Cholesterol and stuff

[Jux]

So having started reading the cholesterol thread in News, and seeing that everything has changed, I am now a bit fed up about my own health! It's quite hard to keep up when you're not a medic.

I have ms, r/r. Not too bad.
Underactive thyroid, taking 150 mg daily, and folic acid.
Leaky heart valve. In Jan I was told open heart surgery in about two years. Meanwhile Ramipril, 5mg daily. Low to normal bp, though.
Last week gp phoned to say cholesterol level is 6.5, not too bad he said but we like 5 or under nowadays.

I eat vegetables, lots of leafy green ones (good for ms)
I eat fish because I like it, but not as much as I would if dh liked it too.
I don't eat much sugar though it boosts my energy momentarily, as I can't exercise easily, so am getting fat enough without. I do lust for cake though!

I drink tea, lots and lots of tea. I know this is bad for my bladder but it's about the only thing I have left of the life I had when I was normal . My brain's fucked, my body's crap, my energy levels are hopeless and I am always cold. Let me keep my tea or I'll cry

In the light of this cholesterol news, what changes do I make to my diet?

It's unlikely you can get from a cholesterol of 6.5 to 5 just on dietary change alone, especially as it sounds like you already have a really healthy diet. The tea is fine!

Most of your cholesterol is made by your body rather than eaten - so if you eat less, our bodies have an unfortunate way of deciding, oh no, cholesterol going down, better make some more! Which is why dietary changes are often limited.

What was your GP suggesting you did? Do you just have a general cholesterol level or the split into good and bad cholesterol (yes more than one type, some is good!) Also although you have a leaky heart valve, your heart disease isn't a type to be progressed by cholesterol - has your GP looked at your future risk of coronary artery disease (there are lots of tools he can do this with) and found your personal risk is high, or just come up with a blanket 'less than 5'.

I think you need a longer chat with your GP about what the cholesterol news really means for you before seeing this as bad news, and definitely before making changes to your diet you don't like or taking medication.

Thanks, Kundry. TBH I don't know how I could make many changes to my diet, possibly even more veg, but dh really isn't keen and makes a massive fuss. He reckons he got his cholesterol down by using lite products (I remember him using Benecol, but he says not). I've cut down on cheese.

Are Benecol and those types of thing any good? I hate lite stuff, the flavour is vile.

It's really hard to see my gp as he seems to have gone a bit part-time so you have to wait ages, and then I don't think he likes me much so I feel awkward with him. He is, or certainly was, a very good gp, extremely knowledgeable and intelligent and experienced.

I've just found I have another heart appt next week. I'll ask them if they can tell me anything, especially about the coronary artery disease you mention (mum had it).

Oat bran and porridge are good at lowering cholesterol. If you eat it daily you can lower your cholesterol by up to 10% give it a go.

Agree with kundry too.

Your cardiology appt would be the perfect place to ask about whether your cholesterol needs treating, that's great timing.

I think you can reduce your cholesterol to some extent with Benecol etc but not from 6.5 to 5, prob more 6.5 to 6. Which you would need to balance against a lifetime of eating something you hate the taste of.

at the thought of spending a lifetime eating something I hate the taste of - you have put that beautifully!

I like porridge, though, but I do cook it with milk (and a tiny touch of salt). Would that still be OK? I haven't had porridge for aaaaages, well past time I took it up again.