Cholesterol -- Oatmeal-- Success!?

[markT]

This is what I follow.cardiologist wrote this and explains how and why certain foods do what they do. I’ve lost 31 lbs since mid Jan. It works!

 

[tcmikey]

Sardinian Longevity Minestrone. Or Blue Zone Minestrone.

The world’s longest-lived family, (9 siblings, collective age 851) ate this soup every day of their lives

 

[SGK]

FWIW I had an appointment with a cardiologist today and also their dietician. Oats can really help. Ideally whole-grain, steel cut oats. (Rolled oats are good, but not as good.) Any substantial increase in dietary fiber (eg cruciferous vegetables, apples) can help but the beta-glucans in oats have additional benefits. Key is to substantially remove saturated fat from the diet and increase fiber. (Dietary intake of cholesterol is not a factor.)

 

[snert]

I had the cholesterol problem (high numbers of the bad one). Doctor immediately told me to go on a statin. I knew I had been eating cream cheese like crazy and tons of pork cracklins. So, I refused and started eating oatmeal almost every morning and using Metamucil. It came down to tolerable levels. I started eating badly (actually I enjoyed it) and it went back up. I read some articles on statins that said research showed that if you did not have a history of heart problems they will only add 6 months to your life at my age (above 60).

At any rate I go back to the Dr. (who I don't like and have no trust in) and he puts me on a high dose statin (atorvastatin calcium 40mg). I'm thinking OK, I'll play the game. The first week I take it I get up in the morning feeling like I picked 10 bushels of sweet corn. Then I start feeling dizzy like I might fall down. I quit and I am searching for another doctor.

But, I'm still eating oatmeal and drinking Metamucil. I read the Bible daily and go to church at every opportunity. He's going to take me one day and only He knows how.

A good Dr. with old time skills, is hard to find, if they even exist any more.

After 18 years of statins of one sort or another I went three weeks without it due to an oversight in prescription refill.

Backstory: (Pun intended)...in 2012 I smushed (that is a medical term) two discs in lower back beyond repair. Had surgery, hurt like hell all over, was on gabapentin (hated it, switched) then opiod, then a synthetic opiod until about six weeks ago. (10 years!) I was never ever even near a full dose, but was in constant pain, all over body pain. I would try to sleep, and my legs, then toes then arms, then back then stomach...everything would hurt like heck. I sat in bed, short on sleep, crying.

Until about a week without the damned statin.

Suddenly I didn't hurt. Following a long talk with the Dr, and measuring the loss of life quality for well over 20 years (yes, what I thought was back issues ten years before the real injury was likely the damn statin) I told him I wasn't taking it anymore. He said ok, since we had tried multiple versions.

I am having a cardiac calcium test soon to check. But I can tell you that I have been pain pill free for 6 weeks, have accomplished more in those six weeks than in the past 4 months, enjoy my family, enjoy my life.

As a side note, I am 6'1. I was 250 pounds at retirement in 2013. I changed my food portions (if I ate two scoops of spuds, and one leaf of lettuce, I switched same. I lost 25 pounds in five months, but diabetes caught up with me. I am now on Ozempic and Syngardy, my A1C is 5.4, I am 200 pounds and (i still eat poorly) but I am a lot healthier than my cop days.

I had triglycerides in the 400 levels at 27, while playing baseball, weighing 195 and very active. Some people just make a crap ton of it.

We will see if I can stay off the statin. I stopped any alcohol intake in January, and I am cutting back on other junk foods. I am praying I don't have to go back to the statin because it makes me hurt so bad.

 

[Knotwild]

After 18 years of statins of one sort or another I went three weeks without it due to an oversight in prescription refill.

Backstory: (Pun intended)...in 2012 I smushed (that is a medical term) two discs in lower back beyond repair. Had surgery, hurt like hell all over, was on gabapentin (hated it, switched) then opiod, then a synthetic opiod until about six weeks ago. (10 years!) I was never ever even near a full dose, but was in constant pain, all over body pain. I would try to sleep, and my legs, then toes then arms, then back then stomach...everything would hurt like heck. I sat in bed, short on sleep, crying.

Until about a week without the damned statin.

