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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Cholesterol high with large fluffy pieces. Would you take a statin?!

31 replies

ToStatinOrNotToStatin · 08/05/2023 16:25

My LDL cholesterol came back high. HDL good, triglycerides good. According to some doctors the composition of the LDL is important too so I did in depth testing.

It turns out that my LDL is composed of large, fluffy pieces, which is a good sign. However, there are a really high number of them! So now I don't know what to do about taking a statin?

My ratios were all good because of the decent other numbers the proportions worked out. But as this deep dive blood test shows, there is just a high amount of LDL pieces in there

Would you take a statin in my shoes?

OP posts:

Swansandcustard · 10/05/2023 00:28

I was 51 when I had my heart attack but the cholesterol had been flagged around age 45 and I had decided against statins. That was the last time I based a medication issue on anecdata.

Zerrin13 · 10/05/2023 01:04

I have been taking statins for nearly 8 years. My high cholesterol is managed very well with them. No side effects and don't even think about it ever

poetryandwine · 10/05/2023 01:30

Hi, OP -

I am older than you and perimenopausal, so my heart disease risk will now be climbing as oestrogen drops. I don’t know the composition of my LDL.

Otherwise my lipid profile is very similar to yours: high HDL, very low triglycerides and excellent ratios, but high LDL and overall cholesterol. I have no other obvious risk factors for heart disease.

I had to request my cholesterol test following possible symptoms and the results were just texted to me whilst on a business trip. I am a STEM academic, not a medic but I know something about assessing evidence. Following several hours of reading I will be starting a low dose statin as soon as I return home.

caringcarer · 10/05/2023 01:59

My cholesterol was high at over 6. I've taken a statin each day for over a year. Now cholesterol is under 5. No side effects for me.

mycoffeecup · 10/05/2023 11:55

ToStatinOrNotToStatin · 09/05/2023 19:12

@mycoffeecup

I have type 1 diabetes since I was a child. Hba1c is 5 but decades of diabetes are a risk factor. My best friend from childhood, with type 1 diabetes also, has had a heart attack in her thirties.

I see a cardiologist because of autonomic neuropathy that is low level for now, thank goodness and I hope it stays that way. It causes POTS like symptoms.

So no, I am not being "over investigated".

But thank you for your patronising, sneery attitude and for throwing in that little nugget about exposure to CT scans adding to my cancer risk - and yes, I did know that and consider it before my cardiac calcium scoring.

Unfortunately I have to say you are quite representative of a lot of NHS gps in general. You assume the patient is thick and gullible, incapable of reading academic research.

Also, you are fairly ill-informed if you honestly believe that reputable, highly sought after US specialists view their patients as cash cows and clap their hands with glee as they send us off for batches of tests. It just doesn't work like that when you have access to the networks of doctors that I do in my city.

Conversely my old NHS gps flatly refused to investigate what turned out to be two serious chronic health issues I now have managed/ have a plan for.

I have never met a gp (anywhere) with a comprehensive working knowledge of type 1 diabetes. So why should I assume they have a comprehensive and up to date knowledge of statins?

There are some great NHS gps, obviously.

The NHS is brilliant at some things. Women's healthcare and chronic health conditions are not things they excel at imo.

The fact that you're diabetic is a massive drip feed which completely changes everything. I would 100% take a statin as a 38 year old with type 1 diabetes and I wouldn't have bothered with extra analyses, QRisk etc.

GertrudeofFlanders · 10/05/2023 12:27

I had a heart attack completely out of the blue a few months ago. Im in my 40's, slim, non-smoker, exercise a lot and eat healthily - was never a heavy saturated fat eater! My total cholesterol was 6 just prior to my HA and I was put through the risk matrix by my GP for cardiac issues and came out as no risk. My cardiologist wanted to reduce my LDL from 3.2 which it was at the time of my heart attack to 1.4, I went onto Atorvastatin immediately and it took less than 3 months to drop it to 1.3. I have been exercising and eating really, really well during this time to assist the statins with their job. I don't suffer any side effects especially, I get tired leg muscles but that could be any of the pills I take. I'd give statins a try in conjunction with lifestyle changes, if I were in your shoes.

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