ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: yardtick on August 11, 2008, 01:17:25 pm
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I just got off the phone with my GP. He ordered a bunch of blood test and this past Thurs Dracula did her thing. When I heard his voice on the phone I thought oh boy now what. As it turns out in a very short period of time 6 months to be exact my cholesterol is very high. Now I've gain weight from being on the Neurontin and I actually started the weaning off process. Is the neurontin playing havoc with my system? I am not eating more in fact I'm very careful of what I eat because of the weight gain side effect.
I've been reading up on cholesterol and I do admit I need to be more active and they said stress is also a contributor to high cholesterol. Stress unfortunately is my middle name these days. Headaches, ear pain facial issues like hemifacial spasms, waiting for the pathology results from my recent surgery, worrying about returning to work and of course being part of the watch and wait group. Who wouldn't be feeling STRESSFUL? Oh yeah, being 48, female and all of the funky things going on......stress what's stress!!!!
Anne Marie
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Really Anne Marie - sounds like you have nothing at all to be stressed about! :D HA! Just kidding!
Well, they do say stress can elevate your cholesterol levels, so it sounds like you have enough stress to shoot those levels sky high right now. Mine went up after my surgery too - and yes, I haven't been as active, but I haven't really changed my eating habits, so maybe stress is the culprit for me too. My doctor suggested I take fish oil capsules. I don't know if it's working because I go back for my 6 month re-check next month, but I'll let you know. When my husband's good cholesterol was low compared to his bad cholesterol, he told him to drink red wine. Oh sure, he gets wine, I get fish oil. Doesn't seem fair to me!
I also take red yeast rice capsules and try to get a little extra fiber because that's supposed to help too. I guess we shall see next month!
Take a deep breath... think happy thoughts.... ;D
Lori
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Hi Ann Marie,
I've heard about the high stress/high cholesterol connection too. You certainly have more than your share of stress factors. Did you talk to your doc or just an office assistant? Maybe the doctor can prescribe a mild tranquilizer until things are more under control. Do you have any idea of when you'll get the pathoilogy report from your surgery?
Hi Lori - It figures you would get the fish oil capsules -- maybe it would be okay with the doctor if you had a little red wine with them -- I'm sure James wouldn't mind sharing!
Wendy
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I did a lot of very late night and early morning reading, until 5:00 am to be exact. On Rx Wiki, I read that a high cholesterol is a very rare side effect of neurontin. I stopped taking the med's immediately. I'm still going to watch my diet even more carefully now and start walking when the sun goes down.
My cholesterol doubled from the last test and it's higher than my husbands. I see my GP in a few weeks and we will be discussing this some more. My concern now is what can I take for the headaches and neuropathic pain?
Considering I hardly slept at the moment my head isn't too bad. I'm going out to buy a decent pair of trainers. Nothing like a little shopping spree to cheer a woman up......I can think of more interesting things to buy though ;D
Anne Marie
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Yes, but a decent pair of trainers will help you run from store to store faster - so you can buy all those other things! :D
And carrying all those shopping bags counts as weight lifting - but you have to make sure you buy A LOT! (and don't tell your husband I told you that - or he'll be forwarding the credit cards bills to my house!)
Lori
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Lori,
I got myself a decent pair of trainers, they are red and white and very light weight. I didn't want anything too heavy. Louie really likes the looks of them and now he wants to find a similar pair in men's. Maybe this is the kick in the butt he needs to finally do something about his ever expanding belly. He is on med's for cholesterol. Diet did not work for him. He's like Garfield....diet is DIE with a T.
Oh by the way I need your address...... ;D
Anne Marie
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Anne Marie~
Doesn't a new pair of shoes always make you feel better - even if they are just tennies?? I have a weakness for athletic shoes that I have had to let go of b/c of all the $$ and now kids, but when I was single and taught PE - I had shoes to match every outfit! I don't know how good I was at teaching, but I was one styling PE teacher!! ;D
Good luck with you BOTH as you execise - remember to start slow and work up...
K
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Anne Marie -
If Louie is as good a cook as you say he is, it's no wonder you both have high cholesterol! :D Doesn't he also make wine? Maybe you should both drink more of that! It may not lower your cholesterol, but you'd be happy anyway!
Kay - I know what you mean about the weakness for sneakers - when I worked as a PT, I had a closet full of them. James never understood why I needed so many pairs of sneakers. Men... they just don't get it, do they? ;D
Oh, and my address.... uh... I live in - Chicago. Right next door to Jan. Send those bills to her and she'll take care of them. She's rich, you know. ;)
Lori
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well, I have gotten my laugh for the day from this thread: Dracula and shopping and Lori's
Oh sure, he gets wine, I get fish oil.
But I have to say I take the issue seriously, and personally. My 1st ENT (Not the surgical phy) was trying to make me feel better about the AN diagnosis and told me I was more likely to die from my high cholesterol than from the AN. WHAT? It was kinda like when she put up my films and pointed out my deviated septum b4 she showed me the tumor - talk about insult to injury! I'm 43, healthy (except for the tumor in my head)- only 116 lbs. and eat extremley well; all organic, whole grains, restict the amount of red meat I eat (and I drink red wine when I eat it!). So I was surprised. I had my battalion of tests right after Christmas (and yes, I let Dracula in too...), and I had eaten too rich, and had too much stress (I blow glass right up to Christmas Eve. meeting orders), so I wrote it off to that. I guess I better retest now - afterall, I have met my deductible. ;D I wonder if their is a connection? Lets keep each other up on our findings / results!
Jules
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Lori,
Let's clarify things........ I'm the cook, Louie is the pizza maker and wine marker. He has come along way with his cooking talents but the boys prefer my cooking. Louie has a tendency to over salt and use lots of oil. I have always watched the amount of oil, butter or lard I use. My husband thinks more is better. He is an excellent grocery shopper I must say.
