cholesterol update!

Great job on lowering that! My cholesterol is out of whack, my good is to low and my bad is to high, goes with the diabetes thing.
 
I love bread and pasta, giving them up is very hard. I could make a meal out of biscuits and jam, and now I have been slowly switching over to whole grain breads and even whole grain pasta, brown rice, ect. I am not a big potato fan, so that one was easy.
 
I have been reading up on the Mediterranean(sp) diet and it looks good, I just need to convert years of bread and butter thinking to fresher type foods. My poor husband is dreading the coming spring, I am planning lots of veggie pots since we cannot have an in ground garden.
 
Hopefully I can do as well as you did.
Dawn

Erin, I don't know what the sugars do or why, but I do know that every time DH has bloodwork done the blood sugar is implicated in his high triglycerites.  His fasting blood sugar last time was 71 and the doc still wasn't happy so doubled his meds....

There's not great evidence in the form of studies that show a low carb diet really influences your TC or LDL levels but it's kinda the fad right now, and it definately can't hurt. A fasting glucose of 71 is kinda on the low side, something to watch not really be exceited about, i'd rather see 80-90, and I DEFINATELY would't push lower, that's actually dangerous.

Interesting.  Our doc said that a fasting blood sugar under 70 is considered excellent.  Todd is diabetic but managed with diet and exercise (when I can get him moving).  I do the no more than 4 carb servings per meal, higher value carbs, such as whole wheat breads and grains, sweet taters instead of white, etc and since I send his lunch for him daily, I know he doesn't cheat at work.  Yep, he'll have the occassional piece of candy if a listener brings some in, but he's generally pretty well self disciplined.  His big "cheat" is his daily diet pop....totally without dietary value, but mostly harmless I guess.  He takes metformin, just doubled to 40 mg per day.
 
His tri's have always tended to be on the high side.  Several years ago he was told he has Syndrome X (the name has probably changed by now) which is the high BP, high cholestrol, high blood sugar and the weight in the belly......this past summer he started getting chest pains when cutting the grass and when they went in to do the cardiac cath found either four or five blockages...the BEST was 80% and one little stinker was at 99%!  So, I've really got him on the straight and narrow now, much to his chagrin!
 
I have a totally OT question for you.  Mom has a condition where the pituitary gland signals the kidneys to release too much of the BP hormone which causes the BP to skyrocket at fairly predictable times of the late afternoon and evening.  It's a bunch of initials....and I don't recall what they are other than they remind me of ADHD.  Any idea what that might be?

Wow, Glenda, Metformin at only 40mg?  I thought the lowest dose it started at was 250mg; then increased to 500, 850, up to 1,000mg.
 
Megan, I used Fish Oil and Red Rice Yeast along with a diet that included lots of vegies, fish, and some chicken or turkey.  I omitted red meats entirely (all 4 legged animals).  Of course, daily exercise is a must, my Dr. recommended a 30 minute brisk walk daily, I go for 45 to 60 minutes, since the dogs love to walk.  But way to go on that size 6! [sm=dance.gif]

You're right...I misspoke.  The metformin WAS 500 and is now 1000.  Last bloodwork he added in fish oil for the high tri's and this time increased both the lipitor and the metformin.  That's what I get for not getting up and checking the bottle!

Glenda, did they do stent implants?
DH's doctor told him Niacin is a good supplement.

Yes, he has four stents.  He is also on plavix at least for now and full strength aspirin for the rest of his life.  And of course with THOSE, yikes, the bruising was frightening!  There is always some bruising from the sheath site in the groin, but his went all the way down past his knee, front and back.  And took a very long time to go away.

Wow, 4 of them.
DH has only one, He took Plavix for a while, but they took him off of it.
Now, he takes Vytorin and aspirin......
Scary, isn't it?

I have a totally OT question for you.  Mom has a condition where the pituitary gland signals the kidneys to release too much of the BP hormone which causes the BP to skyrocket at fairly predictable times of the late afternoon and evening.  It's a bunch of initials....and I don't recall what they are other than they remind me of ADHD.  Any idea what that might be?

