bamboozled
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Posts posted by bamboozled
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7 hours ago, mstevens said:
5.3 is good. Nothing to worry about at all!
Thanks mstevens! I'm never sure if being close to a cutoff level is cause for concern. Like borderline.....
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On 11/28/2023 at 6:42 PM, Sheryl said:
Any hospital can do a stress test, but you need to consider the qualifications of the cardiologist doing it.
Some hospitals can do the CT calcium scan, some cannot (I don;'t know re Nthavej specifically) and one also has to consider how up to date the equipment is (not only for accuracy's sake but also because older machines use much more radiation)
Bangkok Heart Hospital is offering a very good promotional price of 2,500 baht to the end of the year for the CT scan. https://www.bangkokhearthospital.com/en/package/ct-coronary-calcium-score
You won't do better than that IF a CT scan is what you need. Might or might not be. Even the newer machines do involve some radiation exposure.
For the OP's situation, where a decision has to be made about whether to treat an elevated LDL (based on what may be an indirect estimation, and with other lipid parameters being fine) it is worth it but for someone else might not be.
It would help if I knew why you are considering these tests. One would not usually get both.
Stress Test involves no radiation exposure and in addition to identifying about 80% of coronary artery disease, gives a picture of your overall cardio fitness. That may not be a concern if you already exercise regularly with no problems, but for a more sedentary person can be good to know.
Hi Sheryl and friends,
I got my direct LDL test result and it shows a "score" of 148. That's down from 174 two weeks ago but not sure if that was direct test or not.
I have found I can do the calcium scan at Sriphat hospital here for 5k (And Chiang Mai Ram for 7k). Of course, there is a Dr. consultation first. Based on this new number of 148, would your advice be to proceed with the calcium scan? I guess the "risk" is the expense of 5k and whatever radiation from the scans. From what I understand, it would give the best indication of whether or not my LDL is problematic or not.
I also got dinged for high testosterone, high cortisol, and low free T3. T4 is on the low side, too. I'm trying to figure out why I am so, so fatigued all the time. As if my fuel tank is on zero. Energy levels like when one is sick with the flu. Just can't muster energy. My TSH level in the past 4 months has gone from 3.9 in August down to 1 two weeks ago and now today up to 2.8. Is this strange to fluctuate so much? I did ask an endocrinologist whom I saw with my test two weeks ago but she did not do any sleuthing or delve any deeper.
My HbA1C test was 5.3% so I guess no diabetes. Not sure if it matters that it is kind of close to the "normal" cut-off level of 5.7%. My CBC was all normal. Waiting for my B12 and Vitamin D test results.
Thank you.
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On 11/26/2023 at 11:28 AM, JensenZ said:
Whey is a byproduct of cheese making. It's a natural part of milk and 20% of milk's total protein.
It is one of the most studied proteins and definitely a healthy addition to the diet. On a one-on-one comparison, no other protein comes close. It not only provides much-needed protein to people who are undernourished, but it actually has health benefits. It's good for you!
You could use a crash course on whey protein.
Whey Protein 101: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide
Hi Jensen,
I'm about to purchase some unflavored protein powder and I'm assuming it's the same one you purchase based on your above info. Maxwell brand? From translating the Thai in Goog. translate, it doesn't seem clear to me that it is produced by ALS labs but rather they have reviewed the protein content., supposedly. I don't know ALS labs or what they do or if they produce protein powder. Hmm, does ALS labs even exist or is it made up? It also could be a translation issue.
The company appears to be a Thai company situated in Khorat.
What the translated Thai text about ALS labs says is this: "Has FDA number 30-1-05363-5-0002 Check protein values from ALS LAB"
Anyway, not picking a fight or anything. Just thought the info might be useful.
Cheers!
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14 hours ago, Sheryl said:
Any hospital can do a stress test, but you need to consider the qualifications of the cardiologist doing it.
Some hospitals can do the CT calcium scan, some cannot (I don;'t know re Nthavej specifically) and one also has to consider how up to date the equipment is (not only for accuracy's sake but also because older machines use much more radiation)
Bangkok Heart Hospital is offering a very good promotional price of 2,500 baht to the end of the year for the CT scan. https://www.bangkokhearthospital.com/en/package/ct-coronary-calcium-score
You won't do better than that IF a CT scan is what you need. Might or might not be. Even the newer machines do involve some radiation exposure.
