21 May 2012

Jill's cholesterol shock

As a long term diabetic, Jill Wakeford, 53, was used to the idea of taking life-saving drugs on a daily basis - until she was diagnosed with high cholesterol.

Find our how she dealt with the diagnosis.

“I thought you only got high cholesterol if you were overweight or ate a lot of fatty food. I keep fit and have good eating habits - I refused to believe my cholesterol could be too high! And taking cholesterol medication was almost a step too far - it felt like giving in, admitting I was sick. My doctor was absolutely straight with me, and that helped – I knew I had to take them no matter what my feelings on the subject were.

My heart attack was a real wake-up call

“It was a massive shock when I had my heart attack a few years later. That was a real wake-up call and I find it really hard to imagine that people wouldn’t take their cholesterol or blood pressure medicine if they knew what it was like to live with heart disease. My doctor told me if I hadn’t stuck to taking my medicines, my heart attack would have happened a lot sooner.

Getting organised

“In the beginning my husband Mike helped me organise my pills and get into a routine, but now it’s just part of my day – wake up, coffee, cereal, pills. It’s easy for me now, but if you’re struggling it’s important to get informed and get support early on. There are loads of people who can help – the British Heart Foundation helpline, your pharmacist, your GP or the nurse at your local practice are all great places to start.”

If you're worried about your health or are having problems taking your medication regularly, call our heart nurses on 0300 333 1 333 for help and advice.