<cough>, <cough> "is this thing on?"

I think I can speak to almost any cholesterol remediation method currently available on the market.
I've had the luxury of being on them for just shy of 50 years. I started well before it was fashionable.
I do fit in among those who do not tolerate statins well. CoQ10 was not noticeable as an adjuvant.
It's only in the last 5 years or so that I've used medicines which are both effective and without noticeable side effect.
Currently the cocktail of choice is inclisirin a six month injectable and nexletol ( bempodoic acid) orally once daily.
I'll know better next Tuesday when I do my next 6 month checkup and shot.

Lainey,
I do think it is somewhat obscene what they can charge for an ultrasound of your carotid artery.
There is the more complicated chest ultrasound but it shouldn't be all that expensive.
I'm not saying it isn't, merely inferring it shouldn't be.

 

Jerry, the test isn't an ultrasound of the carotid artery, but a quick CT scan that can indicate if plaque is happening. It's a "screening" that is not covered. I'm sure if I had other issues, they would order that ultrasound.

I'm still thinking...statins also prevent stroke, right? While we don't have heart disease in the family, my mother's side had lots of strokes. I don't hesitate to increase BP meds to keep that in check, maybe I should consider the statins.....we will see......

 

Lainey-

I'm on a statin. I'd guess 10 years now. The first didn't do much and I would have needed a very large does, so I was moved to Pitavastatin (Livalo) because a much lower dosage (2mg) does the job well. I generally take it 3x/week when I'm good and my total cholesterol stays under 150.

 

But if you get that CT scan and score low, your risk of stroke is therefore low. So why take the statins with the possible side effects to achieve the same thing? I am a much bigger believer in lifestyle changes versus meds if at all possible. It is all about how much risk you are willing to take. Kinda like the stock market.

 

I lied, I was never on Pitavastatin (Livalo).
Of course by that point I had already progressed onto a PCSK9 inhibitor, the injectable Praluent

 

Right...but there is also this as Cosmomiller posted. It's complicated. My local buddy, a soon to retire GP with Kaiser, has cardiovascular disease with zero calcification. I technically have the disease but with light calcification.

None of the tests are guarantees, no one knows.... There really isn't much I can do to change my lifestyle. I rarely drink, I've never smoked, I exercise plenty. We have a good diet. Could I stand to lose a few pounds? Sure. However, I don't want a spartan existence when it comes to food either.

Waiting to hear back from the nurse/doc. So far I have refused meds for osteoporosis. I'm concerned abut the dental side effect with those drugs, even if it is rare.

 

Studies have clearly shown that impact/strain exercises that stress the bones (in a good way) combined with plant based calcium (forget calcium carbonate) does far, far more to add/preserve actual bone mass without resorting to other meds with undesirable side effects to boot.

 

Kicked the can to the curb until my next office visit in the spring. After messaging with the nurse I will repeat the lab work and fast prior to the test. Then see what the doc has to say.