Updating this again because I have new numbers and it has me pleased with the way things are going - without statins.
Overall cholesterol only dropped two points (233/231), but HDL went up 10 (46/56). LDL dropped 14 (169/155). I’m guessing those numbers don’t exactly add up due to rounding?
I tried 20mg of Lipitor (generic equivalent) on and off, but dropped it entirely around Christmas due to the severe brain fog I mentioned earlier. That trade off simply wasn’t worth it to me. The on/off was trying to see if it really was the statin responsible. The jury is still out on that, but with decent numbers coming in now, I’m going to continue other things before the next blood tests (scheduled for Sept).
What I’ve added that seems to show good promise is ginger. Right now I just add it to tea, black in the morning and green in the afternoon. After consulting med school lad after he just learned more about it in class, I’m also planning to add a capsule or two of it per day, probably in the morning and evening. I still need to google a good source. I’ve purposely upped my nut intake - esp Brazil nuts, Cashews, and Almonds too - the Almonds being dark chocolate coated - cause I like them better that way.
I’ve been purposely getting more general activity/exercise - nothing heavy as I can’t do that for whatever radiation/brain reason, but walking isn’t a problem, so 10,000+ steps per day throughout the day vs all at once is typical with only really bad weather or travel messing with it.
I had worried that all our holiday eating would negatively affect numbers - we had so much ham from both sides of the family that I hardly want to see that meat again in a long time! Fixings came along with it. Unhealthy comfort foods were also in there quite a bit with all the family visits. I fully expected these numbers to be much worse, not better.
Now I want to see what 8 months of more typical (for me) life does - esp with added ginger. There’s still a bit to go.
As a side… I now have to figure out what to do with various Iron measurements. Fe is fine, though dropping, Transferrin is really good, but Fe Saturation and MCH are low seeming to mean I’m getting some sort of iron issue with the cells themselves. There’s always something with aging, no? It doesn’t seem to be affecting life at this point (not the least bit fatigued), so all is well. The rest of the numbers are all fine - other than still waiting on Ha1c.
As a second aside, I’ve always been slightly on the high (flagged high) side with bilirubin. Starting milk thistle from a reputable source have had the last two tests come in normal and getting better within normal respectively. A google search on that one (for my mom) showed it being tested at places like Mayo to improve liver function. I added it for myself because it was an inexpensive why not (mom added it too due to her cancer affecting her liver). I certainly can’t say it’s the reason my really consistent flagged high numbers suddenly got better (over time), but one has to wonder. I’m continuing with it. That’s just a FYI in case anyone else reading wants to consider a “being tested” potential help for liver function. A couple of data points just lend data - not conclusions for all.
The ginger option is one they just taught my med school lad as a “real” thing. Anyone not able to (or desiring to) take statins could look into it more themselves to make their own decision. Med school lad cautions finding a good source. Apparently not everything labeled ginger really is.