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Posted 1/4/2016 1:40 PM (GMT -5)
I'm on a clean diet, but my cholesterol is really high (total cholesterol is 311). It's probably influenced by hypothyroidism (started treatment for that), but I would like to know what you take for high cholesterol (I would like to avoid statins, but will have to make a decission on that in a few weeks).

Someone told me about red yeast rice?
Does anyone have other suggestions? My GP is open to suggestions or alternative treatments, so all information would be most welcome :-)
Posted 1/4/2016 3:00 PM (GMT -5)
Before the invention of the thyroid testing, doctors used to routinely prescribe thyroid hormone when a patient presented with high cholesterol. Proper treatment of your hypothyroidism could very well straighten things out for you. ("proper treatment" = dose increases until both your FreeT4 and Free T3 levels are well above mid-range *and* you are free from thyroid symptoms)

Please avoid statins - they won't help and could very well harm:

suzycohen.com/articles/statins_cramps/

articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/03/18/deception-statins-effectiveness.aspx

And, high cholesterol in and of itself isn't really cause for concern. Your doctor should be checking the particle size. Here's some info on that as well as ways you can help yourself (and yes, red yeast rice is mentioned :):

drhyman.com/blog/2011/01/28/seven-tips-to-fix-your-cholesterol-without-medication/
Posted 1/4/2016 4:13 PM (GMT -5)
Something that my current doc pointed out - look at the ratio. Forget the individual numbers, what's the ration of the HDL to the LDL?

I have high levels of HDL (the good one) as well as high levels of LDL. Most doctors only look at the LDL numbers, so they freak out and want to put me on statins. So far I have refused, because I didn't feel like it was safe. When I first started seeing my doc, I figured I was going to have to go through that again with her, but she took a look at my numbers and said that it was unusual for both to be high like that, but when looked at together, as a ratio, my cholesterol numbers were actually good.
Posted 1/4/2016 6:31 PM (GMT -5)
Niacin, but it can make your heart race, so probably out for us (you and me!)

M
Posted 1/4/2016 10:52 PM (GMT -5)
Garlic. This is my go to option that fixes so many thing. 1-2 cloves a day. I prefer the raw because of its potency, but on days when you have to be "near" people, lightly cooked is better than nothing.

I have tried all kinds of garlic pills and they just are not the same. I have not EVER found one as potent as raw garlic.
Posted 1/5/2016 12:08 AM (GMT -5)
Hey that's a good idea Pete! The only problem is, raw garlic gives me heartburn (but that's me).

M
Posted 1/5/2016 8:16 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you for the advize CD and Traveler.
I just remember that both HDL and LDL were not good, both far out of range. I forgot to ask a copy of the blood results, will do next visit.
I would like to avoid statins, but I also have my Hodgkin's survivorship. They advize to start statins 20yrs after radiation of the heart, to lower the risk of cardiac affections.

Teragram,
LOL, not for us... my heart is running fast enough as it is...

PeteZa
I can't eat raw garlic because it messes up my stomach... but we eat A LOT of garlic in our warm dishes here. We eat mainly Mediterranean, which contains large amounts of garlic smilewinkgrin
Posted 1/5/2016 8:53 AM (GMT -5)
Ya know....

When my GP prescribed doxy for me after the tick bite, I asked her about probiotics (she certainly didn't tell me to take them). She agreed that I should take some and, when I asked if she had a product she could recommend, I got a blank look at first....and then she pointed to the Align display on the receptionist's counter.

It seems all too easy for doctors to pull out their prescription pads for the drugs heavily advertised. Heck, my GP offered me a Z-pak during my last appointment with her when I was at the end of a cold.

I don't know what it's like in the offices of the various doctors you see, Marie. The doctors I see have posters, pens, note pads, etc. from various pharmaceutical companies and you have to know there is a LOT of advertising for statins.

It's long been known that treatment guidelines fail people and I know that applies to cardiac issues. Here is one of many links I could share:

blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/how-clinical-guidelines-can-fail-both-doctors-and-patients/

I hope you're able to convince your doctor to check the particle sizes of your cholesterol. That last link I shared explained why it's important....and what is an accurate sign of heart disease risk - it's not elevated cholesterol levels.

Proper treatment for your hypothyroidism could be very telling as well....
Posted 1/5/2016 9:34 AM (GMT -5)
2 years ago I could not eat garlic without tummy, lower intestine and heartburn issues. My husband still cannot do raw garlic and go to bed. I had to do just a little slice. I had to work up to where I am now with garlic and on those go-to-town days where I am near the public, I sure miss it.

I swear it has warded off a lot of bad things.
Posted 1/5/2016 1:16 PM (GMT -5)
Those pharma companies are wining and dining our doctors is what's going on!! They may or may not get paid money (generally for speaking at a convention or something), but they are taken out to meals, given 'gifts' and more. This site is only for the US unfortunately, but for those in the US, you can use this site to find out just who is giving your doctor money and gifts and how much!!

/projects.propublica.org/docdollars/
Posted 1/5/2016 8:58 PM (GMT -5)
Ugh!

Thanks Trav.

Marie, this is off topic, but can you tell me once again who was the well-known Mediterranean cook you recommended?

M
Posted 1/6/2016 2:03 AM (GMT -5)
Bee pollen and japonese knotweed...will lower but . how do i get cholesterol up?....
Posted 1/6/2016 2:58 AM (GMT -5)
Blue Lyme why do you want to get cholesterol up,? To produce more steroids?
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