For the OP's situation, where a decision has to be made about whether to treat an elevated LDL (based on what may be an indirect estimation, and with other lipid parameters being fine) it is worth it but for someone else might not be.
It would help if I knew why you are considering these tests. One would not usually get both.
Stress Test involves no radiation exposure and in addition to identifying about 80% of coronary artery disease, gives a picture of your overall cardio fitness. That may not be a concern if you already exercise regularly with no problems, but for a more sedentary person can be good to know.
I'm getting a direct LDL test today, among others! I have written a local Chiang Mai hospital that I frequent (Rajavej) to ask about the calcium scan.
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6 hours ago, Startmeup said:
"veggies, nuts, fruits, salads" are generally considered healthy, for many people they cause alot of issues.
You can start by watching this. Cholesterol by itself is not a good marker. You need a whole package approach, most doctors probably dont even know that basic fact.
Interesting. More fuel on the fire. In the end, we no longer know what the hell we're supposed to eat/not eat.
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5 minutes ago, pomchop said:
and i still take a 10 mg statin every other day and ezetimibe every day..
Ezetimibe is not a statin medication, it is a cholesterol absorption inhibitor. Ezetimibe,fenofibrate and statins are cholesterol lowering medications. Ezetimibe can be taken together with statins or fenofibrate as their cholesterol lowering effects are complementary.
I'm going to latch on hard to the info I posted last night about high LDL reading being a false signal due to all the good fat one eats (see below). Hey all....I'm cured!
I have the plan to follow Sheryl's advice on getting a coronary calcium scan. That seems to be more definitive than an LDL reading. That is, one might have high LDL but no plaque build up in the arteries. In which case, I'd run straight to the bacon aisle...hallelujah.
A healthy diet
We know that an unhealthy diet can cause high triglycerides, while a healthy diet generally leads to low triglycerides.
One interesting note is that sometimes low triglyceride levels can occur with high LDL levels (which often indicate a higher heart disease risk). If low triglyceride levels lower heart disease risk, but high LDL levels increase it, what can cause this inconsistency?
There are two types of LDL particles that should be taken into account when calculating heart disease risk:
• LDL-A particles are larger, less dense, and lower your risk.
• LDL-B particles are smaller, denser, and increase your risk.
When you have low triglyceride levels but high LDL levels, it could indicateTrusted Source that you have a diet filled with healthy fats.
Healthy fats will not only cause an increase in good cholesterol (HDL) but can also change the type of the LDL particles in the blood. Therefore, those high LDL levels may not actually be a bad thing.
Instead, it is more likely that they are LDL particles that have become larger and less dense from the intake of healthy fat. Low triglycerides and high HDL levels in the blood will generally support this idea.
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52 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:Keep the long row of shops on your right and head underneath the building at the very end, you can't miss it.
I'm on it....look for the "very healthy guy" lurking out front later this afternoon.
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2 hours ago, Mike Lister said:
It's in the same plaza as Rimping supermarket, in the rear, under the parking structure, just before the car wash.
Thanks. Google shows some clinic across the road but it didn't seem quite right.
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1 hour ago, Startmeup said:
No. There are so many other things to try before even considering statins. Diet and lifestyle being a priority. And no I don't mean eating more leafy greens, nuts/seeds, vegan food or other such food lacking nutrients
Id also add it depends on your motivation to want to change/be healthy. There are experts to consult with, who actually read studies and have real life experience of working with clients on how to reach solutions. 95% of practitioners are just glorifed pill pushers.I don't have an unhealthy lifestyle at all "except" for too much booze, generally speaking. But I didn't drink anything for 6 weeks and my LDL went UP, not down. I get a LOT of exercise and eat well, mostly cooking at home...so I know what's in it. And that's veggies, nuts, fruits, salads, fish, yogurt, eggs, olive oil, hardly any processed foods, etc.... I do eat beef and pork that has some fat and some butter, bacon but....screw it. Can't be insane with this stuff. I could be wrong but I don't think my high C is from my diet or lack of exercise. If lifestyle is the problem, Christ, I give up. Nonetheless, my LDL level is showing as high for some reason and has for almost a decade.
