Go to From Damn Near Hell To Almost Paradise
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You people kill me
Ariel suggests I dance naked and call him. TAPS suggests food that I couldn't force this man to eat and laughs at me. Oh dear. Actually Pat's suggestions are workable. Carl loves cashews so I'll check into those and I just recently started making a point of cooking with olive oil when I realized that it has quite a few health benefits.
Of course, I just discovered that Carl also had two McDonald's bagel sandwiches just before the test because nobody told him to fast beforehand. I honestly don't know if that makes a huge difference or not but I guess it makes me feel better, with all the CRAP in his system that his bad cholesterol was still good LOL!
Our normal doctor wants to give it 30 days and then test him. She is also requesting the records from the VA so she has an idea of what is going on with him.
posted by
bel_1965
on October 11, 2006 at 4:33 AM
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Bel -
I know that pictures of gorgeous blondes, redheads and brunettes got my cholesterol up - no wait, that was my heart beat . . .
posted by
sannhet
on October 10, 2006 at 8:38 PM
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Bel
Hmmmm....maybe he needs a little exercise that's more repetitive and constant?
Maybe, walking or something where the movement is fixed and continuous.
I wouldn't know what else to recommend, as like you've said...it's not for lack of activity.
posted by
Afzal_Sunny7
on October 10, 2006 at 8:26 AM
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Bel, LOL, hell hath no fury like a woman on a mission. Go get 'em.
posted by
Blanche.
on October 10, 2006 at 1:11 AM
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Bel,
I have heard nuts, especially almonds, help raise the good cholesterol levels. Maybe you need a second opinion.
posted by
WritersBlok
on October 9, 2006 at 12:08 PM
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Thanks everyone for the comments
Unfortunately time is limited as I really, really need to get my butt in bed. I will try to catch up with everyone tommorow but I do appreciate the input. What I realize is the VA did not bother to see that this man has about 19% body fat and some awesome muscle (droooooooooool) he is in fantastic physical shape. Our eating habits leave a great deal to be desired as we are both addicted to fried foods. First thing I am doing tommorow is calling our family doctor and getting him an appointment. I don't like the way this whole situation is handled. His HDL is 23 if that means a heck of a lot to anyone as I can't find out what optimum level is for this. What I can say is there are going to be some eating habits changed and I am getting the opinion from a doctor who is not putting my husband on a freaking assembly line of patients.
I want him around for our 50th anniversary which means he has anotehr 40 years and 2 months to go so instead of waiting for his next appointment for the specialist in freaking Febuary I am taking charge of this NOW.
I do agree with Fourcats to a large degree but at the same time with his family history of heart disease I would rather be a bit cautious.
Again, thank you all!
posted by
bel_1965
on October 8, 2006 at 9:07 PM
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Blonde
Count me in on that!!!!
posted by
bel_1965
on October 8, 2006 at 9:00 PM
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Bel
The VA can kiss my *ss!!!!! It is a part of a goal in my life to expose the hell out of them one day....I am definitely writing it in my plans!
posted by
BlondeAmbition007
on October 8, 2006 at 11:19 AM
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bel,
let me just second Blanche's comment: it is possible to improve your HDL by changing your diet. I have done it myself, doing very well on what is sometimes called a 'Mediterranean' diet. (That I eat a bit too much sometimes, especially now that I am not allowed to work out, is a different matter, 
.)
Just find yourself a competent nutritionist, follow orders, and Carl's (and your own) HDL will improve in no time...
posted by
Nautikos
on October 8, 2006 at 10:14 AM
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first of all, if the test is critical, do it again just to be sure of the
results. past that, if hubby feels fine and is eating, sleeping and getting his exercise, i'd say, so what? we're only here once. i'd rather relax.
(hope he's okay though, i don't mean to sound trite. best wishes.)
posted by
fourcats
on October 8, 2006 at 9:36 AM
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There is a very good cereal called Uncle Sam. It has flax seed in it.
posted by
babe_rocks
on October 8, 2006 at 7:44 AM
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Hmmmm
I think I am as confused as you....
posted by
_Symphony_
on October 8, 2006 at 7:04 AM
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bel
He may spend all day working very hard, but how is his diet? Does he take vitamins, or eat regularly?
I think this in part is the solution. If I come across anything more, I'll pass it on.
posted by
avant-garde
on October 8, 2006 at 3:26 AM
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I'm confused about the science of flax seeds, Janes, I know that both
fish oil and flax seeds have Omega fatty acids, but I'm told that the better kind is in fish oil, Omega-3 fatty acids. Not that I couldn't take both, but I do keep fish oil on hand and try to take a 1g a day, for brain and heart in general. What do you think?
posted by
Blanche.
on October 7, 2006 at 6:52 PM
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Blanche seriously, try ground flax seed. It does lower cholesterol!
