Cholesterol Lowering Meds-Are you on them?

I had this surgery to become healthy and I guess in a way I have failed. Weight loss wise, I did lose my excess weight and I have maintained successfully for over a year. I'm no longer considered diabetic, I no longer have sleep apnea, I no longer have high blood pressure issues. So those are ALL successes! Yeah!!

However, I dont exercise and I started smoking again 6 months post-op (STUPID me!!). So now the issue is my cholesterol.

My total cholesterol is 183 which should be under 200. My "good" cholesterol is 57 which it should be over 40. My triglycerides are 69 which should be under 150. Everything's good so far!!

However my "bad" cholesterol is 112 which should be under 100. Damnit!! This is the 2nd time it's been greater than 100 so my PCP is wanting me to come in to discuss cholesterol lowering meds.

I dont want to take any meds so I feel like this is where I have failed. My nut told me the reason the "bad" cholesterol is high is due to the smoking and no exercise. When he told me this 6 months ago, I quit smoking and started exercising for a whole 4 weeks.

Then I let stress become my enemy once again and picked up the cigs and quit exercising. One thing my nut said that keeps running through my head is most women who smoke have their first heart attack by the age of 53. I'm 47 so why in the hell can I not get my act together!! I mean seriously why did I lose 98 lbs to become healthy only to kill myself by smoking and not exercising??

I'm going to seriously try to quit smoking again (patches bought and ready to use) and get my ass moving!!

So all this to ask, is anyone else on cholesterol lowering meds? What has been your experience with them? I'm going to discuss with my PCP and will probably start taking them but I would like some feed back from those who are currently taking them or those who have had to take them but not longer have to.

I'm just so frustrated with myself right now!!

I had to go back on Simvastatin. Talk to your PCP and see what she/he says. Cholesterol meds are all different and do different things. Best to talk it through with a Doc.

IMO, it sounds like you know what you need to do. Quit smoking (not an easy thing) and exercise.

Congrats on all of your successes!

Thank you!!

I sympathize with you on so many levels. I quit smoking last year after smoking since I was 15. I did hypno therapy and it worked wonderfully. I walked out of the hypnotist's office and haven't smoked since and haven't had cravings since the first week when I went in for a "tune up" session.

Some things to think about :

One: smoking raises your cholesterol. I quit and went on simvistatin at roughly the same time. Within three months my cholesterol plummeted to a happy 145 total, my bad cholesterol was done in the 80s and my triglycerides were were 90. My good was still hanging out at 35, so I started fish oil pills at the doc's suggestion. I was taken off the simvistatin prior to VSG and haven't had to go back on.

Two: and this one for me is big! We've had the sleeve and have a huge scar running the length of what was once our stomach. Smoking is the number one cause of stomach ulcers. The first place an ulcer will pop up is on scar tissue of the stomach! As my doc stresses, start smoking after WLS it's not a matter of if the cigarettes will kill you, it's simply a matter of when. He has had pateints get seriously ill from smoking again after surgery and two patients ultimately died from infection caused by their bleeding and perforated ulcers. So, literally, each smoke you have is taking you closer to disaster.

I know how hard it is to give up the cigarettes - I truly do. I thought I was doomed to smoke the rest of my life. But, hell, if I can do it (and I was a dedicated smoker) so can you. Feel free to PM if you want more info about the hypno therapy I did. It really was amazing.

Good luck!

I've been a smoker for over 30 years, so I say congrats to you for quiting and not going back. That was my first down fall. I quit smoking the day I went on my 2 week liquid diet. After my WL surgery I tried one and I literally puked. Then I let life get to me about 6 months post-op. VERY bad decision on my part.

Ulcers are definately a fear of mine. I know it can and will happen if I keep it up long enough. I'm going to try the patches again and if that doesnt work I would love to know how the hypno works. I work with a lady that quit over 20 years ago by doing that, so I will keep it as an option.

Thank you!!

You are going to consider going on statins because your BAD cholesterol is 12 pts above normal?  Did I read that right?

Do some google research on all the bad **** that statins do to your body.  They are seriously a last resort.

If you are that concerned have your PCP order a VAP test.....it determines the size of the particles that make up your cholesterol  Not all LDL is the same.  

There may be absolutely nothing wrong with your LDL level.  Especially in light of the fact that your HDL and trig are off the charts good.

Hopefully your PCP knows their stuff and isn't a pill hawker.

Yes.....you probably need to exercise more and the smoking is NOT good at all.....but from your post it sounds like you have made some tremendous progress in getting healthy.  Don't be so down on yourself.  Make a few healthy changes and you will be good to go.  Don't jump on the statin gravy train.  The only thing they help is drug companies bottom line.

I agree with everything doggz said.  You want to avoid cholesterol meds!  I'm not a doctor but I am a nurse and the side effects can be very serious!  Do everything you can to quite smoking!  Certainly not easy but as you mentioned you had VSG to get healthy.  You can do this!

Jennifer

This is the reason I made the post! Yes 12 points high and he wants me on statins. He is a great doc! I've NEVER had any issues until this. I will suggest the VAP test because I really do not want to be on the statins, I have googled the side effects.

I'm really not down on myself, it's more of a disappointment. I know what I need to do and am going to do it. I really dont want to be on statins!

Thank you!!

First, kudos to you for looking at your health problems in the face and addressing them.

Now for the "tough love":

Your blood lipids are actually ok.  Your smoking is not.  At all.  You need to worry and focus on quitting smoking far, far, before you worry about an LDL value of 112.  Focus on the real problem here.  An LDL value of 112 isn't going to greatly increase your risk of cardiovascular disease or early death - but smoking will.  I strongly recommend you to deal with the real problem here, and not the distraction.

Also, exercise.  You really need exercise in order to make up the ground you've lost from smoke poisoning.

I will take the "tough love"! I am going to deal with it. I know smoking, in itself, creates numerous health issues and I agree the high LDL is the least of my problems.

Thank you!!