Sorry Glenda,
It got busy with trauma last night as you probably could guess Sounds like your mom has SIADH (syndrom of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone). It is fairly common in people with any type of brain issue such as post stroke, post trauma, tumor, and can even be idiopathic (we don't know why the heck it happens). ADH or antidiuretic affects the kidneys and it's most important function is to absorb water and a little salt from the distal collecting system is the kidney. Alcohol and caffene both inhibit this hormone which is why you pee so much when you drink these. You can see elevated blood pressure and most commonly low sodium which is counterintuitive since you usually think sodium being high causes high blood pressure. It usually is treated by fluid restriction first, sometimes salt tabs if the sodium is really low. So sorry you've had a rough time with the medical issues lately. May the new year bring great health to you, your family, and your dogs!!!!

YES!!  That's what it is.  Thanks so much.  There were soooo many docs and so many words and phrases thrown around that I've had trouble remember it all.
 
Her primary doc has had her on restricted fluids, but he also kept putting her back on lasix after the kidney specialist kept taking her OFF the darned stuff.  Her sodium when she had the seizures was something like 80.  Three days earlier it had been 121....low but not life threateningly low.  And yes, I know that 80 is not compatible with life....but that's where it's gone TWICE now.  It makes me livid that this doc keeps bringing in all sorts of specialists and then disregards what they say.
 
I'm guessing that HERS is idiopathic since it started well before the sodium bottomed out and she fell and had the seizures, we THINK as a result of the trauma.  Regardless, the kidney doc had some tests run when she was in the ER and determined SIADH for certain, he'd suspected it for some time.  In his explanation he included the pituatory gland?  However, again, she had FOUR docs before they added in the hospitalist and the shrink (who happens to specialize in geriatric medicine and the effects of meds on functioning).
 
The good news for now is that Dr. Dork (her doc might be wonderful medically but he has the bedside manner of a rattlesnake....he TOLD my sis, "you have to accept that your Mother is dying.  Her body is shutting down") will NOT be her doc while she is in the nursing home.  The doc for the NH specializes in elder care so between him and the kidney guy, we're hopeful that they may find a way to regulate things.  And, she's been wanting to change to a different doc but didn't want to cause hard feelings, so being away from him for a bit hopefully she'll follow through on her wish to change.  The hospitalist was sooooo wonderful with her...she'd light up anytime he walked into the room (and man, he was sooooo cute, inside and out) and HE gave us all hope....and after he started seeing her, by golly she came back to us and just made leaps and bounds in improvement of her mental state.  Sometimes a little hope can make an enormous difference.  Too bad that HE doesn't have a private practice.  I intend to write him a thank you letter and hopefully he can recommend another doc who is in private practice and has the same Christian values and hopeful, but realistic outlook, as he does.
 
Snownose, yes, it is frightening, but DH was just danged lucky that it was caught before it became even MORE life threatening.  Just about everyone here knows how I feel about snakes, but by golly, THEY were the only things that could scare my stubborn rear into the house and not pushing the lawnmower (which I shouldn't do because of my shoulders).  If they hadn't shown up, HE wouldn't have cut the grass, wouldn't have had the symptoms, wouldn't have had the tests, wouldn't have had the cardiac cath...which he didn't WANT to have.  I think I shocked the cardiologist because he was sitting on the fence about it and I just said "Or, you can just wait and have to have your chest cracked open for a bypass like Mother did".  Her jaw literally dropped when I said that!  I don't think she expected a patients wife to be so blunt! []
 
So yes, this has been one heck of a year....my 26 year old nephew almost died as well with a right ventricle magnetic something or other....fatty tissue where there is supposed to be muscle....he WALKED into the ER with a heartrate of 260+.  This condition I'm told is normally diagnosed at autopsy.  He now has a defibulator.
 
Gosh, and to think that I wanted a garage door opener for Christmas!   That sure changed to good health for all!

Her primary doc has had her on restricted fluids, but he also kept putting her back on lasix after the kidney specialist kept taking her OFF the darned stuff.  Her sodium when she had the seizures was something like 80.  Three days earlier it had been 121....low but not life threateningly low.  And yes, I know that 80 is not compatible with life....but that's where it's gone TWICE now.  It makes me livid that this doc keeps bringing in all sorts of specialists and then disregards what they say.