Suddenly I didn't hurt. Following a long talk with the Dr, and measuring the loss of life quality for well over 20 years (yes, what I thought was back issues ten years before the real injury was likely the damn statin) I told him I wasn't taking it anymore. He said ok, since we had tried multiple versions.

I am having a cardiac calcium test soon to check. But I can tell you that I have been pain pill free for 6 weeks, have accomplished more in those six weeks than in the past 4 months, enjoy my family, enjoy my life.

As a side note, I am 6'1. I was 250 pounds at retirement in 2013. I changed my food portions (if I ate two scoops of spuds, and one leaf of lettuce, I switched same. I lost 25 pounds in five months, but diabetes caught up with me. I am now on Ozempic and Syngardy, my A1C is 5.4, I am 200 pounds and (i still eat poorly) but I am a lot healthier than my cop days.

I had triglycerides in the 400 levels at 27, while playing baseball, weighing 195 and very active. Some people just make a crap ton of it.

We will see if I can stay off the statin. I stopped any alcohol intake in January, and I am cutting back on other junk foods. I am praying I don't have to go back to the statin because it makes me hurt so bad.

I hope you can stay off the statin and I am glad you are actually dealing with the back issue. So many people seem to get back surgery and it's all down hill for them afterwards.

I understand that some people make a lot of cholesterol and if heart disease also runs in your family, then a statin can be very helpful. I did read at least one study that said that at our age, mid to late 60's statins would at best add 6 months to your life.

I am realizing what I need now is a new doctor, who diagnoses his patients, and can communicate. Oh, and one who actually performs the office visit and does not use nurse practitioners.

 

[jds holler]

I am realizing what I need now is a new doctor, who diagnoses his patients, and can communicate. Oh, and one who actually performs the office visit and does not use nurse practitioners.

I live in a little town, and my doctor IS a nurse practitioner. He's got a small clinic with quite a bit of hardware for tests and scans, and also his own pharmacy.

Seems like our doc is pretty good at minor stitch-ups, and basic bone sets, AND pumping pills. His first response to me with my cholesterol was simply to write a scrip for statins. I've heard too many stories like Snert's, and some worse. I figure if I can tighten up my diet a bit, I'll be better off than if I pop a handful of pills.

Parker, I'm glad you're doing better, and sorry to say that I had little knowledge that things were as bad as you say. Here's hoping that they continue to the better. Keep in touch. jd

 

[Knotwild]

It appears you have had better luck with nurse practitioners than I have. One thing is true about nurse practitioners, they are NOT doctors. I've fallen victim to them twice. Once was minor - outer ear infection and a nurse practitioner that did not know they are treated with ear drops, not antibiotics. I had to pay for an office visit to return and teach her that I needed ear drops. It was pretty painful for a while.

The other involved two nurse practitioners over the course of time. The ear incident made me request checkups with the doctor only, no nurse practitioners. The first time I see the doctor, he listens to my heart, and tells them to bring the EKG. Diagnoses me with AFIB. I had been going to his nurse practitioners for years and they didn't catch it. So, during this time I was at risk of stroke. And by the time I went to have an ablation, I was at the age where they don't have a high percentage of success the first time.

Nurse practitioners are really nice and helpful, until they miss something. You should at least have your annual checkups done by a doctor.

One thing I like to keep in mind about nurse practitioners - they are not doctors.

 

[ronsatspokane]

It appears you have had better luck with nurse practitioners than I have. One thing is true about nurse practitioners, they are NOT doctors. I've fallen victim to them twice. Once was minor - outer ear infection and a nurse practitioner that did not know they are treated with ear drops, not antibiotics. I had to pay for an office visit to return and teach her that I needed ear drops. It was pretty painful for a while.

The other involved two nurse practitioners over the course of time. The ear incident made me request checkups with the doctor only, no nurse practitioners. The first time I see the doctor, he listens to my heart, and tells them to bring the EKG. Diagnoses me with AFIB. I had been going to his nurse practitioners for years and they didn't catch it. So, during this time I was at risk of stroke. And by the time I went to have an ablation, I was at the age where they don't have a high percentage of success the first time.

