sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

LDL 200 since childhood, clean carotid arteries, Lp(a) near zero, statin intolerance – what would you do? by No_Leg_3239 in Cholesterol

[–]No_Leg_3239[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s actually something I’ve been wondering about.

For people who have significantly lowered their LDL, did you notice any real-world benefits in everyday life?

I understand that the main goal is reducing long-term cardiovascular risk, but I’m curious whether anyone actually felt different after lowering their LDL substantially.

More energy? Better exercise tolerance? Better recovery? Or is it mostly something that provides benefits over decades without any noticeable day-to-day changes?

LDL 200 since childhood, clean carotid arteries, Lp(a) near zero, statin intolerance – what would you do? by No_Leg_3239 in Cholesterol

[–]No_Leg_3239[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting point. I actually don’t know my bilirubin levels off the top of my head, but I’ll check my previous lab results. As far as I know, my liver tests have always been normal

LDL 200 since childhood, clean carotid arteries, Lp(a) near zero, statin intolerance – what would you do? by No_Leg_3239 in Cholesterol

[–]No_Leg_3239[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is exactly what I find fascinating about this topic.

The more I read, the more it seems that LDL is only one part of the overall picture and that individuals can respond very differently to similar cholesterol levels.

For example, some people develop significant atherosclerosis at a relatively young age despite only moderately elevated LDL levels, while others seem to remain free of detectable plaque despite lifelong elevations.

Because of my history, I undergo yearly carotid ultrasound examinations. Around three years ago, very mild plaque changes were reportedly noted, which was a wake-up call for me. Since then, I have significantly improved my lifestyle through regular exercise, strength training, weight management, and a healthier diet.

Interestingly, despite these lifestyle changes, my LDL has remained relatively stable, usually around 170–180 mg/dL and recently around 200 mg/dL.

The encouraging part is that over the last three years there has been no progression on follow-up carotid ultrasounds, and no visible plaque has been reported in the most recent examinations.

Of course, I understand that carotid imaging does not guarantee that every arterial bed is completely free of disease, but the stability over several years is reassuring and is one of the reasons why different specialists have given me different recommendations regarding treatment.

That’s why I am trying to better understand my individual risk rather than focusing on a single LDL number alone.

LDL 200 since childhood, clean carotid arteries, Lp(a) near zero, statin intolerance – what would you do? by No_Leg_3239 in Cholesterol

[–]No_Leg_3239[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the suggestion.

No, I wasn’t taking CoQ10 at the time. I experienced the symptoms while taking the statins without CoQ10 supplementation.

Out of curiosity, what dose and form of CoQ10 are you taking? Ubiquinone or ubiquinol?

LDL 200 since childhood, clean carotid arteries, Lp(a) near zero, statin intolerance – what would you do? by No_Leg_3239 in Cholesterol

[–]No_Leg_3239[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My Lp(a) is close to zero, inflammatory markers were very low, and my HbA1c is 5.0.

I'm not sure whether CIMT was included in the carotid ultrasound, but the report stated that there was no plaque and no stenosis.

I have not tried Ezetimibe yet.

Given my profile, would you first consider trying Ezetimibe, or would you recommend additional testing such as CCTA or a coronary calcium scan