Just got my cholesterol checked after being off of Lipitor for one month because of muscle cramping.  My cholesterol is over 300!!!  The worst it's ever been!!!

My cholesterol has been manageable with a 10mg, but now the Doc wants me on Lipitor 40mg.  I don't want to do it because I think it's what caused my cramping (of which I've been having still, but much milder).

I've been doing this diet, 90% compliant during the week and 60% compliant during the weekend, for about 3 months.

I am taking CoQ10, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and the "o" vitamins.  I work out 5 times a week, average, and drink lots of pineapple juice (yummy)

I do not know my secretor status, as i have not tested yet (a little expensive), even though my thingy says I am a secretor.

HELP!  I HATE TO MEDICATE!

Also, just to let you know, since doing the diet my teeth have very little plaque!

Thanks in Advance!

try going grain free as well as low carb for a while.....see if that changes anything.

read through the cardio book food lists......those might be of help.

some of your neutrals may turn up to be 'infrequent neutrals'.....check in your local library.

Since you do not know your secretor status I would (as Lola says) go very low on grains.

Which foods make you non compliant? Ei. Which avoids do you eat? Are you currently eating portion/frequency sugestions by Dr. D.?

Best wishes,

Elizabeth1528-you say you drink alot of pineapple juice.  How much is alot?  The sugar in it may be a bit too much for you.  Especially since you don't know your secretor status.  What about drinking teas(with little or no sweetner) and water.  

Debra

please take the most important amount of B3 Niacin flush free and add a lighter Bcomplex with it...
that's all ....and have a look how quick it will be downed .....no lipitor...please ...this is da bombe with

If your dr. increased your dose of Lipitor knowing that the lower amount gave you cramps,  I would get a new dr.  This is the reaction I had and my doctor told me to stop taking it immediately and mark it down as an allergy.

Have you stopped eating meat from a pig completely?  Did you eat shrimp or lobster or several eggs, the day or two before the test? ( if so it may be a  false reading)

Look into Guggul.  It's effective at lowering Chlosterol.  Also an herb called Gynostemma (Jiaogulan).
Oh, and also Reishi.  Dr. D mentions Reishi on p. 575 of The Encyclopedia as lowering LDL and triglyceride levels.

You can get Guggul in any good natural foods store.

My favorite source for high quality chinese herbs is Dragonherbs, out of Santa Monica Calif.  Here's their toll-free number, and ask for Heather, their master herbalist.  888 558-6642

They sell Reishi or Gynostemma as separate herbs, or they have a great formula called CardioPro 2000 which contains them in one formula.  I took this, along with Guggul, when my cholesterol went up to 288 a few years ago.  It is now down to 214, and my ratio is very healthy.  I have discontinued the Guggul, and still take the Reishi and Gynostemma.

If you drink coffee, that can raise your chlosterol.

the cardiovascular disease book,
recommending green tea, guggul and niacin
(under supervision) for lowering cholesterol in type O.

Great stuff, and a lot to think about.  The nurse who gave me the results said that she had mentioned to the doctor that the cramps are still present, and also said she would tell him again-that it was a crazy day-to make sure this is the path he wants to take.  I am going to tell him that I do not want to do the lipitor.

I had to stop typing because my doctor just called (its 7:30pm at night!).  He said he knows about the cramps, and he said to try the following for the next 6 weeks:

B6
B12
Folic Acid
Red Yeast Rice

How about that!

Quoted from ISA-MANUELA

please take the most important amount of B3 Niacin flush free and add a lighter Bcomplex with it...
that's all ....and have a look how quick it will be downed .....no lipitor...please ...this is da bombe with

What is the B3 niacin flush?

I drink about 32 ounces of pineapple juice a day.  Red meat all the time, veggies and a little bit of fruit besides the pineapple (grapes, bananas).

I have essentially eliminated wheat, haven't had pork in 3 months, little or no dairy.  The thought of eliminating grains is daunting.  I felt like I was doing great eliminating wheat/flour. I love my rice!
And, no, I haven't been adhering to the amounts.  I'm still in the butterfly fields!

I really must find out my secretor status.  I've been doing this diet, like I said before, with one foot in (the biggest foot!) and one foot out (a really small foot).  I've felt really great, lots of energy, and a lot less plaque!  I've even finally lost 5 pounds!

Oy...Here we go on another adventure!

Elizabeth,
Those supplements are good ones, and I'm impressed he came up with that idea!  
Red Rice Yeast is supposed to be very effective and works similarly to Lipitor.  If it isn't enough, consider the Guggul.

I think 32 oz is a lot of Pineapple juice.  

There is a great B12 supplement called No Shot by Superior Source.  It is sublingual (melts under the tongue and goes straight into the bloodstream).  The type of B12 is Methylcobalamin, which is the best type.  Most supplements use a diffrent one, called Cyanocobalamin, which is an inferior product.  

The Vitamin Shoppe has a RYR and Guggul combo, and Nature's Way has a heart supplement with  reishi, b6, b12, folic acid and other goodie in it.

I'll be trying that for now...

THANKS EVERYONE!

Elizabeth1528-glad to hear that your doctor has come up with some supplements other than prescription drugs.  

And...I think 32 oz. of pineapple juice is a lot also.

Debra

Good luck, Elizabeth.  Those sound like good formulas.  

Keep us posted on how you're doing, or just come round to visit.  

Hi Elizabeth,
My husband would like to use something other than meds re cholesterol, so I wondered how you were doing on the above recommendations...any feedback yet??

Quoted from Elizabeth1528

The Vitamin Shoppe has a RYR and Guggul combo, and Nature's Way has a heart supplement with  reishi, b6, b12, folic acid and other goodie in it.

