Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Jules on December 05, 2023, 05:59:17 PM
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Has anybody else been told they're cholestrol is high and that it can rise after menopause? Mine has gone up from 5.3 to 5.8.
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Yes, I've been told that it raises as we get older.
Mine is high and have been prescribed Ezetimibe, I can't take statins because of the horrible side effects.
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Hi Jules,
Yes the same thing has happened to me, always low and in the last year increased to 5.3 and now 5.8 too. I'm just researching ways forward with it.
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I wasn't prescribed statins but directed to the advice about reducing it. One point, cutting down on alcohol. I stopped altogether 8 months ago yet my cholestrol has gone up🤷
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Mine is 5.9 and, funnily enough, I've actually been prescribed statins today. I've been given Atorvarstatin which seems to be the one most likely to cause nosebleeds which I suffer from anyway. I think I'll ask the pharmacy tomorrow whether there's a more suitable one for me. Nosebleeds can be so disruptive! Looking back through my records my level was 6.8 in 2016 which was the last time it was tested! My doc then just dismissed it as she was anti-statin. :o
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Taz2, do you know why she was anti-statin?
If a doctor is against them, it doesn't look good.
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My level was 6 9 in January and I got it down to 6.2 over 3 months with diet and losing nearly 2 stone. I also had Benecol drinks and yogurts but the plant sterols interfered with my estrogen (different thread). The doctor wanted me on statins straight away but I refused. Everyone I know that has tried statins had problems with awful side effects and one friend on them for 3 years was left with permanent muscle damage, so no thank you.
You can get your cholesterol down quite easy with diet and exercise, this should be the first option.
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Taz2, do you know why she was anti-statin?
If a doctor is against them, it doesn't look good.
It's like with a lot of medication in that some people can develop problems from the thing that's meant to be doing them good. As Deidre says they can cause a muscle problem called Rhabdomyolysis. It is rare whereas muscle pain is quite common and a different statin often gets rid of it. It's like with PPIs. I need them to control my hiatus hernia reflux which causes ulceration of the oesophagus but I know I have a risk of developing stomach cancer if I take them. Fors and againsts! There's loads of stuff online about statins.
Deidre. I agree that diet and exercise are the first things to try and you've done amazingly in just three months. How long do you think it will take to get down to usual target of under 5?
Taz x
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Taz2, do you know why she was anti-statin?
If a doctor is against them, it doesn't look good.
It's like with a lot of medication in that some people can develop problems from the thing that's meant to be doing them good. As Deidre says they can cause a muscle problem called Rhabdomyolysis. It is rare whereas muscle pain is quite common and a different statin often gets rid of it. It's like with PPIs. I need them to control my hiatus hernia reflux which causes ulceration of the oesophagus but I know I have a risk of developing stomach cancer if I take them. Fors and againsts! There's loads of stuff online about statins.
Deidre. I agree that diet and exercise are the first things to try and you've done amazingly in just three months. How long do you think it will take to get down to usual target of under 5?
Taz x
Who told you that you've a risk of stomach cancer ftom PPIs? My doctor told me it's nonsense. The risk is osteoporosis. I have to take them daily too but none of the stomach doctors have ever mentioned stomach cancer risk.
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Regarding statins, it wasn't mentioned and they're just re- checking I'm a year. My friend had his and his was 5.9 and no concern was expressed so it seems it depends on your GP however I've been told the threshold for cholestrol has been lowered and they want it under 5.1 now. I'm going to tighten up my diet and up the exercise and see what happens though a year is a long time to wait.
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Yes Jules they've lowered it so anything over 5.1 is looked at as possibly needing sorting out. They look at both the good and bad cholesterol. They look at other factors too though such as blood pressure, weight and definitely age. I came out as a 15% risk of a heart attack or stroke in the next ten years and the cut off risk, where statins are prescribed, is 10% hence the statins for me. All of this has been done via text messages and I have been unable to see or even ask a doctor for more advice. I find it really upsetting that seeing a GP is so difficult. I think, that with something such as beginning statins or blood pressure medication, then a consultation would be really helpful. I have been directed to various links that I can read but it's not like actually seeing someone is it? I am going to ask the pharmacist whether a different one would lessen the possibility of nose bleeds (my bugbear already) as, reading one of the links the surgery sent, Atorvastatin is the main one to have this as a side effect. There is also the fact I am on omeprazole to consider apparently and fibromyalgia is also mentioned in the "consult your doctor if you have..." section of the PIL.
