For years my doc has told me to lower my
cholesterol. When it rose above 235 early
this year and he advised that I needed a
statin drug, I decided on a nutritional
approach. I started taking a supplement
called Vasacor. It contains niacin
(Inositol Hexaniacinate), policosanol,
guggul, beta-sitosterol, and garlic.
4 months later, my total cholesterol
dropped to 195. I bought a CardioChek, a
device that measures cholesterol and gives
a digital readout. In August, it measured
at 165.
Then in early December, it measured
<100. I thought maybe I'd done
something wrong, I'd done the test near a
window with the sun shining in. I bought
new strips and tested again, this time
carefully following the directions. Tested
again today <100.
This condition is called
hypocholesterolemia.
Thought maybe the device is faulty, so I
bought a First Check test kit and tested
again. Followed the directions very
carefully. The device indicates a
numerical readout that is used to read an
accompanying chart. Mine is 14 1/2-15. The
chart begins at 18, which is a total
cholesterol of 115. So now I have two
different results that agree. Seems my TC
is somewhere below 100 and I am alarmed.
What I read on the Net is several possible
causes ..... liver disease, overactive
thyroid, malabsorption, among other
things. Is it possible the Vasacor caused
this and getting off it will return my TC
to something more normal? Should I rush
off to the doctor? Wait a month after no
more Vasacor and test again?
|
MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 1850 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 19
Thanked:9
Posted: 01-09-08 05:48am
What are the readings for HDL and LDl
cholesterol separately?
|
John322
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 6
Ldl And Hdl Posted: 01-09-08 18:03pm
MandMs
wrote:
What are the readings for
HDL and LDl cholesterol
separately?
Although the CardioChek can measure both
of these as well as triglycerides, I
haven't bought the test strips and tested
them. If I did and they measured in
something approaching a normal range, yet
TC remained abnormally low, what would it
mean, and how could that happen?
|
MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 1850 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 19
Thanked:9
Posted: 01-21-08 04:03am
I'll suggest you to stop using Vasacor
(ingredients work to block your body’s
absorption of fats in the intestine),
although it is also used when you have
normal cholesterol levels and you want to
prevent future problems.
It's in doctor's practice to suggest
further evaluation when the total
cholesterol is less than 120 mg/dL.
How do you feel?
What kind of symptoms you have?
|
John322
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 6
Posted: 01-28-08 19:10pm
Thank you for your reply. I quit using the
Vasacor on the day I wrote my original
post in this thread and waited 4 weeks to
test again. That was today, and I'm
relieved to find my TC has risen to 143
mg/dl. Still pretty low compared to where
it was, but above a level of serious
concern. I'll test again in another 4
weeks, and have scheduled a full physical
exam for the end of March. Am considering
testing for HDL in the meantime.
Overall I feel fine. Only symptom has been
considerable abdominal cramps over the
past year. I had a colonoscopy in April
that was negative, and there is no family
history of cancer.
|
MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 1850 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 19
Thanked:9
Posted: 02-18-08 04:32am
Mild stomach discomfort and indigestion
can be caused by using Vasacor.
Waiting for your post!
|
John322
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 6
Posted: 02-18-08 18:03pm
The abdominal cramping has stopped and I'm
feeling much more energetic. Looks like
the Vasacor was causing it. Will test for
total cholesterol in another 10 days or
so.
|
MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 1850 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 19
Thanked:9
Posted: 03-11-08 05:41am
Did you test for total cholesterol?
What are the readings?
Has it risen more?
|
John322
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 6
Posted: 03-12-08 02:48am
Yes I tested my TC again, and I was
disappointed to see it fell to 125. I've
done some further research and suspect
that I'm lacking in enzymes to properly
digest food in the stomach, and likely
need probiotics. The symptoms I'm
experiencing fit well with a deficiency of
both of these things. I've been taking
both now for a few days and started today
on a plant-cell grown
vitamin/nutrient/mineral complex sold by
Lifestar. I'll still see the doctor but in
the meantime taking these supplements will
do no harm and can only do good.
|
MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 1850 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 19
Thanked:9
Posted: 03-18-08 03:31am
Are you smoking and drinking heavily?
There are some studies that find link
between low blood cholesterol and risk of
cancer and other diseases (malnutrition,
liver insufficiency, anemia and
infection.)
Low serum total cholesterol is, also,
associated with low mood. Men with a lower
cholesterol level have a higher prevalence
of depressive symptoms.
|
John322
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 6
Whew! Posted: 03-24-08 19:33pm
Eureka! Tested my TC today after having
bloodwork drawn by the lab before my
physical next week. It has risen to a
normal level of 187! Looks like the low
number was caused by malabsorption, as the
enzymes aid proper breakdown of food, and
it wasn't until after I began taking them
that my TC got back to something normal.
I'm vastly relieved, as I knew as you
posted on 3-18 that a low TC can be an
indication of cancer and other illnesses.
I'm a very light drinker, about 4 beers a
week and nothing else, and a light smoker.
I do not suffer from any depression or
mood swings. And my stamina has risen
dramatically since starting on the
supplements. I can now finish my workshift
without becoming exhausted as was
happening up until just 2 weeks ago.
|
MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 1850 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 19
Thanked:9
Posted: 03-31-08 02:29am
It's a really great news that you went
back to normal TC levels.
Probably, part of that scenario was due to
Vasacor, because it can cause indigestion
and works by blocking body’s absorption
of fats in the intestine.
It will be nice to bring this to you
doctor.
He/she can make some testing for you
digestion enzymes.
The site is not a replacement for professional medical opinion, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your medical doctor or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment. Do not delay seeking or disregard medical advice based on information written by any author on this site. No health questions and information on eHealth Forum is regulated or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore the information should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor. Posts made to these forums express the views and opinions of the author, and not the administrators, moderators, or editorial staff and hence eHealth Forum and its principals will accept no liabilities or responsibilities for the statements made.
Schizophreniahealth
This page was last updated on June 11, 2008
