I need to pick up the full lab sheets, but so far:
147 Overall Cholesterol
80 LDL
44 HDL
My prediction was that these results would be within 15% of the previous results. Looks like they are within 10%. Dr. said they were good results.
I need the Triglycerides and the metabolic panel. I have an elevated ALT reading and a Vitamin D reading. Will up my Vitamin D to 4000/day (4 capsules).
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
January 11 Doctor Visit
Clean bill of health (except for a suggestion to lose 10-15 pounds). Tests scheduled for later this week and will include a metabolic panel, lipid profile (no VAP test though), PSA, Hemoglobin A1C, Vitamin D and a CBC (L) (which I haven't been following).
In terms of predictions, I think I'll have a lipid panel within 15% of my very good August tests. I'm doing the 4g Lovaza, 1 Trilipix, 2.5mg Crestor, Zetia, and 1 Niaspan daily. For the record, I'm also taking trandilopril, Q10, folic acid, melatonin, Vitamin D (2) and a baby aspirin daily.
The doctor did recommend a full body scan which includes a heart scan like the one I had done about two years ago. To this point he has resisted just the heart scan because of the radiation dose for no reason -- i.e., the results would not change the medication in any way, so what's the point? (Aside from the $300 for the test.)
I of course am interested in whether I've slowed or even reversed the plaque buildup. What puts all of this in play this time is that the full body scan reveals possible problems that aren't discovered through palpitation. The doctor was curious enough though about what he couldn't feel to recommend the full body scan. It's $650 but I'm interested in doing this sometime this year and it includes a follow-up heart scan. I may contact RCOG to check the radiation safety, which the scanning agency describes in terms the number of dental X-rays.
The doctor also reminded me of my yearly appoitment with my heart doctor, whom I will see in early February. He may recommend the thalium stress test which I'll decline if I'm going to do the full body scan. He will probably do a simple stress test, which is fine with me.
In terms of predictions, I think I'll have a lipid panel within 15% of my very good August tests. I'm doing the 4g Lovaza, 1 Trilipix, 2.5mg Crestor, Zetia, and 1 Niaspan daily. For the record, I'm also taking trandilopril, Q10, folic acid, melatonin, Vitamin D (2) and a baby aspirin daily.
The doctor did recommend a full body scan which includes a heart scan like the one I had done about two years ago. To this point he has resisted just the heart scan because of the radiation dose for no reason -- i.e., the results would not change the medication in any way, so what's the point? (Aside from the $300 for the test.)
I of course am interested in whether I've slowed or even reversed the plaque buildup. What puts all of this in play this time is that the full body scan reveals possible problems that aren't discovered through palpitation. The doctor was curious enough though about what he couldn't feel to recommend the full body scan. It's $650 but I'm interested in doing this sometime this year and it includes a follow-up heart scan. I may contact RCOG to check the radiation safety, which the scanning agency describes in terms the number of dental X-rays.
The doctor also reminded me of my yearly appoitment with my heart doctor, whom I will see in early February. He may recommend the thalium stress test which I'll decline if I'm going to do the full body scan. He will probably do a simple stress test, which is fine with me.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
September Dr. Visit
Good follow-up meeting on September 26 with my doctor. No surprises. Again, one of the best lipid profiles -- and with only one Niaspan/day, so I have some margin. I'll meet again in January for my physical. Thumati after that for a yearly, probably only a stress test, maybe not even that.
Of note: my Ownindex readings are down slightly from the summer. 725 gives me 39; 810, 37; Readings were above 40 in the summer, with a high of 43.
The 725 monitor reads a little higher than the 810, the latter I think is more accurate. These are near margin-of-error, but they are consistent between the two monitors, so my overall O2Max is down slightly. Maybe step up training a little?
Of note: my Ownindex readings are down slightly from the summer. 725 gives me 39; 810, 37; Readings were above 40 in the summer, with a high of 43.
The 725 monitor reads a little higher than the 810, the latter I think is more accurate. These are near margin-of-error, but they are consistent between the two monitors, so my overall O2Max is down slightly. Maybe step up training a little?
