Ugh, low vitamin D and high cholesterol

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited December 2015 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
Ugh, low vitamin D and high cholesterol
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  • CAMommy
    CAMommy Member Posts: 437
    edited December 2015

    and I haven't even started my AI yet. I just found these out yesterday. I'll call my MO, but what is he likely to tell me? My Vitamin D is at 15. Normal is 30-100. I am on supplementation for it. Total cholesterol is 250. She wants me to cut down on carbs, exercise, and eat two green apples a day for 6 months and then we will retest.

    I know AI can raise cholesterol and weaken bones. Honestly, with just DCIS, I'm not sure the benefits are out weighing my risks

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited December 2015

    Hi!

    I'm on an AI, and my cholesterol is fine. I do have osteopenia, but I'm taking Calcium-Vitamin D to address that. With "just DCIS," you'll have to draw your own conclusions. As someone who was diagnosed at Stage IIIA, I'll stick with my AI. Best wishes to you!

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited December 2015

    I battle to keep my Vit. D up to normal and have for 20+ yrs. My total cholosterol is also VERY high and has been for 20+ yrs. Both long before IBC DX or starting Femara/letrozole in Feb 2010.

    For my low Vit. D, I take daily supplements but what works the best is using my Light Box daily from late Aug/early Sept til late May. I have lived further north than here and did not have issues with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) til we moved here. The Light Box simulates natural sunshine which promotes Vit. D formation. It is not unusual for people to be low in Vit. D in today's world as many do not get out in the sun much. I do get out a lot but still deal with having to keep it up. My PA has never told me to change anything in my lifestyle. By the way, I am a native Floridian (many generations on Mom's side) and Punts Gorda is 'home'.

    My total cholesterol as I said is (and has been for a long time) High but my HDL (the 'good' cholesterol) is VERY high and my LDL (the 'bad' cholesterol) is low so nothing to worry about.with the total level. I am very active, well within 'normal' weight, good diet, overall very healthy.

    I was osteopenia for several years before going on to become osteoporosis after going on Femara/letrozole in Feb 2010 but I would have gone on to osfeoporosis anyway as I have a huge HX on both sides of my family. I'm still on letrozole after almost 6 yrs and will be on it 'forever' according to my Dr.

    I was 63 when DXd IBC Stage IIIc and am now 69 and still NED. Still as active as ever. No issues with SEs.

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited December 2015

    Just be sure it's D3. Body has trouble making that. My pain doc and MO said that.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2015

    I feel your frustration. My very good cholesterol levels went haywire 6 months after my switch to aromasin. My good cholesterol is still way high, so my PCP isn't too concerned about the bad choles. levels. I read about niacin supplement and am trying that, since I didn't take any V B and niacin in that form is supposed to help with bad cholesterol.

    I've been taking D3 drops since I was first dx and my D levels are consistently 67-70. I live in AZ and am outside at least 30" a day--I don't use sunblock except on my face, so I'm making more Vit D that way as well.

    Claire in AZ

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  • CAMommy
    CAMommy Member Posts: 437
    edited December 2015

    my good cholesterol is very low. So they do take my high bad seriously. I can't take statins as I had a reaction to them on the past. I know there are some other cholesterol lowering drugs out there too. I know the MO will say my risk of recurrence or a new BC is higher than my risks for heart attack. Especially since I have low blood pressure. Which is probably true.


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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2015

    CAMommy, this whole having to take drugs thing sucks. I will probably refuse statins even if they offered them to me, since I'm sick of taking drugs, that cause side effects, so I have to take another drug to counter those side effects, etc. etc. ad nauseam.

    Statins themselves are very hard on our bodies. So I won't add to my body's misery at present. As for Vit D, you can take up to 4000 IU a day, which is what I do, to increase your Vit D levels. And 15-30" of sun exposure a day will help boost Vit D levels too. Sunblock, of course, protects us from skin cancer, but I was dx with b.c, which I'm more afraid of at present.

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  • labelle
    labelle Member Posts: 721
    edited December 2015

    If you haven't already, ask to have a thyroid panel done. Several years ago my cholesterol was found to be high, despite a healthy diet, no family history, no previous problems with high cholesterol, etc.

    Turns out hypothyroidism can cause high cholesterol and I was definitely suffering from hypothyroidism. After starting thyroid meds, my cholesterol levels soon returned to normal with no additional meds or dietary changes. Easy and inexpensive blood test and knowing about and treating thyroid disease in a timely manner can save you from a lot of health issues down the road. There also seems to be some connection between thyroid disease and breast cancer, so I think if one has been diagnosed with BC or DCIS and is also having problems with high cholesterol, having a thyroid panel run is a good idea.

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  • CAMommy
    CAMommy Member Posts: 437
    edited December 2015

    I did have my thyroid done when she tested cholesterol and vitamin d. My thyroid is right in the Middle of the range so it perfect. Low vitamin d is associated with high cholesterol apparently. The body converts cholesterol into vitamin in the sunshine.


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  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited December 2015

    20 is low normal and beyond 50 is high. There is a lot of controversy with respect to measuring Vitamin D levels. With respect to cholesterol numbers, physicians should be treating the person, not the cholesterol numbers. While my LDL is trending upward, my cardiologist recently checked my carotid artery and it was clean as a whistle. That said, DH had bypass surgery, despite having low cholesterol numbers and having no other risk factor with the exception of genetics! He has high Vitt D levels, low blood pressure, is not diabetic, nor overweight and exercises most days!


    Fifty percent of people who have heart attacks have normal cholesterol numbers. Very sobering thought.....

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