[(JD)]

Well, here is another of those times where I'm advocating for myself and going AMA (against medical advice).

Background notes: I went on the (formerly "Doctor's") Quick Weight Loss Diet... you know the one on which Rush Limbaugh lost 90 lbs before his wedding?

The first two weeks I lost the latest weight I had put on ((10lbs) but then fell ill and realized the increased sugar in the products was "killing me" I think literally? I don't do well with sugar. In the midst of all this (just prior to and during the diet) my MD was running labs. Turns out my glucose went sky high! I quit taking any and all of the supplements and also went onto their vegetarian diet since the red meat was too much for my system as well (LDL went to 224.)

So last week I had labs drawn again... and my glucose is fine now, but the triglycerides are at 389!

I'm totally off that diet plan, and been eating well/healthy for a week before those labs... obviously not enough time to lower the triglycerides...

So my MD, once again, orders TRICOR for me. I even allowed them to call it into the pharm, since they touted the dangers of high levels. Well, I knew the dangers and said ok.

But now I've researched the drug...and it's a statin! I had told my MD explicitly I would NEVER go onto a statin because of the documentation behind them (they don't lower the risk of the strokes, heart disease etc, they cause muscle problems and you can never go off them without further damage!) So I just called the pharm and told them not to bother, I m not taking it.

Almost she snookered me. I'm working at not being upset inside or outside as that isn't good for me either.

So now... back to the low sugar (no sugar?) and no red meat diet... Hmmm I was so much healthier before I decided to eat only healthy foods at home and quit eating out every day. Favorite Italian restaurant, HERE I COME!

[ECHOES]

JD, sorry to hear that you can't take the Tricor.
I take statins for my trigs that started at over 5,000. Now down to the 300's.
I suffered more from the high trigs (ended up with scarring in the pacreatic duct, and surgery to remove the head of the pancreas, Whipple procedure..huge surgery) than from the meds. I only once had a muscular reaction and switched to simvastatin (Zocor) and have no problems. I wasn't aware of all the things in your post though, so will have to do some researching too. Thanks for the heads up.

It sounds like you are taking good care of you So irritating when we think our doc knows us, then doesn't something like prescribe a med we have said we won't take! I have had this problem with hydrocodone and all it's 'cousins'. Now I just lie and tell them I'm allergic to it. Gotta do what ya gotta do!

Good luck and I hope you feel better

[(JD)]

Thanks. So glad it all worked for you.

The American Heart Association says not to take any of those types of medications unless it's a last resort. I think, in your case, that was true. My total cholesterol is only 244 and my triglycerides are 289. They rose due to a "quick weight loss diet" that had far too much sugar for me. My glucose has returned to normal, after being off the diet for 2 weeks now. I expect my tri and ldl to do likewise with a healthy diet instead (fish 3x a week to start.)

But my MD hasn't discussed anything with me, not nutrition, not weight, nothing. Just keeps pushing the statins towards me.

It's all so depressing.

[ECHOES]

I don't like when drugs are the first choice, or (worse) when they are used to diagnose!
My GI used to do that. Ask me to try a drug and if I felt better, then Oh, it must be diagnosis X. Kept pushing Protonix on me and I continue to refuse. I don't have a problem all of the time so I'm not taking a med all of the time. And suppressing gastric acid by turning off the 'pump' has it's own set of possible effects down the road (as does reflux, which I say I don't have because it isn't a problem all of the time). sorry, got going and couldn't stop

JD my MD just did that with a different issue. I felt very bad when he did. As if he had no fatih in me or didn't want to take time with me.

I also think they could run labs a few times, over several months, to have more than one snapshot of one time period, before prescribing something.

for it feeling depressing.

[KathyM]

I'm glad you caught that JD. That drug scares me too. It's commonly used to help stabilize a heart arrhythmia, but it has the opposite effect on patients with amyloidosis. It causes the blood pressure to drop so low the patient dies of a heart attack. That's why I won't go to the hospital when my heart starts racing.

My mother used to always say "You should HAVE a diet, not be ON a diet." Back in the early 80s I gained some weight. I tried several of the diets that were popular (some still are), but all I did was gain more weight. It caused me to be obsessed with food and feel horrible about myself. I quit dieting, quit obsessing over food, and stopped listening to all the "voices" telling me I'm fat. After about two years, little by little, the extra weight came off and never returned.

My sister and I used to be the same size. She tried those diets back then too, but continued on with other diets to lose weight. She's now considered "morbidly obese." WTH?

Last January she started a new radical and very expensive diet with a group that recommends "Jesus food." She lost 40 lbs. on this diet. However, the rapid weight loss destroyed her gall bladder. Her appendix burst at the same time - not sure if there is a connection, and she now has lesions on her pancreas.

Love the body God gave you, and give it what it needs. I hope you'll be able to get those numbers balanced with good nutrition.