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4 hours ago, Mike Lister said:
I've not thread of that Eric but I recently heard the UK is now offering an annual statins like shot which sounds interesting.
Mike, is the Mee Chok clinic you referenced for blood tests on the opposite corner from the main Mee Chok plaza?
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I also found this last night in my sleuthing:
A healthy diet
We know that an unhealthy diet can cause high triglycerides, while a healthy diet generally leads to low triglycerides.
One interesting note is that sometimes low triglyceride levels can occur with high LDL levels (which often indicate a higher heart disease risk). If low triglyceride levels lower heart disease risk, but high LDL levels increase it, what can cause this inconsistency?
There are two types of LDL particles that should be taken into account when calculating heart disease risk:
• LDL-A particles are larger, less dense, and lower your risk.
• LDL-B particles are smaller, denser, and increase your risk.
When you have low triglyceride levels but high LDL levels, it could indicateTrusted Source that you have a diet filled with healthy fats.
Healthy fats will not only cause an increase in good cholesterol (HDL) but can also change the type of the LDL particles in the blood. Therefore, those high LDL levels may not actually be a bad thing.
Instead, it is more likely that they are LDL particles that have become larger and less dense from the intake of healthy fat. Low triglycerides and high HDL levels in the blood will generally support this idea. -
1 hour ago, Sheryl said:
LDL unless specified as direct is likely indirect measure and with a low triglyceride may not be accurate.
Not all labs can do a direct LDL, you have to inquire.
Stress test is not very expensive (2-3,000 baht usually). Coronary Ct Calcium scan used to be 2-3 times as much but lately there have been promotions as low as 2,500 baht in the Bangkok area. I don 't know what price you will find in CM.
For purposes of aiding decision to treat or not treat elevated LDL, Calcium scan is best.
There is no upper iimit to HDL. Should be over 40, preferrably over 60 and the higher the better. So yours is fine.
I'm going to look into that, thank you.
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2 hours ago, Sheryl said:
Triglycerides are fine then. In fact lower than average -- which is good but also means that if your LDL measure was indirect it may not be accurate. So I suggest you make sure in future to get only direct LDL measurements.
An EKG is not what I meant. Rather, I meant either an Exercise Stress Test or a Coronary Artery Scan. The latter can be of special value in deciding whether or not to take statins.
An EKG tells whether or you are having or have had a heart attack or are in a chronic abnormal heart rhythm, or are currently experiencing lack of adequate blood flow to the heart., It does not tell you anything else about the state of your coronary arteries nor what blood flow to the heart and heart rhythm are like when not at rest.
Hi Sheryl,
Are those pricey tests to get, the stress test and the artery scan? Seems like it indeed would give a good indicator for taking statins or not. Do you favor one test over the other for my issue?
My cholesterol for the last 7 or 8 years, on 4 different tests, has shown LDL always above 220. I don't know if it was indirect or direct. How might I know that? HDL was always higher than normal, as well.
Strangely, my past thyroid tests, 3 I think, all showed my TSH over 3 and one I had in August showed 3.92, the highest ever. 2 weeks ago I got another and TSH had dropped to 1. The only life-style change I've made is I haven't been drinking any alcohol 6 weeks prior to that latest test (the one showing TSH dropping to 1). Would that account for such a huge difference? It seems like such a drastic change to me.
Hypothyroidism would account for a lot of my symptoms including the high cholesterol, from what I understand.
Thanks to Sheryl and to everyone for not dropping the ball on this with the site outage!
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I will get some more testing done. I'm not convinced of anything yet with the info I have so far. Yes, the A1C is on the list. Did someone mention a blood testing facility here in Chiang Mai?
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18 minutes ago, bamboozled said:
I, too, never understood why it is so hard to find just the whey protein with out the added chemical flavors and sugars. I don't want that stuff or need cookies and cream or vanilla fudge or raspberry lemon tart. What the heck? I'm also not having any luck locating such a product on Lazada.
Cheers!
...Now I've found it by searching for it with Google. Thanks!
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I, too, never understood why it is so hard to find just the whey protein with out the added chemical flavors and sugars. I don't want that stuff or need cookies and cream or vanilla fudge or raspberry lemon tart. What the heck? I'm also not having any luck locating such a product on Lazada.
