About my Heart and the med.s I am on.

[pmgamer18]

I posted this at Dr. John’s forum the thread was about “CHOL Myth Debunked” started by Dr. John. I did not get any input on this problem I have with the meds they have me on and the ones they took me off. I need some help with this I see my Heart Dr. next week and don’t want to come across like a know it all about this I just can’t seen being on meds that lower my CHOL to low and A med. for BP that has me to low and a Beta-Blocker.
Am I wrong to worry about this.

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Wow am I in between a rock and a hard place here. I have never had high levels of CHOL yet I had to have heart bypass sugary had 2 blockages one 100% blocked and the other 95% the 3rd vessel feeding my heart had a birth defect and I was told the blockage was very old and cilefied
so a Coronary angioplasty would not work.

Before this I was on .1mgs of florinef because my Aldosterone and Renin levels were low and my body was dumping my sodium so with the florinef I added 1 tsp of Sea Salt to my water 3x’s a day this helped me so good I could go outside and work and not feel like I was having a heat stroke.

Now after heart sugary they took me off florinef and put me on a low sodium diet. I feel this is wrong big time because I am back to dumping my sodium and feel dam dehydrated now if you read this link by Dr. David Brownstein in his book “Salt Your Way To Health”
http://www.eaec.org/bookstore/books/sywth-excerpt.htm
I feel the good Dr. proves Heart Dr.’s wrong in low sodium diets.

Also I am on Simvastatin (Zocor) 20 mgs at bed time like I said I never in 27 yrs of labs ever had a high level of CHOL my last labs 6 weeks ago came back below normal for Total CHOL at 119 range 125 to 200 mg/dL.
I am on a Beta-Blocker Atenolol 25 mgs to keep my heart rate down. I had in the Hosp. I had a Ablation done to make my heart beat at the right pace. But being Dehydrated from dumping my sodium makes my hearth beat faster. Why can’t I get the Heart Dr.’s to listen I am Hypopituitay my Adrenals don’t get the message to work right I need florinef and Sea Salt.

And I am on BP med Lsinopril 5 mgs. On this med my BP is dam low 90/50 most of the time and when I stand up I feel like passing out.

I don’t feel good on them meds they tell me I need for my heart and just am in between a rock and a hard place again.

I just don’t know about what they are doing for me if it were not for me pushing Dr.’s to test my Heart over and above a stress test that shows nothing I would not be hear today or would I. It was a 24 bit scan that showed I have a blockage and until they got me open they did not know how bad it was.
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The following is a reply to Hardasnails saying if my CHOL was low before heart sugary this might be why I needed heart bypass. I never had in my life low or high CHOL.
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I was never low for CHOL never I am low now because of the med. Simvastatin (Zocor) 20 mgs that is making me below normal. My labs before heart bypass.
Total Cholesterol 195 range 125 to 200 mg/dL
HDL Cholesterol 55 range > or = 40 mg/dL
LDL Cholesterol 118 range <130 mg/dl (calc)
CHOL/HDLC VLDO-Calculation Ratio 3.5 range < or =5.0 (calc)
Cholesterol, very low Density Lipoprotein 22 range <30mg/dl (calc)
Triglycerides 111 range <150 mg/dL.
So do you see a heart problem here.

Here are my levels on them meds just 6 weeks ago.
Triglycerides 128 range <150 mg/dL.
Cholestrol, Total 119 low range 125 tp 200 mg/dL.
HDL Cholestrol 43 > or=40 mg/dL.
LDL Cholestrol 50 range >130 mg/dl.
CHOL/HDLC Rato 2.8 range < or = 5.0 (calc).
VLDL Cholestrol Triglycerides 128 range <150 mg/dL.
VLDL-Calculation Cholesterol, Very Low Density Lipoprotein 26 range <30 mg/dL (calc)

So you see I don’t feel I need this Simvastatin (Zocor) 20 mgs it’s making me to low.
Last week I did labs and had my Aldosterone and Renin tested again at least I asked for it to be tested will not know for 2 weeks. I don’t feel this low sodium diet I am on is going to help me I feel like crap in the heat and just going for a walk in the morning when it’s cooler for just 15 min.s I am soacking wet.

What do you see.

[DrMariano2]

Of the cholesterol numbers, LDL cholesterol is the best predictor of a heart attack. Generally, one would like LDL cholesterol at or under 100.

I generally don’t like total cholesterol being under 140 since it is difficult to produce one’s cholesterol-based hormones when cholesterol is so low.

Also, half of the dry weight of the brain is cholesterol. Thus, knocking down cholesterol too low may seriously impair brain function, causing confusioh, forgetfulness, impaired attention, depressed mood, etc.

Here is the equation to calculate LDL Cholesterol: LDL = Total Cholesterol – HDL – (triglycerides/5)

Interestingly, one can lower the LDL cholesterol also by lowering triglycerides rather than by lowering cholesterol, based on the calculation.

If one’s LDL cholesterol is about 120, then it doesn’t take much maneuvering to lower it below 100. Thus a high dose of a cholesterol medication won’t be needed to reach the target.

