Liz Thomson is a full-time content creator and FH patient who runs a website called “Life with FH.” On February 21, 2025, she was interviewed by CB South’s HOSA Awareness Team. During the interview, she shared insights on maintaining a healthy lifestyle with FH, tips, treatment and diagnosis experiences, and helpful resources for others with FH.
Liz was diagnosed with FH at the age of 29, with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Although she became aware of the condition at 11, any early concerns were dismissed because she did not recognize any risk factors. While she considered medication at a young age, her parents did not see it as a significant issue, given her youth. At around 29, Ms. Thomson connected with the Familial Heart Foundation, which facilitated her introduction to a cardiologist. There, she received a proper diagnosis and began a medication regimen.
The process of Ms. Thomson’s diagnosis was “fairly simple.” She started by mapping out her family history and reviewing past blood work from family members. Her diagnosis largely relied on genetic factors and her own blood work throughout her life, requiring no additional testing or expenses. However, she acknowledges that this understanding of diagnosis is a newer concept that many people may not be familiar with.
Grateful for her involvement with the Family Heart Foundation, Ms. Thomson underwent advocacy training because she “[doesn’t] want other people out there wondering if this is something to be concerned about” as she once did.
Through her training, she gained further knowledge about FH. While she was asymptomatic except for consistently high cholesterol since birth, she encountered various cases among others. She met older individuals who had experienced specific cardiac events that prompted their diagnoses, a situation that is quite common. She was surprised to learn how prevalent FH is, even discovering that her own assistant has the condition.
Since her diagnosis, Ms. Thomson has noticed an increase in awareness about FH and significant advancements in treatments, such as PCSK9 inhibitors, which have dramatically lowered her cholesterol levels to previously unimaginable levels. Nevertheless, she recognizes that these treatments can be prohibitively expensive, a challenge she aims to address through her advocacy efforts.
Since her diagnosis, Ms. Thomson has become more mindful of small daily choices that help her maintain her health and mitigate risks. While she prioritizes enjoying life, she also ensures that she is as conscientious as possible.
