Yes or No to Genetic Testing for Familial Hypercholesterolaemia ?

[Peatness]

Thank you so much!! Really appreciate this.

You're welcome.

 

[Honeycomb]

High Cholesterol is one of the seminal indicators of low thyroid. mine started getting high and normalized when i found the right dose of thyroid - that was 15 years ago and its been just fine every since eating plenty of cholesterol. T3 brings it down pretty quickly by facilitating its conversion to hormones as is its function. Any "genetic" predisposition is most likely transgenerational hypothyroidism and you can break the cycle by adjusting your body's environment as i did. my family takes statins and a zillion other meds. I follow this philosophy and am a thousand times healthier than any of them.

Thanks for taking the time to share how you dealt with high cholesterol. I’m glad you got it down It’s interesting and has me thinking again ... A few people on here also hinted that my thyroid could be an issue and behind my crazily high cholesterol. But with my blood tests being “completely normal” last August (TSH 0.38 and Free T4 12.3), the consultant categorically ruled out an underactive thyroid. I just don’t know what to do ...

 

[Advocate2021]

Thanks for taking the time to share how you dealt with high cholesterol. I’m glad you got it down It’s interesting and has me thinking again ... A few people on here also hinted that my thyroid could be an issue and behind my crazily high cholesterol. But with my blood tests being “completely normal” last August (TSH 0.38 and Free T4 12.3), the consultant categorically ruled out an underactive thyroid. I just don’t know what to do ...

What about T3 - thats what lowers it. did that get measured? REgardless temperature, pulse rate and cholesterol and other symptoms are much more accurate than any blood work. Way back when all my "tests" came back "normal" and i was dosed on estrogen for 12 years because my "brain wasnt making hormones for some reason". so as you can see i dont give a penny's credence to medical tests. i was severely hypothyroid which is why i had no hormones and didnt get periods at 17 almost 18. 35 years later when most women are or have been in menopause i have perfect 28 day menstrual cycles and most likely fertility like a teenager- go figure. I share this just to show you how erroneous is the medical paradigm, tests, big pharma indoctrination, "genetic theories", etc. It truly is BS.

 

[AlaskaJono]

Thanks for taking the time to share how you dealt with high cholesterol. I’m glad you got it down It’s interesting and has me thinking again ... A few people on here also hinted that my thyroid could be an issue and behind my crazily high cholesterol. But with my blood tests being “completely normal” last August (TSH 0.38 and Free T4 12.3), the consultant categorically ruled out an underactive thyroid. I just don’t know what to do ...

First - Don't Freak out. Relax. I have practiced acupuncture for 30+ years and have a few important anecdotes. I had a client in 1991 at the school clinic who came in for another reason, but he had said that he was super high cholesterol, US system over 900 mg/dl = 23.7 mmol/l . I of course didn't believe him as the highest I had ever seen was about 375mg/dl = 9.7 mmol/l. So he brought in his blood work next visit and Yes indeed, it was over 900 mark. So he quit smoking in his 60s and started to excercise on a trampoline. 2 Sessions @ 45 minutes. He retired a few years later and kept it up. I think he was about 70 years old when I saw him. His cholesterol (at near that time) was down to around 350mmol/dl.

Also my wife's mum, who in her 60's called and said she had to go on statins because the MHRA doctor said she had high cholesterol. She doesn't have any symptoms, is healthy, eats sensibly, cooks at home, exercises, etc.. When she finally sent her numbers to us it was 6.3 UK style!!! ( approx. 240mg/dl US style). Anyhow, we got her off of those for a year or so, but she eventually did exactly what the doctor said. She trusts them. ;-((

Historically, upper limit of acceptable total cholesterol was US style 240mg/dl. (6.2 UK) Then they lowered it to 220.... and again to 200. This has the situation where more than 1/2 earth's population is on Statins. How nice. It does have knock on effects, that are unwanted. (May promote heart disease and or atherosclerosis).
Anyhow. I posted this a while ago. hope it helps.

Why is it acceptable? The more i try to figure out health, the more i have tried and heard, the more i start to activate the obnoxious inner child that keeps asking his parent "why" whenever a statement is made about something.