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
August Tests Back
Did pretty well this time. Predictions: "... this time I expect an HDL of maybe 41; Overall Cholesterol 140; LDL 75 (I hope); Triglycerides of 125 or below." (last post)
HDL was better at 48. I estimated 41. This reflects the 4 grams of Omega 3/day plus the 2.5 Crestor plus the Trilipix plus the Zetia plus at least one Niaspan. In China I did do the Niaspan but not the statin. The statin does great for LDL and with the Trilipix - triglycerides.
Overall Cholesterol was 143 which was pretty close to my estimate of 140.
LDL was 79. I estimated 75 but was worried that it might be higher. It was, but not much. There is an habituation issue, I suspect. But I think this would have been lower if I had consistently taken 2 Niaspan/day plus all the rest. That will be worth doing. If I remember to take the Niaspan early and there is not a stomach problem, I'll take two. Otherwise one.
I predicted that triglycerides would be 125 (normal) or below and that is true. In fact, this is one of the lowest readings I have had at 76. Not sure what to make of this. I think Trilipix is key, but the Crestor, even at 2.5mg/day, and the one Niaspan all contributed.
My Dr. (didn't see him today) will say that's pretty good. I'm curious about whether there is any rollback that might be shown in a scan. I did get a note, as I mentioned, from the Orange County Group that ran the scan recommending an 18 month followup. My Dr. will say "wait, there's too much radiation to warrant doing it now." And he will say that no result from the scan would be likely to indicate any different response.
I'm averaging 121/67 in blood pressure over many hundreds of readings over the past year. There is a slight downward trend. I still need to do more stretching and some upper body work and lose ten pounds. I'm at about 200 now, up 4-5 pounds from my last trip. 185 would be ideal. I did get to 189 briefly in Hangzhou last Fall. Maybe I could shoot for 190 by Christmas.
I'd like to get off the statin entirely but it is effective, especially with respect to LDL. Still, there are rumors on the net about a connection between statin use and Alzheimers. But maybe muscle cramping could be an indicator that all is not right with Crestor. I haven't had that as yet (at least).
Next tests would be 4 months from now or early January. That would cohere with my PSA as well.
HDL was better at 48. I estimated 41. This reflects the 4 grams of Omega 3/day plus the 2.5 Crestor plus the Trilipix plus the Zetia plus at least one Niaspan. In China I did do the Niaspan but not the statin. The statin does great for LDL and with the Trilipix - triglycerides.
Overall Cholesterol was 143 which was pretty close to my estimate of 140.
LDL was 79. I estimated 75 but was worried that it might be higher. It was, but not much. There is an habituation issue, I suspect. But I think this would have been lower if I had consistently taken 2 Niaspan/day plus all the rest. That will be worth doing. If I remember to take the Niaspan early and there is not a stomach problem, I'll take two. Otherwise one.
I predicted that triglycerides would be 125 (normal) or below and that is true. In fact, this is one of the lowest readings I have had at 76. Not sure what to make of this. I think Trilipix is key, but the Crestor, even at 2.5mg/day, and the one Niaspan all contributed.
My Dr. (didn't see him today) will say that's pretty good. I'm curious about whether there is any rollback that might be shown in a scan. I did get a note, as I mentioned, from the Orange County Group that ran the scan recommending an 18 month followup. My Dr. will say "wait, there's too much radiation to warrant doing it now." And he will say that no result from the scan would be likely to indicate any different response.
I'm averaging 121/67 in blood pressure over many hundreds of readings over the past year. There is a slight downward trend. I still need to do more stretching and some upper body work and lose ten pounds. I'm at about 200 now, up 4-5 pounds from my last trip. 185 would be ideal. I did get to 189 briefly in Hangzhou last Fall. Maybe I could shoot for 190 by Christmas.
I'd like to get off the statin entirely but it is effective, especially with respect to LDL. Still, there are rumors on the net about a connection between statin use and Alzheimers. But maybe muscle cramping could be an indicator that all is not right with Crestor. I haven't had that as yet (at least).
