a little bad news
I went back to my new doctor Wednesday for results of my blood work. I haven't had a physical in 3 or 4 years, I was busy taking care of my mom and then my wife. Last time, things were fine.
My doctor said I have high cholesterol and triglycerides, and he's worried about my sugar. I told him I am not aware of diabetes in my mom's family, but I know nothing about about my father's family. He showed me a photo of them once, he grew up in Cleveland.
He gave me cholesterol medication. I'm not sure which one, the prescription was sent directly to my pharmacy, I tried to pick it up tonight but I was a little late. About 6 years ago, I had high cholesterol. I thought it was from my psych med Seroquel. I took cholesterol medication and my Pdoc reduced my Seroquel dose by 1/3. It went back to normal and I stopped taking medication for it. But I was also getting more exercise, going to the gym, and biking. Those things stopped when I became a caretaker. I'm not even walking to work, since February I have either been unemployed or working from home. I need to start exercising. And stop smoking. And watching my diet a little. Lately I have been eating more eggs, about 4 a week, because I thought I need more protein. He also said my vitamin D is low, and prescribed a weekly pill. And he wants me to take Omega 3s. I get some of those from the eggs, and also some from sesame tahini (which is allowed on the diet sheet he gave me). I am vegetarian, and I don't eat a lot of cheese, I use soy milk for cereal & cooking, so I am surprised my cholesterol is high. Maybe it was the Kraft Deluxe Mac & Cheese I ate last week :)
I'm sure with the medication, and watching my diet, my levels will get better. Maybe like last time I can stop taking the cholesterol medication. I asked him if there are side effects, he said no.
He also asked me if I am taking aspirin, for my heart. I'm 56, the age where you take it. I reminded him that aspirin and ibuprofen and NSAIDS upset my stomach. He wanted to give me another prescription, so I told him let me see if I can tolerate the coated 81mg baby aspirin.
It could be a lot worse! At 56 I am pretty healthy, if those are my only problems. I did not discuss the arthritis pain. I go back in three months, I can talk about it then. I have some painkillers to get through for a while. I also talked to him about my psoriasis, and he made a referral to a dermatologist.
The Pdoc he referred me to is not in my network, anyway he specializes in child/adolescent treatment. I found a psychiatrist who specializes in mood disorders about 10 blocks from my house, and made the first available appt in late July. I have just enough Seroquel to last until then. I am going to discuss with her alternatives to Seroquel that don't elevate cholesterol and fats.
I know some people who gain a lot of weight on Seroquel. I have actually lost weight in the last year. Still, I am borderline obese, at 210 lbs and 5' 9.5".
At least I followed through with going to the doctor and getting the workup. Now I need to follow up with the treatments.
And this is about as anxious as I get. My wife thought my lack of anxiety was nearly pathological. I faced some terrible impossible dangerous situations when we were homeless, calmly. I think I was able to think clearly and act appropriately. maybe sometimes I did not react as quickly as someone with high anxiety would have. In some ways, we were opposites, complementary. She freaked out, I stayed calm. She was pessimistic, I am optimistic. She had trouble making decisions, I am decisive. Now I don't have her to reality check me. Well, if I were only going to keep one set of traits, I would pick the ones I have.
Since I mentioned quitting smoking, I am going to update my goal. I am thinking of stopping on the anniversary of Arlene's death, July 27. Before then, I know I need to cut down. Maybe I will try ecigs. I just got 2 coupons from Marlboro I sent away for. I used them tonight for $2 dollars off 2 packs. No more coupons.
My doctor said I have high cholesterol and triglycerides, and he's worried about my sugar. I told him I am not aware of diabetes in my mom's family, but I know nothing about about my father's family. He showed me a photo of them once, he grew up in Cleveland.
He gave me cholesterol medication. I'm not sure which one, the prescription was sent directly to my pharmacy, I tried to pick it up tonight but I was a little late. About 6 years ago, I had high cholesterol. I thought it was from my psych med Seroquel. I took cholesterol medication and my Pdoc reduced my Seroquel dose by 1/3. It went back to normal and I stopped taking medication for it. But I was also getting more exercise, going to the gym, and biking. Those things stopped when I became a caretaker. I'm not even walking to work, since February I have either been unemployed or working from home. I need to start exercising. And stop smoking. And watching my diet a little. Lately I have been eating more eggs, about 4 a week, because I thought I need more protein. He also said my vitamin D is low, and prescribed a weekly pill. And he wants me to take Omega 3s. I get some of those from the eggs, and also some from sesame tahini (which is allowed on the diet sheet he gave me). I am vegetarian, and I don't eat a lot of cheese, I use soy milk for cereal & cooking, so I am surprised my cholesterol is high. Maybe it was the Kraft Deluxe Mac & Cheese I ate last week :)
I'm sure with the medication, and watching my diet, my levels will get better. Maybe like last time I can stop taking the cholesterol medication. I asked him if there are side effects, he said no.