Cheers!
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11 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:
I've been taking statins (simvistatin) for 'bout 20 years. Originally had all high numbers, with total cholesterol around 300+. I was running marathons, cycling cross country, eating healthy, so not much lifestyle changes I could have made.
I believe it's mostly genetic. With statins (20mg/day) all my numbers are normal. My current diet consists mainly of pizza, KFC, tater chips, donuts and soda. Hardly exercise any more, jog/cycle/weights a few times a week. I get a blood test every 3-4 months and adjust dosage accordingly.
Statins are cheap, blood tests are cheap. Why not start with your doctor's recommended dosage for 3 months and see how you respond? Have a lipid panel done every 30 days.
NoDisplay...did you experience any side-effects of note?
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5 minutes ago, Sheryl said:
total cholesterol is irrelevant.
Your LDL is definitely too high (optimal is under 100; anything above 160 is dangerously high). So you need to get that down. If as it sounds from your post you are not going to be able to do that with lifestyle modifications then medication is advisable. A statin would normally be tried first but if it does not suit there are other drugs that can be used instead e.g. niacin, fibrates, ezetimibe etc.
What is your triglyceride level? And what is your Hb1Ac?
You cannot assume good cardiac health just because you are physically active. A cardiac calcium test or stress test would be advisable and results could help inform target LDL levels and medication decision.s
Hi Sheryl,
Triglyceride is 66. VLDL is 13. I did the full package health checkup at Rajavej in August including an EKG. Not what you intend? The test does indicate, "borderline ECG". No idea what that is. They checked "OK" for heart. I have a BPM of 55. A bit slow.
Hb1Ac...that's the type 2 diabetes, right? I asked the doc about getting that test and she said based on my August FBS test (86) there was no need for the Hb1Ac test.
Thank you!
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Thanks all. A lot of good stuff here and my thoughts are echoed in pretty much all the comments. I have indeed read that they now think diet is much less a cause of high cholesterol. And the negatives on carbs. To this end, I eat less carbs and more full-fat proteins. Who knows...these ideas on how to eat will prob. change yet again as the pendulum swings. So hard to know. I have looked for research debunking the high cholesterol being bad idea but did not find any. Thanks bignok for ur input on that. Still, the consensus in the med community seems to be pretty neg. on high cholesterol. Yes, one doctor a few years back did tell me not to worry about my high total C as my HDL was also high. I'm annoyed that my total C is going UP even after the exercise, no alcohol, and eating what I think is healthy.
I have not read that statins lower libido but will check that out. I'd love to just take a little bit everyday, get the benefit, and go on my merry way. But as some of you have pointed out, it's usually never that simple. There are usually side-effect and indeed I do not want to become another supplicant to big Pharma.
Any more input, please, bring it on.
By the way, the doc did not indicate how much or what I should take. We didn't get that far into the conversation. I was actually there for a thyroid check but got the lipid test at the same time since it was convenient.
Cheers! -
I'm 55 and my latest total cholesterol is 248. It's been over 220 (at least) for about 7 years (I know from looking at some older test result). LDL is 174 and HDL 78. So they're ALL high: the good, the bad, and the ugly. The Dr., when I asked about statins, said she would recommend it. I'm not super keen on taking a drug every day. Then again, I'm not keen on having a heart attack, either. I'm quite fit and exercise frequently. My blood pressure is fine. I don't smoke. I eat healthy food, very little fried, lots of fruits and veggies. I do eat full fat yogurt and eggs, all sorts of meats (not processed), some cheese, olive oil, etc... Sure, some sweets and baked goods but not regularly. I do drink a fair bit of alcohol but my latest test was after 6 weeks of abstaining and it has gone up since my last test, not down, thus I don't feel that was a big contributing factor. I am feeling a lot of stress and generally that is my personality type. Stress is supposed to increase your cholesterol levels so perhaps that is the root cause. Yes, I'm working on lowering stress. So far, to little avail. Lastly, it could just be my fate/genetics.
Other doctors that viewed my test results did not push me to take statins and ultimately it is a personal decision I must make. Any people here have any anecdotes to add based on the above info? My sister who is on them complained of initial achy muscles but that cleared up.
Thank you! -
On 11/13/2023 at 9:07 AM, Mike Lister said:
Yes, weekends can be busy, I try to go midweek.