Nurse practitioners are really nice and helpful, until they miss something. You should at least have your annual checkups done by a doctor.

One thing I like to keep in mind about nurse practitioners - they are not doctors.

True, but be aware that doctors are not infallible. The human body is a complicated organism and relatively very little is known about it. Hence the reason behind the term "practicing" medicine. It takes years to see enough to make some diagnosis's. Yet the knowledge base continues to expand exponentially year after year and doctors who were specialized in one area find that they are needing to narrow their specialization as the breadth and depth of their field expands ever more. Many of us think that we are inendated with streams of information, we have nothing to complain about compared to those who practice medicine. I've seen this first hand particularly in some oncology specializations.

 

[Knotwild]

True, but be aware that doctors are not infallible. The human body is a complicated organism and relatively very little is known about it. Hence the reason behind the term "practicing" medicine. It takes years to see enough to make some diagnosis's. Yet the knowledge base continues to expand exponentially year after year and doctors who were specialized in one area find that they are needing to narrow their specialization as the breadth and depth of their field expands ever more. Many of us think that we are inendated with streams of information, we have nothing to complain about compared to those who practice medicine. I've seen this first hand particularly in some oncology specializations

I agree, every human is fallible. I haven't been failed yet by a doctor. But I have been failed when 3 different nurse practitioners did not identify a potentially serious health problem that I had. My quality of life could have been much better 10 years ago instead of 2 years ago if I had been seeing a competent doctor.

So, sure a nurse practitioner serves a purpose for minor and routine problems. And they probably exist because our government meddled in the medical industry and many doctors are over booked, so the np's fill in the cracks. They have their place, but as long as I have a choice, I'll opt out of using them.

 

[ronsatspokane]

I agree, every human is fallible. I haven't been failed yet by a doctor. But I have been failed when 3 different nurse practitioners did not identify a potentially serious health problem that I had. My quality of life could have been much better 10 years ago instead of 2 years ago if I had been seeing a competent doctor.

So, sure a nurse practitioner serves a purpose for minor and routine problems. And they probably exist because our government meddled in the medical industry and many doctors are over booked, so the np's fill in the cracks. They have their place, but as long as I have a choice, I'll opt out of using them.

I agree. I've been trying to talk my wife into seeing my doctor for years. She is happy with her nurse practitioner. I'm not going to argue the point.

 

[seymour fish]

No.
With rare exception, the more small dense LDL particles a person has, the greater the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Indeed small dense LDL , which is not tested for in most clinical settings, sufficiently resembles fibrinogen structurally after it’s been oxidized, to be taken in as a patch for a segment of artery that is already damaged, eventually occupying the media as an atheroma with a fragile cap. The obvious question is what caused the original damage to the glycocalyx and endothelium. There are several answers, many of which deserve greater attention, yet “cholesterol” remains the knee-jerk cash cow.

 

[seymour fish]

While you are doing a search, check out what Lectins do to the human body. Get ready for a shock.

Leaky gut. TMAO’s. Etc.

 

[seymour fish]

I have had the same problem for 10 years now and I have had 3 different Doctors trying to get my blood sugar down my cholesterol down and blood pressure under control with all types of medication . I have recently started working out and taking Berberine a natural plant based capsule 3 times each day With some amazing things that are going on now. All 3 of my issues have had a very very good thing happening. All are way down and staying down . I am still waiting to see how well it is working for me on my next trip to the Dr office.

That was a very smart move

 

[seymour fish]

2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil a day helps. Just an FYI. Dr. Mercola has a great website with tons of study results on satan drugs. Long term use raises your risk of getting type 2 diabetes 2-3 fold. They raise your risk of dementia and alzheimer's. The average of extra life by taking them is less than a week. Using the drug companies own data they sy it redued heart attacks from 0 out of 100, which seems like bs to 1 non fatal heart attack in 100, but does not say what the total numbers were. It's estimated that Satans have grossed $1 TRILLION in sales. There are also some BP meds that make your platelets stick together. I had horrible reactions to Satans, and up until very recently, I have never known more people who have had bad side effects to a drug/ dna altering shot before.

