POZ Community Forums

Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: buginme2 on November 05, 2013, 05:05:23 pm

Title: Lipids Lipids Lipids
Post by: buginme2 on November 05, 2013, 05:05:23 pm
Ive worked like hell to lower my cholesterol this past year.  At my last visit I was given a warning that if they didnt come down by my next blood draw (yesterday) then a discussion of starting cholesterol meds would be in order.  The thought of having to take a pill every day for the rest of my life just isnt something I want to do (yes thats sarcasm). 

So through the miracle of clean living I have managed to lower my total cholesterol by 43 points!! Woot Woot.  I am safely and securely in the <200 range that I am sure I have staved off statins for at least another year.

So that brings me to my question.

My lab results online show several different categories;
Total Cholesterol Fasting:
HDL/Chol Ratio:
HDL Fasting:
LDL Fasting:

And...Non-HDL Fasting Calc: <<<I dont know what this represents and I have done several google searches.  Ive found some articles saying its a new calculation and beneficial in detecting heart disease but I cant find out what it is or what the normal ranges for it are.  Anyone have any idea what it is what what the normal range is?

Cheers
Title: Re: Lipids Lipids Lipids
Post by: Miss Philicia on November 05, 2013, 05:19:00 pm
Aren't you on Atripla? Why don't you try another regimen to see if that is the cause?
Title: Re: Lipids Lipids Lipids
Post by: buginme2 on November 05, 2013, 05:37:28 pm
I  dropped  Atripla  back  in  April ( around  then).   Switched  to Complera.

There  definitely  is a  med  or hiv component  to  this (I  think).   While  my  cholesterol  has  come  down  my  glucose  is  still a  little  high  and  there  really  is  no  reason  for  it.  I  need  to  get  some  answers  about  that.   I'm 5'10  and 160,  workout  every  day  and  eat friggen  bird  seed  there's  absolutely  no  reason  for  it  to  be  above  normal.   The  cholesterol  came  down a  bit  but  it  hasn't :(

 What's  as  good  med  to  reduce  cholesterol  and  blood  sugar  levels?

I  don't  want  to  survive hiv  only  for  it  to  give  me  diabetes  and  heart  disease  at 40.
Title: Re: Lipids Lipids Lipids
Post by: Miss Philicia on November 05, 2013, 05:41:48 pm
Fret not! Miss P is svelte, walks everywhere and eats healthy foods yet she had to go on blood pressure medication at the ripe age of 40.
Title: Re: Lipids Lipids Lipids
Post by: aaware72 on November 05, 2013, 05:55:56 pm
I  dropped  Atripla  back  in  April ( around  then).   Switched  to Complera.

There  definitely  is a  med  or hiv component  to  this (I  think).   While  my  cholesterol  has  come  down  my  glucose  is  still a  little  high  and  there  really  is  no  reason  for  it.  I  need  to  get  some  answers  about  that.   I'm 5'10  and 160,  workout  every  day  and  eat friggen  bird  seed  there's  absolutely  no  reason  for  it  to  be  above  normal.   The  cholesterol  came  down a  bit  but  it  hasn't :(

 What's  as  good  med  to  reduce  cholesterol  and  blood  sugar  levels?

I  don't  want  to  survive hiv  only  for  it  to  give  me  diabetes  and  heart  disease  at 40.

Lower blood sugar?  Insulin is what is used to lower your blood sugar.  As you becoming Diabetic ?
Title: Re: Lipids Lipids Lipids
Post by: emeraldize on November 05, 2013, 06:51:42 pm
Does this help?....found online.

What do my test results mean?
Although no clear standards exist for non-HDL levels, most medical experts believe that lowering LDL and non-HDL cholesterol at the same time will cut your heart disease risk.

According to federal cholesterol program guidelines, your non-HDL cholesterol level goal should be 30 mg/dL higher than your LDL cholesterol level goal. For example, if you are aiming for an LDL cholesterol of 100 mg/dL, then your goal for non-HDL should be 130 mg/dL.