—

It is not just cholesterol, however, that determines if a person is going to have clogged arteries. To get atherosclerotic plaques, one needs inflammation. Inflammation is probably the strongest factor. One may not need high cholesterol to get plaques if one has a lot of inflammation. Actually, even if one has high cholesterol, if there is no inflammation, there will be no plaque production.

The statins (such as Zocor and Lipitor) not only reduce cholesterol, they are good antiinflammatory agents. It can be argued that their major usefulness is as antiinflammatory agents.

However, there is a price to pay for using them when cholesterol is lowered too low. This is why I would argue against excessively low cholesterol.

This would argue for trying to improve one’s health through other means which would also reduce inflammation and inflammatory signaling – e.g. improving diet, improving neuro-endocrine functioning, etc.

For example, when someone is obese, their fat cells release Leptin (which is pro-inflammatory) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (signals of the immune system to cause inflammation). These signals may lead to clogged arteries even if there is normal cholesterol levels. Thus, losing weight would be an important task to help prevent a heart attack, in order to reduce pro-inflammatory signaling.

[pmgamer18]

Thanks for the reply your the only one to get back to me on this at 3 sites. I think my being over weight is part of the problem having bad fatigue for so many yrs and not getting exercise I put on weight even following Weight Watchers program. I weighted about 310 lbs when I went in for bypass sugary then I was told I put on 30 more lbs in water after 5 surgeries and being out cold 17 weeks. From the top weight of 340 lbs by the time I got out of the Hosp. I lost 100 lbs most of it muscle. Now I put some weight about 20 lbs. I went back to Weight Watchers Program and last week lost 5.5 lbs and it looks like this week I am down 6 more lbs. most of it water.

I am still using a dump bell doing my therapy to get stronger just went up to 5 lbs and now for my leg exercise I add 2.5 lb weight straps. In the last week I am now able to walk 30 min.’s so things are getting better.

As for inflammation in the body is this ones Homocysteine Cardiovascular levels I tested high long before heart sugary and went on Vit’s and got this down to a safe level 8 range <11.4 umol/L. My heart Dr. was an Endo in Italy when he came here there was not much use for a Dr. for Pituitarty problems and low hormones he sounds like he is up on most of my problems I see him for the second time this Fri. I will be asking him about this.

Here are the supplements I take to keep my Homocysteine levels down.

Supplements
• Vit. A 10,000 IU’s 1x/day.
• Vit. E 400 IU’s 1x/day.
• Folacal Folinic Acid 800 mg. 1x/day
• Feosol Iron 45mgs 3x’s/day morning noon and dinner.
• Glucosamine HCI 1500 MGS. – Chondroitin Sulface 1200 mgs. 2x/day.
• Lovaza 1gm. 1x/day Fish Oil.
• TMG 750mg 1pm and 11pm 2 pills a day.
• Solary Super Bio C 2 x’s/day 1000 mgs. Total.
• l-Arginine and l-Orthinine 100 Capsules, 750 mg, Twinlab 1 at bedtime.
• NOW brand ZMA 800mgs 3 at bedtime.
• Copper 2mgs 1 at noon.
• Dr. Cranton’s PrimeNutrients 3/day.
• Maca. 1 tsp in the moning and 1 tsp at noon.
• Biotics Bio-D-Mulsion Forte Vit. D 2000 IU’s per drop I am doing 6 drops a day.
• Iodoral Iodine ½ tab / day.
• I went with NOW brand for the following supplements do to a high levels on a Homocysteine Cardiovascular and below normal level of Folate RBC labs.
• NAC N-Acetyl Cysteine, Selenium, Molybdenum – 600 mg.
• B-12 (Brain) Methylcobalamin – 5000 mcg lozenges.
• Coenzyme B Complex.
• P-5-P (Coenzyme B6) 50 mg.
• I am taking 800 mcg. Folacal for low Folate RBC.
once again thinks for the help I hope now that I am doing better I can lose the weight and get down below 200 lbs and start working out in the gym again.

[DrMariano2]

@pmgamer18 1249 wrote:

Thanks for the reply your the only one to get back to me on this at 3 sites. I think my being over weight is part of the problem having bad fatigue for so many yrs and not getting exercise I put on weight even following Weight Watchers program. I weighted about 310 lbs when I went in for bypass sugary then I was told I put on 30 more lbs in water after 5 surgeries and being out cold 17 weeks. From the top weight of 340 lbs by the time I got out of the Hosp. I lost 100 lbs most of it muscle. Now I put some weight about 20 lbs. I went back to Weight Watchers Program and last week lost 5.5 lbs and it looks like this week I am down 6 more lbs. most of it water.

One weight loss diet I like, that I referred to on my old website, http://www.definitivepsychiatry.com, is the Medi-Fast diet. What I like about it is that:

1. It is designed to preserve as much muscle mass as possible while dieting to lose weight. This is particularly important since the heart is also a muscle that can get hurt by mass loss while dieting. Metabolism also slows when muscle mass is lost – making it easier to yo-yo in weight. Thus muscle mass preservation is a very important goal.

2. It is a no-exercise diet. If already exercising, one is told to reduce the exercise during the weight loss phase of the diet.

