Statins: The Way to Reduce the Bad Cholesterol When you Cannot do it on Your Own

Chapter nine

Statins The second phone call

The phone call came.

I knew that I had an issue with my cholesterol levels. I knew that they had to be reduced.

"Hello Mr. Green, this is Dr. J calling.

"Hi"

"We just got back your

blood test results.

You have elevated white blood cells.

"What? Is that serious?"

"No, Mr. Green, there is nothing to worry about. Your other numbers came back fine which proves that the elevated blood cells are an indication that your body was dealing with an allergic reaction to a chemical that was in the over the counter pill you took".

I gave a sigh of relief, ahem.

"That's great" I respond, "at least I know what the rash was; now I can get on with my life."

This no Joke! Your LDL is sky high!

"Not so fast Mr. Green" he says.

I began to sense the apprehension in his voice.

"Mr. Green, do you know how high your
Cholesterol is?"

"No I don't". How high is it?

"Extremely high, this is no joke at all,

"Okay"

"Your total cholesterol is 360. Your LDL, the bad cholesterol is high. Your triglycerides are high. Your HDL, the good cholesterol, is very low."

I got a flashback a memory a recollection, ten years earlier, another doctor, another decade, a younger me.

"What can I do? Stop eating? I heard that from a different doctor ten years ago."

"Mr. Green, this is not a joke."

"Okay," What are my options?

I must give you a prescription for medications!

"You must begin to take cholesterol reducing medications.

"Okay"

"I will prescribe lipitor it is a statin

Had the numbers been lower you may have been able to reduce your high cholesterol numbers,through losing weight,changing your diet and beginning to exercise."

"Can I still do that?"

"Sorry, "with these numbers you will have to do both, change your unhealthy eating habits, and start with medications."

I recalled the cigarette conversation the previous week in his office, about changing my bad habits to good habits, how do I begin?

Now medication, statins,where is it going to end?

"Why does this occur?"

"I don't know, maybe you are eating too much sweets and cake, you have to cut it out."

"What, sweets and cakes?"

"Yes, you have to give it up."

"Okay, sure whatever you say doctor. Have a nice day. Bye."

"Bye."

My resolution - no more fatty meat

Erroneously, and arrogantly, I conclude, this doctor surely doesn't know what he is talking about, I never eat cakes, and I never eat sweets. This must be a mistake.

This time being that I am ten years older, I am much more mature or so I think.

I get my prescription for Lipitor I go to the drugstore and get my statins medications. I make a resolution that I will eat only lean meat; I will cut down on my potato chips consumption. That was all the education I had in a thorough understanding of proper nutrition.

A warning from friends- Statins destroys the liver

Again the usual procedure began. Discussion and conference time. Whenever the conversation arose, I repeated the story to whomever was interested, this time I added "I started taking statins to reduce my cholesterol."

What? You are insane. You better watch you liver. Statins destroy the liver. Stop taking medications. You can reduce your cholesterol naturally, just cut down on red meat, and stop eating so many potato chips".

Who am I to argue, with all these wise advisors?

I follow their instructions and I stop taking the statin drugs. I reduce my intake of potato chips and red meat. Now I surely beat the system. So I thought.

How wrong I was.

Six months later; June 16th 2003, 10 years 6 months from my first warning when I was only 37 years old.

Continue to the next chapter. Chapter ten - Heart attack symptoms