OK, how am I going to explain to my cardiologist today...

I have to go to Rome today (going with a multi colored lady, she ain't like no rainbow I've ever known)... to see my cardiologist. Am getting an ultrasound of the ticker ticking. Then I have an appointment with the good doctor who is actually a heart sturgeon. He put stents in me in '07, IIRC.
I'm afraid he is going to fire me as a patient. I stopped taking all statin drugs 6 or 7 months ago. I went on a (modified) gluten free diet, cut my sugar intake by at least 90%, cut way back on carbs, cut out unsaturated fats as much as possible, started using only natural saturated fats like butter, lard, whole mile, etc. I expect and actually want my "cholesterol" to be higher. The brain NEEDS cholesterol, LDL is only a carrier for HDL (neither of which are really cholesterol. Your body makes cholesterol because so many things in the body need it. Cholesterol that you eat does NOT increase your serum cholesterol. It makes sense to me that higher LDL will carry more HDL away to the brain and other places instead of leaving in the arteries. In the words of another doctor, "I am convinced that my body is NOT trying to kill me". Also, there are protein molecules that are able to cross the barrier (in the bloodstream) and get into the brain carrying things that the brain NEEDS. Sugar molecules (both cane sugar and sugar your body makes from potatoes and such) bind to those protein molecules and make it so that they are changed in such a way that the "brain barrier" will not let them enter.  Gluten is the worst of it, with sugar close behind. Some are beginning to refer to dementia/Alzheimer's as type III diabetes. Gluten inflames everything and there is 30 to 40 times more gluten in todays wheat as there was in 1950. It is why you see those pictures of children in Africa with the huge belly, they obviously aren't starving but the high gluten is causing 'big' problems. It inflames arthritis, it inflames the brain... it is BAD. A little is fine but a lot is not (thanks Monsanto). So...
I've gotten off half my blood pressure meds. They were making my BP higher and had other side effects. I'm now on 1/2 a pill (2.5mg) of Bystolic and 20mg of lisinopril twice a day but I may try cutting that back. They had me on atenolol and it was putting my heart rate under 50bpm at times. It is now in the 70s. My blood pressure on 4 meds was running in the 200/100 range. Now it is usually 135-140/75... I'm fine with that. My sugar (A1C is down). About the statins, I was on Vytorin and was tired all the time (I'm still tired a lot but I'm better) they changed me to Crestor and after a couple of weeks my joints were hurting everywhere, fingers, knees, hips, all over. I stopped the Crestor and in a couple of weeks the pains were pretty much gone.
I was out of town a lot dealing with the estate of my parents and couldn't come close to sticking with my diet (pizza is good!) so I started taking 1/2 of a Vytorin, the pains came back. My ankles got to hurting so bad even if I wasn't walking. I like to cross my ankles when I sit, if I can. They hurt so bad that I couldn't do that. I stopped the Vytorin again last week and already the joint pain is getting better. For several years I have had a pain in my left hip, not a deep pain but it felt almost like a spur, I couldn't comfortably lay on my left side in the bed, I'd have to roll just a little bit forward. I noticed the last two nights that the hip pain is gone. I played my guitar yesterday and my fretting hand finger joints didn't hurt. I had been thinking it was all arthritis. I'm wondering if my spine pain will go away if given a little more time.
So.. I'm certain that the doctor is going to tell me that I have to take statins to lower my cholesterol (though my last blood work after a few months of not taking them showed them elevated but not seriously).
I am NOT going to take some medicine that might extend my life but will assuredly make it a miserable painful life and make me more tired... why would I want to live an extra few years at the cost of being miserable? That makes no sense to me and frankly, I am convinced that a high fat, low carb diet is MUCH more healthy that a high carb low fat diet. I mean... all one has to do is look around to see that what they (big pharma, the FDA, and [most] doctors) have been telling us for the last 40-50 years is not working. Heart disease is getting worse as is obesity, what they are telling us is not working. I think more people survive heart disease because of modern medical techniques that are used when one has a heart attack or a blockage, not because of the "approved" heart diet or because of statin drugs.
I have lost weight eating the higher fat diet. I am not really strict with it I just do the best I can, I'm not going to make it a burden or a job, just changing what I can when I can and it is working. I lost nearly 10% of my weight when I cut back on sugar and started to eat much less carbs... finding high fat foods isn't easy. I am shooting for something like 60% fat, 30% protein, 10% carbs. I probably come close but I don't do it every day. Now and then I eat a big plate of spaghetti and meat sauce, drink a beer a couple of times a week, ate three big buttermilk pancakes with eggs and becan Yesterday... with Mrs. Butterworths.
Life is for living, right?
I'll never be able to explain this to my cardiologist, he is old school. My regular doctor pretty much agrees with me but he sees the results and knows that, while not being my own personal food police, I am keeping pretty close to my dietary goals.
 