Next tests would be 4 months from now or early January. That would cohere with my PSA as well.
Friday, August 26, 2011
August, 2011 Predictions
Just had my blood work done at the Claremont Branch of Pomona Valley Hospital. They draw blood in the Occupational Medicine division there.
I've done pretty well keeping up with my Rx's. Averaged only 1 Niaspan however, but have done well on the rest. So this time I expect an HDL of maybe 41; Overall Cholesterol 140; LDL 75 (I hope); Triglycerides of 125 or below. All okay except for the HDL. To get it higher, I need to ramp up the Niaspan.
Last time with three Niaspan and 2.5mg Crestor, the LDL dropped to 69; Chl to 137 and HDL went up to 43. Triglycerides normal. These are diminishing returns, but important.
Today was a basic lipid profile. The best predictor though is relative size (buoyancy) of the lipids. You get this in the VAP tests. My Dr. will say that the response would be the same. Still, it might give me more incentive with the Niaspan.
Orange County Imaging sent me a note reminding me that this is the 18th month anniversary of my scan there and to follow up. That's another $300 but my Dr. doesn't want me to do it because of the radiation. Still, that could provide incentive, too.
I've done pretty well keeping up with my Rx's. Averaged only 1 Niaspan however, but have done well on the rest. So this time I expect an HDL of maybe 41; Overall Cholesterol 140; LDL 75 (I hope); Triglycerides of 125 or below. All okay except for the HDL. To get it higher, I need to ramp up the Niaspan.
Last time with three Niaspan and 2.5mg Crestor, the LDL dropped to 69; Chl to 137 and HDL went up to 43. Triglycerides normal. These are diminishing returns, but important.
Today was a basic lipid profile. The best predictor though is relative size (buoyancy) of the lipids. You get this in the VAP tests. My Dr. will say that the response would be the same. Still, it might give me more incentive with the Niaspan.
Orange County Imaging sent me a note reminding me that this is the 18th month anniversary of my scan there and to follow up. That's another $300 but my Dr. doesn't want me to do it because of the radiation. Still, that could provide incentive, too.
Friday, May 13, 2011
May Doctor's Visit
Good visit. Dr. confirmed I was doing as much as I could do. More statins might actually reverse plaque, but I would almost certainly not be tolerant of the dosages needed. I'm clearly in maintenance mode, however. This could be confirmed by going back to the same facility/machine (different machines "slice" in different ways). But there is still the issue of radiation. He suggested 5 years. Since last test was 2009 if I remember, that would make it 2014 or about three years from now. That's fine with me.
With the low 69 LDL it is not as important to get the HDL up to 60 -- virtually impossible for me. Anything over 45 should be adequate for maintenance however. I can tolerate 3 Niaspans and will plan to do so, though may backslide to two if my stomach is acid.
Before I returned from China I was not using any statins and still had a respectable profile: 165 Chl; 103 LDL; 39 HDL. (Triglycerides were in the normal range both times.)
That was with one Niaspan. With three Niaspan and 2.5mg Crestor, the LDL dropped to 69; Chl to 137 and HDL went up to 43. These are diminishing returns, but important.
Next tests in August.
With the low 69 LDL it is not as important to get the HDL up to 60 -- virtually impossible for me. Anything over 45 should be adequate for maintenance however. I can tolerate 3 Niaspans and will plan to do so, though may backslide to two if my stomach is acid.
Before I returned from China I was not using any statins and still had a respectable profile: 165 Chl; 103 LDL; 39 HDL. (Triglycerides were in the normal range both times.)
That was with one Niaspan. With three Niaspan and 2.5mg Crestor, the LDL dropped to 69; Chl to 137 and HDL went up to 43. These are diminishing returns, but important.
Next tests in August.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Cumulative Lab Results
On a trial basis I'm posting my Excel spreadsheet collection of lipid watch results over the years. It can be viewed via Google Docs, even on an iPhone. Might be helpful.
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