Now Lori you still have to give me the house number and street name so I can mail my credit card bills to Jan ;D Its so nice having caring rich friends :-*
Kay,
I'd sooner buy a nice pair of shoes. I must have 10 pairs of thong sandals. They make your feet look so pretty compared to sneakers. Now with fall coming there's a few quite boots I wouldn't mind.........These boots are made for walking and that's just what they do, one of these days these are going to walk all over.......high cholesterol!!!
Anne Marie
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Anne Marie~
Oh, I have a whole closet full of shoes - I like them all but now I have to go for the more sensible ones that I can walk in! I love the new Privo! shoes by Clark's...I still just have a special spot for teenies!!
;D
K
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Oh, thong sandals - I LOVE those! I always buy a bunch in the fall when they are all on sale - then the next spring it's like Christmas, or my birthday with all the new shoes! :D
Meanwhile, on the high cholestrol --- your chol can change quite a bit just with dietary changes. Big thing that I've learned to watch for is trans fats (fortunately very easy to watch for since labeling requires it now.) Sneaky little bast***s are hiding in a lot of places! And, of course, dark chocolate in moderation is key!! And it goes so nicely with red wine...
Debbi
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Debbi,
I just got 2 new pairs of thong sandals, one silver with cute little silver tassels and one in teal blue ........you are right it's like Christmas, but without the cold and snow. 8)
Back to the cholesterol, I spoke to the pharmacist and he feels the spike is due to the medication. I'm off the med's and I'm reading every label on the packages of food. I'm so glad the garden produce is so plentiful. Lots of beans, tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuces. I have never been a junk food eater but I will admit chocolate is a weakness, but a piece of chocolate once a month never hurt anyone!
Anne Marie
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One piece of chocolate - once a month???? I thought is was supposed to be one pound of chocolate once a day??? No wonder my cholesterol hasn't gotten any better. :D And I thought my clothes were just shrinking in the wash... guess not.
Lori
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Geez! The cat's away the mice will play, eh, Lori ???
Just about the time I was getting ready to respond to this thread and thank you for agreeing to pay Yardtick's credit card bills, I see you've passed that wonderful chore on to me :P I always knew you were a generous soul ;) I just didn't realize until now that the generosity came out of my wallet instead of yours :D
Jan - caring (absolutely), rich (yea, right ::) )
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Oh, hey Jan...
I hadn't seen you post for a few days and I knew you were sooo busy working that I figured you might overlook that little mention of paying the bills....
Nothing gets past you, I see! ::)
Lori
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Hi Anne Marie,
Sorry I haven't returned to this thread lately. My participation has been sporadic due to my recent obsession with the Olympics. I find them really fascinating and always have, especially the events that rely on great balance (imagine that! Gymnastics is my favorite event. I really thought Shawn nad Natia would clinch Silver and Gold but Silver and Bronze is nothing toi sneeze at. It sounds like you, Lori ,Kay and Debbi,have been doing quite a bit of planning for shopping sprees, especially for shoes. Shopping is one of my favorite passtimes and I love shoes. I'm like Debbi, I like to get my sandals at the end of the season and give myself a present the following Spring. last year I bought four pairs of thongs for $65.00 total -- the non-sale price would have been over $200 so it was a fantastic buy and a win-win situation! Thank you JC Penney!!! I'll have to see how I do this year. Sorry to hear your problems with high cholesterol have not gotten any better but now that you are off your meds hopefully it will go down. How are the headaches and did you doc say what you can take for them?
Hi Lori --How are you? I see you're up to your usual hijinx!!
Wendy
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Yes, Lori, your elder sister has finally returned ;)
It took me a few days to get back into the swing of things and start posting again, but I think I have the hang of it now.
Missed you guys!
Jan
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Hi Wendy,
I don't know how the cholesterol is going, it's too soon to test. I'm off the med's, and the headaches are brutal. I have a sneaking suspicion that I am developing another scar neuroma. I have to call the Doctor.
Anne Marie
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Hi Anne Marie,
What is a scar neuroma? At any rate, I hope the headaches can be explained by something else, and the Dr. will come up with a non choleserl raising cure for them.
Sincerely,
Julie
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Wendy -
Me? Hi-jinx? You must have me confused with someone else - Jan probably. :D I'm slowly trying to get into a new routine now that my 5 year old started Kindergarten and I get to play taxi driver. Whatever happened to walking to school - uphill..both ways...in the snow... Kids are so spoiled these days. :D
Anne Marie - sorry to hear about the return of the headaches. Seems like we spend an awful lot of time fixing one problem, and then something else breaks! When all else fails - shop til you drop!
Lori
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Hi Lori,
I know you are so sweet and innocnet my little sister,you would never, ever be up to anyting. How could I make such an accusation? I know what you mean about becoming a taxi driver. I'm in a carpool with three other people in the morning but in the afternoon, I'm pretty much on my own -- my daughters were in the same school last year but my 14 year old is starting high school (I feel so old when I say that) so we're back to a two school run. I don't know what time she'll get out and there are no school buses and no public trasportation that will get her closer than 3/4 of a mile to the house -- it's over 2 miles to her school from here so I have no choice about picking her up. She would never be able to make it ti school on time in the morning -- school starts at 7:15 a.m. What are the school boards thinking? My 12 year old will be in the carpool too. Her school is only about 1/2 mile away so I'll make her walk home when the weather isn't bad. Once school starts I definitely feel like a chauffer more than any other time of year.
Ann Marie -- Sorry for the hijack. Hope you had a better day today.
Wendy