3. It is an idiot’s diet. Like many other diet programs, it has its own packaged meals. One has to only plan their own dinner (e.g. steak and vegetables), otherwise the other meals are covered.

Google it to find out more.

—

Being overweight traps a person in a biological positive feedback loop circuit: Increased fat cell mass leads to increased pro-inflammatory signaling, which leads to impaired thyroid and adrenal function, which leads to impaired energy-related metabolism and behavior (including impaired fatty acid metaboism, fatigue, impaired motivation, hypoglycemia, increased appetite for sweets), which leads to more weight gain. There are many other positive feedback loops that can arise from this like a cascade, trapping a person further in dysfunctional metabolism and behavior.

[pmgamer18]

Thanks Dr. M I will look at this diet I don’t need to lose anymore muscle. Thanks for giving your time to us. I tell everyone about your new forum and see it’s getting bigger by the day. I can’t believe Hardasnails did not say something about it at MESO I see Pat come over this is great.

[hardasnails1973]

@pmgamer18 1262 wrote:

Thanks Dr. M I will look at this diet I don’t need to lose anymore muscle. Thanks for giving your time to us. I tell everyone about your new forum and see it’s getting bigger by the day. I can’t believe Hardasnails did not say something about it at MESO I see Pat come over this is great.

I have just about every ones email over there BTW
I sent out a huge email about 2 month ago. Some people came over already. I already posted on realthyroidhelper.com eventually they may come around. I posted it on 20 different boards so I did my part.

[DrMariano2]

@pmgamer18 1262 wrote:

Thanks Dr. M I will look at this diet I don’t need to lose anymore muscle. Thanks for giving your time to us. I tell everyone about your new forum and see it’s getting bigger by the day. I can’t believe Hardasnails did not say something about it at MESO I see Pat come over this is great.

You are welcome, Phil.

One of the reasons I started this board is to learn more. The questions people pose stimulate my own studies. So, in teaching others, I get a lot more in return.

[hardasnails1973]

Very true that is what makes me progressing as well. One can call me thirst hungry vampire seeking knowledge. The more knowledge I have the better it will help me with clients as well as better understand my life as well. I may look into being a counselor with teens or people with drug addictions because I have a way of getting through to people with compassion but also getting my point across. Its boards like this that are no BS and straight fact that make it worth while coming here.

[pmgamer18]

Ok then I take it back your doing a great job it was you that told me about Dr. M’s new forum.
@hardasnails1973 1267 wrote:

I have just about every ones email over there BTW
I sent out a huge email about 2 month ago. Some people came over already. I already posted on realthyroidhelper.com eventually they may come around. I posted it on 20 different boards so I did my part.

[pmgamer18]

I seen my Heart Dr. today the one that was an Endo he put me back on Florinef and told me to add a tsp full of good Sea Salt to my water when I drink it my Aldosterone levels were very low. My RT3 came down but my Estradiol is still on the high side.

As for my Cholesterol Total still low 116
eGFR non-afr. american low 57
Alkaline Phosphatase low 20

My DHEA Sulfate high 130 and I don’t take supplements for DHEA.
Folate, Serm >24 range 20 to 380 so what I am taking is working but not by much I was below normal.
T3 total 161 range 97 to 219 mg/dL
T4, Free 1.0 .8 to 1.8 ng/dL
T4 (Thyroxine). total 8.3 range 4.5 to 12 .5 mcg/dL
T3, Free 361 range 230 to 420 pg/dL
I went up on my Armour from 4 grains to 4.5 this got my levels up some.
RT3 is 38 range 11 to 32 ng/dL
Estradiol 21 range 13 to 54 pg/ml
SHBG pending but my last level was 22 so I need my Estradiol lower.
Ferritin is up from 77 to 88 range 20 to 380 and I when up to 3 iron pills a day can’t take anymore.

For now I am stuck on Simvastatin (Zocor) 20 mgs until I do a stress test in 6 month. He did say I can go back to the GYM and work out on the Machines he showed me what load to start on I am dam happy about this and I am going to workout tomorrow.

I took a 1/4 of the .1mgs Florinef pill when I got home and put some Sea Salt in my water Wow I feel better. So all in all things are looking up yesterday I weighted in at Weight Watchers and lost 2 more pounds.
Phil

[pmgamer18]

After seeing my Heart Dr. last Fri. he gave me a clean bill of health and told me I can go back to the gym and start working out. I did this to day I started with less weight on some of the chest exercises but found out I am still dam strong I had a dam good workout lasted 90 min.s working my whole body doing 3 sets of each. Dam that felt Great.

Things for once are looking up and I am dropping weight in the last 2 weeks I am down 7.5 lbs.

[DrMariano2]

@pmgamer18 1335 wrote:

After seeing my Heart Dr. last Fri. he gave me a clean bill of health and told me I can go back to the gym and start working out. I did this to day I started with less weight on some of the chest exercises but found out I am still dam strong I had a dam good workout lasted 90 min.s working my whole body doing 3 sets of each. Dam that felt Great.

Things for once are looking up and I am dropping weight in the last 2 weeks I am down 7.5 lbs.

Keep up the good work, Phil. And please keep us informed about your progress.

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