My eye dr. said..

[creatingkarma]

Hello everyone. I don't know what to post this under, so I guess I'll just do it here. I went to the eye doctor last week & he told me that my eyes were showing signs high cholesterol. He was concerned about this because he said that he usually only sees this show up in the eyes of senior citizens. He said that it was very rare to see this show up in the eyes of someone my age (30). I don't have any idea how I would have high cholesterol because all I basically eat is cereal. Has anyone else ever heard of this? Should I be worried?

Karma

[ICNDonna]

My suggestion would have to be to see your primary care physician and request blood testing to find out exactly where your cholesterol level is right now. If it's too high, there are several different medications that will help bring it to a more reasonable, healthy level.

My theory (and it's just mine) is that cholesterol level can also be a genetic trait --- my husband and I eat virtually the same diet, yet his is high and mine is fine.

Hugs,
Donna

[creatingkarma]

Thanks, Donna. I had never thought of it being a genetic thing. My dad has diabeties & heart disease, but I figured that it was his lifestyle causing those problems because no one else in our family has ever had any health problems. I just called my doctor & am waiting for her to call me back to set up my lab work. Geez, and I just got rid of my bruise from my last labs that I had done a couple weeks ago for my colonoscopy.

Karma

[amethyst79]

Ugh... so sorry you have yet another medical issue on your mind now. Hopefully a simple blood cholesterol test can figure it out. My husband has genetic high cholesterol, when first learned his chol. was almost 280, after a year of using Lipitor he's down to 158, which is great.

Good luck!

:kiss:

Chelle

[Sarojini]

My father has high cholesterol which is genetic (the medical term is familial hypercholesterolemia ... say THAT three times fast ;) )

He ate nothing but turkey sandwiches on wheat bread and fruit for several months, and his cholesterol stayed at the ghastly level of 370. YIKES!!!! Basically, this genetic trait causes defects in your ability to metabolize cholesterol... often you have no ability to sense when there's enough, so your liver just keeps making it and making it and making it, so often diet doesn't really help.

However, my dad did great, first on Lipitor and then now on a newer drug called Crestor. His chloesterol is now down around 180!

The good thing about him is that the high cholesterol was the only symptom... he is not overweight, his blood pressure is perfect, and he has a normal EKG. So, they caught it in time, it seems.

This does mean that I, as his daughter, need to watch my cholesterol -- so far I've been fine, mine stays around 160 most of the time so far, so maybe I got my mom's genes as far as cholesterol goes :)

Hugs,

[creatingkarma]

Thanks, everyone. How does one come by a gene like this? I mean, my grandparents don't have high cholesterol, but their son (my dad) does. Where did my dad get this gene (assuming it's genetic since maybe I have it too)? How confusing!

Yuck! I just hate the thought of adding another drug to my list. I feel like a walking pharmacy as it is!

Guess I shouldn't worry until I get the test done, which will be tomorrow.

Karma

[kelly McC]

Best wishes for your test tomorrow :grouphug: :grouphug:

[creatingkarma]

Hello everyone. I finally got a call from the dr today about my cholesterol check. Mine is 211. The doctor said to just watch what I eat & check it again in a year. I asked her how I could watch what I eat anymore than I already do. My main food staples are bran flakes, frosted shredded wheat, & oatmeal, which are all cholesterol lowering foods. She didn't really know what to say, so she just repeated watch what I eat & check it again in a year. Does this sound right?

Karma

[Mimi-in-Chicagoland]

I thought that you had to eat food containing fat or cholesterol to raise your cholesterol. Carbs and sugar can raise your cholesterol. I know that its hard with the ic-diet, but if you could add in some more veggies and fruit. I know blueberries and pears are supposed to be IC friendly. I don't think meds are really necessary for you. You should be able to bring your cholesterol down by upping proteins and fiber and lowering starches...bladder permitting. Raising your HDL--good cholesterol is just as important as lowering your LDL--bad cholesterol. You can do that with soy, olive oil, almonds, walnuts, avocado...good fats.

[Teri]

Karma~I was in my early 40's when my dr told me that he could tell by the veins are ateries in my eyes. I do have very very high colerterol but haven't been able to find a medication that I can tolerate.
Just have you blood checked and take it from there~~~

tons and tons of hugs~