[Fresia]

JD,

I understand the concern over the med; I have had it too. Talk your doc for other options. The other thing that I did that is so simple but made a huge difference in my overall cholesterol and triglyc., funny enough was oatmeal. Cup a day, just like the commercial says. I don't know if you are prone to celiac's or a gluten free diet, as this would not work. But if not, it helped decrease my numbers significantly without meds. Also was told to add or increase Omega 3. (If have other illnesses, arthritis or muscle cramping from various illnesses, Omega 6 and 9 can aggrevate it.)

I change it up with fruit, nuts, flaxin oil to replace butter (Omegas), or a bit of vanilla because it is not the most inspiring thing to eat. There is also powdered protein which is flavored, no sugar, in the health food section at some groceries or health food stores to add so have some protein with it too and to change the flavor.

I don't know if this might help as you decide about meds as I can't remember about the celiac's. But perhaps can do this in the meantime to get started.

[Perna]

I've never had a cholesterol problem and I think I'm glad I told my doctor I don't take any meds where one of the side effects is death. I can't believe some of these drugs out and their side effects that seem like they might be worse than the illness in the first place!

[ECHOES]

Perna, some of the tv commercials are almost hilarious to me. By the time they get to the end of the warnings, I am

[NoBread]

Hi JD,

I always like to check this Ask a Patient site for drug affects. It has input from actual users of the drugs and can give an idea how they might affect some people. It's interesting to read through some of them because drugs seem to affect some people very seriously while others have no problem with the same drug. Just shows that we are not all the same biologically.

I had problems with a blood pressure medication once and looked it up there and saw other people had the same kind of problems.

Oats can be risky for a celiac, somewhere between 10 and 15% of celiacs react to oats protein. But most can eat them.

http://www.askapatient.com/

[(JD)]

Oh you all have given me some good comments!!

Yes, I am adding plain rolled oats back into my diet. I used to eat them nearly every day (if not for breakfast, then as a late night snack.) That quick weight loss diet wouldn't let me eat them. grrrr

I'm also adding tuna and salmon back in.

Oh yes on the "warnings" with the TV ads I mean, they list 10-15 items! And some CAUSE exactly what you're taking it for! Yet doctors push them.

No, I didn't have any cholesterol or triglyceride issues prior to this summer... except what I AM concerned about is a low LDL. But do I get help raising that? I will.

I don't do well with synthetics, especially in medications. Something about swallowing silicone upsets my system.

[Fresia]

JD,
You want a low LDL but perhaps your HDL needs to be raised if it is too low, at or below 40 I think is when it becomes a concern. This website has good tips on raising HDL which can in turn lower LDL and triglycerides:

http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/cho...a/raiseHDL.htm

Hope it helps.

[(JD)]

oops I misspoke. I don't care about the LDL being above 200. Read too many studies that suggest that 200 or below causes health problems. (Of course, it could be connected to those who take statins to lower that LDL?)

Yes I am concerned about a low HDL. And while I'm not happy with the 289 level of triglycerides, as long as I don't start throwing strokes while I lower it right back down, I'll be okay.

I was only on the diet one month when the glucose and LDL and triglycerides went off the chart (of upper limits.) So I am hoping only another month or two to lower them back down? By 3 months' time for sure, when I get my 4th lab run for the year.

[Fresia]

It's not easy making dietary changes. I applaud you for doing this.

As much as you can do to incorporate in your diet, especially the HDL things, will lower the LDL and Triglycerides. It's rare to have too low of an LDL, you want this below 100 for an optimal number; 100-129 near optimal, 130-159 borderline, 160-190 high, 190 and above is very high. So whatever you can do to get this number down and HDL up, as difficult as it may be, as you know, is in your interest. Triglycerides will usually follow being lowered with these other changes.

I wish you much luck, patience and persistence! You have reminded me I have slipped on some things over time and need to go back to doing. Thank you for bringing this to my attention as well. Best of wishes!

[(JD)]

Did you all see this? Backs up my suspicions of medical doctors and what they push on us. http://content.usatoday.com/communit...nly-twinkies/1

[ECHOES]

Finally!! A diet I can live with! And I'll get to go off my meds too. Thanks!!

[(JD)]

Yep. I mean, that guy is a nutrition professor and proved it has nothing to do with what foods you eat to lose weight, it's all about calories in.

AND his cholesterol went DOWN. Mine went UP when I added in a lot of sugar in those quick weight loss diet supplements...but then I'm borderline hypoglycemic. I've already lost another 3 lbs since quitting the diet.

Losing weight is a good way to lower LDL and tri. but I know it won't do the whole trick. (I had a friend in the early 80s, in the USAF aux with me, who was fit as a fiddle, ran the miles and all with the cadets... and began throwing strokes... his tri. level was near 500. But he ate everything fried! I eat nothing (?) fried. (Trying to think of something once in a while that might be fried...but I don't have all the clogging in my system, so if I eat fried food, it gives me great distress. (Because I have no fat built up in the system to 'absorb' it.))

