Have you tried Reiki Peter?
It is very good at bringing the very things that are the most important, but have not been realised as such, to the forefront and dealing with them in a very gentle way.
Yes Jane and the annoying bit is when you are told to 'snap out of it' ! Stress is a strange thing and probably means different things to different people. I have always suffered from panic and anxiety attacks but not too much from stress. My problems go back fifty years as I am learning. I had hypnotherapy thirty years ago when I had the first inkling of my problems and recent visits to a local hypnotherapist plus a 'psy' have delved a bit deeper. Weird how unpleasant things get 'stored' or pushed to the back of the grey matter !
I recognise that feeling of being told you are suffering from stress when you are just frustrated at peoples idiocy!
Interesting stuff. What John has put up is interesting too. I was always a healthy eater, OK sometimes allowed myself a real unhealthy treat, well it wouldn't human not too. I was a vegetarian for a dozen or so years, since I have egg white intolerance they were off the menu too and unlike other people I did not eat fish. Work and the hospitality of people who had nothing but offered me what they could ended that, but now I still eat very little meat. So when I had the heart attack and my stents implanted I was given statins and a booklet on my diet regime. I discussed it with my cardiologist who took it out of my hand a flipped it over his shoulder and said not to bother. My diet was already better than prescribed. Round about 10 portions of fruit and vegetables a day clinched it. Not only grenadines but also pomegranates, persimmons, physalis, aguaje, capulin, guava and a number of other fruit are brilliant and (I had this explained but cannot explain it on) green bananas rather than when they are yellow and never once the skin is going black and they are soft. Then I love 100% chocolate anyway, I am one of Quaker's lifelong uses, I mix a tiny bit of muesli in. I snack on dates, figs, prunes, apricots and other fruit that can be dried when they are not in season but not the ones packed using sulphates as the preservative. I have an occasional red wine, Guinness or other porter and my dram of good malt.
So, hell and all you may be thinking. What else? Well, there were a few things I got wrong. I ate far too much cheese and one or two other things with 'bad' cholesterols to the point that a 400 gr piece of a good hard cheese or a similar amount of Stilton would go in a few minutes. Ditto with a number of patés and salami/chorizo type sausages. So, I was advised to reduce. I have done so reluctantly. The outcome was that I was off my very low dose of statins very quickly. I discussed the development of dependence on them instead of healthy diet with the cardio and a nutritionist, so after my first test they went. So did the other rubbish all except my kardegic (which is aspirin really) that I sometimes substitute by making meadowsweet teas (reine des prés) when the flowers are in blossom (it was what the original aspirin was taken from) otherwise tannin free green teas and white tea (expensive if you can find it) but have my mug of espresso every morning which for the ticker is a bit naughty but also helps reduce LDLs.
Like Peter, I get a lot of exercise. I have two big strong dogs and many kilometres of paths in the forest here. Last summer I built phase one of a local stone wall in the hottest weather, do serious gardening such as being dragged along by my rotavator or mower (no sit on) and using brushcutters (not wimpy little strimmers), digging and trenching, then digging out potatoes, what I can do in the house conversion and renovation stuff given limited use of one arm.
My 'bad' cholesterols were down in less than three months. My bloods now and the arteries that were blocked are fine. Being totally obsessive is not necessary though. A good blow out on bad LDLs occasionally is OK, in my case probably about four a year of which one will be Christmas. Look at things like those John linked to, get advice but do not be sold a naff diet and a handful of statins a day. My GP's wife is the local nutritionist so he got her to discuss it with me. I went prepared to discuss not be told what to eat and so on. She advised me on the cheese and so on, which I checked. Other than that my diet is 90% what it already was but no reduction in quantities which generally nonsense anyway. Nobody looks at a lettuce leaf and puts on weight, that is doggerel, not eating excessive amounts of anything helps but what you eat is the solution.
Right now I am preparing myself for the evening stroll with the dogs for a few minutes then my dram. Perhaps I have an advantage with diet already, but it still requires self-discipline.Once changes are made, stick to them and all the things you once loved can be your occasional treat or reward. However, the real bonus is feeling really good.
I’M currently on Alprazolam 0.25mg - half a.m, same pm. Seem to help stabilising some neurals and helps me have more of an appetite. so eating better and more regularly.