(And it's a great anti-cancer.) Mix it with yogurt and fruit, and you've got a meal!
posted by
JanesOpinion
on October 7, 2006 at 6:49 PM
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Oatmeal maybe?
posted by
Whacky
on October 7, 2006 at 5:33 PM
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Babe, I'm following this whole issue with interest, since I need to get my
own cholesterol down and am not doing much. What kind of grains, anything specific?
posted by
Blanche.
on October 7, 2006 at 4:33 PM
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My dr says she has actually seen whole grains produce good results.
posted by
babe_rocks
on October 7, 2006 at 4:24 PM
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Adding my 2 cents --
it's really hard to get HDL to budge in the right direction. Diet and exercise will help a bit, but that will be slow. Statins such as Zocor or Lipitor will provide the biggest improvement.
HDL is the cholesterol that will help clean out the arteries and move bad cholesterol back to the liver for recycling. It's important to try and get it higher. Things that have been recommended below -- salmon, fish oil, etc will help a little but it's a very slow process. Don't get discouraged! Another food item that will help is ground flax seed.
Good luck!
Oh and yeah, I'm curious to know if that dance in front of a full moon suggested by Ariel does anything. How very fascinating! Think it's FDA approved???
posted by
JanesOpinion
on October 7, 2006 at 11:43 AM
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What that finding actually seems to mean (to me) is that he's not eating much fat, and the ones I suggested before are all "good" fats with lots of Omega 3 & 6 and heart benefits. The "don't worry" is because, to put it nicely, it's the VA...
posted by
Pat_B
on October 7, 2006 at 11:13 AM
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Feed him guacamole
and olive oil salad dressing. Nuts. Plus which, don't worry about it.
posted by
Pat_B
on October 7, 2006 at 11:10 AM
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bel
Well I don't know...does diet impact it? I wish I had an answer for you and Carl...Good luck!
posted by
Offy
on October 7, 2006 at 10:08 AM
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Bel
Oh, dear! Oh, dear, oh dear, oh, dear!
Poor old Carl! The poor dude's gonna be a walking nutritional laboratory. If he can walk, after gorging all this okra, eggplant, etc etc. and if lives long enough to eat all the stuff that folks in here are suggesting.
Of course, there is another way. You could try takin' all yer clothes off, me dear, and dancing widdershins around a Deadly Upas tree at the full moon.
Let me know when you're doin' it, an' I'll come over, an' give some more advice.
posted by
ariel70
on October 7, 2006 at 10:06 AM
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So, in other words, Southerners who eat jambalaya are the healthiest, TAPS?
posted by
Blanche.
on October 7, 2006 at 9:58 AM
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Bel, they probably don't know how much he already exercises. Did they ask him when they did his H&P? Here's one for you. Have him eat an eggplant a day. Its real good for cholesterol problems. The bad thing about it is that not many people like eggplant that well. LOL Another thing that is really good for cholesterol is raw okra. Get him to eat a half-dozen raw okra each day and his problems will be over. HAHA Why can't it be something that a person can eat?
posted by
TAPS.
on October 7, 2006 at 9:56 AM
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I may do that, Ariel, thanks
posted by
Blanche.
on October 7, 2006 at 9:49 AM
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Blanche
Not sure, I just open my mouth, and Lady Ariela pops 'em in. Bit like dosing a horse.
Try logging on to FLP for info, and if it don't work, let me know, and I'll root it out for you.
posted by
ariel70
on October 7, 2006 at 9:48 AM
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Ariel, just out of curiosity, how many grams of EPA and DHA do your
fish oil tablets have? I am bad at taking mine, but I try to get a gram a day of EPA.
posted by
Blanche.
on October 7, 2006 at 9:42 AM
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Bel
Try Forever Living Products Arctic Sea whole fish oil.
It's guaranteed to lower cholesterol, or money back. I now take it every other day, instead of my anti-cholesterol pills, and mine is fine.
www.foreverliving.com
el Tel
posted by
ariel70
on October 7, 2006 at 9:41 AM
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Does he take anything like vitamins, minerals or calcium???
Maybe he just needs to improve his diet....lots of water, juices, fruits, veggies, etc.
posted by
Passionflower
on October 7, 2006 at 9:34 AM
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that's not true, Bel. I am no nutritionist, but what I was told when I got
the news that my cholesterol was high, both HDL, (high density lipids), the good kind and LDL, low density lipids, the bad kind which clog the arteries and cause artherosclerosis, or heart disease leading to degeneratioin of the heart is that eating less red meat, more fiber, especially oatmeal if possible every morning for breakfast would help.
I've got diet books, that I'm not following, we're still not eating the way we should, but if Carl will eat fish, which Michael won't, then white fish, baked, is good.
Salmon is very good for the heart, Omega 3 fatty acids in the fish oil are very, very good for the heart and brain. He may have to take cholesterol lowering drugs, along with the diet, but both together will help.
There are people here like JanesOpinion and TAPS, who are nurses who would know more.
posted by
Blanche.
on October 7, 2006 at 9:22 AM
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