If you read the original patent on statins, the fact that they inhibit the body’s ability to make Co-Q-10 was addressed and supplementation with it was required. Thus an increased incidence of congestive heart failure at the cellular level, myalgias, occasional dementia. A hard look at “all cause mortality” re:statins is revealing.

 

[284winner]

Since reading thread #1, I've been eating oatmeal daily. Been eating one banana every morning with it. I will continue for another month and get my blood work checked again. I'm not expecting the numbers to be under 200 but even if the number went from 251 to 200, I'd be ecstatic. I'm sure another couple months more would drop the numbers to the 180 mark and that's my goal. Full disclosure. The OP stated he really didn't change his diet much other than the oatmeal. I did. I've reduced my saturated fat intake and increased my protein, fiber content a little more also. Didn't change much else. Slowly losing weight but very slowly. I think I've lost 5lbs in the last 2 months. That wasn't my goal but more of an effect from the diet change. My workouts haven't changed either to cause any weight loss.

 

[AckleymanII]

Strive to get your HDL levels up as the HDL is the dump truck that picks up the LDL, lots of video's from Heart doctors on this issue.

There is a lot more research out now on Lectins and just how bad they are for you. Lectins should be put through a pressure cooker, and there is a great little pressure cooker for the microwave.

Tomatoes are lectin loaded, the night shade class of vegetables. I can eat several slices of raw tomato, and my joints HURT the next day.

 

[jds holler]

So here I sit, having my morning dose of Oatmeal. I hadn't looked into this thread for awhile, and I am the OP.

I've been happy and surprised to see how many are interested in this whole aspect of our lives and health.. I suppose that like they say, we have an epidemic health problem in this country, and it's largely because of our diet.

I'm getting pretty close to having another blood work done to make sure my success hasn't been just a fluke. Besides the oatmeal, I think I've tightened my diet up a little bit, but not in a major way. My next step needs to be more exercise. I'm cutting way back on my working life, which has been pretty strenuous, and I need to replace it with something, or I'ma be in trouble.

Spring around here is pretty much like winter, only more miserable. it's been pretty easy to sit in the house and watch the wind blow. I think a brisk two mile walk would do both me and the dog some good. jd

 

[jds holler]

So, awhile back the grandkids were over here, and found a couple of our old high school year books. My wife and I are children of the 60's and 70's, both of us graduating in '74'.

I expected that the kids would be yucking it up about how dorky we looked back then, and there was some of that, but what really amazed them was how skinny we ALL were. The oldest girl, Brianna said "Grandma!! You girls all looked like models!"

I got to looking, and she was right.. There was something missing, and it was the chubby kids. We all looked positively angular, and boney. Probably on average, thirty pounds less per kid than these days.

I can't say just when this changed, but it for durned sure has.

It's probably no wonder that folks have horrible cholesterol. and diabetes by the time they're forty or even sooner. I think all this prosperity and easy living is gonna kill us. jd

 

[BlueWater]

So, awhile back the grandkids were over here, and found a couple of our old high school year books. My wife and I are children of the 60's and 70's, both of us graduating in '74'.

I expected that the kids would be yucking it up about how dorky we looked back then, and there was some of that, but what really amazed them was how skinny we ALL were. The oldest girl, Brianna said "Grandma!! You girls all looked like models!"

I got to looking, and she was right.. There was something missing, and it was the chubby kids. We all looked positively angular, and boney. Probably on average, thirty pounds less per kid than these days.

I can't say just when this changed, but it for durned sure has.

It's probably no wonder that folks have horrible cholesterol. and diabetes by the time they're forty or even sooner. I think all this prosperity and easy living is gonna kill us. jd

Sittin' on our "fat surpluses" hasn't done anyone any good, that's for sure. Except for those supplying the "surpluses."

Funny how much energy can get burned just getting outside and doing it ... whatever "it" might be. Funny, too, how decent basic "off the land" diets once were, with a great percentage of populations, where folks had to work harder for what they pulled off the land. Loads of canned/pickled items, smoked/preserved meats (and less of it), fresh fruits and vegetables. Urban "diets" have largely reversed those benefits, and with such a great number of people off the land and into the urban centers (globally), ...