Doctor chewed me out

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I had bloodwork done on Friday, and by Wednesday, I had a call from the doctor's nurse. Never good when they call you after the bloodwork results are in. I guess I am a bad boy.

The nurse was telling me I would need to attend a cholesterol class. Although it is not high, I am taking meds to drop it to where it is. I guess they feel it needs to be lower. I could practically own a chicken farm now as much chicken as I eat. What more are they expecting?

My triglycerides are over 300, normal is under 150. I used to be on pills for that, but now with the med switch at the start of the year, I don't have that anymore. I have been walking about 4 miles a week, guess I need to be doing more.

My potassium is down slightly below the min normal. That is probably from the blood pressure pills. There is very little potassium in vitamines and even foods are low. I have a big bag of rasins that I am working on to boost it.

And my liver function is off a little. I have to stop alcohol for a week and then redo the bloodwork.

All of my levels are close, and I am not going wild and living a rich food life. The DW has hamburger, I have chicken. She likes pizza and has three slices, I have two.

So is other than excersizing all day long, how do I get the triglycerides down? I have a feeling that I am going to be on a bread and water diet, hold the bread.

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

What a bummer to get those results, but it sounds manageable.

Has your doctor suggested seeing a nutritionist for some help? Are your protein to carb ratios out of balance? Do you graze rather than just eat 3 meals a day? Some people do better by eating more frequently, never letting more than 4 hours pass without having a little something that includes a bit of protein, like mini meals. Sugary drinks don't do you much good, and if you drink sugared drinks or diet sodas that can be unhelpful.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Doesn't red wine help reduce cholesterol?

More seriously I've been touch and go on my cholesterol levels for years. I'm due for my annual physical soon, and I'm anxious to see if my diet has dropped my levels at all.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I don't drink much pop. The (trying to think of the term....) blood sugar/glucose level (knew it would come sooner or later) is normal. Most of the test are normal or just outside of normal, except the triglycerides. I think I need to go back on gemfibrozil to reduce the triglycerides.

Maybe driving 4 days out of 8 two weeks earlier and eating fast food a lot screwed up my levels. I just hope that I don't get forced to stop drinking wine. I would have to change my name from 'vintner' to 'formally known as vintner', and that would not be good.

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

I'm not a doctor but I play one on TUG.

Raisins, no way, pure sugar, eat a banana.
4miles a week, uh uh, 10,000 steps per DAY, that's about 5miles.

My wife used fish oil supplements with great success for her 1500 triglycerides.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

I agree with the banana. When I started taking medication for blood pressure my doctor told me to eat a banana, or drink orange juice, every day for the potassium.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I am almost at the same boat. 270 was my tri and 39 ldl, I was taking flax seed oil and Omega 3 fish oil but only once a day, now I am going to double that since I was suppose to take 2 a day anyway. BTW I also take a Potassium pill.

Maybe we need more vino?

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Running is the best cure for bad blood tests. I learned this from my long distance running training. All you need to do is run 1 hour per day, 3 days per week and all of the major diseases are reduced by 30% across the board.

The best thing I learned about running that magic 1 hour per day, 3 days per week is that your heart will burn off all the bad fats that you eat. At that rate, your heart will burn off all of the transfats in your body has in it. This from a cardiologist.

If you want to lose weight, you need to diet. If you want good blood, you need to exercise.

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

My wife also had some success with fish oil. Costco sells enteric coated gelcaps that are supposed to keep the fish oil from dispersing until it reaches the place where it will do the most good. That is also supposed to reduce the fishy smell that you can get taking some fish oil supplements.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I used to take them, but am back to the regular fish oil. The 'fishy smell' and taste used to happen when I would burp them. Ish.

I have my fish oil at my regular evening and have added to the morning.

I get quick walks, better for my knees. I need to put more time on my eliptical, that would also help.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Running is the best cure for bad blood tests. I learned this from my long distance running training. All you need to do is run 1 hour per day, 3 days per week and all of the major diseases are reduced by 30% across the board.

The best thing I learned about running that magic 1 hour per day, 3 days per week is that your heart will burn off all the bad fats that you eat. At that rate, your heart will burn off all of the transfats in your body has in it. This from a cardiologist.

If you want to lose weight, you need to diet. If you want good blood, you need to exercise.

Worked for Jim Fixx.
I know you are a runner Jim but not all of us can run like you.

Why don't you try adding some fiber to your diet. Metamucil has an orange flavored gelatiny like stuff that you can add to juice.

Also have oatmeal instead of eggs for breakfast. Fish oils and flaxseed oil also great. You can put flaxseed or the oil in your oatmeal in the morning.

Red Yeast Rice extract is also helpful for cholesterol. (Buy at Costco).

You have to do multiple things not just eat chicken and run although that's a great start. I know Marathon runners who suffer with cholesterol problems.

