5/5/11
I haven’t been back to the time trial course since my mediocre debut a couple of weeks ago, but I’m still smarting from the lack lustre performance, and that has translated into more concentrated training sessions. Unfortunately it has also coincided with appalling weather, but I will give myself a hearty slap on the back for still getting “out there” and going hard.
While out giving it the “full monty” in windy wet conditions I became aware of an ear ache. This ache persisted for a couple of days – getting worse – so I made an appointment to see the doc. After procuring the obligatory antibiotics and drops I was about to leg it for door when he started “um-ing and arh-ing”, and said “How are you going with the statins?”
True confessions time.
I’ve not in the past have had the healthiest diet and lifestyle (most good things are a little bit evil, especially when it comes to wine and food), and this has resulted in high cholesterol and an Angiogram that showed up 40% blockage in one artery about 5 years ago. I started taking statins which did lower my cholesterol to about 4.5. The cholesterol figure you get in NZ is a ratio of LDL (so called bad cholesterol) to HDL (good cholesterol) – doctors get a bit negative with figures over 5. Originally my HDL (good cholesterol) was 0.9 and I was told there is nothing to be done to increase that and I just had to work on lowering my LDL.
On statins the modern wonder drug, you are told you can pretty much eat anything as the drug does all the cholesterol lowering work. But in recent times there has been more and more bad press about the side effects of long term (which is most) use, i.e. liver and kidney damage, not to mention muscle pain and lethargy. Also the readiness that doctors are prescribing statins are starting to raise eyebrows, not to mention drug companies balance sheets – it’s up there with Viagra as a goldmine.
I gave up the statins, so a heated conversation ensured with my G.P. as I suggested books and articles he should read – apart from the pharmaceutical companies marketing material. Anyway I capitulated and agreed to have another blood test – I could see no point while I wasn’t taking them I knew my cholesterol would be high.
Since I gave up the statins I haven’t been watching my diet, but I have been taking supplements to aid my cholesterol levels:
- A shot glass of olive oil every morning
- 6 fish oil capsules a day
- B12 drops
- Folic acid
I dragged myself up to the local blood lab at 7am answered the “have you been fasting?” question correctly and had the blood drawn.
I rang the nurse a few days later for the results, and as to be expected, my total cholesterol ratio was up to 6, but more importantly (never one to shy away from putting a good spin on it), my HDL had gone up to 1.16. I believe it is absolutely possible to get my cholesterol (sans statins) down to 5 with a bit of effort, i.e. less wine cheese and ice-cream – damn!