Anyone with Fibromuscular Dysplasia lower cholesterol without meds?

Hello @yvonnewh2652,

I'd like to invite @chanda79, @emack, @caroline58 and @louise60 who have all talked about being diagnosed and managing FMD to share how they have treated their condition.

@yvonnewh2652, you mentioned you did not want to take medication. If you are comfortable sharing, was that what was recommended by your provider? Have you experienced side effects on cholesterol medications before which is why you'd like to avoid them?

My cholesterol is normal. Vascular surgeon only prescribed Lipitor after vertebral artery dissection. When my CTA showed artery healed, i stopped taking Lipitor. Most of us with FMD take aspirin and/or a blood thinner for life to prevent clots in the artery narrowing.

@JustinMcClanahan
I have lower LDL cholesterol than the reference for healthy people, according to the chief physician at the vascular medicine clinic I should be at < 1.4 mmol/L. I now have 1.9. I have aspirin 75 mg daily. After very strong myalgias with Atorvastatin since 2023, I have now switched to 5 mg Rosuvastatin with the addition of Ezetimibe 10 mg. It is difficult to determine the side effects as I have only had it for two month and also fell from a ladder.

My cholesterol levels were borderline and my PCP wanted me to take a statin due to my age. I declined and I take Red Yeast Rice and Garlic tablet daily, plus a good dose of fiber. My levels came down by 20 points. My cardiologist says that Red Yeast Rice is an OTC statin that is "unregulated" but he had no problem with my decision. All I know is that I have no side effects and it works for me.