Chloresterol and Blood Pressure Meds?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2001
Chloresterol and Blood Pressure Meds?
10
Sat, 06-09-2007 - 2:56pm

Does anyone else take blood pressure and/or chloresterol meds for diabetes? My doc perscribes a statin and a blood pressure med, she says they work to protect my organs.

Is she full of it, or is there a method to her madness? My DH and MIL thinks she is overmedicating me.

TIA

Misty

~Misty~


 


Avatar for 2sweet02
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2003
Sat, 06-09-2007 - 4:36pm

I have been taking blood pressure medications for years, and really need to be able to take some of the statins for cholesterol, because my triglycerides are too high.

2sweet02

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sun, 06-10-2007 - 12:51am

Misty,


I have just returned from two days of medical continuing educational classes to keep my nursing license. Over and over again the folks at the conference were told about the damage that elevated blood sugar does to the heart and blood vessels. And over and over again

Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 06-10-2007 - 8:46am

Misty, did your dr tell you what your bp was or your cholesterol?


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2001
Sun, 06-10-2007 - 2:36pm

Thank you everyone for all of the great advice!!

My blood pressure is always "a little high" even on the meds. I had problems with it when I was preggo with DD and it was dangerously high when I had her, had to have a c-section to speed it up! Plus, my pulse is always high, and I'm taking something else to try and get that under control. My resting pulse was over 95, but I've gotten it down to around 82 when at home, resting.

My chloresterol is GREAT, which always seems to surprise my doc. My LDL was 20 last time, I can't remember what the HDL was, but it was fine. (Doc says my OB would want my LDL higher if I were preggo again! Which is my goal.) That is what DH was confused about, why am I taking a chloresterol drug when it's great? But I think you ladies answered my questions. I do feel better about taking provastatin because I can get it at Wal Mart on their $4 generic drug program!! So much better than taking Crestor at over $60 a month. Whew! Does everyone know about this program btw??

Thanks again!!

Misty
DD Hannah 1/14/05

~Misty~


 


Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sun, 06-10-2007 - 11:38pm

Misty,


Can you check your numbers again? I think you have them backwards. Doctors would be jumping up and down with joy with an LDL of 20. And you wouldn't be put on meds.


My last endo used to send me a report with everyone of my lab tests. I had him ever since I was diagnosed but now he has decided to retire from practice. My new doctor told me what my results were but she didn't give it to me on a piece of paper and I didn't have anything to write it down and so I don't remember them. Plus that the receptionist who would have given me a copy of my report retired also and I just met the new one! It is quite hard to remember all these numbers from all the different tests that we need.


Yes, I had heard of the Wal-Mart program. I am sure it is very helpful to many people.




src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/sigexchange/Follow%20Me%20Graphics/s14.gif">
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-10-2003
Mon, 06-11-2007 - 1:17pm

Mary Frances
The one time I forgot to ask for the test results I called and then they mailed me a copy of it. I think they have gotten used to me asking for them!! Usually I keep them all in my diabetes folder, although I have to find where i put it this last time!!

I do find it interesting to not only compare current to last but also to the previous ones too.

My doctor has not put me on cholesterol lowering meds, although the numbers are a little high but not bad. I was doing the best when I was using the centrum with those plant sterols in it, but for some reason those have disappeared from the stores.

Auntydoxzz

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2001
Mon, 06-11-2007 - 2:37pm

Mary Frances....That is what I find confusing also. In April my Tryglycerides were 120, HDL was 45 and LDL was 40. A month later Typgl. were 104, HDL was 34 and LDL was 20!!!

But, Microalbumin in April was 367.9 and a month later it was 66. She says that is what the chloresterol meds are for.

I'ts still all very confusing!

Misty
DD Hannah 1/1/405

~Misty~


 


Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 06-11-2007 - 11:37pm

Hi,


Have you tried the margarines that have them in them. Benacol and Take Control are the two I know about. I use Take Control. It took some getting used to but now it doesn't bother me and it did seem to help bring my numbers down. Now if the stuff wasn't so expensive!


How's the weather in Wisc? I am going to be in Chicago the end of next week and I hope it isn't going to be too hot.


I should take some pictures for you of my small garden. It is looking real pretty with all the veggies. Even the peas have figured out that they are supposed to climb up the fence! I can't wait for the harvest to begin but that will be a while since something are just starting to bloom.




src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/sigexchange/Follow%20Me%20Graphics/s14.gif">
Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 06-11-2007 - 11:48pm

Misty,


Some doctors say that the LDL can't be low enough. HDL in women needs to be above 45 which is hard to achieve. There is supposedly a medication on the horizon that will help raise the HDL. Exercise is supposed to help but I haven't found that to work.


BP meds help the microalbumin as far as I know.


All I can say is keep up the good work. Certainly you shouldn't be laying plaque down in any of your blood vessels.




src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y202/sigexchange/Follow%20Me%20Graphics/s14.gif">
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-10-2003
Tue, 06-12-2007 - 1:12pm

I will confess I have very jealously eyed the OJ with plant sterols BUT you have to drink 2 8 oz glasses a day at meal time for it to work right!! problem is 8 oz of OJ would probably max out the carbs for said meal!! to add insult to injury they put that in the pulp FREE OJ so you dont even get the fiber!!

I tried the oleo with plant sterols but i dont use oleo very often so i ended up tossing most of it when the expiration date hit. bad enough to be expensive to start but then toss most is worse!!

the one cholesterol test done after I had been using those vitamins, my cholesterol numbers HAD dropped!! will maybe try it again. maybe if i make cinnamon sugar on toast(with splenda instead of the sugar) then I can do the oleo(margarine!!)

i am leery of the cholesterol meds since i already have so many aches and pains!!