Cholesterol levels

I had high blood pressure and high cholesterol until 7 years ago. I felt OK and, like many people on here, I was sceptical about taking medications. I wasn't overweight, didn't smoke, hardly drank alcohol, was fairly careful with my diet and exercised quite often.

That was until one Thursday afternoon in October 2017 when I was in an ambulance being told I was having a heart attack and I really thought I would die before I reached hospital.

Since then, I've taken my meds and gone along for all my blood and other tests.

If your blood pressure or cholesterol is high you'll have a stroke or a heart attack. Well I've done ok then to defy medical science for the past 40 years with my raised BP. I remember a consultant saying early on to a nurse who was faffing about it, "I don't worry about J's BP, that's just how she's made. Best left alone."
My cholesterol is also labile. There's no point taking drugs if they're not needed all the time. I would, however, if readings were constantly high.

Primrose53

petra

It’s a wonder I’m still alive: mine hasn’t been below 9 for 15 years. They keep trying 😂 but I’m not buying into it.

You must be my long lost twin! Over 20 years ago a GP expressed concern at my cholesterol level and tried to put me on statins. I declined until I read up all I could about them.

Having done so, I told her I would not be going on them. Never had any problems in all those years and am generally pretty well.

I have met so many people (my late Dad included) who complain of aching joints and muscles, confusion, lethargy etc.
No thanks.

That's up to you. I really don't understand why people seem to think that GPs have it in for them when they advise them to do something which they genuinely believe is in the patient's best interest. Nobody can force anybody to take any medications or undergo any procedures against their will.

petra

It’s a wonder I’m still alive: mine hasn’t been below 9 for 15 years. They keep trying 😂 but I’m not buying into it.

You must be my long lost twin! Over 20 years ago a GP expressed concern at my cholesterol level and tried to put me on statins. I declined until I read up all I could about them.

Having done so, I told her I would not be going on them. Never had any problems in all those years and am generally pretty well.

I have met so many people (my late Dad included) who complain of aching joints and muscles, confusion, lethargy etc.
No thanks.

petra

It’s a wonder I’m still alive: mine hasn’t been below 9 for 15 years. They keep trying 😂 but I’m not buying into it.

Nobody's forcing you - I'm sure the NHS is happy to save a few pounds.

I'd (not I's)

It’s a wonder I’m still alive: mine hasn’t been below 9 for 15 years. They keep trying 😂 but I’m not buying into it.

If it's not urgent and you're happy not taking the medication, I's ring up again and say that you NEED to speak to the pharmacist urgently (even if you don't). If it's really not urgent, make an appointment for next month (or whenever).

silverlining48

Thanks growstuff but I have no idea who the pharmacist was, I was told I had a phone appointment and hadn’t expected it to be a random pharmacist - who couldn’t give the percentage likelihood of me having a stroke.
If only it were as easy as it used to be to get in touch with a surgery. I managed, after a long wait, today and was told I woukd have to speak to a pharmacist, but there were no appointments available in the firseesnke future. I coukd not see a gp.
Had just wondered if anyone else over 75 with no health issues has been prescribed statins for the first time.
This isn’t urgent, I was just curious.

Doesn't your GP have a clinical pharmacist working for the practice? It sounds a bit strange that a random pharmacist from elsewhere would ring you up.

I have raised Triglycerides other cholesterols all OK. I eat very little processed foods and hardly any sugar. The GP wants to change the statins I take as they seem to be doing nothing. But just read on NHS website that the statin she wants me to take shouldn’t be used with the blood pressure tablets I take 🤷‍♀️. I can’t get an appointment to see her for 2 weeks so sticking to the old ones . I’m 74 never smoked only drink alcohol occasionally but a little overweight. Also read that taking statins can raise blood sugars and the risk of diabetes . I think I would rather have a slightly raised cholesterol than diabetes tbh . Both my parents died at a very great age even though they were told they had high cholesterols in later life . Both chose not to take statins.

Thanks growstuff but I have no idea who the pharmacist was, I was told I had a phone appointment and hadn’t expected it to be a random pharmacist - who couldn’t give the percentage likelihood of me having a stroke.
If only it were as easy as it used to be to get in touch with a surgery. I managed, after a long wait, today and was told I woukd have to speak to a pharmacist, but there were no appointments available in the firseesnke future. I coukd not see a gp.
Had just wondered if anyone else over 75 with no health issues has been prescribed statins for the first time.
This isn’t urgent, I was just curious.