It has made me up my exercise this week though which is a good thing so now I do two fast two mile walks a day instead of one and also have a trundle on the treadmill in the garage. My partner has been really helpful as he has high BP , and is trying (successfully) to lose weight, in printing off a diary which I can fill in with everything I eat showing all the different things such as calories, salt, fats etc. This has shown that although I am around a stone heavier than I'd like I am only consuming 1200 calories a day. Think my body has gone into starvation mode to conserve what fat it's already got ;D
This all came about due to the new service from the NHS inviting patients for a thirty minute health check. My BP was 180/90 in the nurses room so now I'm sending in two readings a day for four days ( via another link which is actually a useful one!) and today's readings are 117/71 with a pulse of 60. Maybe I'll be able to stave off the blood pressure medication for a while.....
Taz x
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Hi Jules,
My cholesterol is 6.2 and LDL bad cholesterol is 4.3 so I have been on 10mg statins for a few years. My surgery pharmacist (no, don't get to see the GP...) has requested I up them to 20mg which I have now done.
I first tried 40mg Atorvastatin years ago before the menopause when my level was 7.8 but they gave me leg pains so have been on Pravastatin ever since. I have lots of aches and pains but hard to know whether it's just getting older!
My risk score is apparently 11.1%. I'm not really happy to take them but doing as I'm told!
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Well I have a gp appointment for something else on Friday so I will be able to ask. My BP is ok, I'm not overweight, I don't drink now or smoke and don't eat fried foods. I'm 66 though. I could increase my exercise but I've ME so am limited. I will ask about the good and bad levels. My friends was over 9, she is now on statins, it came down to around the same as mine but she has muscle pain so only taking alternate days. She's 58. There's so much to worry about healthwise. My GP told me that in this country they prescribe BP meds as a precautionary measure to cost save in the future when other countries would judge it as not high. He shrugged his shoulders despondently.
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I think the point is you don't actually have to take the medication if you want to try and manage by diet or other means first. They might not like it but as long as you've made an informed choice, it is your body and up to you to decide. I would definitely look at thresholds in other countries and how they assess risk, and see how it is done elsewhere before starting medication I'd need to be on for the rest of my life. Saying that however, my mum took statins for years with no adverse effects except the one time they tried to change her to a cheaper one and she got side effects. My husband has been on BP meds for 15 years and has annual blood tests to check his organs are okay, and he's been fine so far.
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Yes, that's true. The GP I'm seeing is a good one, honest, so I'll get sound advice off him.
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My journey through the cholesterol minefield is years of it being high. Now I am aged over 70 the readings have got higher, I had forgotten that I tried statins years ago but must have given up because of side effects.
This time I decided to try statins again, I gave it nine months of muscle pain agony (a ruined summer) that I eventually gave up only to be told after yet another blood test, my levels had not moved, they are still high.
I am bewildered by it all, years and years of having high cholesterol and for my age I am as fit as a fiddle, healthy diet, 5ft 1” weighing under 8 stone all my adult life. In fact I was the butt of jokes once when out to lunch with friends I always said no to the cakes, I was the healthy geek within the group of friends and how they laughed when I was the one that had the high cholesterol results and not them.
I honestly think that some people are naturally prone to having a ‘so called’ high cholesterol figure and no drug given will help, but saying that I know statins work for most people.
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My journey through the cholesterol minefield is years of it being high. Now I am aged over 70 the readings have got higher, I had forgotten that I tried statins years ago but must have given up because of side effects.
This time I decided to try statins again, I gave it nine months of muscle pain agony (a ruined summer) that I eventually gave up only to be told after yet another blood test, my levels had not moved, they are still high.
I am bewildered by it all, years and years of having high cholesterol and for my age I am as fit as a fiddle, healthy diet, 5ft 1” weighing under 8 stone all my adult life. In fact I was the butt of jokes once when out to lunch with friends I always said no to the cakes, I was the healthy geek within the group of friends and how they laughed when I was the one that had the high cholesterol results and not them.
I honestly think that some people are naturally prone to having a ‘so called’ high cholesterol figure and no drug given will help, but saying that I know statins work for most people.
I think you're probably right. Genetics comes into most things. Then we have the menopause factor. I'm going to try tightening things up a bit, if nothing else it will help my acid reflux. I remember a time when I didn't think about any health checks, a long time ago...