Wowza, that is low low low, I really get nervous when it is less then 125!!! It's good for me to read your experience, I think we often forget in medicine what the patient and family goes through I generally am the consultant and I agree, it is annoying being called to consult and having the primary MD who has about half the training I have not follow recommendations. Hello, don't call if you don't want advice Hopefully, now in rehab, your mom will start the upswing like a champ!!! If you ever have questions or want clarification of the crazyness, I'm always happy to help

Gosh, and to think that I wanted a garage door opener for Christmas!

[sm=lol.gif] It's amazing how our priorities can change in an instant.  Unfortunately, good health is something we often take for granted until we or someone we love is ill. 

Cathy, I always ask for practical stuff.  One year it was a table saw, and poor DH has to defend that kind of gift to the guys at work who are buying diamonds and other useless stuff.......
 
Ottoluv, thank you so much.  Somedays all the info gets pretty overwhelming.  When he was discharging Mom from one of her hospital stays this year.....most were for the high BP and lowish sodium......we specifically asked Dr. Dork how to keep her sodium from dropping.  Aside from restricting fluids he suggested eating CAMPBELLS SOUP!  [X(]  Talk about chemicals in a can.  Luckily she likes tomatoe and V8 juice so I was able to convince her that those would be a better source of sodium than the soup.
 
To make matters a bit more difficult, Mom is almost 83 years old and of course she's still stuck in that "respect for authority" thing.  I may be a docs worst nightmare, but I have learned over the years that I MUST be my own advocate for health care and I don't hesitate to take in my written list of questions and to jot notes when I see the doc.  Mom wouldn't DREAM of questioning a doctor.
 
I have a healthy respect for the medical profession, however, I've also seen some massive changes in the quality of care that we get since we've become such a litigous nation and have to BLAME someone for everything.  We sue over everything, malpractice rates go up, docs have to charge more just to cover the insurance premiums, they have to see more and more patients and have less time to spend with them because insurance limits the amount that they will be paid, so a 10 minute office visit is essential to keeping the flow of patients going so that they CAN continue to treat patients and TRY to make a difference against a system that has them set up to fail.  In general, I don't blame the docs for this situation.  I just do my research and go armed with facts and pertinant questions.  But, in the case of Dr. Dork, gosh darn it, he needs to go back to med school and learn some bedside manners and how to LISTEN to the others that he asks for help.  Right or wrong, I really blame him for this last hospitalization and how close we came to loosing Mother.  He KNEW her sodium was prone to dropping like a rock and he KNEW that the kidney guy didn't want her on lasix or any diuretic, but he HAD to do it his way.......

 "you have to accept that your Mother is dying.  Her body is shutting down") will NOT be her doc while she is in the nursing home. 

 
After what this so called doctor put you and your family through, I hope that your mom does NOT return to him!
 
 

To make matters a bit more difficult, Mom is almost 83 years old and of course she's still stuck in that "respect for authority" thing.  I may be a docs worst nightmare, but I have learned over the years that I MUST be my own advocate for health care and I don't hesitate to take in my written list of questions and to jot notes when I see the doc.  Mom wouldn't DREAM of questioning a doctor. 

 
It drives me crazy when they do that.  I really wish that they'd accept doctors are human and do make mistakes.  Plus, they seem to think that the older doctors are wiser because they have more experience.  OK, experience is commendable, but so are new advances and new techniques with the latest training.  Just because he/she is a young doctor does not automatically make them less qualified than the older ones.  In a few situations, I've changed doctors, and dentists, because I felt the more experienced ones became complacent. 
Anyhow, I hope that you are able to find a doctore for mom that will give her the proper care she deserves; giving you the peace of mind you deserve.
 
 

I honestly don't see her attitudes towards authority figures changing.  She is a product of her generation and all that goes with it.  However, when we were talking about Dr. S (he's the CUTE one) she commented that he could sure teach the old sourpuss Dr. Dork a thing or two about dealing with people!  So, I'm pretty sure when she has the choice, she'll find a doc who is not just technically outstanding, but understands people as well.  Honestly, I wonder if this guy is bi-polar.
 
Her kidney doc IS an old guy and he is wonderful...he retires in March, and is surely well past 65 already.  One of the things HE said was that you can't expect an 80 years old blood pressure to stay as low as a 20 or 30 year olds would.....so basically, QUIT trying to keep her bp at 120/70.  I really respect him
 
But, ya know?  We have really hijacked this thread...and I do have an Update on Mom thread going on in NDR......