Just thought this would be an excellent place to ask this of E.M. or anyone else here in the medical field!!??

I had blood tests done last week and tests came back saying I had elevated cholesterol and glucose. Now... I've had blood tests done for glucose (since my mom has diabetes) for 10 yrs. or so and they've ALWAYS come back in the "normal" range. This was only my second cholesterol test (last one done in '99 which was normal) I remember reading somewhere that elevated cholesterol could be related to stress (not sure about elevated glucose). Heaven knows both Harry and I have had lots of stress in our lives over the past 4 or 5 yrs. Is it possible that's what's causing these readings?? My doctor is telling me that I have to change my eating habits to low-fat milk, no cheese and eggs and very little, if any, beef and pork. Heck...that's what we've been living on for the past 26 yrs.!!! Now...all of a sudden...it's no good for me???!!

Help....please??

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2003

Answers

Well, Marcia dear, you already know my views on this stuff. I don't give a knat's ass for 95% of the advice given by conventional western docs, and that goes double for advice about heart disease and diet! I think they're 180 degrees wrong!

What does he mean by 'elevated cholesterol'? Do you have your numbers? He has to give them to you if you ask. The total cholesterol means nothin anyway; it's likely the ratio of HDL TO LDL that matter, and even more importantly homocystine.

IMO, lowering your carbs will be your best idea, not your animal fats. Cut back on the white stuff; I know you love your bread, but it don't love you! Sugars gum up the arteries, as does homogenized dairy products. (but you drink your own goat milk, doncha? good stuff!) Atkins style programs have myriad data on the benefits of low carb diets, including bringing back really good lab numbers, since that's what doctors are in love with.

Stress absolutely raises cholesterol and glucose; of that there is no doubt. Don't forget the importance of lots of water, and try a tablespoon of real apple cider vinegar every day. Do you meditate? Good for everything, absolutely proven; learn how to do it.

I will think of more stuff I'm sure. Relax dear, you'll be fine. That *&&^*((!! doctor is almost as annoying as your daughter-in-law! sheesh what a bitch! (that felt good. wanted to say that for a long time, and that thing about telling her you forgot the child's birthday put me over!)

love, EM

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2003

Course there is this lovely little pill called ZORCOR that'll drop the count big-time!!! I say keep the cholestrol under control cause a stroke would be mighty inconvienient. Shoot...the docs may be right! A little pill just in case?? Not a bad idea......Kirk

-- Anonymous, August 25, 2003

Did you fast before the blood tests? Most of the cholesterol tests today say that they work on non-fasting samples but the truth is that you really need to fast for 12 hours beforehand to get an accurate result. Same thing for glucose. If your doc is really concerned about your glucose readings, have him run a hemoglobin A1c test (usually abbreviated HgbA1c). That will give an idea of what your glucose levels have been like for the past 120 days.

You may want to take a look at the Atkins diet book or the Protein Power book. They both explain the relationship between insulin levels and cholesterol levels and how it's really insulin that's the "bad guy", not cholesterol.

-- Anonymous, August 26, 2003

"a little pill just in case." That's what they said about thalidomide and morning sickness!

I love ya, Kirk, but I totally disagree with ya here!

Lowering total cholesterol has NOTHING to do with preventing cardio- vascular disease. ZOCOR has lovely side effects, (as do ALL PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS,) including the following:

heart failure...sudden memory loss.....triple risk of cataracts when mixed with antibiotics (most physicians do not know this)......muscle weakness and pain........cancer......immune system supression.......natural COQ-10 depletion.......liver damage......nerve damage.......AND while it lowers total cholesterol and even sometimes triglycerides, it very frequently also lowers the GOOD cholesterol, thereby throwing off the balance even more than before the patient started taking it!

There is NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER that cholesterol-lowering statin drugs like ZOCOR decrease the chances of cardio-vascular disease. These drugs are a goldmine for drug companies......4 billion alone a yr for ZOCOR. And the sheeplike docs keep handing it out just like they are told to do by their bosses, Big Pharma.

