High cholesterol when TTC - why me? anyone got any advice?

[FC2007]

Shocked to find that I have a high cholesterol of 5.9 (limit of safe is 5). Normally you would go on statins or other drugs but all unsafe in pregncny/ttc To be honest I just feel totally knocked sideways by this.

Apparently diet and excercise can give a 5% reduction but I need a 20% drop - which can generally only be achieved with drugs.

The only fortunate thing is that I have recently started to do some weight loss and increase excercise (currently a 10 st 9lb munchkin hoping to get down to 9st 5). Have persuaded docs to give me 3 months breather to see if this can have an efect. My doc is very sympathetic and is clear ththat ther is no point trying to persuade me to take the anti-cholesterol drugs until after I have had a much wanted baby.

It's just that this adds yet another pressure to concieve as soon as possible.... and god knows we are trying. Am joining weightwatchers next week to help kick start the weight loss - anxious that this in itself will affect the changes of getting up the duff!. Has anyone been in this situation? or got any tips?

Oh, FC, what a pain
Have never directly experienced this, but surely diet and exercise can do better than 5%? I mean, if you are REALLY good will it not be more than that?

feedme Thanks for getting back to me soooooooooo quickly I know I will feel a little more rational about it tomorrow. Think my docs comment that I could try cutting down my 12 units of alcohol a week to 1 or 2 threw me. In reality I probably only do 6 - 8 but that is so low.

I know I'll have to stop if preggers - perfectly happy with that, but having the occaisional drink does help during this "trying" phase eg when you want to ease the crap feeling of a BFN or AF (whicherver comes soonest).

Oh FC2007 that is poo! If you need some support with shedding some lbs, ttc and lose weight

If you don't mind me asking, how tall are you? And what is your BMI? Is cholesterol directly linked with how much you weigh? I always thought it wasn't directly connected. What I mean by that is, slimmer people could still have a high cholesterol, and a curvier person might not have a problematic cholesterol level? It's just that my mum is quite slim, but her cholesterol level needs attention?? And she has been advised to change her diet, not to lose weight. IYSWIM??

Certain foods ( i.e. chashew nuts) have really high cholesterol, do some research on them.
I think a change in your diet, increase in good oils/fats i.e. Linseed , sunflower seeds and decrease in hydrogenetaed fats, etc .....I hope things work out......Good Luck

I'm 5 foot 2 and a very important half!. BMI 26 I think so not far off the "normal range".

I see what you mean about my mum. TBH I'm still taking it in. The focua was on diet and exercise - which, when i asked was clarieied as what you eat rather than weight loss. The weight loss comes into TTC (hlps increas chances) plus I am already on medication for high blood pressure!!! So losing weight would have some posisitve effects in its own right. But whilst I'm at it I want to retrain my palate to eat more good stuff. Not that I'm that much into junk food at all. Its just we have slipped into one to many convenience foods.
x

thanks ash. - Maybe my body was telling me something when I bought some linseed oil yesterday - although i was thinking bout omega 3's etc

fc2007 my cholesterol level is 5.9 my gp won't put me on statins as it is not too high and he feels diet/ exercise wil be sufficient becasue of my age

why was your cholesterol checked in the first place? Do you have diabetes? Lots of people have a cholesterol level of 5.9 and unless there is good reason to bring it down eg diabetes/high blood pressure/family history of heart disease at an early age, I wouldn't panic about this level. Cholesterol is only one factor in determining your risk of heart disease, and to make a proper assessment you would need to know levels of "good" and "bad" cholesterol within the level of 5.9. and also relate it to your age and blood pressure. The target of 5 is for people with established cardiovascular disease or already at high risk of developing it for other reasons. If you are trying to concieve you will do yourself more harm by going on a manic exercise/diet regime, these things should be done gently. Assuming there is no other medical information that you haven't given, there is no rush over this, and if you conceive in the meantime it can wait until later.

FC2007 come and join us on that other thread We'll support you!! and Weightwatchers will work for you!!

Ash I'm an oldie! well 39 and have had high blood pressure for at least 8 years. The Bp is now well controlled with medication. Believe me I tried everything else and am generally averse to drugs. In the end it just wouldnt come down without meds and i didnt want to further increse my risk of stroke or diabetes. There is an ethnicity factor at play here too although I am the first in my family to be affected with BP.

Generally v happy with my GP's and my relationship with them. The person I saw today is the lead for hypertension and cholesterol. She took me through all the readings etc and i knew enough to be concerned - although your note sanae does help me get it into perspective.

With the exercise side I had already decided NOT to join a gym. I'm going to get a pedometer and increase my general activity. perhaps with some running once a week too.

ready I'm coming over to the other thread too. Thanks for the invite and signpost.