Very High Tryglicerides (950 ) / Chest discomfort and high blood pressure

[DanTac]

Hello,

I'm 30, no previous medical problems whatsoever other than hereditary high blood pressure.

When I was 28 I started having mild chest pains and discomforts so I went to my doctor and my blood tests showed everything at normal levels except my Tryglicerides.

I dont drink, dont smoke, no drugs nor was I taking any medicine or dietary supplements (heck i hardly take an aspirin for headaches).

The blood test showed trygs at 950. My doctor prescribed me with GEMFIBROZIL 600mg (2 tablets a day, 12 hours apart) along with the blood pressure medicine Norvasc (5mg once a day).

That lowered the trygs to just under 200. My diet has changed a bit, been eating more fish and im also taking omega-3 supplements which i was advised help lots with the tryg levels.

I'd like to ask what could be causing this high levels? Been asking my doctor but he doesnt seem to want to give me any theories... he's just been ordering blood tests which come up the same every time (all ok, trygs at under 200).

I dont like to just have my symptoms controlled. I want to know WHY.

Note: Ive noticed that when im out of my medicine (Gemfibrozil) for a day or so (doc real slow to issue refills and at times refuses to give refills unless i show up to his office to pay him for another visit and do more useless blood tests)... when i dont take the medicine my blood pressure goes up more than normal and i get light chest discomfort/pains. I also feel very hot at times as if i had been in the sun for a while.

Any ideas?

[crissy201]

A related discussion, Coughing up pink mucus was started.

[grimmstails]

Hello,
I'm 33 I was feeling chest pains so I went to the doctor my trygliceride level was 2013. He put me on 600mg Lopid 2x day. It lowered my level in one month to 168. Remarkable. Also with a complete adjustment to eating different. Veggies, broiled fish and broiled chicken. And no alcohol. The next month with the same eating schedule and moderate alcohol my level was 415. So I have come to the conclusion no alcohol. Very boring but helping. hang in there. Sometimes hereditary, not your fault my dad's was over 5000 when he found out when he was in his fifties.

[Grayhawk38]

I have had a history of high tryglicerides and have been on an assortment of cholestrol and trygliceride medications, however there has been little success.  My Trygliceride levels test out anywhere from 1200 up to 4400.  When it has been at it's highest levels, I have experienced severe upper body aches both front and back.  Does anyone have any suggestions for how I can aggressively treat this problem?

[taelay]

I am hoping that you are under the care of a cardiologist because that is what you need at this point.  As far as prescribing without an appointment sometimes it is a money hungry issue but there are pleanty of times that it is due to the fact that medications can alter liver functions and a test is necessary to be certain that you are not being put into risk of liver failure.  Also he wants to be certain that the medication is working.  You NEED A CARDIOLOGIST though and I really hope that is who you are dealing with at this point and not a primary care physician.  You need further testing.  Also a place you may want to visit is American Heart Association web site they may have information on there to help.  red rice yeast or red yeast rice is a good herbal suppliment to help with cholesterol issues I have many friends who were successful in using that.  I can not stress a cardiologist enough to you thoug....good luck

[PlateletGal]

Obesity, poorly controlled diabetes, underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), kidney disease, and regularly eating more calories than you burn can cause high triglycerides.

Medications that can increase your triglycerides include: tamoxifen, steroids, beta-blockers, some diuretics, estrogen, and birth control pills. Drinking a lot of alcohol may also cause high triglycerides.


source: WEB MD