Chloesterol is 206

Twilite38 · 05-15-2006, 03:37 PM

My cholesterol is 206 which isn't good............Dr really hasn't told me anything to do about it....someone suggested Fish oil can you take that with Met and if so what is the best kind to get that want make you burp up fish *L*

TennisNut · 05-15-2006, 05:10 PM

Hello Twilite!

Fish Oil is supposed to help increase HDL cholesterol, which is the "good" cholesterol. I actually take Nature Made (I think). I get it at Walmart. However, the BEST way to increase good cholesterol and decrease bad cholesterol is through proper diet and exercise. Decreasing the animal fats and increasing fiber in the diet will help lower cholesterol. Since your number is 206, that is considered mildly elevated. (Anything under 200 is normal). However, it is better to know your ratio of LDL (bad) to HDL (good) cholesterol. Did they give you those numbers?

LadyDionysus · 05-15-2006, 05:20 PM

I agree. When the doctor told me mine was 235 (gulp!), I was able to bring it down in three months to 190 through diet and exercise. I went to the WebMD site and looked at their stuff about cholesterol to see where to start. THat gave me some good ideas about foods to work into my diet. Flax seeds, walnuts, soy, and high fiber foods are all good things to increase.

Also, have you looked into Metabolic Syndrome (Syndrome X)? It's something that women with PCOS deal with a lot. It links high cholesterol and IR. Some research on that might suit you well.

Sorry I don't know about Fish Oil...I've thought about starting it, but I haven't yet.

debir · 05-15-2006, 06:46 PM

TennisNut: you made a comment that I would like to reply to, about the ratio between good and bad cholesterol

My overall Cholesterol is 152; HDL 27 and LDL 107. They were stumped why my good cholesterol was so low, and it sounded like you may know a little about this?

All the Dr. told me to do was exercise, she said there was nothing dietary or medically I could do to get my HDL up.

Twilite38 · 05-15-2006, 09:33 PM

I just called my primary Dr to ask about fish oil ....they didn't give me all my numbers all they said was the total of 206...what about the fish oil you can find at the dollar stores is it any good? and also i heard that it will make you belch up fish ewww and clean you out really good which i need ..because i stay constipated *LOL*........

Twilite38 · 05-15-2006, 09:36 PM

also my hubbys cholesterol is high to he is on crestor but it is making him sick as a dog so we called about him today and they said he could try the fish oil as well ....anyone can suggest me a good diet to follow to help us both? any input is apprecaited ..Thanks

LadyBlue · 05-15-2006, 11:16 PM

While diet and excercise and weight loss usually do control cholesterol, mine actually kept increasing up to 252 until I recently tried some other things in addition to that... and then it dropped dramatically and the good level rose.

I added the fish oil, but I didn't take it very regularly. Instead of very low carb, I increased complex carbs with fiber...like oatmeal and very dark breads. I lowered my protien intake from meat, which wasn't really all that high anyway. I added even more vegetables.

However, since I had such a big drop in only 3 months, I think the most good came from increasing my Metformin, because my cholesterol problems were part of the metabolic syndrome. I also got medication for my thyroid disease and that is supposed to help cholesterol, too.

anyway, good luck. Yours is not all that high. keep an eye on it.

LadyBlue · 05-15-2006, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twilite38

also my hubbys cholesterol is high to he is on crestor but it is making him sick as a dog so we called about him today and they said he could try the fish oil as well ....anyone can suggest me a good diet to follow to help us both? any input is apprecaited ..Thanks

http://www.cholesterollowdown.org/ I noticed this program linked from the american heart association web site. I don't think a Cyster could get away with eating as much carbs as they recommend, though.

Headyfeady3 · 05-15-2006, 11:26 PM

What I have read in the stuff that my doc gave me is really helpful and I think they got it off the internet. Look up Heart healthy diets that is what my DR told me to do but he also told me that I have a family history and that I just will have to take the meds for it for the rest of my life. I would also say that if hubby is sick from his meds that he might want to try something else, I am on lipator and I dont have any side effects.
Heather

JosieFB · 05-16-2006, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twilite38

also i heard that it will make you belch up fish ewww and clean you out really good which i need ..because i stay constipated *LOL*........

If you buy the enteric coated fish oil pills, they dissolve in your intestines instead of your stomach, so no fish burps! I get mine at Walgreens or Walmart. Drugstore.com has better prices if you are willing to wait to buy it. I take 2000 mg, (1000 mg morning and night). I started it at the same time I started Crestor and my cholesterol dropped dramatically (236 to 141).

locagirl · 05-16-2006, 12:38 AM

I have slightly high cholesterol and my doc just keeps telling me to eat better. I'm already living off soup and veges and fish/chicken etc. I can't remember the last time I had anything fried it's been so long and I dont think it's POSSIBLE for me to eat any better as I've had my diet assessed and apparently it's fine. No butter or fatty oils. *frustrated* I'm not dieting - just eating healthy, I'm a bit overweight and I'm exercising regularly. Guess I'll just keep working on what I'm already doing....

Twilite38 · 05-16-2006, 01:04 AM

hubbys is 236 as well she told him he had 2 choices either cut the crestor in half and take it every other day or take the fish oil....Crestor is hurting his stomach during the night and he loses sleep plus he has no energy for work and he barely can go....... what should i look for in the fish oil pills? does it cause gassy bloating like the Met?

Blakesmomma · 05-16-2006, 03:47 AM

Exercise will improve your good cholesterol. I take fish oil 3 times a day per doctor. I take 1200 mg. I take zocor also and mine has improved quite a bit with exercise and the fish oil. Also my doctor wanted me to take B-complex, a multi-vitamin and Vitamin C.

I tried the Atkins diet for a few months and my cholesterol went down quite a bit. I didn't really lose any weight so I stopped the Atkins diet...low carbs will help though.

good luck,
Tori

TennisNut · 05-16-2006, 03:58 PM

Debir-
According to Krause's Food, Nutrition, & Diet Therapy: "Major factors that increase HDL cholesterol are exogenous estrogen (hormone replacement), exercise, loss of excess weight, and moderate consumption of alcohol. HDL is lowered by obesity, inactivity, cigarette smoking, androgenic and related steroids (anabolic steroids, progesterone-dominant oral contraceptives), beta-adrenergic blocking agents, hypertriglyceridemia, and genetic factors."

Isn't it strange how hormones can affect these numbers? As far as dietary, there are many suggestions of how to improve total cholesterol, but not many are proven to increase HDL specifically. Using olive oil, eating fatty fishes (salmon, tuna, etc.), eating nuts helps to add healthy fats to a diet that should help overall cholesterol. Oh, and calcium intake appears to lower "bad" cholesterol and raise "good" cholesterol in many studies.
Hope this helps!!

debir · 05-16-2006, 06:20 PM

Thank you so much TennisNut!
I have been doing web searches trying to understand some of the information you have given. Unfortunately, most of the info I found was very medically-termed and thus went right over my head! LOL
Is "beta-adrenergic blocking agents" the same as beta-blockers used to treat High Blood Pressure? (like the Atenolol that I am taking?)
Thanks again! Much appreciated