High Cholesterol and Xanthomas

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Ok, because of my previous post about the CoQ10 and cholesterol, as I was looking up links to add to the post, I happened across a link that said "Xanthomas". These are little fatty deposits under the skin. I knew I wanted to go back and read about this, so after my post, I did just that, and OMG did I learn something about me.

For years I've had these little buttons on my heals. Tiny little bumps, 3 on each foot, not discolored or ugly or anything, just these little bumps, the largest being the size of a pea and the smallest being the size of a pin head. I also have a slight thickening on the back of my heels, where the Achilles tendon is. I thought this was because I exercised that area so often, and here it turns out that it too is the beginning of a Xanthoma. Holy Crap!

I've found out today that they are called Xanthomas. And I've also found that Xanthomas are caused by various things, but one thing that stuck out at me was hypercholesterolaemia. And since I know I was diagnosed with high cholesterol years ago, and only took the medicine for a couple of months, that my cholesterol must be necessarily high again. And probably even higher than before because since that time I've discovered the joys of steak and pork chops. Eeee gads.

So now I must decide, at my next doctor visit, do I ask to be put on a long term prescription for cholesterol lowering drugs (which did work btw) or do I try to self  heal with Fish Oil and diet. The prescription will guarantee that my levels will go down without me doing anything else. But the self-heal will help me in more ways than just cholesterol.

I'll have to ask my husband about his opinion when he gets home. 

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