The main point I remember is that the 'number' is not that important if the person is healthy. Which means digestion, sleep, breathing, exertion/recovery, etc. I suspect something along the line of thought @yerrag posted. The quick diagnostic test for blood/Qi flow is to squeeze a finger nail on the client and let go. A healthy response is 1 second or less return to redness from whiteness. This is for all ages. A return to redness in 3, 4, or 5 seconds illustrates sluggish circulation. In TCM usually Liver related (Liver controls the Flow of Blood and Qi!), but also other issues may contribute.

What he did not say but I suspect is also the 'spin-off' of negative effects if one takes prescription drugs. He tended not to go there. Smart. Make us think for ourselves, and be our own practitioner/diagnostician from our own experience. Sounds familiar eh?

Also, he did state the analogous scenario regarding Cholesterol levels. 1991 = 30 years ago, the threshold for diagnosis of high cholesterol (total) in the USA was 240mg/dL. He said in his experience the acceptable levels can go up by about +10mg/dL after age 50. And again after 60 years, and again after 70 years, etc.

I had a client in 2001 whose total cholesterol level was 210-215mg/dL, and his doctor (in NYC) gave him statins as a preventative. I told him to get another doctor.

Now the official diagnostic level is lower. So statins are given. Hmmmm. Side effects include: impaired cognition, atherosclerosis, heart failure, ... and can function as mitochondrial toxins that impair muscle function in the heart and blood vessels through the depletion of coenzyme Q10 and 'heme A', and thereby ATP generation.etc. This is from PubMed.

Context is maybe not everything, but... it is an enormous aspect of the equation.

 

[AlaskaJono]

Thanks for taking the time to share how you dealt with high cholesterol. I’m glad you got it down It’s interesting and has me thinking again ... A few people on here also hinted that my thyroid could be an issue and behind my crazily high cholesterol. But with my blood tests being “completely normal” last August (TSH 0.38 and Free T4 12.3), the consultant categorically ruled out an underactive thyroid. I just don’t know what to do ...

As Advocate stated maybe a T3 test? But... I am less a Thyroid specialist and more of a liver specialist. And it is not exactly always 'Keep your T3 up there and the Total Cholesterol goes down thing.... there are many factors at play.

My questions to you are more about Pufa's, and history of high pufa diet. (As in years...). Also, history of eating or not eating dairy and animal protein/fats. Eat a lot of nuts? linseed oil or fish oil? Cook with veggie oils? Higher in estrogen than one should be? Basically if the Liver is not getting the kind of fats it needs to produce Pregnenolone, the 'Mother ' of all hormones, then it is all downhill from there.

Signs of poor liver function: inflammation, PMS for women, lots of clots, breast/flank tenderness, not digesting fats well, poor circulation, quick to anger, Inconsistent energy throughout the day, little dots in the vision - OK this is really more a TCM thing of Blood Deficiency, but liver involvement. (Western and Chinese-ee style).
Ray Peats genius to me is his wholistic understanding of our physiology. And at a cellular level, not just organ - ic. (pun). Focus on that is my recommendation for most docs do not 'get this' they are most often 'stuck in' a reductionistic model. (I know as I know many Naturopathic Docs in the USA and... well statement stands.)

Do read from Ray Peat's website the scholastic essays. Even if you only get a % in understanding, you can read more and go back etc..
And here is a link from this site: https://raypeatforum.com/community/threads/confused-about-thyroid-and-how-it-works.22630/
Cheers.

 

[Elderflower j58]

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362726583_Importance_of_Coagulation_Factors_as_Critical_Components_of_Premature_Cardiovascular_Disease_in_Familial_Hypercholesterolemia

@Honeycomb @Peatness

Strange his website and newsletters have disappeared But they will have to do better than that if they are trying to censor his valuable information.

IIRC When his book the cholesterol myth's was released they burnt it on Live TV in Finland in 1991 but that didn't stop Him telling the truth about cholesterol.

 

[Peatness]

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362726583_Importance_of_Coagulation_Factors_as_Critical_Components_of_Premature_Cardiovascular_Disease_in_Familial_Hypercholesterolemia

@Honeycomb @Peatness

Strange his website and newsletters have disappeared But they will have to do better than that if they are trying to censor his valuable information.

IIRC When his book the cholesterol myth's was released they burnt it on Live TV in Finland in 1991 but that didn't stop Him telling the truth about cholesterol.

Thank you.

