My jaw hurts today from the great teeth extraction. It feels like the guy drove inside my mouth with a bob cat to get them out. AND, my GP called me today to give me the results from a routine blood test. I have high cholesterol! ARRRGGGG another pill to take and something else to worry about now. I need a glass of wine...is that OK for a high cholesterol diet????
Maureen

You're allowed! And isn't it red wine that is good for the cholesterol??
Hoping your mouth feels better soon..
Diane

Take as much time as you need, Mo :wub: I'm with Diane on the wine :D Hope you feel better SOON! (grh)

Maureen, I am sorry you are hurting.... and the darned cholesterol. Well, I am waiting for results from my tests, too. I will probably join you with the wine...

(grh) JOAN

Mo, sorry you are in pain. I hope you start feeling better.

The dreaded cholesterol!! :wacko: Mine is a little high and I do not want to go on statin drugs. Take enough drugs already. Take care. (grh)

Kim, I feel the same way...no more drugs!!! But what else can you do when the doc wants you on the meds??? I gotta think about this for awhile. (my numbers are 228 and 144, I don't even know how bad that is) For starters the guys are getting my sister's treadmill and bringing it over here for me to use. I told her she needs to find someplace to hang her clothes! :D Maureen

Maureen.....find out what your total cholesterol is, HDL and LDL, that's what you need to know....

But what else can you do when the doc wants you on the meds???
You can try non-med things first if you want to....diet, exercise, and ?? I can't recall rt now what supplements help w/ that....?? (too early..!) but it is your option to refuse the meds for as long as you want to try.....exercising is good....You just may be successful in lowering it yourself......
If you find that w/ efforts it still is elevated and then you can decide on meds....

Diane

I can not take statins, so , I try to use natural things. I take Pantethine and salmom and perilla oil...the red rice yeast extract is simply a more natural statin and I can't take it either. The exercise wil be worth a try as well as diet...I mean a lower cholesterol and low sugar diet.

The 228 if that is your total is not bad...especially if your HDL is good and the LDL are above 50 ( I think)...don't jump just because a doctor suggests something...I wish I'd refused ... I got the muscle aches and pushed through and apparently it built up and I became allergic. Just about all the cholesterol lowering drugs as well as those that target trigycerides are hard on the liver...as is Niacin as in Niaspan or high dose regular niacin.

Jo, The way the Doc explained it: the number that should be under 200 is 228, and the other number is 100. He wants me to take Pravachol and of course I don't want to. Like I said I am going to up my exercise first and see what happens. I know the problem is worsened because of my high blood pressure and my weight and I'm sure that's why he is worried. As far as my diet is concerned I eat so little meat I could be considered a vegetarian. The only fat I eat is whipped cream cheese on my bagel if I have one for lunch. Butter and mayo make me gag so none of that. My hubby is half Swiss and we always have cheese in the house but I don't eat it. Fat free milk on my Cheerios, and maybe a yogurt a couple times a week. I will splurge in a bowl of ice cream, but mostly those fat free fudge bars if I get a sweet craving. -cks- If I snack it is pretzels because that is what the guys like. I will admit that if I am at my Mom's I will cheat and eat some cake if she has something good, and sometimes the only way we can get her to eat is to get her a McDonalds double cheeseburger,,,and of course I need to eat one too so she doesn't feel lonely. So no more of that, but my daily diet is so boring! No more treats for me. Could those slip ups cause this? Guess I do screw up...when I really think about it huh? I know it is genetic all 3 of my siblings have very high cholesterol and have been on meds for years. AAAARRRGGGHHH. Sorrry I am ranting.
Mo

Sorry Mo, I'm with the doc, plus do the treadmill too, especially if your siblings are having cholesterol problems. My readings were good, but so is my background. Neither of my parents had those problems. I know you don't want more meds, but sometimes we have to do what we have to do. :angry:

:wub:

Find out what your results are specifically though....you really need to know your total, LDL and HDL.......
Diane

Yes, if your HDL is high that is very protective...228 is not all that high and if your HDL is good that gives a better ratio. There is your ratio...ask about that as well as your total cholesterol.

I can't remember the numbers w/out looking them up but as Jo was saying....
My total is high...maybe near yours? But my 'good' chol. is so good the dr says this is what stymies drs....and he does not recommend meds for me....just exercise.....
Diane

What your Cholesterol Levels Mean

Ways to raise HDL

Maureen I hope these help you make your best choice...statin drugs are so very hard on the liver. Really most of them are...even the niacin in the high doses it takes to lower cholesterol.

Is your mouth feeling better, that did not sound like much fun at all.. I need too go too the dentist, but fear a panic attack if I do go *lol*...It sounds too me like you deserve a glass of wine, did you have one?

Niacin is good to bring down cholesterol. Dr's can even precsribe it in PRESCRIPTION strength. Some poss side effects are "Stomach Upset" but then you can always reduce dose - and "Flushing" of the face & neck, but you can buy "No Flush Niacin" if this is bothersome & happens. Doses are from 1500 mg to 3,000 mg daily to bring down cholesterol. MAyo Clinic has a good article on this

The prescription is Niaspan...and supposely taking it with some food and even an asprin will help the flushing...but not for me! I got a really bad reaction and doctor thought neuropathy from it...I flushed and didn't stop...the non flush is inositol I believe.

My cholesterol is like Diane's, the bad is very bad but the good is fabulous. Because the ratio is good, I don't take any Rx's for it.

Missy, My jaw is feeling better, but still aches at night because that is the side I sleep on. #sz# I start out on my good side but when I wake up I'm laying on the bad side! :o I asked the Hubby if he was rolling me over after I fell asleep but he wouldn't confess! Funny thing that you asked about the wine...my son bought me two wonderful bottles of wine for Mother's Day but didn't open one yet. Maybe I will have some while watching my Thursday night TV shows gdbV Ya Hoo!
Maureen

OWWWWWWWWWWWWW <s> . My mouth is killing me today. I hope I don;t have an infection or something...didn't that happen to you Jo? I'm calling the oral surgeon tomorrow if it still hurts like this. I have an appointment on Sat to remove the stitches but I can't wait that long. OWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Mo

You should have that looked at especially if the pain is worsening! You don't want to get dry socket!!! That is awful. But the sooner they catch it the better. So really go have that checked tomorrow K Mo???? Please

(grh)

I'm with Shelley...you could be getting a dry socket...I didn't have infection with either tooth but the last one ached longer because it ws a molar but you shouldn't be having this kind of pain. Call immediately.

Yes, Mo, get it checked out PDQ. Dry sockets hurt like the divil! Please let us know what you find out. :wub: