dry, chapped lips and tongue disorder

[JlSIII]

Three years ago I was perscribed Zelco to reduce my LDL chorestrol and had to discontinue because of some bad reactions.  I then started natural vitamins and nician, zeta to lower my chorestrol's LDL for past year of so.   Last September my lips started swelling, chapping and turning red and the end of my tongue's taste buds feel numb or coated feeling.   I also noticed my mouth and the inside of my bottom lip became very dry at times and had a metalic taste.  Also when I eat, food seems to stick to places inside my mouth.  I stopped taking these vitamin pills over a month ago and still have the lip and tongue symptoms.  

[boron]

Lips swelling is constant or it comes and goes? Would you say it's connected with meals?

[JlSIII]

My lip swelling, redness and chaping is constant now or it has been for the last 2 to 3 months.   I haven't noticed any additional effects after meals.  

[boron]

Lips are actually swollen (increased volumen) or you feel like they are numb? Back in September, did this occur suddenly or gradually?

Anyway, it may be a side effect of a drug, but you seems to have a problem with innervation in the mouth (first third of the tongue is numb, food sticks in the mouth). Arrange the appointment with neurologist and take all those drugs with you.

It could also be an angioedema:
http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic135.htm

Other causes of swollen lips:
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/symptoms/lip_swelling/causes.htm

[JlSIII]

The first time I had this problem was last September when my lips started turning red, swelling and chapping within 2-3 days.   It stayed that way for a week or two then it went away.   Within a month it came back and then cleared up within a month, but each time I get this it stays longer.   At present I've had this problem since March.   My lips as well as my tongue have a numb feeling, but I notice my lips are sensitive to spicy or acidic foods.
Thanks for your infomation

[JlSIII]

When I started taking the natural supplements for my cholesterol and LDL I had great results in my labs, but then I started with the swelling, chapped lips and dry mouth. This took about 3 or 4 months to occur. I stopped all supplements, the swelling went away. After a few weeks I started the supplements again, only adding a new one every week or so. Eventually the swelling came back. Again I stopped all suppements. A third time I started the supplements, cutting some of the dosages in half, the swelling came back. I've been off all supplements nearly two months now, but the redness and swelling continues.  I saw an Herbologist and she thought it was one of the B vitimins I was taking. I was thinking it may be the large dose of niacin. I don't want to have to stop all supplements forever, as they were helping my lab numbers so much, and I can't take the statins. This is getting annoying and frustrating, not to mention uncomfortable.

[boron]

Can you name those exact supplements? And posibly all ingredients...? And what they did - your cholesterol just dropped?

From time course of your symptoms, I think it's obvious that these supplements caused swelling. This is not an allergy. Allergy should always go back. This is either something like "contact dermatitis" or that angioedema I was talking before or something other.

It is SHORTAGE of niacin, that causes swelling
http://www.dietpower.com/Help/diet/niacin.htm

The same with B1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_vitamins

Put the "suspicious food + swelling" into a browser...

[JlSIII]

Up to two months ago I was taking the following supplements:

1.fish oil- omega-3 fatty acids, reduce formations of blood clots and lower triglycerrides
2.phytosterols- blocks the cholesterol in foods from getting into the bloodstream
3. prostate support- helps reduce the size of the prostate
4. vitamin B complex- control homocysteine
5. cinnamon- help control the blood sugar
6.grape seed extract - antioxidant
7.Arginine- produces nitric oxide for promoting elastic lining of the arteries
8.vit. E- antioxidant
9.Multii. vit. & mineral
10.vit. C
11.niacin- controls the liver's production of cholesterol
12.magnesium- lowers blood pressure and reduces leg cramps
13. opti. mag 125mg. magnesium- prevents leg cramps?
14. red yeast rice- over the counter statin
15. Co-Q10- for cholesterol benefits
16. aspirin-81 mg. reduce blood clots & may reduce inflammation
17. zetia- assorbs fat in the small intestines
18. green tea extract- antioxidant
19. activated quercetin bioflavonoid complex- heart-protecting antixidants
20. flexcin- joint health
21. guggul plex- cholesterol lowering effect
22. pantethine- raises HDL cholesterol and lowers triglycerides

   Most of these I took twice a day at morning and evening.

All these supplements I took out of Dr. Robert E. Kowalski's The New 8 Week Cholesterol Cure.   THey were working. My cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL came down and my HDL went up.  

[boron]

Before going into details about this 22 item list, can you tell:

1. Your age height/weight ?
2. Levels of cholesterol (detailed) before and after this cure.
3. WHO measured your cholesterol and WHO prescribed you above substances and WHOM did you pay for this?
4. There are many substances listed above, which have no connection with cholesterol. Why did you take them?