cause of extremely elevated triglygerides

My husband had slightly elevated chol./trig. about 21/2 yr. ago.Since then trig. have elevated from 400,600,900,1900.The later just after Xmas this year.Since then I have had him on a very low fat diet ,subsituting all cheese with soy products,as much fat free prod.as poss..\,lots of vegetables and fruit,lean chicken and fish and he was switched to Lopid 600 bid when all of the above plus daily exercise only brought the level down to 1200.He also has COPD,angina and has been on Prilosec for some time because of indigestion and gas after eating.His other meds include Diltiazem,Zestril,Proventil repetabs,Asa 81mg,Vitamins.He has lost about 30 lbs.in the last 4mos.but still weighs about 230 lbs and 5'10'with lg frame.His Dr's have not done any other GI tests other than blood work( ie lipid profile).His chol is 263 and Chol/HDLC ratio is 4.24 the later
being in range.Since being on Lopid his AST is 64 and ALT is 55 .Are we doing the right things to get this under control?Is there any other treatment that should be concidered?Thanks for your help.

[jen]

There is a new medicine on the market now for triglyceride control - my mother is on it - it is called Niaspan - a form of niacin - it is supposed to help lower the triglyceride level.  Ask your doctor about it.

[Clarence]

High triglygerides Q-4-5-00.      A.  comment by Jen-4-6-00

[Marianne Shipman]

I'll try to make this short.  Approximately four years ago I was having very severe pains just under the rib cage-center. Doctor said I think it's gallblader (gallbladder)-which ended up being removed.  Pain attacks continued periodically.  Went to gastroenterolist and he did an endoscopy (?)  Found duodenal ulcers.  Treated with antibiotics.  Then two years later lower abdominal pains.  Couldn't walk type.  Thought it was apendicitis.  Ended up I have diverticulitis.  Hospitalized on intra-venus antibiotics for one week.  Three more attacks within one year-each time treated with anti-biotics.  After last attack doctor said let's do an abdominal cat scan.  Did that.  Call today he wants me to have a red-blood scan.  I want to know why.  What are doctors looking for when they do a red blood cell scan is my question.
I appreciate your time in answering this question.  I think it's better to know up front than sit around and worry all night.  P.S.  There is cancer in the family.
Thanks, Marianne

[stephen]

becareful with cholestoral lowering pill my father was on lorelco for 15yrs and now he is dying from liver diease believed to be from the prolonged use of lorelco. i am looking for others who have had similar experiences

[lauretta]

My daughter is experiencing excruciating pain below breastbone area.  It will last about an hour.  She gets cold and clammy to the touch but feels hot.  She has undergone unltrasound tests but has not received results yet.  It seems that fatty food like cheese will trigger it.  Doctor suspects it may be gallstones.  Will stress also bring on such an attack?

[kim]

Bernadette,
In response to your comments on your husband's high triglycerides, let me share a little something of my own battle with the same thing:
I'm 41, somewhat overweight, and about 6 years ago had a triglyceride of nearly 2000.  Yes, it was 1986, I believe.  Especially scary to me, because both of my parents have had CABG surgery, my dad twice!  Mom has high cholesterol: it's like 600 even on 80mgs of Zocor a day, and my dad is on Niaspan for his triglycerides.  Neither of my parents smokes or is overweight.  They both are very active and eat properly, so there's GENETICS for you.  Anyway, I have had my share of problems surrounding this issue:  I was on Lopid 2x a day for a few years, and had to go off it for "pancreatitis-like" reactions, but with nl. amylase levels.  Strange. Now I take Lipitor, and it's raising HAVOC with my guts.  I had my gallbladder out 2 years ago, and have severe GERD and this weird condition that causes my stomach to hold on to food for a long time (idiopathic gastroparesis, so I don't know if the medication is making it worse or what!   I do hope your hubby does better with his own levels:  ask his doc about Tricor, which is supposed to be a good med if you can take it, it's similar to gemfibrozil(Lopid) in that it works in a similar capacity to lower tri.  I wish I could take it!!!   Best of luck, write if you want to chat.    Kim, NH  :)

[Ex-Hypertriglyceridemic]

His low fat diet, which is probably loaded with simple carbohydrates, sugars, including fruit sugar (fructose), white flour, etc. and his weight will almost certainly cause high TGs. Usually this is accompanied by low HDL, but not always.

His hi TGs will put him at risk for pancreatitis, but probably not heart disease since his Chol/HDL ratio is normal.

I'd try a low carb diet. Quit eating bread, fruit, pasta, potatos, juice, candy, cake, ice cream and sugary soft drinks and alcohol for a few months. It should work. He can eat some brown rice or oatmeal if he has carb cravings. Also, 200 micrograms of a chromium supplement before each meal (up to 3 x a day) will also help to control this (if he has low blood sugar, consult your MD before taking chromium). You can get it at your local drug or health food/vitamin store.

I had TGs of 1000 and was on Lopid for 5 yrs, but now I'm not on anything and they are about 100! All I had to do was change my diet to the one above. I lost over 35 lbs. too. I now enjoy whole grain bread, cereal, pasta, brown rice, etc. but no sugar, juice, potatos, cake, etc. accept as a occasional indulgences. When his weight drops, he will be able to tolerate more carbs as I do but no JUNK FOODS!

Also, salmon and other fatty fish containing omega-3 fatty acids, esp. EPA, (also available in capsule form) will always lower TGs and they are far less toxic than Lopid. So go to the fish store once or twice a week and enjoy!

[evans]

MY CARDIC CRP IS 4.3 CHOL 203, CHOL\HDL RATIO  IS 4.14, HDL CHOL IS 49 IS THIS AT RISK FOR HEART DISEASE