If you have diabetes, smoke, have a family history of heart disease, or have other risk factors, your cholesterol levels may need to be much lower. Talk with your doctor about where your cholesterol levels should be.
Title: Re: Lipids Lipids Lipids
Post by: buginme2 on November 05, 2013, 07:16:34 pm
Does this help?....found online.

What do my test results mean?
Although no clear standards exist for non-HDL levels, most medical experts believe that lowering LDL and non-HDL cholesterol at the same time will cut your heart disease risk.

According to federal cholesterol program guidelines, your non-HDL cholesterol level goal should be 30 mg/dL higher than your LDL cholesterol level goal. For example, if you are aiming for an LDL cholesterol of 100 mg/dL, then your goal for non-HDL should be 130 mg/dL.

If you have diabetes, smoke, have a family history of heart disease, or have other risk factors, your cholesterol levels may need to be much lower. Talk with your doctor about where your cholesterol levels should be.

Thanks, yes that helps.  I was wondering why I couldn't find a normal range, I guess it's because there isn't one.  However, I haven't set a goal of what my LDL should be.  I'm sure it needs to be lower than it is although I'm quite please to have gotten the total cholesterol in the normal range.

Lower blood sugar?  Insulin is what is used to lower your blood sugar.  As you becoming Diabetic ?

No, I'm not.  However, HIV meds have an insidious ability to raise glucose and lipid levels putting you at a real risk of developing diabetes and heart disease in the absence of regular risk factors.  You see, if I wasn't on HIV meds I'm sure my blood sugar levels would be normal (and probably my cholesterol too) since I don't have any other risk factors for it. 

Yet here I am, probably in the best shape of my life, very fit and eat very well and still have to worry about it.  Yet another one of the HIV gifts.

I've got a week before my doctor appointment and really would like to come up with a plan for when I see him.  I've considered a non-standard HIV regimen that may reduce the lipid issue. 
Title: Re: Lipids Lipids Lipids
Post by: bocker3 on November 05, 2013, 09:17:49 pm
So, I have always heard (and learned) that your HDL is a prime indicator of heart disease risk.  A low HDL is a very big risk for heart disease REGARDLESS of total Chol or LDL levels.  A "high" HDL is very protective, in fact, I believe I've read (though can't find the source) that heart disease rarely is seen with an HDL over ~60.  Remember the HDL acts sort of like a cleaning agent -- helping remove crap from your arteries.

As for the non-HDL Chol calculation -- Total Chol - HDL = non-HDL chol.  It is predominately LDL and VLDL (there are some other minor ones, I believe).

As for HIV meds -- many do increase these lipids, but some can improve them.  When I started Atripla, my HDL increase by close to 20 and has maintained that level.  The Reyataz/Norvir addition, ticked up my triglycerides, but not all that much.  Of course, I've been on statins since the early 90's, because the men in my family rarely made it to 50 years of age due to CHD.  My father was the first in 3 generations to do so -- he's now past 70.
So -- lipid levels are important -- but do not forget genetics -- family history is a huge sign of risk.  People die of heart attacks with "normal" cholesterol levels too!
To me -- taking a statin is just important to living as taking my ARVs (I turn 50 in Feb).

Mike
Title: Re: Lipids Lipids Lipids
Post by: cicero on November 05, 2013, 09:54:09 pm
Hi Bugin, I had high cholesterol before I was HIV+, and my doctor put me on Lipitor for a little while. I got it down and got off those meds.  I am concerned about Atripla as it has an impact on cholesterol. I know, though, for me, the main culprit was too many drive through combos.

It is great that you got it down!  Diet and exercise are totally key, and like someone else said there is a definite genetic component, in addition to HIV meds that can impact it. 

Anyway good luck. It is good that you are in great shape, and though you have to worry about these things as a result of HIV despite the healthy living your doing, I hope that it's just encouragement to keep doing what you're doing to stay in the great shape you're in (I know that is easy to say). I also dread the fact that HIV medication can increase risk for diabetes and heart disease (which run in my family to boot) and you are right, it is one more shitty thing about HIV.
Title: Re: Lipids Lipids Lipids
Post by: tednlou2 on November 05, 2013, 11:28:14 pm
As everyone knows, I'm not on meds yet-- but heart risk is heart risk.  My cholesterol is around 140.  Ok, good.  Got my triglycerides down to around 199.  However, my HDL and LDL are almost always identical at 35-- sometimes a few points off, but often the same.  35 is great for LDL, but I am suppose to be trying to raise my HDL.  I've read niacin and B vitamins help??  Oh, and something called xercise. 