 

[Honeycomb]

As Advocate stated maybe a T3 test? But... I am less a Thyroid specialist and more of a liver specialist. And it is not exactly always 'Keep your T3 up there and the Total Cholesterol goes down thing.... there are many factors at play.

My questions to you are more about Pufa's, and history of high pufa diet. (As in years...). Also, history of eating or not eating dairy and animal protein/fats. Eat a lot of nuts? linseed oil or fish oil? Cook with veggie oils? Higher in estrogen than one should be? Basically if the Liver is not getting the kind of fats it needs to produce Pregnenolone, the 'Mother ' of all hormones, then it is all downhill from there.

Signs of poor liver function: inflammation, PMS for women, lots of clots, breast/flank tenderness, not digesting fats well, poor circulation, quick to anger, Inconsistent energy throughout the day, little dots in the vision - OK this is really more a TCM thing of Blood Deficiency, but liver involvement. (Western and Chinese-ee style).
Ray Peats genius to me is his wholistic understanding of our physiology. And at a cellular level, not just organ - ic. (pun). Focus on that is my recommendation for most docs do not 'get this' they are most often 'stuck in' a reductionistic model. (I know as I know many Naturopathic Docs in the USA and... well statement stands.)

Do read from Ray Peat's website the scholastic essays. Even if you only get a % in understanding, you can read more and go back etc..
And here is a link from this site: https://raypeatforum.com/community/threads/confused-about-thyroid-and-how-it-works.22630/
Cheers.

First of all, thank you for taking the time to respond and I apologise for not replying earlier.

I really appreciate your viewpoints and for making me think outside the thyroid function connection with cholesterol. I understand that blood tests may not give an accurate picture of what’s going on with the thyroid (and that I would need a full thyroid panel anyway) besides I am not comfortable in supplementing thyroid off my own back. I have the same fears with progesterone. I don’t want to make my health worse. I have gone through a lot and am being cautious. I don’t trust conventional doctors either. So at the moment I am focusing on nutrition and doing my own research, spending time reading and gathering information on here.

The possible liver issues you point out may well be involved. Also, yes the PUFAs ... I never cooked with vegetable oil but like everyone else I used to eat out so was subjected to it anyway!

I had triple negative breast cancer in 2014. After going through conventional treatment, I cut dairy out as well as all animal products, ate tons of nuts and seeds, including flaxseed, chia seeds, nut butters, lots of cruciferous vegetables. But also lots of coconut oil!

Before my cancer diagnosis, I ran 3 times a week and thought I was “healthy”, ate a Mediterranean diet with plenty of vegetables, fatty fish and probably too much red wine! I am pretty sure that I was estrogen dominant for decades. Blood sugar levels were high pre-pregnancy with some a bit of PCOS on one ovary. I had IVF so got given a lot of drugs, including Metformin.

I am 51 and post-menopausal now but used to have horrendous period pains as well as heavy and painful breasts. I also have varicose veins (which developed during both of my pregnancies) poor circulation. I had iron tablets at several points too.
My sleep has been poor the last 6 months (cannot stay asleep, constant waking through the night but lots of dreams.) My hair started falling out with the menopause. I have always been slim but I lost weight in the last year despite eating a Peat inspired diet and a lot more food overall. My weight seems to have stabilised now but it is low.

This whole cholesterol episode has really stressed me and I cancelled my January appointment at the lipid clinic. I figure that the consultant is only going to push for statins. Besides I didn’t take the genetic test.

My fat intake is around 17-22%. I religiously avoid PUFAs.

I agree with you that Ray Peat’s was an absolute genius. I love reading his articles and newsletters even when I don’t always understand some of the content. I am constantly taking notes!

It will take me years to repair all that damage. But I am happy that I have made a start and hope to be heading in the right direction. Finding Ray Peat has been a blessing. I just wish I had found him earlier.

Thank you again @AlaskaJono !

 

[AlaskaJono]

@Honeycomb
Happy to help. We must become our own best doctors it seems, and at least this lovely forum inspired by Ray Peat's ideas and overall philosophy of bioenergetic functions is a locus of help and support. I cook and eat low Pufas, but I do like my meat. for 20 years, So .... even I need to lower the pufas. Folks on this forum have said it takes 3-5 years to clear it out. Probably right, slowly and surely, to change the body over to a more efficient system. Best,
Cheers, Jono