New member with suspected FH

7 comments

Traci

21 Feb 2013

Hi tuppence10,
I am sorry to hear about your brother, 39 is very young indeed. It is incredibly sad that for some people the first sign of a problem is when its too late. I am pleased to see that you been referred to a lipid expert and are receiving the expert care you need.
I would like to welcome you to the forum, we are a bit of a mixed bag here with different types of raised and inherited cholesterol problems.
I think the general concensus on diet is keep it as natural as possible with lots of fruit and veg. The HEART UK website has some really good healthy eating guides, and they also have a helpline that is manned monday to friday - details here: www.heartuk.org.uk they will give advice and information on all aspects of living with FH and I have personally found them invaluable.
I am sure other members will be along soon to welcome you and share their expertise,
Traci

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tuppence10

22 Feb 2013

Thankyou i will look into things.

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Aliwally

22 Feb 2013

Hi Tuppence10,
You have had a awful lot to take in with the suddeness of your brother's death and then the FH diagnosis.
You mention the lipid clinic. In my experience, these referrals take a long time, so were you going there before your brother died?
My advice would be, just take your time to get over the shock, keep up the lipid clinic pushing for a definite diagnosis of FH and try to find a statin or combination of drugs that will get your levels down.

I am more sceptical than others on this site about diet...but it has worked for some. Good luck.

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tuppence10

22 Feb 2013

Hi when my brother passed away he was fit, young and active, he'd had chest and arm pain the day b4 he collapsed but our out of hrs service sent him home at b4 6a.m saying he had acid indigestion, and so he went of to work. No ecg or blood done and wasnt sent to A&E, his heart attack was massive and heart cldnt be started for 20 mins which resulted in brain damage. 3 days later we had to say goodbye, the consultant in itu advised that if he'd have survived he wldv been checked for h/choleserol and so advised us all to be checked. Mine was 8.5 and after a month of diet change only came down a dot and so was put on statin 10mg and ref in aug 12, i saw the lipid cons on feb 1st. My girls have got to have blood tests at ages 8 & 9, brothers son age 9 is ok but his 11yr old daughter is just on boarder line so will get checked regularly. I go back mid april and have started Atorvastatin 40mg today. I just cant get my head out of the grief and seem to be ccomfort eating more than ever now. which isnt good. I must have been lucky to have got a pretty quick referral.

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Windrider

22 Feb 2013

Hi Tuppence,

A healthy diet and regular exercise is essential to our health. But that won't bring your cholesterol levels to anything like acceptable. I hope you find a good statin soon.

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YvonneD

23 Feb 2013

Hi Tuppence. I agree with Traci. HEART UK was set up originally by people like yourself who had lost relatives at a young age and wanted to know more about how to help themselves and their families. Condolences on losing your brother but best wishes for you and your children.

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Aliwally

23 Feb 2013

Dear Tuppence,
I am so sorry to hear about the tragic circumstances of your brother's death.
Not only are you coping with that, but you also have the diagnosis of FH for you and your family.
Yes, try the HEART UK website, there is lots of good information. You can always keep going back to it, if you can't take it all in now.
There are people on here with children with FH....so keep coming back to us as well. I wouldn't worry about comfort eating too much at this stage.

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