He also asked me if I am taking aspirin, for my heart. I'm 56, the age where you take it. I reminded him that aspirin and ibuprofen and NSAIDS upset my stomach. He wanted to give me another prescription, so I told him let me see if I can tolerate the coated 81mg baby aspirin.
It could be a lot worse! At 56 I am pretty healthy, if those are my only problems. I did not discuss the arthritis pain. I go back in three months, I can talk about it then. I have some painkillers to get through for a while. I also talked to him about my psoriasis, and he made a referral to a dermatologist.
The Pdoc he referred me to is not in my network, anyway he specializes in child/adolescent treatment. I found a psychiatrist who specializes in mood disorders about 10 blocks from my house, and made the first available appt in late July. I have just enough Seroquel to last until then. I am going to discuss with her alternatives to Seroquel that don't elevate cholesterol and fats.
I know some people who gain a lot of weight on Seroquel. I have actually lost weight in the last year. Still, I am borderline obese, at 210 lbs and 5' 9.5".
At least I followed through with going to the doctor and getting the workup. Now I need to follow up with the treatments.
And this is about as anxious as I get. My wife thought my lack of anxiety was nearly pathological. I faced some terrible impossible dangerous situations when we were homeless, calmly. I think I was able to think clearly and act appropriately. maybe sometimes I did not react as quickly as someone with high anxiety would have. In some ways, we were opposites, complementary. She freaked out, I stayed calm. She was pessimistic, I am optimistic. She had trouble making decisions, I am decisive. Now I don't have her to reality check me. Well, if I were only going to keep one set of traits, I would pick the ones I have.
Since I mentioned quitting smoking, I am going to update my goal. I am thinking of stopping on the anniversary of Arlene's death, July 27. Before then, I know I need to cut down. Maybe I will try ecigs. I just got 2 coupons from Marlboro I sent away for. I used them tonight for $2 dollars off 2 packs. No more coupons.
Replies
Definitely cutting smoking. Increasing exercise loads. My wife had high cholesterol since she was 30 and she had taken Zocco for life from 20 to 40 mm. Exercises and diets did not help much. She was having irregular heart beat and narrowing blood vines before passing. I think your situation can be temporary due to your caretaking load. I have been recently diagnosed with inguinal hernia. I think it is because of my stress and heavy lifting in taking care of my mom (I have to lift her body toward one side to change diapers and pump her back). Hope you are getting better every day. Hugs, Tiger
I don\'t think my levels were very high, because all my doctor prescribed is Lovaza which is Omega 3. My pharmacy told me my insurance doesn\'t cover it. I was at the doctor\'s office today to pick up the referral to the dermatologist, and they said I could take OTC Omega 3. Anyway, Lovaza comes from fish oil, and I am vegetarian - see, even in the pharmacy, someone is looking out for me. I thought I was getting substantial Omega 3 from sesame tahini, I usually have two tablespoons per day, but it would take 15 tablespoons to equal the amount in Lovaza. So I researched Omega 3, and the best source is flax seed, which is vegetarian. I ordered flax oil capsules on Amazon, which have about 10x as much Omega 3 as Lovaza.
I also started taking the vitamin D he prescribed, once a week, and I feel a lot better today with less pain in my back, I wonder if it\'s related.
I have had an inguinal hernia for 20 years. When I was homeless it popped out of my groin a little, and I was afraid it was cancer so I went to an ER. They told me I could live with it 20 years or more if there were not complications. Now that I am taking care of myself, my doctor knows I want the surgery and he will refer me when I can afford the co-pay. I think maybe I had it since I was little, I remember feeling pain on that side when my doctor examined me since I was about 10, and my mom kept asking me about my friend who had a hernia, now it comes together. Cheap bitch wouldn\'t even take care of that! Now it\'s big, my left testicle looks like a mango, yuck. But it\'s simple surgery.