no one is listening or looking for it!

This suggests to me it is a propaganda issue driven by money...not a factual scientific issue. All of the doctors not involved with the money aspect, report differently.

CNN is now also reporting on the same flawed calculator story: http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/18/health...html?hpt=he_c2

My GP was pressuring me just last week to go on Zocor because my overall number is 215. All the other factors they're using indicate that I shouldn't worry. Even their stupid calculator gave me a 1% (yes, one percent) risk assessment. I have no intention of taking any of this stuff. I told her my biggest risk is not enough excercise because my pain isn't properly controlled. I'm sticking to that.

Something new I learned from the book: research seems to indicate that homocysteine plays a major role in heart disease. Cholesterol may still be a contributing factor, but then again so are arteries.

Homocysteine is elevated when there is a lack of ... B12 and B6, folic acid... not that we never mentioned those on here.

The research done by Dr. Kelly is fantastic. He was one of the ones who never bought into the cholesterol theory, and he's also the one who probably first thought about inflammation (and possibly homocysteine) playing a major role. Combined with smoking, genes, diet, lifestyle, transfats, a bad omega3/omega6 balance this may explain quite a bit. What is clear though that cholesterol on its own seems to be totally statistically irrelevant when it comes to heart disease.

People like Kelly and for example John Yudkin deserve a statue for the research they have done, despite all the ridicule they had coming their way. And, in a way, so does Atkins.

Sobering thought: even my thoughts and feelings (and thus this sobering thought) would be impossible to have without cholesterol. Yes, our very core being is made mostly out of the stuff. That's almost hilarious!

I don't know who those people are or what they've researched (actually, I may, but they're not ringing any bells at the moment), but...

"All truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed; Second, it is violently opposed; and Third, it is accepted as self-evident."
— Arthur Schopenhauer

"Many things we accept as fact today were ridiculed and opposed in the not-too-distant past; this goes to show that just because an idea is unpopular now doesnt mean it wont be unilaterally accepted in the future."
— Melchor Lim

"First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win."
— Mahatma Ghandi

"Every great movement must experience three stages: ridicule, discussion, adoption."
— John Stuart Mill

"Ridicule doesn't mean anything - even from people you're supposed to wear knee pads around, like the scientific community.”
— Dwight Schultz

I'll stop there.

Doc

has anyone tried Welchol for LDL?

I searched but didnt have any hits.

My doc just put me on it. I told him I would try 6 months as I have to pay 50 a month for it. Unless it flairs my PN of course.

I have been taking it for about 2 weeks now with no noticeable affect on my PN.

Welchol is a absorbant product that does not get into the body's circulation. It removes cholesterol manually by sponging it up
in the GI tract. Make sure you take with lots of water, as it
swells and there can be a choking hazard with it. Over time it can also absorb vitamins so space it out if you take any vitamin or mineral products.

It should not affect PN either way. It just absorbs the cholesterol that is in the bile, which is pumped into the intestine with meals.

Welchol is not a statin.

The VAP test is important also.

Yes, I get the homocysteine tested for sure. Lots of things people can do.

The first thing my new pcp did was stop the statins I had been taking for 8 months. He told me to take red yeast rice. The natural from which statins are derived.
My total cholesterol is 149 but the extensive blood test results show rather bad ldl.

I am also big believer in Coq10. The more potent water soluble one
.200 mg a day.
I also take a vitamin called phylo multi by metagenics it appears to have a lot of the nutrients suggested for PN relief. I would list the ingredients but probably best if one is interested to check the metagenics website.