Calendargirl You are SO right. If your blood pressure or cholesterol is high you'll have a stroke or a heart attack. If you don't exercise you'll have a heart attack. Eat your 5 (or 10) a day or you'll get cancer. Don't smoke or drink, don't eat sugar, don't get fat, make sure your BMI and waist measure whatever. I for one am fed up with it.

Calendargirl 👏👏👏

I am mid 60's.. never had cholesterol checked!

Same here Fleur. I’ve seen too many friends on statins / off statins; medication causing problems where no problems existed. The goalposts keep moving about what’s ’good’ and what’s ‘bad’. If the medical profession doesn’t really know then ???

Thank you.

And, no, high lipids aren't necessarily hereditary, although they can be.

fancythat

I have not added on to an existing thread before, but it may be relevant this time?

Someone I know[not me] has been refered to a pharmisist or someone because of "lipids"
Are they the new word for statins?

I have had a bit of a google, and dont know anything about this subject.
I dont know her numbers on anything. Not sure she does either for about 1 week.

And do lipids mean it is necessarily a hereditary condition?
Thanks.

Lipids are fats in your body, including cholesterol and triglycerides. They're necessary for some functions, but high levels can cause problems.

silverlining48

A few months ago I was prescribed statins over the phone by a pharmacist , as my last cholesterol test was 6.8.
I am 75 with no other health problems and take no regular medication. I saw on the nhs website that statins should not be prescribed to people over 75 unless they have diabetes, heart or lung problems, etc, which I don’t. So I havnt started to take them.
Still trying to get an appointment with the doctor to discuss, but finding it hard to get past reception .

Would it be easier to get hold of the pharmacist, tell him/her that you're reluctant to take the medication and ask for him/her to make an appointment with the GP if there's a good case why you should take the medication?

A few months ago I was prescribed statins over the phone by a pharmacist , as my last cholesterol test was 6.8.
I am 75 with no other health problems and take no regular medication. I saw on the nhs website that statins should not be prescribed to people over 75 unless they have diabetes, heart or lung problems, etc, which I don’t. So I havnt started to take them.
Still trying to get an appointment with the doctor to discuss, but finding it hard to get past reception .

I saw a cartoon recently.

A chap strolling jauntily down the road, whistling, hands in pockets, a smile on his face. Looked like he hadn’t a care in the world.

The caption read;

This man does not know his blood pressure.
He doesn’t know his cholesterol levels.
He doesn’t know his BMI.

And another one or two ‘health’ issues that I can’t recall.

The gist being, ‘ but he looks happy’.

Made me think.

I know we need to be aware of potential health issues, but sometimes we seem to spend do much time just worrying about everything….

I had a health check, secretly hoping for a bit of a telling off. Perhaps a nudge in the direction of help with excess weight.

Colesterol was 6.1. They were totally unconcerned.

I have not added on to an existing thread before, but it may be relevant this time?

Someone I know[not me] has been refered to a pharmisist or someone because of "lipids"
Are they the new word for statins?

I have had a bit of a google, and dont know anything about this subject.
I dont know her numbers on anything. Not sure she does either for about 1 week.

And do lipids mean it is necessarily a hereditary condition?
Thanks.

I'm 75, fit, healthy, not overweight but a recent blood test showed high cholesterol - and high BP. I bought a home monitor and BP was very high when I started testing (white coat syndrome at home!) but although above normal levels it's come down. I've been referred to the Lipid clinic because my high cholesterol might be a hereditary gene, looking at the sudden deaths on one side of the family. Several years ago my cholesterol was high, how I wished the GP had investigated it then.

LucyAnna

Sparklefizz

I was told that as long as the ratio between good and bad cholesterol is ok, then that's fine.

How do you mean, Sparklefizz? What is the ratio? Bit dim, sorry.

LucyAnna I didn't have to work out my ratio as it was printed below my results on the print-out I asked for. My GP said that the ratio needs to be below 5.

You do have good advice here, but I would ring and ask to speak to the practice nurse. You may have to mske n appointment, or you my be able to leave a message.
Explain that you were anxious / upset about relatives and would like to go over the figures again. They will be used to this, and there is no hurry!