Congrats on the improvement and hope you figure out the glucose issue. 
Title: Re: Lipids Lipids Lipids
Post by: GSOgymrat on November 06, 2013, 09:53:29 am
Congrats on the improved cholesterol. I still have problems with cholesterol and triglycerides.
Title: Re: Lipids Lipids Lipids
Post by: wolfter on November 06, 2013, 12:15:41 pm
I had 2 heart attacks before starting on medication for my horrid lipids.  I'm currently on Pravastaton  and tolerate it quite well.  I tried Lipitor but had horrible reactions/side affects and refused to continue it.

I'm convinced my HIV meds contribute to it as my diet is excellent.

Wolfie
Title: Re: Lipids Lipids Lipids
Post by: buginme2 on November 07, 2013, 09:09:04 pm
 So  I'm sitting here in an Irish pub drinking a beer and having dinner at the bar and I get an email from medscape  about an article titled  dyslipidemia, athlerosclerosis.and cvd  in.hiv  positive patients.   It's 9  pages long and a lot of it it's rather dry but they go into great detail on why HIV  itself  can increase heart disease and how each medication can as well.

If your interested in how your disease and the medication used to treat you can also end up killing you,  take a  read.   Cheers

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/811580_1

Title: Re: Lipids Lipids Lipids
Post by: Jeff G on November 08, 2013, 06:37:03 am
So  I'm sitting here in an Irish pub drinking a beer and having dinner at the bar and I get an email from medscape  about an article titled  dyslipidemia, athlerosclerosis.and cvd  in.hiv  positive patients.   It's 9  pages long and a lot of it it's rather dry but they go into great detail on why HIV  itself  can increase heart disease and how each medication can as well.

If your interested in how your disease and the medication used to treat you can also end up killing you,  take a  read.   Cheers

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/811580_1



Is there any way to read it without creating an account ?
Title: Re: Lipids Lipids Lipids
Post by: bocker3 on November 08, 2013, 09:20:50 am

If your interested in how your disease and the medication used to treat you can also end up killing you,  take a  read.   

I can not let this comment go without addressing it.

Stating it this way borders on fear-mongering .  With so many afraid to start their meds and looking for excuses to put it off or, in some cases, stop entirely, I think it is irresponsible to say these meds can "kill you".  THESE MEDS SAVE YOUR LIFE!!!!
Yes, they have side effects - yes, these side effects MAY cause severe consequences, even death at some point in the future, for some.  Not taking them will result, almost universally, in death much, much sooner.

So, I get your point, but your choice of wording leaves much to be desired.

Mike
Title: Re: Lipids Lipids Lipids
Post by: buginme2 on November 08, 2013, 09:46:58 am


So, I get your point, but your choice of wording leaves much to be desired.

Mike

 Point  Taken
Title: Re: Lipids Lipids Lipids
Post by: buginme2 on November 08, 2013, 09:50:16 am
Is there any way to read it without creating an account ?

I  would  copy and paste it but it's 9  pages.   The information is worth a read though.
Title: Re: Lipids Lipids Lipids
Post by: tednlou2 on November 08, 2013, 02:40:50 pm
With the FDA moving to ban trans-fats, I will be interested to see studies 5, 10, 15 years out, whether they did see improvements linked to getting rid of them.  I was reading how many researchers say they really are terrible for heart health, specifically talking about how they can lower HDL (protective cholesterol). 

I saw many products are allowed to say No Trans-fats, if they contained less than a certain amount.  But, that can add up.  I realize these were really in junk foods that weren't good options anyway.  But, I remember many switched to margarine, thinking it was healthier than butter.  That's what I use to hear as a kid anyway.