Cholesterol

[Pajama_88]

So I haven't really run anything crazy, highest my doses have ever gone is 700 test 600 primo for about 8 weeks at the end of my 4th cycle that just ended. There is a family history on my dad's side with cholesterol issues, and my diet isn't clean. I am maintaining around 197 pretty lean (visible abs and obliques, pretty damn vascular) at 5'9. I'm on 200mg test at the moment and wanted to do 1 final 12 week push before prepping for a show in april. I was really excited for this whole process and really am at a point where I need something positive like this to focus on, so this would be pretty hear breaking if I can't do that.

I haven't done any cardio in probably 8 years, I haven't limited my saturated fat whatsoever either lol. Do you think making those changes now would be enough to get this under control to run 500 test, 400 primo, 400 masteron for 12 weeks, and I want to try npp for the last 8 weeks of the 12 weeks. I have never taken mast or npp. I have also never taken an AI. Figured i'd see how my body responds to mast and could maybe save some money on the primo, and the NPP would be just to add an extra push and help with my joints because I really want to push my weight and size up before prep.

I don't want to give up bodybuilding but I also don't want to have a heart attack soon, I am only 26

Also wanted to add this was after a 12 hour fast

 

[achba]

You need to see a cardiologist or lipidologist. That ldl is extremely high and you are well onto the road to an early death.

Fuck ratios and hdl we dont know enough about either to do anything other than through diet and ldl total is proven to be the most accurate predictor of cardiovascular disease heart attack and stroke.

You should have seen a doctor long before you even ran gear since you have a family history. It was incredibly irresponsible on your part. Please get to a doctor asap to manage that ldl. Take all the meds you are given and fix your diet.

 

[Pajama_88]

You need to see a cardiologist or lipidologist. That ldl is extremely high and you are well onto the road to an early death.

Fuck ratios and hdl we dont know enough about either to do anything other than through diet and ldl total is proven to be the most accurate predictor of cardiovascular disease heart attack and stroke.

You should have seen a doctor long before you even ran gear since you have a family history. It was incredibly irresponsible on your part. Please get to a doctor asap to manage that ldl. Take all the meds you are given and fix your diet.

Ok so some context, I did see a doctor before I ran gear and got bloodwork. LDL was 118 at the time, which was fine with me and my doctor said it was nothing to worry about. I followed up about 6 months later for bloodwork, she did everything but cholesterol, I asked for cholesterol she said I don't need to worry about it until I'm 35 and didn't approve the test. I followed up again a year later and insisted on doing cholesterol, once again she didn't check, so I sent her a messaged her and explained what I've been taking, how extreme my diet had been, the family history, etc, and she approved the test. I was open with her about what I was taking in the past and she still didn't want to do a cholesterol check. I live in massachusetts and we can't just go to quest and get tests done here.

2nd, I was prescribed rosuvastatin after this test. I do not plan on taking it unless I can't get this under control on my own. Saturated fat has been at 6g per day since I saw these numbers and plan on sticking to this diet until we retest. Fiber has been at 69g per day from chia seeds, oats, and granola mostly. Refined carbs have been cut out except white rice I still do about 500g of that per day. Cardio is in at 20mins per day at HR of 140-150 bmp for now, with intentions on increasing that. I am also taking cardarine for the time being, and test is at 250mg per week, going down to 180 or 200 next week but I already have the needles drawn for this week.

When you say "well onto the road to an early death", what do you mean by "well onto"? I understand if I don't fix this I will likely die young, but these numbers have probably only been this bad for the last year at most, and most likely not this bad until recently. Like these numbers aren't bad enough for 1 year to kill me right?

 

[Deucalion]

What is your blood pressure? I personally would absolutely start that statin, unless you have a good reason not to? What is your hesitation? Plaques from high cholesterol can start to form in your arteries in as little as a few months... This needs to be controlled pretty quickly to mitigate risk...

Soluble fiber is your friend and has been shown to decrease LDL.

Edit: what dose is the statin? I would be hitting you with 80mg minimum...

 

[Pajama_88]

What is your blood pressure? I personally would absolutely start that statin, unless you have a good reason not to? What is your hesitation? Plaques from high cholesterol can start to form in your arteries in as little as a few months... This needs to be controlled pretty quickly to mitigate risk...