Marcia, I forgot to remind you to take lots of Vit C. If you take little or none, work up gradually to 10 grams. (you will get the trots if you go too fast, and always take it with food). I use the powdered stuff in juice. It's way cheaper. Eat lots of garlic and onions!

-- Anonymous, August 26, 2003

Okay, E.M...here are my "numbers" :-)!! This just how it reads on my lab results....

Glucose Rand FBS...119 (range should be 55-115 mg.)

Total Cholesterol...219 (range should be 120-199 mg.)

TRIG...152 (range should be 0-150 mg.)

HDL...69 (range should be 40-91 mg.)

LDL...119.60 (range should be 0-130 mg.)

My doctor suggested something called "glucophaze" to reduce the possiblity of diabetes. There was no info on the lab report about homocystine. Should there have been?? And yes...I drink only fresh goat's milk, unless they're dry and then I only buy locally produced, hormone-free, whole milk (cow's) from the store. I'm a cheese addict! I love almost any kind so I think I probably get more than my share of calcium!! But doctor says that's a no-no! No way will I give up whole milk and cheese, though. I love water and try to drink as much as possible...and I will definitely add the apple cider vinegar! Meditation...are you kidding??!! I can't relax enough to meditate :-)! I get distracted so easily and "stuff" starts going through my mind. Oh yeah...I take a multi vitamin (for people over 50) called "OneSource". It has 75 mg. of vit. C, along with lots of others. I also take a vit. C and E combo that has and additional 500 mg. of C. Is that enough C?? And I try to use garlic and onions as much as possible in cooking.

Sherri...yes, I fasted for 12 hours. Harry was sitting at the breakfast table just before I went for my blood test....slowly eating and enjoying a cinnamon bun with his coffee (with cream and sugar)!!!! Oh well, it's HIS turn on Sept. 12th :-)!!!

My stress level has gone up quite a bit the past week or so. I guess Harry and I will be driving down to N.C. to stay with my mom for a week or so when she gets out of the hospital. My brother and sister, who live about 400 miles closer and can get time off from their jobs with no problem refuse to go. AND...my baby brother (he's 35) who lives just a couple miles away from my mom, is going to Las Vegas for a male modeling gig. He wont give that up!! So we have to close up our business here, find a critter-sitter to come in twice a day, leave our lobster traps in for 2 wks. or more (they should be picked up at least every 3 days 'cause the trapped lobsters start eating each other!!), and drive over 1000 miles! The hardest part will be when the day comes to leave!

BTW E.M....Yes, I agree. She IS a bitch :-)!! But I'm trying soooo hard to stay cool about the situation and not let it bother me. I feel really bad about my son having to live with her, though!!!!

Kirk...there are so many problems that I sure wish "a little pill" would solve! Life would be so much easier, wouldn't it?? Thanks for your input!

-- Anonymous, August 26, 2003

Marcia and Em....

Ha! I knew my post wouldn't be popular here but thought I'd toss it out anyhow! I just use a lite dose of Satins and my "C" dropped like 60 points. Also the latest research shows it my be very very helpful with preventing Machular Degeneration! Runs in my family. Don't want to be blind Then have my stroke!! Ha! HA!.....Love you guys....Kirk

Gosh I miss Anne Miller!!!!

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2003

Marcia I don't think your numbers look that bad. Glucophage is really hard on your liver, I had a friend who was on it and it caused more problems than it solved. IMO your numbers are well within the range that can be helped by diet alone. Try giving a low-carb diet a try for a while and see what happens.

One word of caution if you do the Atkins plan. In some people their cholesterol and triglyceride numbers will actually get worse for a few weeks before they get better. That's what happened to my friend Jeani, and since she had high cholesterol to start with she freaked out and went off the diet. Now she's back to cholesterol drugs and Weight Watchers. Grr!

I've really backslid lately and gone back to my high-carb ways. I feel like crap!