I'm a little nervous about it, talking to the doctor but I'm going to tell him I'm not taking statins anymore. If he or insurance insists, I'll fill it at the pharmacy and throw it out.
 
One other thing to think about. Tell me what incentive does big pharma or any pharmaceutical company have in me being well, in me not being sick? Do they not make their money treating symptoms with pills? So, if I am well and have no symptoms, they won't be selling me medicine and they won't be making money... that could explain (and probably does explain) the faulty information on diets and other things. Follow the money. I'm sick, they make money. The more sick I am, the more money they make. I am well, the doctor makes money from exams and tests... big pharma does not because I do not have symptoms that need to be treated.
I told my internal medicine doctor that, what I think about big pharma not wanting me well, and he agreed. I was surprised.
Do you think my cardiologist will drop me?
 
"Oh, by the way, I'm bound for Rome".

Me too...

I'm picturing a polka dotted lady with paisley highlights.

Jbow, I wish you well. I've had minor heart issues but seemed to correct after a month on Atenolol however, my cholesterol needs to be checked. Someone suggested grapefruit daily will reduce cholesterol by about 20% but citric is like acid for me, feels like a volcano doing the tango. I've been referred to a gastroenterologist to probably have the scope shoved down my throat, but it could be worse.  And in addition to arthritis (mostly in my knees) I need to see specialists about the ulnar and plexus brachial nerves in my left arm / shoulder, I also have issues with my right arm although luckily nothing too serious. For osteoarthritis, the doc suggested I take Glucosamine 2000mg daily, but the size of those pills are freaking huge, no pharmacy in my area sells it in powered (tasteless) form, I have to order it online. Ready-made drink solutions are readily available but those aren't good enough, less than 2000mg and are expensive.  

Whatever the outcome Jbow, I sincerely hope you find the path to better health.
 
Now, back to 'multi-coloured lady'...

craigb
When in Rome...

Thanks everyone. They said that my heart is healthy and it is OK for me to push my body some in exercise. My multi colored lady and I are going to start a walking program. I need it, so does she. I was surprised he said absolutely nothing about my changing my meds... but then my BP is lower and I am actually changing my diet.
 
Multi Colored Lady...
 

hey Jbow-I went through similar and Crestor is well known,anecdotaly for causing muscle and joint pain-Lipitor seems to be less invasive.
I went from 1 organic egg a day to 2 and moved to full fat A2 milk and the results speak for themselves,cholesterol wise but a small dose (5mg) of Atorvachol daily is fairly innocuous and probably suitable for old fellas like us.
ps:my tryglycericides shot through the roof when I went on a low fat diet but are back to normal thanks to Becan n eggs.
 
edit:new studies are showing the health benefits of pig lard in metabolising proteins-some sort of prebiotic boost from what I remember.
cheers
tony   

I don't know... Anyone who needs to be called "All man" might generate some doubt, ya? 

Tell her Happy Birthday for us. If she's not too creeped out by that, you should tell her that we're all cheering for you. That's partly because Bapu had the costume already, but still, we're enthusiastically applauding you and your progress. 
 
If you need us to explain anything to your cardiologist, just let us know.