Soluble fiber is your friend and has been shown to decrease LDL.

Edit: what dose is the statin? I would be hitting you with 80mg minimum...

Statin was 20mg, and I don't want to take it for the myopathy and muscle issues, as well as tendon issues. I already have tendonitis and have had some small injuries that still give me pain. Ideally I want to get this under control without a statin and then keep it under control while on cycle.

Blood pressure has been roughly 110/60-70. I haven't seen my diastolic go over 80 ever no matter my weight or dose, but I've also mostly ran low doses. Mostly been doing 500 test 400 primo, last 8 weeks of this cycle I experimented with 700 test 600 primo just to see how I responded, but clearly I need to come off for a while.

 

[Deucalion]

Statin was 20mg, and I don't want to take it for the myopathy and muscle issues, as well as tendon issues. I already have tendonitis and have had some small injuries that still give me pain. Ideally I want to get this under control without a statin and then keep it under control while on cycle.

Blood pressure has been roughly 110/60-70. I haven't seen my diastolic go over 80 ever no matter my weight or dose, but I've also mostly ran low doses. Mostly been doing 500 test 400 primo, last 8 weeks of this cycle I experimented with 700 test 600 primo just to see how I responded, but clearly I need to come off for a while.

I mean I understand, it is your choice at the end of the day tendon issues occur in about 2% of statin users. Clearly you already have issues going on with that so you may be more likely to have that occur. Either option is a risk, one will more than likely shorten your life substantially and possibly suddenly, whereas the other is possible going to lead to an injury.

I mean worst case scenario if it causes you intense muscle or tendon issues, talk to your doctor about stopping it. I read that these issues like the muscle aching etc. resolve quickly after suspended use. Obviously if tendon issues occur that is another story but 2% chance.... Your risk for cardiac events at this point is probably higher...

Have you looked into BPC157 for your current issues with tendons I have heard it can help?

 

[Pajama_88]

I mean I understand, it is your choice at the end of the day tendon issues occur in about 2% of statin users. Clearly you already have issues going on with that so you may be more likely to have that occur. Either option is a risk, one will more than likely shorten your life substantially and possibly suddenly, whereas the other is possible going to lead to an injury.

I mean worst case scenario if it causes you intense muscle or tendon issues, talk to your doctor about stopping it. I read that these issues like the muscle aching etc. resolve quickly after suspended use. Obviously if tendon issues occur that is another story but 2% chance.... Your risk for cardiac events at this point is probably higher...

Have you looked into BPC157 for your current issues with tendons I have heard it can help?

Yes i have looked into BPC157 and will probably give it a shot.

When you say risk of cardiac events being "probably high", do you mean like any day now or like eventually if I don't make changes. Because I agree I would say this would likely lead to a cardiac event at some point, but I don't think I am walking around potentially about to drop. I hope I'm right but if you have any information that I am unaware of that would make you think I am going to have a heart attack any day now let me know.

Also, I have reached out to a cardiologist to schedule an appointment.

 

[Deucalion]

Yes i have looked into BPC157 and will probably give it a shot.

When you say risk of cardiac events being "probably high", do you mean like any day now or like eventually if I don't make changes. Because I agree I would say this would likely lead to a cardiac event at some point, but I don't think I am walking around potentially about to drop. I hope I'm right but if you have any information that I am unaware of that would make you think I am going to have a heart attack any day now let me know.

Also, I have reached out to a cardiologist to schedule an appointment.

Too many factors man... Definitely long term you are looking at issues. If MESA scores allowed younger individuals to calculate their 10-year risk yours would be insane. Probably 15-20% chance of cardiac event within 10 years.
The fact your Bp is controlled is good, less chance of LVH. Test however raises your RBC increasing risk for blood clots, that mixed with high cholesterol is a recipe for stroke, heart attack, dvt, etc.
I am going to be getting bloods done too and if my cholesterol comes back even 2/3rds yours, I will be starting a statin ASAP.

 

[achba]

Ok so some context, I did see a doctor before I ran gear and got bloodwork. LDL was 118 at the time, which was fine with me and my doctor said it was nothing to worry about. I followed up about 6 months later for bloodwork, she did everything but cholesterol, I asked for cholesterol she said I don't need to worry about it until I'm 35 and didn't approve the test. I followed up again a year later and insisted on doing cholesterol, once again she didn't check, so I sent her a messaged her and explained what I've been taking, how extreme my diet had been, the family history, etc, and she approved the test. I was open with her about what I was taking in the past and she still didn't want to do a cholesterol check. I live in massachusetts and we can't just go to quest and get tests done here.