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I have to avoid cream which I love as it increases my cholesterol :(
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There are so many things on the cholesterol naughty list. It makes me quite despondent and reach for a bar of chocolate and a glass of wine to cheer me up ;D
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Taz2, do you know why she was anti-statin?
If a doctor is against them, it doesn't look good.
It's like with a lot of medication in that some people can develop problems from the thing that's meant to be doing them good. As Deidre says they can cause a muscle problem called Rhabdomyolysis. It is rare whereas muscle pain is quite common and a different statin often gets rid of it. It's like with PPIs. I need them to control my hiatus hernia reflux which causes ulceration of the oesophagus but I know I have a risk of developing stomach cancer if I take them. Fors and againsts! There's loads of stuff online about statins.
Deidre. I agree that diet and exercise are the first things to try and you've done amazingly in just three months. How long do you think it will take to get down to usual target of under 5?
Taz x
I wasn't told I had to get below 5.
It was worked out by my weight, blood pressure and cholesterol and I was 10.4 on the scale. Over 10 and you're prescribed statins as you're at a 10 year risk of heart attack etc.
After my cholesterol went down to 6.2 and I lost weight , my blood pressure was ok before anyway but was lower on the day, I was then 9.4 on the scale so no longer at risk.
The nurse said I didn't need statins and carry on what I've been doing.
The whole thing caused me a lot of stress to be honest so I don't think I'll be going to anymore yearly "wellbeing" checks.
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The figures are confusing and you are right that it is stressful. The guidelines seem to be that cholesterol should be below 5 but I'm not sure how that all equates with individual readings. I suppose, for me, getting the cholesterol down was the one thing I could do as my blood pressure, at the time, was good. Since having covid for the second time (now dealing with it this week for the third time) my blood pressure has remained raised.
It's difficult to do our best to stay as healthy as we can but also enjoy life. I have been keeping a diary this week of what I am eating and the different values etc and I've found out that my total calorie intake is under 1200 which I didn't realise - this sounds good but is too low apparently and eating chocolate isn't the answer apparently ;D. I've got a friend who is very overweight but her BP and cholesterol are spot on and another one who is really slim, exercises and eats well with no alcohol and her readings are dire.
Taz x
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I had another blood test today and if the readings come back high, I told the nurse I am done with it all. I've missed out a lot on my 'so called' healthy diet over the years. I mean lets face it, getting below a reading of 5 in the elderly is a joke. This whole milarky is causing me a lot of stress and I intend to have a good Christmas eating what the hell I like!
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My (almost ex) husband recently had a TIA (mini stroke) at work. He was taken into hospital and his BP was fine and his cholesterol was 4.8 but he was put on statins purely because they can't find a reason for the TIA. His cholesterol is now 3.2. His weight is just right for his height. He plays golf, walks, has an allotment and a garden to sort out. His diet is quite poor, probably, he enjoys a pint and an occasional cigar. I don't understand how his "levels" were good but he had a TIA? Sometimes we just can't fathom what we need to do! On the other hand my close friend's husband had a cholesterol of 6 and pre high blood pressure aged 55. He asked for statins as his family history was not good on cardiac problems but was told they weren't necessary and then he had a heart attack a few months later and had to retire from work. No rhyme or reason it seems.
Taz x
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High cholesterol can be generic so not much you can do about that I suppose.
Read this on the internet so that's me scuppered!!
High levels of cortisol from long-term stress may be the mechanism behind how stress can increase cholesterol. Adrenaline may also be released, and these hormones can trigger a “fight or flight” response to deal with the stress. This response will then trigger triglycerides, which can boost “bad” cholesterol.
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High cholesterol can be generic so not much you can do about that I suppose.
Read this on the internet so that's me scuppered!!
High levels of cortisol from long-term stress may be the mechanism behind how stress can increase cholesterol. Adrenaline may also be released, and these hormones can trigger a “fight or flight” response to deal with the stress. This response will then trigger triglycerides, which can boost “bad” cholesterol.
Oh well that's probably done mine then. I've had the most stressful year and I stress anyway. I will report back when I've asked my doctor tomorrow
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Read this on the internet so that's me scuppered!!
High levels of cortisol from long-term stress may be the mechanism behind how stress can increase cholesterol. Adrenaline may also be released, and these hormones can trigger a “fight or flight” response to deal with the stress. This response will then trigger triglycerides, which can boost “bad” cholesterol.