I don't run and I don't have cholesterol problems either, but I'm 45 so hopefully that won't be one of my issues. I do take antioxidants daily.
That also helps with blood chemistry. I like OPC3. PM me if you want more details.

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

Running is the best cure ......

Not always. I went to see my doctor after my knee became very painful. This was after running a half marathon - I'd had minor knee problems for some years prior to that. When I explained to my doctor what I had been doing he went nuts

I was also called in about 18 months ago after blood tests showed raised blood pressure and high cholesterol. Doctor gave me bp and cholesterol tablets and said that I didn't have to take the cholesterol tablets if I didn't want to as the level was just at the top end of normal. I went back after 8 weeks for a follow up and he was really pleased that my cholesterol level was way down near the bottom end of the range. He seemed less pleased when I told him I'd only taken the tablets for about a week and stopped because I was experiencing what felt like little electric shocks in the joints (a known side effect of these tablets). The original blood tests had been done a couple of days after I returned from holiday and when on holiday I ate a lot of rich food which was actually the cause of the original high reading. He hadn't asked any questions about my diet at that time but could have saved us both some trouble if he had.
I don't think I'm his favourite person any more.

[JudyS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JudyS]

....
My triglycerides are over 300, normal is under 150. I used to be on pills for that, but now with the med switch at the start of the year, I don't have that anymore. I have been walking about 4 miles a week, guess I need to be doing more.

My potassium is down slightly below the min normal. That is probably from the blood pressure pills. There is very little potassium in vitamines and even foods are low. I have a big bag of rasins that I am working on to boost it....
So is other than excersizing all day long, how do I get the triglycerides down? I have a feeling that I am going to be on a bread and water diet, hold the bread.

Although triglycerides are fats, triglyceride levels tend to go up as the result of eating carbohydrates. Fructose (and not just the stuff in corn syrup, the stuff in fruit, too) is especially bad at raising triglycerides. So, I would not recommend eating fruit to raise your potassium -- I'd ask for a potassium supplement instead, and watch the carbs in general.

Fibrates (a class of prescription drug) lower triglycerides, but have never been shown to actually reduce heart attacks.

...
Red Yeast Rice extract is also helpful for cholesterol. ..

Red Yeast Rice contains statins, and it's hard to know what dose you are getting. I think it's a lot safer just to take a prescription statin, especially now that the prices on some of them have come way down.

[kennyw Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kennyw]

I had bloodwork done on Friday, and by Wednesday, I had a call from the doctor's nurse. Never good when they call you after the bloodwork results are in. I guess I am a bad boy.

The nurse was telling me I would need to attend a cholesterol class. Although it is not high, I am taking meds to drop it to where it is. I guess they feel it needs to be lower. I could practically own a chicken farm now as much chicken as I eat. What more are they expecting?

My triglycerides are over 300, normal is under 150. I used to be on pills for that, but now with the med switch at the start of the year, I don't have that anymore. I have been walking about 4 miles a week, guess I need to be doing more.

My potassium is down slightly below the min normal. That is probably from the blood pressure pills. There is very little potassium in vitamines and even foods are low. I have a big bag of rasins that I am working on to boost it.

And my liver function is off a little. I have to stop alcohol for a week and then redo the bloodwork.

All of my levels are close, and I am not going wild and living a rich food life. The DW has hamburger, I have chicken. She likes pizza and has three slices, I have two.

So is other than excersizing all day long, how do I get the triglycerides down? I have a feeling that I am going to be on a bread and water diet, hold the bread.

Been nice knowing ya. DO WHAT THE DOCTOR TELLS YOU! AND IF THAT DON'T WORK GET ANOTHER DOCTOR!

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Not always. I went to see my doctor after my knee became very painful. This was after running a half marathon - I'd had minor knee problems for some years prior to that. When I explained to my doctor what I had been doing he went nuts

I was also called in about 18 months ago after blood tests showed raised blood pressure and high cholesterol. Doctor gave me bp and cholesterol tablets and said that I didn't have to take the cholesterol tablets if I didn't want to as the level was just at the top end of normal. I went back after 8 weeks for a follow up and he was really pleased that my cholesterol level was way down near the bottom end of the range. He seemed less pleased when I told him I'd only taken the tablets for about a week and stopped because I was experiencing what felt like little electric shocks in the joints (a known side effect of these tablets). The original blood tests had been done a couple of days after I returned from holiday and when on holiday I ate a lot of rich food which was actually the cause of the original high reading. He hadn't asked any questions about my diet at that time but could have saved us both some trouble if he had.
I don't think I'm his favourite person any more.

Running is indeed extremely hard on the joints. Then, there is swimming or cycling. One hour of cardio, 3 days per week and there is a 30% reduction is ALL major diseases. NOT getting that amount of cardio is a huge mistake.