I'm very happy to hear that, well done. Yes, Dr Ampica is a rare find. Years ago, shortly after I first met her she was treating me for higher than normal blood sugar. I'd made the connection between my condition and something known as metabolic syndrome which turned out to be correct. Empowered by the fact she had agreed with me, I went on to make a connection between metabolic syndrome and B12 deficiency and drew a diagram to explain it!!! She very graciously tolerated my ramblings which were completely wrong and she said something like, well we'll see later if you need a B12 shot or not, smiled and moved on. We became good friends immediately after but she does occasionally prod me about needing a B12 shot, in a good natured way, bless her.
Well, TSH was way DOWN from what it had been on my last three tests...down from almost 4 to 1.5 or something. Wacky. And she said no way Type 2 diabetes based on my FBS test. So....fit as a fiddle. I feel...disappointed. Maybe my sensations are all from my stress, ultimately. She did not suggest any other avenues to pursue. Oh well.
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3 hours ago, Mike Lister said:
Yes, weekends can be busy, I try to go midweek.
I'm very happy to hear that, well done. Yes, Dr Ampica is a rare find. Years ago, shortly after I first met her she was treating me for higher than normal blood sugar. I'd made the connection between my condition and something known as metabolic syndrome which turned out to be correct. Empowered by the fact she had agreed with me, I went on to make a connection between metabolic syndrome and B12 deficiency and drew a diagram to explain it!!! She very graciously tolerated my ramblings which were completely wrong and she said something like, well we'll see later if you need a B12 shot or not, smiled and moved on. We became good friends immediately after but she does occasionally prod me about needing a B12 shot, in a good natured way, bless her.
Ha! Your story makes me smile. I, too, play internet doctor yet try to be mindful and respectful when putting forth my ideas. I ran through them a bit yesterday and then put myself in her hands. In fact, going off on my thyroid tangent caused me to forget to ask about the diabetes. I would have added that test at the same time. Oh well...
I was worried a bit that with the hospital being so crowded she would be rushed. She didn't seem to be, though, thankfully.
B12 shots....I give them to myself as I'm deficient (not just mentally). It's simple and cheap. Haven't died or had a limb rot and fall off yet.
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On 11/8/2023 at 12:29 PM, Mike Lister said:
Outstanding....PM to follow.
Saw Dr. Ampica and gave a blood sample for a new thyroid test. I have had 3 in the past 3 years and noticed my TSH level has been going up, even though not officially over the limit, but perhaps we're onto something. I go back tomorrow for the results. I forgot to mention the diabetes idea to her but will bring it up tomorrow. The hospital was pretty crowded but certainly much better organized than my previous experiences in the building on Suthep Rd. Dr. Ampica has a calming presence.
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3 hours ago, Mike Lister said:
There is a new Sriphat building that has been in place for a few years, it is completely unlike the old Sriphat building. There are no queues and there is no waiting. Dr Ampica does not have her own clinic as far as I know, she is semi retired, her details and hours are here: https://sriphat.med.cmu.ac.th/en/doctor/detail/124
The new building is located here: https://sriphat.med.cmu.ac.th/en/contact It is a multi floor high rise and Dr Ampica is on the 2nd floor. The building is located some distance West of the old one and is signposted as Sriphat OPD..
They ended up giving me an appointment with Dr. Ampica this coming Sunday!
Any whey protein without artificial sweeteners?
in Health and Medicine
Posted
I'm not a conspiracy guy at all but certainly companies make stuff up. The listing says imported from USA and that it has an FDA registration number...but there is no way to check if that number is real, from what I could understand. And, also, having a registration number does not mean it was tested or approved. Only that a registration number was applied for. On the package, it says manufactured and distributed by Maxwell company in Khorat. Which seems to suggest nothing was imported from USA but made in Thailand. I don't know how one could know if a particular whey protein is good or bad for you just from ingesting it. It might look good and taste good but how much protein is really in it? What contaminants might be in it? I'm kind of going down a rabbit hole here and not trying to knock down your recommendation...I bought some, too. Thinking about it just made me realize how much we take for granted, I guess. Where did this info come from that they import 25kg bags and then break it down into smaller batches? Cheers! Bam.