I'm a lost cause then!! :o
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I've had a useful conversation with a very good GP. He's explained about the calculation of risk, what the threshold of risk is (10%) I'm on around 7%. He said I don't need statins, but some with lower cholesterol will because of their risk factors. Basically I'm a non smoker, I don't drink anymore, I'm not overweight, I don't have high BP and eat fairly healthily. Age and funnily postcode comes into it and yes post menopause can affect it. Exercise helps to reduce so I'm going to work on that.
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I was very anti statins. Very sceptical thinking they were only prescribed so much because they were cheap. My total cholesterol went up over the years from 5.3 to 6.
In May I went for a healthy heart check and TC was 7.3 and LDL 5.3. I have a healthy diet but suffer from anxiety plus the weird sensation (caused by cortisol?) when I have a hot flush wasn’t helping. Plant sterols only work on reducing dietary cholesterol so i finally asked for atorvastatin ( friends said they’d had no side effects ) and I haven’t had any noticeable ones.
I was delighted to get my cholesterol down to 5 and LDL 3
However message from GP she was doubling dose to 40mg.
Armed with excellent advice from a nurse at the British Heart Foundation I went to see GP to ask why when LDL was 3 ‘we use 2.5 now’ she told me
According to BHF on 20mg cholesterol would reduce on average 43% and 40mg only 49%, doubling dose not doubling effect. Anyway she was quite happy I watch my diet and exercise so I’m still on 20mg
Flutterby x
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Thanks Jules. It's good to have it explained. I really miss being able to see a GP face to face and discuss this sort of thing. Just trying to decide what to do by text messages seems so impersonal to me.
I'll check my LDL Flutterby. Can't remember what it was! My weight is fine. BP high last week but not too bad now (125/72 today) I don't smoke and drink around 14 units a week but I think my age (69) must change the percentage.
Taz :-\
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I stopped drinking in April due to a diagnosis of Barratts.
Someone on this thread mentioned regular use of omeprazole increasing a risk of stomach cancer. He said that's not true. It increases you risk of osteoporosis because you need stomach acid to absorb calcium. It can also make you more vulnerable to bugs because acid protects against it which I already knew.
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I think that was me :)
I know the risk of stomach cancer is small as it was explained to me by the gastric consultant that long term use of over three years has shown a slight risk. I've been on it for four years now so maybe that's why he mentioned it.
Taz x
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I think that was me :)
I know the risk of stomach cancer is small as it was explained to me by the gastric consultant that long term use of over three years has shown a slight risk. I've been on it for four years now so maybe that's why he mentioned it.
Taz x
I've seen two gastric consultants and neither said there was a risk of stomach cancer, always osteoporosis. I can see it mentioned on the NHS website. I'm going to query it again.
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https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/omeprazole/side-effects-of-omeprazole/
My GP mentioned it first. Also the magnesium depletion. The risk is small but it's good to be aware I think as, if we already have stomach problems, we might not think a change in symptoms is significant.
Taz x
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https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/omeprazole/side-effects-of-omeprazole/
My GP mentioned it first. Also the magnesium depletion. The risk is small but it's good to be aware I think as, if we already have stomach problems, we might not think a change in symptoms is significant.
Taz x
I have to have routine endoscopies going forward. I'm sick of having to be aware of symptoms these days, and of worrying about cancer risks. I sometimes think I'd have had a more fun time being totally ignorant and not knowing my age. I will write to my consultant and ask his thoughts. I read that the studies needed to be more extensive to be sure the cancer wasn't related to other things.
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Yes I read that too.