Pain from a bone break or operation - we know what’s like. Same with childbirth for 1st time. without epidural, mums will know what that’s like. It’s is bit of, you have to have been there, done that, sort of thing, which is why HW is a good forum.
I think your idea is a good one, and I know you appreciate that when you go through something bad in your life, if there’s none at home to listen or understand, it often helps to talk to strangers anonymously, with no comebacks, just a feeling of relief and/or support when you need or want to get things off your mind. The feeling of knowing you ‘not alone’ in the world!
Yes, we are fine together at the moment - I've had recent problems tho' regarding anxiety/panic attacks which have become a bit debilitating. I'm not embarassed or ashamed to talk about it in fact, i'll be starting another topic with anxiety, stress & the like very soon. Any form of mental health should be taken seriously though it's a vast subject which affects a lot of people yet is still seen as taboo by many. My doc has been brill as usual with some positive suggestions and temporary treatments to make things a bit easier. I can't begin to understand what you are going through Shirley but my thoughts are with you (as always !).
Wish I had either of your doctors. mine just puts everything down to that I live alone and Says I am depressed or anxious, Frustrated often, yes, but being single and away from OH was best thing for me . BI and car accident knock oh head, are what did for me, so I could do with an enlightened doctor who understands that. Mind, brain and body don’t always work together naturally or logically. This morning I’ve been switching between here and Headway, it’s a great support group for BI, and there are on there, similar situations where doctors, often family and/or friends just don’t understand what’s going on. You walk, you talk- so nothing else is understood. Mental health is very complex and good support is just essential to improvement as anything. Glad things are working out for you both, keep eating the porage!
I think it depends on the GP Shirley. My local doc favours both chemicals and homeopathy and will make out the prescriptions accordingly. For her there is a place for just about anything like hypnotherapy, acupuncture, yoga et al. I would like to think this broad-minded attitude is more the rule rather than the exception.
My ladyfriend's GP has done a U turn with Fibromyalgia. Two years ago this condition was purely a 'mental' thing ie "snap out of it and you'll feel better" attitude but now she recognises the condition as very much a physical disability almost and is now 100% supportive. It's good that people can change like that I feel.
Very interesting John I just hope the doctors are as savvy about this as well, any excuse and they want to stuff any and every type of drug(medication) down us at the slightest excuse.
Interesting stuff John. The report from Harvard is well written in laymans terms so people like me can understand more easily ! I didn't feel blinded by science.
Information & advice changes almost daily it seems as new studies are undertaken and more information is collated. Only recently have the efficies of both aspirin & paracetemol for example have been questioned so any 'new' info regarding the multi-billion diet & health businesses is bound to change our lifestyle and mindset.
All I know is what affected my cholesterol levels but maybe treatments and remedies are a more 'personal' thing with different people reacting differently to different foodstuffs or whatever is contained therein ? I'm sure the parameters of LDL/HDL and general cholesterol will be changed according to more experiments and testing but I suppose all we, the indivdual can do is to trust with caution the info that's being dripfed to us ?
The issues are years ago fats were thought to be bad, then eggs etc. Now eggs are good because they can lower LDL cholesterol and fats play an important part. Fat's chemical makeup is different to cholesterol but they have for years been interchangable when discussing this subject.
How can it be right when the global market for statins is so large, that would mean that nature, god whatever got it wrong? The statin market in 2011 was valued at $20.5 billion and they are worried about the global decline of statins so are trying to come up with new ways to increase their market (doesn't it sound more like a sales convention that a health campaign?)
Around 85% of the cholesterol in your body is manufactured in your body and has nothing to do with what you consume. Unfortunately some people have a predisposition to high cholesterol and diabetes makes this a double whammy.
Some interesting information here which shows that information from test years ago doesn't seem to match up with the results expected, i.e. if people modified their diets in line with what the then thinking was why haven't their cholesterol levels changed?
Away form statins there has been a fair amount of research into hydroxpropylmethycellulose (HPMC) it's a natural thickener used extensively in the food industry but it occurs in grains like porridge (known to lower LDL cholesterol) It could prove the best solution as it seems to carry no side effects but it would be the biggest threat to the statins market so no drug company is likely to fund it's research.
