Just a touch too high...

[Harpoon]

I had my second visit with my new primary care physician...

She's a "D.O." and now I know what that is... I'm so proud of myself for knowing how to use Google....

Anyway, she ordered a ton of bloodwork the last time we met and everything's great 'cept my cholesterol is a little over the line. I don't recall the specific numbers and nothing was off the charts by any means, just higher than the specified range for 33 year olds with TGV and a prosthetic tricupsid valve apparently.

Anyways, was just wondering what kind of advice is out there for such things.

Another topic we discussed was PT/INR monitoring. Right now I'm kind of behind because I had been doing it regularly with my old PCP but since that's no longer an option, I've been getting it through my cardiologist. Problem is, that's MAJOR hike and I don't really need to see him every month just for a protime, his staff has other patients to deal with...

So I'm trying to revisit the home monitoring option (if I have one) and see how much of a fight it will take to get my insurance to cover it. The other option is standard blood draws (ouch) and my new doc has no experience in handling anticoagulant management...

Input would be helpful.

Thankyou.

 

[hensylee]

if she puts you on a med for cholesterol, watch for side effects. Maybe you can lower it w/o meds.

I can't help w/the INR situation, but I do know from taking my bro for years, every month, it can be a problem. I wish you luck. Somebody will come along and fill you in.

 

[Ross]

Go on the oatmeal and red beans diet. Just might save you from cholesterol meds.

INR monitoring-Depends on what you have for insurance. Some approve it without fighting, but most don't. All you can do is try and appeal it if denied.

 

[Harpoon]

We're taking the "diet and exercise" approach to bringing the cholesterol down for now. Why complicate things by making me take even more medication than I'm already on???

I think I'm going to be eating more Cheerios for breakfast and maybe some oatmeal though I have found I get kinda sick of oatmeal after the third or fourth day of it...

It rained all day today so no bike riding, but my fire company had "hose tower duty" tonight and I had time to go roll some hoseline and start a few power tools so I figure I got at least "a good brisk walk" in for exercise.

Rolling hoses then carrying them across the truckbay and putting them on a storage rack is acutally a pretty moderate and steady workout and I did that for about an hour.

Not enough to make the "guns" bigger, but it's good enough for the ticker.

 

[aussigal]

I have never tried these so I dont know how they taste but in the news this week is Pistachio nuts...they did some trials and have been proven to lower cholesterol. I may just have to buy some I think the key to Oatmeal is not having it everyday or it gets boring/tasteless.
Good Luck on keeping off cholesterol meds.