My Lyme treatment started in September (with my LLMD). Also have Babesia and Bartenella co-infections. Making very positive progress in treatment of all (about 85-90% back to normal) and functioning normally (exercise, sleep, little to no pain, and co-infection symptoms mostly gone - like brain fog, headaches, etc.)
I am on Welchol for high cholesterol. Started by my LLMD because of intolerance to statins. Recent cholesterol numbers were 364 total, 265 LDL and 78 HDL with 110 Triglyceride level.
Eat a GF, DF and very low sugar diet with lots of veggies, protein, etc. No artificial sweeteners, no sodas, no alcohol ... etc. I also see an integrative medicine doctor that would follow Buhner's protocol for Lyme .... more holistic and natural treatment.
Concerned about the high cholesterol numbers - they started to skyrocket as soon as I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease. I am healthy and and good physical condition otherwise.
Anyone else have a similar experience? Help? Dad had bypass at age 49, so I have bad genes with respect to cholesterol, but my heat calcium scan last year showed no issues .... but my numbers were more like 220 total with 130-160 LDL (on no treatment). With statins it was down to 150 with 80 LDL .... but the joint pain, headaches and brain fog were bad.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Yes, I got high cholesterol when I got lyme disease. My lyme doctor told me that this often happens. He said not to worry about it--that it would go down to normal once I treated the lyme.
He was right. So, this is just a side effect of lyme disease.
Welchol is a good binder. It will help you get rid of fat and also toxins. So, that will make your herxes mild.
My husband (never had lyme) can't tolerate statins, so one of his docs put him on Welchol. It constipated him so badly that he refused to take it after 2 pills.
Sounds like you are doing well. Good for you!
Posted by SacredHeart (Member # 44733) on :
I had a cardiologist tell me that while I have mono it is pretty much useless to bother with a cholesterol test because it will be totally inaccurate. I'm not sure if the same can be said for lyme, or not, but I should think it is possible. I'm sure my cholesterol is probably terrible.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Cholesterol is not the biggest issue when it comes to heart disease... INFLAMMATION IS.
So .. don't get too freaked out.
Are you eating HEALTHY FATS? Even coconut oil might be a very good thing for you. Omega 3's, etc.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
my numbers are high...my lyme tests say i dont have it (but...i did...and i dont know what the tests mean anyway) i have chest pain that has alway s been reflux or costochondritis...my dad had bi pass surg and dies of heart attack seven years later
i take stress echo every 3 yrs and it shows i have very low fitness but no blockage...ekgs always normal...
i hate the chest pain with the hign lipids and family history but its good to hear it sorta goes with lyme...even tho i probably dont have lyme...
Posted by LisaK (Member # 41384) on :
mine did go up. but not too much. I just figured it was the diseases.
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Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :
Mine went up as did my blood pressure. My PCP wanted to put me on meds and I refused but you never know if that is the right move.
I just had enough on my plate with lyme and keep hearing about all the crazy side effects to those meds.
Since then, both of these have bounced back and forth and back and forth.
So I'm thinking that they will settle down once back in remission. Well, I'm hoping. :-)
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Actually hubby's cholesterol numbers went low in the beginning when he lost 30 pounds in a couple of months.
A couple of issues to consider. Are you taking CoQ10 or taurine or phosphatidylcholine or milk thistle or other liver support herbs?
Herbs and nutritional support will probably be more effective and definitely have less side effects than meds.
Babesia robs the body of good fats. Both lyme and babesia can affect liver function and thus impact cholesterol.
Bea Seibert
Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :
Thank you Seibertneurolyme, Yes, I am taking CoQ10 as well as milk thistle.
Also many others like fish oil, etc. I have my next physical the end of March so will find out if any of these made a difference.
And yes, been back fighing Babesia, so I'm sure it's robbing like crazy.
Thanks for your input.
Posted by gz (Member # 43818) on :
It's great that you had a clear calcium scan! As aforementioned, the cholesterol numbers aren't as big a contributor as is the inflammation. GP's and cardiologists have told me a high HDL is protective in the presence of high LDL. Not all LDL is terrible either.
For years nothing I did lowered my LDL's, they just increased. It confused and maddened me because everything I was doing should have been working to improve my numbers. I didn't know I had lyme and co's.
After years of elevated LDL's, a few months of lyme treatment cut them down drastically. My HDL's maintained their same number.
Posted by xemoterp1 (Member # 44587) on :
Appreciate the information and feedback. I was on Mepron, Rifampin and Zithromax during this test (was not taking CoQ10 at all because of Mepron conflict). Now I am off Mepron and Zithromax, back on Doxycycline, Rifampin and taking CoQ10 again.
Wonder if artemisinin contributes to higher numbers?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lymetoo:
Are you eating HEALTHY FATS? Even coconut oil might be a very good thing for you. Omega 3's, etc.
- Very important!
Posted by xemoterp1 (Member # 44587) on :
Yes - I am eating healthy fats - coconut milk in my smoothie right now While taking Mepron I had to have some additional healthy fats .... I do take Omega 3 supplements also.
My PCP today insisted that I come in about the high cholesterol - surprisingly he was open minded when I told him everything I was on and the LLMD and Integrative Medicine doctors' recommendations (both seem to be consistent with each other as well ...)
He did suggest eventually going (back) on a low dose of a statin once Lyme is under control .... not something I want to do, hopefully the Welchol will do more and my lipids will go back to being normal or closer to normal ....
I am feeling pretty good otherwise - even being on Doxy.
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
When my cholesterol was high I was told to not eat anything from animals (Vegan). The number was cut in half, my doc told me I could start eating meat again.
Also, Dr. F believes a low fat diet is good for Lyme patients. I felt felt very good for the first couple of months, but lost too much weight. I had to start eating meat.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
While taking Mepron I had to have some additional healthy fats .... I do take Omega 3 supplements also.