To think these cholesterol values are very bad?

[AtDeathsDoor]

Cholesterol level 8.26 mmol/L
LDL cholesterol level 6.04 mmol/L
HDL cholesterol level 1.27 mmol/L
non HDL cholesterol level 6.99 mmol/L
cholesterol/HDL ratio 6.5 mmol/mmol

Should I be seriously worried about these values?
I’m ok about dropping down dead but I don’t want to be incapacitated
I’m mid fifties and obese.

Feeding your gut properly, not Snickers, will help with the depression.

Changing your diet may help your cholesterol a bit...

See the pharmacist, take the meds.

I also said to the doc that I don't mind dropping down dead, she pointed out how bad not dying would be. I take statins now as my cholesterol is defo genetic.

It is all true. I don’t want to be incapacitated but it is difficult to care enough to change when life is so bleak.
I don’t have the motivation to cook anything so I live on supermarket sandwiches, ready meals and chocolate/biscuits/cakes/crisps.
Does anyone have suggestions for healthy meals I could have with minimal preparation required.

I’m so sorry to hear you are going through such a tough time. It’s great that the pharmacist is being really supportive. xx

You seem to be deeply depressed bless you, and eating the sugary stuff is a comfort. I get it.

I think you might need another GP appointment, or if, as you say you have PMI then make a private appointment and be referred for counselling and a dietician. Your citalopram meds may not be working as well as they should or used to (that can happen), so a change of drug might be just what you need.

Get rolling straight away, eat your snickers until you get professional help to stop. All the know it alls and holier than thou folk here are not helping you as I'd guess you are overwhelmed with guilt and disgust at yourself. That can be turned around, but I don't think you can do it alone and it won't be quick either.

Wishing you the best.

Is money an issue?

If not, you can buy better ready meals, no thinking required, ones that are higher in protein, actually thinking about it Aldi and Lidl do a nice range of protein ready meals, still not very cost effective but that might not be your focus right now

Have you also thought about medication for the weight loss, this might not be your thing but can support with that sort of compulsive craving you seem to have.

Unfortunately SSRIs are notorious for giving cravings, GP will deny that though, but they seem to provoke the need to eat fairly large amount of carbs and sugary things, in my experience and from what Ive read extensively about them.

Thank you, that is so kind

Scrambled eggs and wholemeal toast make a nice breakfast or lunch or dinner and take about 5 mins flat.

Come on mate - you deserve to eat ok food not just crappy sweets.

I have been wondering about starting Mounjaro but not sure if it is recommended for people with eating disorders. I’m pretty sure I would almost stop eating on that but maybe that would be healthier.

Thanks. could manage that if I microwave the eggs

Do you mean an eating disorder where you restrict your food too much?

Im not sure, that isnt my area of expertise

At the moment then, focus on inclusion, not exclusion. For someone in your position its difficult and frightening to talk about cutting this and that out, include the good foods, over time it may lessen your need for the ones which are not so nutritionally dense

I dont actually think there is anything wrong with ready meals or ready pre prepared foods, particularly someone in your position who wants the thought taken out of it. You could do a big shop, a weeks worth of lunches and dinners, just stick em in the oven, or your bag for work for lunch, thats them sorted. Pick ones that are more vegetable and proteiny based or with good grains in them.

Exactly! Cheap, easy, fast, tasty, pretty good for you

Would you make yourself up some breakfast muffins, so a silicone muffin case (6 of them), 6 eggs, grated cheese, bits of whatever like chopped bacon, can buy that ready made, chopped up spring onion. Mix it in a jug, pour it into the molds, chuck in the oven and you have 3 days or 2 days worth of snacks/lunch/breakfast

I actually would do 12 in one go but some people are funny about how long things are in the fridge, Im not.

Lifestyle changes WILL make a difference. I got my cholesterol down from 8 to just above 5. Your depression is telling you you are not worth it, but you are, you really are. Please get some help: counselling if you can access it; and if you can make some changes you will begin to feel better. Good luck x

Thanks @BunsenBurnerBaby
Which lifestyle changes did you make?

Thanks for the suggestion but that would be too ambitious for me at the moment.
I don’t usually eat anything until mid afternoon but I used to have alpen sugar free muesli with a banana and semi-skimmed milk for breakfast. Would that be a good option to try again?

Nothing wrong with that, bit carby and might get those cravings going but its better than a snickers if it were replacing that

Its not about eating perfectly, its about eating a bit better

Think about your insides as something you need to protect and nurture. Think about your tummy like a pet, how would you look after that pet?
(yes I know I sound mad)

Also my preference is full fat milk as fat is filling

But that is personal preference, I cant eat low fat foods.

I saw a pharmacist from the surgery. It didn't need to be a GP as the pharmacist had my blood test results. He told me everything I needed to know including what to do if I had any side effects. They're not fobbing you off with a lesser option as the diagnosis has already been made.

Lifestyle and diet isn't the full story there is a big genetic impact too.

I don't know if it would be something you would be interested in but I started a vlcd (the new you plan) I lost weight, my cholesterol came down and my energy levels went up and my mh improved. I was in a bad place mentally and lived on takeaways and slept all the time as I had no energy but doing this diet has completely changed my life. It's really easy to as no cooking or food shopping and it's no more expensive then what you would pay for your food shop

Mostly diet: I cut out red meat and cheese. I make overnight oats for my first meal (can make 3 days worth in one batch and keep in fridge): I make them with water and 0% fat greek yogurt and add some fruit and nuts; honey if I feel I need some extra sweetness. Something good for me when I start eating helps me make more sensible choices later in the day. I try to have ready to eat food in the fridge several meals ahead so that I am never starving and needing to prep food. I also try to get outside for a walk every day: it stabilises my mood and helps me make better choices. It’s about doing small things that you can do and don’t feel overwhelming and then allowing yourself to feel pride in what you are doing— and then adding the next small thing.

There can be, OP wont know though until or if those other issues are removed like the excess weight, diet etc.

However until that happens, OP should start on the medication to get it down anyway, for safety now.

For some people absolutely for other it's purely diet. Mine was high I changed my diet and it came down.

Yes. This, too. Didn’t mean avoid meds; but lifestyle changes can and do help

Definitely take the meds AND try to make changes to lifestyle. I just wouldn't want her to turn down the statins and feel she's being fobbed off with the pharmacist.