2nd, I was prescribed rosuvastatin after this test. I do not plan on taking it unless I can't get this under control on my own. Saturated fat has been at 6g per day since I saw these numbers and plan on sticking to this diet until we retest. Fiber has been at 69g per day from chia seeds, oats, and granola mostly. Refined carbs have been cut out except white rice I still do about 500g of that per day. Cardio is in at 20mins per day at HR of 140-150 bmp for now, with intentions on increasing that. I am also taking cardarine for the time being, and test is at 250mg per week, going down to 180 or 200 next week but I already have the needles drawn for this week.

When you say "well onto the road to an early death", what do you mean by "well onto"? I understand if I don't fix this I will likely die young, but these numbers have probably only been this bad for the last year at most, and most likely not this bad until recently. Like these numbers aren't bad enough for 1 year to kill me right?

Agree with duecalion. Take the statin. Hardly any side effects, especially with rosuvastatin. There are lipophilic and hydrophilic statins. Lipophilic statins can enter the muscle much easier and cause the rare muscle related side effects. Rosuvastatin is hydrophilic, it has a lot of trouble leaving the blood and entering the muscle so it has a much lower occurrence of muscle problems.

90% of statin side effects are nocebo meaning they are a result of thinking you will have a negative side effect from the medication. Here is the trial https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8453640/. They are very safe and very effective.

 

[Musclehead34]

My ldl over the years since starting peds. My experience, longer my cycles got the higher it stays Elevated because I don't go off more than 2 months before starting another 13-16 week cycle of above average dosages of test,tren,mast, etc. Unless I'm injured, or covid shut downs, I spend more time on than off.

Ive used GW501516, but it's a common read now that it lowers bad cholesterol, never used it for that purpose or gotten blood work while on it. To take research for that purpose .


For more reference to my cycles, I don't PCT or run AIs. I stay on 250mg in between blast. I have run as high as 2000mg test, 800tren, 1200mg eq, 1000mast at times. You can find my cycles dating back to 2018 on SST.

 

[Musclehead34]

Yes i have looked into BPC157 and will probably give it a shot.

When you say risk of cardiac events being "probably high", do you mean like any day now or like eventually if I don't make changes. Because I agree I would say this would likely lead to a cardiac event at some point, but I don't think I am walking around potentially about to drop. I hope I'm right but if you have any information that I am unaware of that would make you think I am going to have a heart attack any day now let me know.

Also, I have reached out to a cardiologist to schedule an appointment.

I don't think Rich piana, Dallas McCarver, Matt porter, John meadows, or you're neighbor feels like they will have a heart attack/stroke/ plane land on their house, or mass shooting. But it happens. I think Boston Loyd knew more than these guys.

 

[Pajama_88]

Boom, no statin. 6 weeks just kept saturated fat at 6g per day, and it was all just trace saturated fats. Fiber was like 70g per day. Calories were 3750, lost like 12 lbs, did cardio probably 8 times 20 mins each time, i should have been better about that but honestly just forgot about it. Test was at 250mg, then dropped to 200 like 3 weeks ago maybe

 

[Deucalion]

View attachment 1568
Boom, no statin. 6 weeks just kept saturated fat at 6g per day, and it was all just trace saturated fats. Fiber was like 70g per day. Calories were 3750, lost like 12 lbs, did cardio probably 8 times 20 mins each time, i should have been better about that but honestly just forgot about it. Test was at 250mg, then dropped to 200 like 3 weeks ago maybe

I mean that is fantastic, probably the only person I have seen to make enough changes to avoid a statin. I just hope this is something you can keep up long term. Great job though man!

 

[Pajama_88]

I mean that is fantastic, probably the only person I have seen to make enough changes to avoid a statin. I just hope this is something you can keep up long term. Great job though man!

Thank you thank you, the plan is to keep this diet in place, add about 1000 calories, do some steady state 4x per week (20 mins between 130-150HR), and hope to grow on 500 test 400 primo before prep, and retesting cholesterol in december before prep.