Checkup over, good and bad

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Checkup over, good and bad
5
Fri, 04-06-2007 - 7:49pm

First the good news---my blood glucose was great (83) Thyroid is functioning fine, and all else was fine: kidney, liver etc (I was in the middle of all the ranges of normal)...I am certainly not overweight at all, run 3-4 miles every other day, as well as work out on off days, etc...BP was great, too.

Except---!

The Nurse Practioner came in with the comment that my cholesterol was up way too high, and I was a candidate for a heart attack. Yes, that is how she put it...I immediately burst into tears (you do not tell an Anxiety Queen stuff like that). Then I felt so foolish crying and telling her I did all I could, all the time (and I do, my diet is great!) and that I was not not not going to take anymore statin drugs, they make me ache all over, I get sick, etc. Screw that. "Well, you are at risk for a heart attack..." She was a @%#&!! Then insisted I take a script for a drug anyway (Zetia)--has the same damn side effects as the other stuff.

BTW, my total was 264, my good stuff was over 60 (which is great) and the bad was 169, (should be 100 or less) triglycerides was 133 (150 or less is good)...if anyone knows anything about cholesterol this is not good, but at least my good stuff was high (I think over 40 is what is wanted).

I was a nervous wreck the rest of the day. My heart seemed to beat harder and I thought, "If this puts me in panic attack mode, I am gonna be P'O'd" Another thing I recall from taking statin drug is that they made me depressed---just what I need!! I went to the gym to work off frustration, etc...

But at least the rest of the news is good---I have been whining all week about this, so thanks for listening. Guess I should really post at the cholesterol board, but thought to update here....hope no one else is having a bad day! peace,lyn

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Fri, 04-06-2007 - 9:00pm

Sorry to hear about the cholesterol, Lyn

 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Sat, 04-07-2007 - 9:32am

My cholesterol is high, too :(

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2007
Sat, 04-07-2007 - 2:34pm

Hey Lyn....that was totally wrong of her to say that like that to you!! I mean, good grief...I am sorry that she said it like that...I would be freaked out too...I don't know much about cholesterol but there is one supplement I take that is supposed to help...have you ever taken Omega 3, 6, and 9 capsules? That might be something to consider, or at least the Omega 3 supplements...they are wonderful for your heart and cholesterol. I cosume alot of Omegas cause i cant do dairy and eat all soy stuff and soy protein has alot of that in it...and alot of all natural eggs have a ton in them too if you like eggs...just something to think about!! good luck hon and I am sorry she freaked you out like that...i think i would have slapped her lol

Krista

Avatar for peoplearenuts
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sat, 04-07-2007 - 2:38pm

So, clearly that nurse needs a little refresher course on bedside manner. Honestly though, sometimes I think medical professionals do that so you don't just blow off your health problems. They want to instill a sense of urgency in you. (Not everyone obsesses over their health like those of us with anxiety. LOL) But I have been on the receiving end of a doctor's bedside manner and it can set you off. It's a drag.

I also have high cholesterol - I'm borderline, so I'm able to control it with diet so far. In my case it's hereditary and I know that sooner or later I may have to go on medication for it.

Fish oil is supposed to good for cholesterol. I take an Omega-3 tablet every day. Here's a link:

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4632

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 04-07-2007 - 6:13pm

thanks for all the support. It was such a shock bc I am so careful with my diet, eat oat bran or oatmeal nearly everyday, lots fruits and vegs, very very little sat fat or trans. I really expected better results! My HDL is quite good, but she acted like I might as well plan my funeral. But I guess they get alot of patients who just don't give a -----

I told my nurse friend, and she looked appalled---but then told me that it only takes one person without any risk factors to show up with horrible problems, and then healthcare professionals get nervous about lawsuits, etc.

OTOH, I thank my lucky stars that everything else was boringly normal; that I am not a diabetic or whatever. There *are* worse things to have than high cholesterol...peace,lyn

PS--Now have new Anxiety--taking the damn meds, I should never never ever read the part of about side effects in the inserts, but can never stop myself and always think I will be the one who gets the weird once in a million bad and horrible reaction...