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2003

Your numbers look fine to me, too; Marcia. I wouldn't be concerned about any of them. For all the pills I hand out in a days time, I've got to admit that I'm not a big believer in them unless they are really needed - me, I take the rare aspirin for a headache and that's about it.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2003

Thanks, Sherri and Polly, for your opinions. I value them highly!! I was told that the elevated readings were "red flags" and that I could be headed for diabetes or hardening of the arteries. Geesh...that one sounds like a "old" person's problem :-)!! I really don't think I'll have too much of a problem cutting out some carbs and starches...except for the occasional loaf of homemade bread!! BTW, are certain types of rice okay? I'm gonna pick up that Atkins Diet book. Any suggestions as to where it's available now (and maybe cheapest)?

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2003

Old people's problems, indeed. I just got informed that I am developing cataracts on the backs of my lenses. Sheesh. Weird. We don't hardly have sunshine up here in the PacNW and I wear sunglasses whenever it appears that there might be sun. Oh well. Maybe they can change my vision for the better if/when I ever have to have cataract Sx. Whatever...Anyway, time for us to watch diet and exercise and everything even more vigilantly...

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2003

What about taking Chromium picolinate for the sugar?

"Improves insulin's effeciency, which lowers blood sugar levels. A combination of chromium picolinate, vanadyl sulfate, and other vitamins and minerals that work synegistically to regulate blood sugar levels and correct deficiencies." This is from Prescription for Nutritional Healing (great book)

I was having problems with hypoglycimia and fixed it with a week of chromium. Gary was also feeling tired so I give it to him for a week and he did great.

Actually, in the medical colom in the newspaper, a person made a point that he ate better and excercised more then his wife and she had better cholesterol then him. One doctor I went to said that it's not the cholesterol but the C Factor that is the problem.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2003

Ditto on the chromium.....I take that too.

You sound perfectly healthy to me, Marcia. Remember that worrying about your numbers raises your numbers!

I just the other day read another study about morbidity. This one said that a person's overall health and lifespan had more to do with how happy they were, regardless of outside circumstances, than diet, exercise, or genetics! They were emphasizing how imperative it was to laugh, be silly, love yourself and others, but not take oneself too seriously. Good stuff!

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2003

I've heard alot about chromium and will add it to my suppements! I know that when my mom used to visit, one of her "prescription supplements" was chromium picolate. She paid lots more 'cause it was prescribed by her doctor!!

Thanks soooo much for your help, everyone....yes, even yours, Kirk!! You make me laugh and E.M. says that's good. I can feel my "numbers" dropping already :-)!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, September 03, 2003

Can't get anything done at the building today I had planned. My sister and I are going up to Duluth. Our dad is in the hospital again; this time he fell down a flight of stairs while at my cousin's cabin. Passed out on his way to the bathroom, happened to be next to the stairway. Why did he faint, you ask? BECAUSE OF HIS FREAKIN BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION that's why!! %$*^%#@!!!!- I spoke to his nurse. His BP was way too low. He has an L-1 burst fracture, and if the pieces don't slip and cripple or kill him, he will be in a brace for months. I must meditate before I go; I am very angry right now. My poor mother.

-- Anonymous, September 04, 2003

Gee E.M. I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad!!! How old a man is he? I'm keeping you all in my prayers!!

What is it about doctors, anyways!!?? They're so eager to hand out pills for just about ANYTHING! My MIL's doctor started her on blood pressure (high) pills when the scale of BP numbers changed. Now...they consider her BP to be too high when for years it's been "normal". She's been having so many bad responses to about three different medications they've been trying on her. So now she's gonna tell her doctor to just forget it and cancel all these new prescriptions!! Do doctors get any kind of a "kickback" whenever they recommend either a new prescription or a new procedure to a patient????

What do they think we are....Guinea Pigs??!!

-- Anonymous, September 04, 2003

I'm back for now. Will have to go back, but are taking it one day at a time to see how he progresses. It's extremely draining watching someone in such pain, and my sister and I are both such squeams it's ridiculous. I need to try to catch up on all my bill-paying and correspondence before I go back up there. My sis has a job to go to, but she also has sick days left. Think I'll take Ali with me next time; she's good to have around cuz she's so funny and a fits right in with the familial tendency towards smart-assiness.