Anyway... If it weren't for the fat grams... OH WAIT! what's the fat content in a twinkie? and an oreo? mmmm You know those product sales are going UP UP UP!!

I wonder what the "Biggest Loser" show will do with that? I mean, this means that those who don't lose but a pound or two are eating too much!!! Regardless of their exercise regime, they are sneaking food! Has to be.

Ok I rambled.

I've put off calling the MDs office for the actual count on my anti inflammatory so they won't ask about the TRICOR script. I'd like to wait 3 months for retest to see if I can do this by diet....GOOD diet this time. (And cheaper! I dropped big bucks on that other with the "guarantee" and turns out they have NO guarantee. I'm in a pain flare and can't handle the stress right now in notifying the State's officials on that one...but maybe before the end of the year?)

[KathyM]

I think it's very irresponsible for a nutrition expert to promote such a thing, even if it's just to prove a point. It makes me wonder how much Hostess is paying him to promote their product.

He may have short-term benefits of weight loss and improved cholesterol numbers, but what about the long-term effects? Will his body be able to sustain itself on a diet of Twinkies? What effect will all that sugar have on his other vital organs and body systems?

I have nothing against sugar, but I think the key to any good diet is moderation. Overloading on anything will put unnecessary pressure on something.

[madisgram]

jd those trigs. are a form of sugar in your blood. many foods have that form of sugar in them. u sound up on the subject but thought i'd throw that out. trigs. can be just damaging to your body as diabetic glucose sugars can. i have too high trigs. too. but in my case know why and i'm so sick and tired of all the meds i take i just ignore this test result altho shame on me!!
also statins can cause probs for some people but i've been fortunate in that regard. my uncle/a pharmacist had to go off them due to the muscle problem. he didn't have any adverse reaction to stopping, fyi. now he eats primarily veggies in his diet to lower his cholesterol. it is a sure way to lose weight too cause there's no fat. course chicken, some types of pork, or fish can give you the proteins you need with less fat in them.
it's important if you're on them/statins to have lipid profiles-liver-regularly done to assure damage or overload is not affecting the liver.
some ppl-me included-have a genetic predisdision to your body making too much cholesterol. great...grrr.

[Perna]

I love my World's Healthiest Foods site: http://whfoods.org/

My doctor (just saw him yesterday :-) does prescribing rather than diagnosing. Just listens to what you complain about or what numbers you have and works form there. They don't really have time anymore and there's so many "new" illnesses and drugs, etc. that it has to be a nightmare for them with health care as it is and trying to keep up with regulations and new drugs, etc.

But we've got a good rapport going, finally, and know one another enough so he doesn't push things on me, just checks every now and then that I don't want X drug :-) and I know better what questions to ask or concerns to raise, etc.

I don't think doctors know much about diet and nutrition yet still. I was bragging to mine about losing weight a couple years ago and telling him about how I was doing it, etc. http://sparkpeople.com and he must not have heard even every other word because he leaned over and gave me a weight loss brochure for a 1500 calorie diet!

[(JD)]

Yes indeed... in fact I know the triglyceride level is up because of the sugars in the supplements from that diet center! I had to quit eating them after a week or so, and complained about the sugar effect.

They said it was nutrition I needed, but I told them no way, that I can't ingest sugar and get away with it. I tend to eat very basic foods, no packaged mixes etc. I rarely have anything canned (except tuna or salmon) ... and eat almost no breads etc... it all has sugar! (and other stuff my body hates like nitrites, nitrates, msg, hydrolized stuff etc) I eat Perdue chicken breasts with garlic powder, for instance, and frozen green beans (plain) and sweet potato (also plain generally) ... very basic foodstuffs. (I lost my sense of taste, so no reason anyway to add anything that isn't healthy for me.)

Yes. It was the sugar that blew my glucose off the chart (which has already returned to normal) and my LDL and tri's for sure. Just don't know how long it will take to bring them back down, but I have another 2 1/2 months

[serafim_etal]

Originally Posted by KathyM

I think it's very irresponsible for a nutrition expert to promote such a thing, even if it's just to prove a point. It makes me wonder how much Hostess is paying him to promote their product.

He may have short-term benefits of weight loss and improved cholesterol numbers, but what about the long-term effects? Will his body be able to sustain itself on a diet of Twinkies? What effect will all that sugar have on his other vital organs and body systems?

I have nothing against sugar, but I think the key to any good diet is moderation. Overloading on anything will put unnecessary pressure on something.

Another important thing to note is that one of the things that raises triglycerides is infrequent meals (like once a day). The nutritionist was eating every three hours. Also note that his response to the improved cholesterol numbers sounded a bit incredulous/tongue-in-cheek.

[ECHOES]

Another important thing to note is that one of the things that raises triglycerides is infrequent meals (like once a day). The nutritionist was eating every three hours. Also note that his response to the improved cholesterol numbers sounded a bit incredulous/tongue-in-cheek.

Thank you for posting this!! I really really needed to hear this .. again. I am really bad about not eating at work. I need to plan better.
Thank you!