I think someone posed the question/debate on duck/goose a while back, it's known as the French paradox, why in the country that eats the most fat do they have the lowest heart disease?
There was also a study carried out on dead people and their cholesterol levels, people who reduced their cholesterol levels died as it is now believed to be part of the bodies natural defense mechanism as we age above 50. The statins people have just forced a level on the medical profession taken from younger subject and made that a benchmark so most people above the age or 50 would fail, hows that for creating a sales campaign!
Yeah, sorry Anne
I realised i'd been using the french term not thinking - pomegranates is a key part of the natural remedy I feel. I spoke with a heart man this afternoon and he asked me how I managed to reduce by so much so quickly and the exercise and the green tea he was ok with and when I mentioned fresh fruit with an emphasis on pomegranates he was very enthousiastic and wished more people understood their nutritional value, along with other things of course.
Problems with pomegranates include, finding them in the supermarkets and managing to dig out the seeds without getting covered in red juice ! The secret is to wear an apron or some old clothes ! The juice is easily available and that can be good too but not quite as effective as the real thing.
Just realised that grenadines are pomegranates!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello Peter,
I was shocked when my doctor said my cholesterol was too high at LDL 2.45 (and HDL also high at .80). The former is higher than you before your changes. My doctor said I should start on statins immediately as blood pressure also has increased.....again I was shocked at this as previously it was always low. I am definitely not overweight and have been vegetarian for the last 40+ years. I also have two dogs to walk and quite an active life. My doctor also said I should not eat dairy or very little.........my main protein comes from dairy. I have cut down dairy but I will not eliminate it. I was so pleased to read about your experience. It gives me hope that I can manage this by adding to rather than taking away from my diet. I already eat porridge daily and will try to source grenadine seeds now.
Well done M-A, Leader Price is great for certain things and I found the oatmeal by 'mistake'. I find it good value and pretty good quality.
The grenadines I referred to are of course pomegranites - for some reason I call them by the french name. Wiki' the seeds and just look at just how good they are for you.
I too buy my oatmeal, as it is called in the US, at Leader Price and I eat it cooked in the microwave with lait écrémé I have reduce my cholesterol to the point where my doctor has put me on 5mg of statin when I was previously on 10 mg. I haven't made any other dietary changes, but when I get back home ( I am in the US at my daughter's until May 27) I will try some of you suggestions Peter.
Hi Jane, not too sure, my parents both passed away in their 80s and mum 's levels were a little high like mine tho' she never did anything about it as far as i'm aware.
I find it interesting to share experiences especially regarding foods eaten to help levels.
I expect i'll be starting my annual 'peacemeal' diet very shortly, ok i'm obese but i'm happy !!!
Hi Melissa, thanks for your interest. We must be in the minority as it seems most people don't have a cholesterol problem, or at least they aren't bothered about it !
I used to eat raw porridge every day , like you without sugar but I used to eat it with soya milk, not really because of any health reasons just because I preferred it. (My late wife, being Scottish always said porridge should be eaten with salt and boiling water !!!!! Ye Gods ! )This used to help keep my levels in check tho' the LDL levels were always too high and general cholesterol hovering around the 2.2 - 2.4 mark. Thanks for the eating tips, I eat (and enjoy) almost anything so I will add more mushrooms and apricots to my diet. The grenadine seeds are a very important weapon I believe tho' grenadines aren't cheap. One grenadine can last me a couple of days, sometimes three, depending on the quality and batch.
Speaking of porridge, I buy my porridge from Leader Price - it's called 'flocons d'avoine' and is pretty good and quite well priced.
I'm due to have some routine heart checks in a couple of days so it will be interesting to see what the doc says.
Peter, is there high cholesterol level in your family?
I will pass on the grenadine seeds to my Jim.
Hi Peter
I was in my 40s when I was first told my cholesterol was a bit high - history etc. and I did not want to go on statins for life. I have since eaten porridge (raw), adding nuts, raisons, seeds etc. to give nutrients and taste (no sugar, just milk). That was almost the only difference I made to my diet and subsequent tests showed lower levels of cholesterol. There are other foods e.g. mushrooms and apricots which also make a difference. I now bulk by porridge oats in the UK as they are far cheaper.