Marcia, you're an angel; taking care of people (except my own children) is not my forte. I thought I would lose my mind sitting for hours in that hospital room. We couldnt go anywhere cuz we waited for the neurosurgeon, for whom I had two dozen questions, for 7 hours cuz he was the only one on call and was called away for emergency surgery just after he arrived for rounds, and he could have reappeared at any time and we didn;t want to miss him. Polly, I don't know how you do it. I've always said, nurses are angels (well, most of em anyway) and people would get well faster if they took over the hospitals and only let doctors in by permission of the RN staff. :)

Later.....

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2003

Marcia, he's 77. Hugs to you, BTW!

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2003

Yeah, as a matter of fact, we are guinea pigs. Meds get tested either singly, or in combos of two or three; if you happen to be taking more than that, you ARE a medical experiment. The docs, and the drug co's for that matter, have no idea how that many different meds will interact. That's why I try to keep Pop's meds whittled down to a reasonable number. I also don't let them put him on anything that's come out in the recent past, preferring time tested meds. Aspirin, Lasix, Clonidine, Felodipine, etc...

Asking multiple questions, and being an advocate for your family members is the only way to go. You will need your family member's written permission to be given information because of the health care privacy of information act. If you ask a question and you don't understand something, make 'em explain it until you do. Before the doc manages to escape out of the room, ask him what he plans to do next. If you don't understand what he is talking about, make him tell you again. If you still don't understand, turn to the nurse and say "What the heck does he mean by all that gobbeldegook?" If they take a family member down for a test, ask what they are looking for - ask the doc or the nurse - BEFORE the test, not the transporter - and what they plan to do if they do or if they don't find what they are looking for. Ask for a list of their medications; and why each medication is being given - NOT what the pill does, but WHY it's being prescribed. Sometimes it can be two different things. For example, Inderol is a blood pressure med, lowers BP. It's also used to treat migraines. The doc prescibed it for Jes for migraines; and when I saw the script, I hit the roof. On the way back down, I called the doc. See, her BP normally runs low 80's over low 50's - the doc didn't bother to note that before she wrote the script. GRRR! Ask the staff; not the patient! Pop has it in his head that he takes sodium bicarb for his stomach; when it's actually a buffer for his kidney. If they say they are giving a med for BP, ask what the BP has been running, what the target range is, and how often they are checking the BP (every four hours in acute care; much more frequently in critical care).

Take notes, so that you can refer back to them. If you aren't happy with the answers you are getting from the doc or the staff, or with the service; call the patient care advocate, or whatever they call their customer service department. I got so po'd at the care Pop was getting in CRU (cardiac recovery) that I called the PCA; and by the time I got done talking, I had talked to the PCA, the director of CRU, the director of cardiac services for the hospital, both of Pop's doctor's assistants - and within 30 minutes, they had moved him out of CRU, into a private room (they didn't have a bed available when I started talking), I got an apology from everyone from the nurse all the way up to administration, Pop's one doc offered me a job, the hospital paid my hotel bill, and I was given a gift certificate to cover my meals while I stayed with him - all because I was able to clearly state exactly what had happened. Not going to deny that being able to speak the language helped! About half-way through my tirade, the CRU director broke in to ask me "Umm- just what is it you do, anyway?" I told him, and then stated "It doesn't really matter what my profession is - the point is that you are not providing adequate basic patient care, and therefore your other care is suspect as well. I want my father in a room, where I can be with him ATC to make certain that his needs are being met and I will not take no for an answer." I said a whole bunch more - enough to have Uncle Ivan shrinking into the corner of the sofa - as well, but the upshot was, the care improved and it did it rapidly.

So EM, what's with the neuro - did he bonk his head while going down the stairs, or are they concerned about paralysis, or are they considering a stroke before the fall? Hugs to you all - and take stuff with you to keep yourself busy. I was so desperate that I bought 6/$1 Harlequin romances from the gift shop just to keep my mind occupied! Wooo - SCARY!! (I donated them all back when I left!) Good luck to your papa.

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2003