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Posted 9/2/2009 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor called me with results of my blood tests.  Good news is my vitamin D is good.  Bad news is something not right with kidney function.  He thinks it is from the Diclofenac that I take for pain.  I'm back to Tylenol, which doesn't work as well.  I  had trouble with bruising with aspirin and ibuprofen so I dont take those.  Worse news is my cholesterol.  I take Pravastatin Sodium.  I started on 10mg-cholesterol went higher.  Next he had me on 20mg--taking for 3 months.  Cholesterol went up! mad    Now he wants me to take 40mg at night and 2 fish oil capsules a day.  The thing is, I exercise a lot.  I've changed my diet so much.  Only 100% whole grain cereal, bread, pasta.  No fried foods, no red meat, never dessert, only egg whites, little cheese, lots of green leaf lettuce, some fruit, pretty good on vegetables, no milk.  I know it is probably from my dad's genes.  He had very high cholesterol, so did his mom.  I'm just depressed today.  I've started a food journal this morning which I'll bring with me in 2 months when I see the doctor.  He is mailing the report to me which I think I will tape on the refrigerator. Thanks for letting me whine.

 

Puppylover

Posted 9/2/2009 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
ooo...where's the protein??
Posted 9/2/2009 4:24 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Pupperlover...good news about the vit d...sorry about the cholesterol.  My hubby has high numbers also after being on 40 mgs of Lipator for years...also plays tennis and fishes for excercise.  His entire family has high cholesterol...his 18 year old vegetarian neice's reading was 340.  I do think it's genetic.  The only thing that brought my hubby's down to under 200 was going on the Atkins Diet.  His BP dropped, tryglicerides which where a whopping 1250 went down to 150.  He also lost 35 pounds. But...after five years he slowly started adding the carbs and now the numbers are up again.  Plus...I don't know how safe that diet is on the kidney's with all that protein. (Dr. told him that the benefits in his case, outweighed the risk.  It is the diet the military have been using for years but I still worried about it)

I know it's frustrating to have to think about every single piece of food you put in your mouth.  I see the hubby do it everyday.  Feel better.

Huggies

Donna

Posted 9/2/2009 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Puppylover, It must be frustrating, you are eating well and excersise.

You have taken some very positive steps to get your cholesterol down. Keeping a food
journal is a great idea. My husband had problems with his cholesterol and finally got it
under control. He takes Lipitor and eats oatmeal every morning for breakfast. his dad
had very high cholesterol too.

Good news your Vitamin D level is good. Did your doc explain what is going on with
your kidneys? I hope everything works out well for you. Get some good rest today
and pamper yourself.

Take Care

Robin
Posted 9/2/2009 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
Jhemi, I'm slowly working on eating more protein.  I do eat a lot of turkey, chicken and fish.  I love sunflower seed butter which has some protein but lots of fat too.  I do eat beans and chick peas also.

Robin, one of the cautions on generic voltaren is abnormal kidney function.  I think if I stop taking it everything should return to normal.  I get rechecked in 2 months.

Donna, we also have a friend with way high readings.  He thinks about everything before he eats it.  His wife cooks really healthy foods for him.  I know that I still have some things to change--I know what is necessary-but this sure is not fun.  But it could be worse.

Thanks for the support.

 

Puppylover

Posted 9/2/2009 5:06 PM (GMT 0)

I'm sorry you are having these problems with cholesterol.  Maybe your doctor should try a different medication....another statin drug.  I take simvistatin (Zocor) and have had no problems.  I don't have cholesterol problems but my doctor wants my levels extremely low because I'm diabetic and am more prone to heart attack and stroke.  I've heard these statin drugs are actually very good and help you in many ways.

I have a friend whose cholesterol and triglycerides are totally out of control.  I know her triglycerides are over 700.  She has been this way for years, even though she has taken medication.  She is now 75 years old and can run circles around me.  So, yes, I do think her problem is genetic and yours could be too.

 

As far as the kidney function goes, it might go back to normal if it was caused by that medication you were taking.  I was taking a med for diabetes and it did a number on my kidney function...bad enough that a doctor didn't want me to go on a trip I had planned!  Once I was taken off the medication, my kidney function went back to normal so try not to worry about it.  It's good your doctor knows about it because he/she will be closely following that.

I hope everything gets back to "normal" with your blood work. 

Sherrine

 

 

Posted 9/2/2009 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
PL: I have an appointment with my doc tomorrow to discuss what to do about my cholesterol and triglycerides. My overall cholesterol level is not bad but the "good" is too low and the "bad" is too high. Because of a digestion problem I have, I CAN'T eat whole grains or fresh fruits and vegetables, and I already avoid red meat and fried foods, and take fish oil, so I was am very frustrated by the lab results I got. There's really nothing I can do diet-wise. I'm not really sure why I even need to go in to the doctor since I'm sure he's just going to have to give me prescription.

Does anyone have any experience with Trilipix? I've seen it advertised recently for raising good cholesterol and lowering bad cholesterol and triglycerides. Maybe I'll ask about it tomorrow.
Posted 9/2/2009 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
On top of what you people have mentioned. really keep track of your saturated fats that you eat.  Even though something says it's cholesterol free, if it has more saturated fats, it's bad for the cholesterol.

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/

I use canola oil almost exclusively.  One time, when in the hospital, they had a chart on the wall showing the good fats and canola was at the top, followed by olive oil.  Canola oil lends no flavor to what you cook and I like that.

 

I have been using Parkay tub margarine for over 40 years.  There is no cholesterol and only 1.5 grams of saturated fat in a tablespoon.  I like the taste a lot, too.  It doesn't have that "chemical" taste many of the new margarines have.  Also, tub margarine has less fat than stick margarine so that's why I use tub margarine.  I only use the stick Parkay for baking.  The recipes turn out great!

 

Many of you know all of this but just in case you didn't I thought I'd share this with you.  I've been eating correctly...red meat generally only once a week, lots of veggies, and watching saturated fats and my cholesterol and triglycerides are wonderful.

 

Sherrine 

Posted 9/2/2009 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
have you tried cinnamon. It is supposed to help reduce cholesterol
Posted 9/2/2009 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
Beauty, how much would I have to eat.  I love cinnamon, mostly on heavily buttered bread, sprinkled with sugar,  browned under the broiler.  Oh ,wait--this wouldn't be healthy would it? :-)

 

Puppylover

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