Taz x
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I have a genetic condition which causes very high cholesterol and because of this I have to have regular checkups with a consultant. I’m perimenopausal and haven’t been doing anything different yet my cholesterol has risen she confirmed that yes it is menopause related. I take statins which don’t seem to have any side effects at and I do know that if they do there are several other alternatives that can be given. Cholesterol can be managed by diet in lots of people. I managed to get mine down allot when I was obsessive about it but it was making me unhappy and unfortunately for me even with a healthy diet it wouldn’t be possible for me to get my levels down to a good level. Sorry I went off on a tangent there but yes absolutely menopause affects cholesterol levels :)
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I have a genetic condition which causes very high cholesterol and because of this I have to have regular checkups with a consultant. I’m perimenopausal and haven’t been doing anything different yet my cholesterol has risen she confirmed that yes it is menopause related. I take statins which don’t seem to have any side effects at and I do know that if they do there are several other alternatives that can be given. Cholesterol can be managed by diet in lots of people. I managed to get mine down allot when I was obsessive about it but it was making me unhappy and unfortunately for me even with a healthy diet it wouldn’t be possible for me to get my levels down to a good level. Sorry I went off on a tangent there but yes absolutely menopause affects cholesterol levels :)
It's hard to reduce cholestrol from diet alone
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Yes, me. I’ve discovered from my recent Medichecks test that mine’s 5.5. I haven’t really got my head around this yet as was trying to get on top of crashing fatigue from low folate and in a meltdown I booked an appointment with a thyroid specialist to try unpick everything as I’m on HRT too. My appetite’s been rubbish so I’ve been snacking lots on bits of cheese and I’ve cut that out. In fact I’ve been intermittent fasting I suppose but without intent. That could have causes my thyroid issues and low folate but I just can’t force myself to eat. I’ve switched to semi skimmed but only have milk in one coffee and I’m allowing myself a desert spoon full of single cream in the other as my Christmas treat. I’m not pouring that down the sink! I rarely eat pastries, cakes, deep fried food, red meat etc. Occasionally have dark chocolate. Am not overweight. Haven’t drank alcohol for 5 years. I seem to have low/lower than normal blood pressure if anything too. Not sure if that might be thyroid related. I was a bit shocked about my cholesterol levels tbh but I have lots on stress generally and it’s been a tough year. I know from testing with my private HRT my cortisol runs high. I need to get my head around this change in my system too. I had a ‘well woman’ check with Medichecks and currently feels like I’m falling apart!
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My recent check was 5.1 but due to the fact that my so called "good Cholesterol" was excellent & my tryiglycerides were low, nothing was prescribed. My cousin stopped statins as terrible side effects and is trying a natural drug now. I was told a glass of wine is very good for cholesterol issues! I dont enjoy sweets but will devour a packet of crisps. I try to walk daily and keep my weight and blood pressure down, more than that, one cannot really help. We also have a fam history of cholesterol but nothing majorly high, just borderline.
My cholesterol did not go up with menopause, am hoping the HRT is keeping it stable?
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I don't think alcohol has any benefits healthwise. Mine has gone from 5.3 to 5.8. It has been over 6 a few years ago but the GP wasn't worried. The threshold has been lowered though. I need to exercise more, i like being outdoors walking but I live in a country that seemingly pours down every day. I'm not a gym person. I might go back to swimming. Otherwise I can't change much. I have had one of my more stressful years though so maybe that's it. I did IF as part of the Zoe study last year. It really messed my stomach up.
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I don't think alcohol has any benefits healthwise. Mine has gone from 5.3 to 5.8. It has been over 6 a few years ago but the GP wasn't worried. The threshold has been lowered though. I need to exercise more, i like being outdoors walking but I live in a country that seemingly pours down every day. I'm not a gym person. I might go back to swimming. Otherwise I can't change much. I have had one of my more stressful years though so maybe that's it. I did IF as part of the Zoe study last year. It really messed my stomach up.
I’m wondering if the IF is possibly the culprit for me too. I’m IF but because I just have no appetite. The thought of food in the morning makes me feel sick. From around lunchtime I can face food bit more but just don’t feel hungry. It’s weird.
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I don't think alcohol has any benefits healthwise. Mine has gone from 5.3 to 5.8. It has been over 6 a few years ago but the GP wasn't worried. The threshold has been lowered though. I need to exercise more, i like being outdoors walking but I live in a country that seemingly pours down every day. I'm not a gym person. I might go back to swimming. Otherwise I can't change much. I have had one of my more stressful years though so maybe that's it. I did IF as part of the Zoe study last year. It really messed my stomach up.
I’m wondering if the IF is possibly the culprit for me too. I’m IF but because I just have no appetite. The thought of food in the morning makes me feel sick. From around lunchtime I can face food bit more but just don’t feel hungry. It’s weird.
I have reflux problems and I think the periods of fasting aggravated the lining of my stomach as I need to eat small and often. That combined with taking ibuprofen products caused gastritis and increased reflux. I've been diagnosed with Barratts Oesophagus. I would urge everybody not to use ibuprofen unless for very short periods and not at all if you have any gastric problems.