I'll be trying that for now...

THANKS EVERYONE!

How is it now Elizabeth? My blood report came back with my cholesterol @ 300, too! I started a thread..and got great advise from everyone. I was given Lipitor and it was havoc! I stopped it immediately, started BTD, and am waiting for the 20th Nov to go for my next blood test. I'm an ex-vegetarian..and that contributed to this situation I'm told.

Just wanted to know how you were fairing...

accidental chef

Quoted from Elizabeth1528

I've been doing this diet, 90% compliant during the week and 60% compliant during the weekend, for about 3 months.

Hi Elizabeth,

60% compliance means 40% avoid during the weekend, right? I regret to say that that is a little too much, given your health condition. Your body is then working hard trying to eliminate those harmful stuff during the whole week! Keep in mind that not all lectin damage is repaired overnight. For example intestinal cells need 14 days for replacement, meaning that your digestion is continuously compromised, you are not helping your metabolism with your current regimen, and that's aggravating the problem.

With all due respect, I'd recommend you to go at least 90% beneficial, weekends included. As per Lola's recommendations, please stay away from grains and dairy.

You will see the difference before long, once you stick to beneficials and stay away from all avoids.

Cheers,
Yaman

dear Elizabeth, there is Nicain named B3 and without beeing treated , it gives flushes when you take it more up from 50-75 mg's so ther's a treatened B3 = flush free called ... and if you add about 50mg's of Bcomplex (a mixup inwhich from every B vit. is 50mg's in) so I think that would do the trick;
but there's a difference between Nictotinamide and Niacin, thats' why Niacin does *the trick*

Hi folks - Elizabeth and accidental chef,

High cholesterol readings do not indicate a heart problem, but an artery problem ...  the body uses cholesterol to seal lesions in arteries ... something like scabs on the skin.  So the high reading often indicate a lot of cuts or very thin artery walls.

Any statin (and red rice yeast is a 'natural' statin) besides lowering cholesterol, also interferes with CoQ10 and therefore a minimum of 100mg CoQ10 is needed if any statin is used.  Note: the statins lower cholesterol, but do not heal the lesions.  (maybe why you got cramping-pain?????

accidental chef's old vegetarian diet is showing its long-time weakness here.  Bone broth and lots of sinuhe in the broth + Linus Pauling's vitamin C regime at http://www.vitamincfoundation.org/ ............. it's vit C + L-lysine [+ options L-ornithine + ..............] are likely what is needed.  A lot of curcumin and boswellia + OPC's should help too.

Here I very much disagree that niacin is an effective long term strategy.  It just widens the capillaries and makes cells stop clumping together, this increases blood flow but does little for capillary walls where the problem is.  [btw the doctor's recommendations tells me he doesn't know much and is guessing.]

hope this helps ........

John

haaaa, sorry I only repeated what is usual here by and in my orthomolecular club
and must be honest with best results

                     

Isa,

this problem is very, very old.  The solution is a permanent fix ... found by Dr. Mattias Rath about a decade ago when he was in charge of research at the Linus Pauling Institute.

the 'other' reason for high cholesterol is usually age & hormone deficiency related.  All hormones are made from cholesterol, so when deficient in a number of hormones a signal to produce more cholesterol*(more hormone) is sent to the liver.  However, between cholesterol and many hormones are a number of steps.  If these too are deficient, then the hormones remain low with that signal for 'more'.
So what evolves is high cholesterol + low hormones ... http://search.lef.org/cgi-src-.....OLS%20cholesterol%20

John

Which of your cholesterals is high?

Triglycerides, HDL or LDL?

Triglicerides indicate too much sugar in the diet....(I am thinking way too much Pineapple juice myself)  32 oz per day would probably drive my triglycerides off the charts.  Believe it or not, a couple of rice cakes per day can drive mine up by 100 points!!!!!

Quoted from John_McDonell_O+

Hi folks - Elizabeth and accidental chef,High cholesterol readings do not indicate a heart problem, but an artery problem ...  the body uses cholesterol to seal lesions in arteries ... something like scabs on the skin.  So the high reading often indicate a lot of cuts or very thin artery walls.John

while John is certainly right about high cholesterol indicating an artery problem because cholestrerol is used to 'plug' lesions in the arteries, it can lead to heart attack and stroke. reason being, is the cholesterol that plugs these lesions is not smooth, like the artery was prior. it's more like glopped on plastered that is not smoothed out. as more and more plaque comes thru the artery, it can catch on this cholesterol and build. it can build until it causes a blockage or can break loose and go 'downstream' and attach to other cholesterol, eventuallly causing a blockage. there is a book that explains this all very well, in very simple terms and quite cute illustrations. the book is "You, The Owners Manual" by Roizen and Oz.  

I agree w/ the others, 32 oz of pineapple juice is a lot of sugar. this much p/j would cause lots of havoc for me. Since you are having health issues already, might be something to look in to.

how is your potassium? low potassium can cause cramping. could've been a combo of this and the med, if your potassium should happen to be low. tho the ideal would be to go to supps if possible.

John, as usual, full of good info. glad you're only resting (as opposed to not posting at all, I mean).

Has anyone seen Elizabeth around lately?

Debra

I swear by fish oil...I take 6-9 a day and my Cholesterol is Below average and my good Cholesterol is very high ( wasn't always like that !!) ....both my parents are on Lipitor and I just got them on 6-9 fish oil caps a day too....their results will tell

Quoted from debra

Has anyone seen Elizabeth around lately?Debra

I was wondering where she is as well. Has been a very long time since she's posted. Hope all is well.