I Made My Doctor Smile Today

I had my six-month checkup today and I was tickled when I made my primary care doctor smile. 

My latest test results, about a week ago, were great. I even got him to stop my Lipitor for about three months. At that point, we’ll re-test and see how the results look. If indicated, I’ll go back on a statin, but not that one. It gave me leg and foot cramps, and boosted my sugar.

Oh, the results. Over the past 18 months, here’s the good news...

My weight went from 192 to 175

Cholesterol went from 220 to 128

Triglycerides went from 288 to 158

Sugar is the problem. BEFORE the Lipitor, it was 6.5 and usually lower. AFTER Lipitor, it went to 7.5 - however, in the past six months, it did drop just a little, to 7.3

The big drop in most of the tests is definitely due to the change in my lifestyle, food patterns, and food choices since my nephew passed away on Feb. 1st. Sad as that was, there has been a big change in what I eat and how and when I eat it. I only seem to want to eat beef about once every two or three weeks. I will admit to getting a growing craving for an In-n-Out burger and fries, though...might give in soon, once.

Also, I do not even buy bottled milk anymore, not even 2%. I just liquefy powdered milk for my cereal and cooking. I eat a lot of beans in lots of ways. And I eat lots of fruits and fresh vegetables.

I hope to get that sugar down now that I’m off the Lipitor. I’ve cut my carbs way down. We use to have sandwiches every day. Now I rarely have 3 a week. I never make a recipe if I need to add flour or cornstarch. Instead, if possible, I use potato (either pureed in blender or potato flakes) or grated carrot or mashed beans, for thickening.

I dropped the fish oil gelcap a month ago because I eat fish several times a week. True, often it is simple tuna (for a sandwich) or sardines (for a snack) or even canned salmon (lots of ways). But I try to get it for a dinner at least twice a month, too.

My energy level is getting better and my joints hurt less. True, I did go onto Glucosamine with MSM in mid-March, two 1500 pills a day. When I found out it can slightly elevate sugar, I dropped it to one a day, early this month. I also learned that more than that, in dosage, could affect liver and spleen. So, I'm good with what I'm taking. I wish I knew whether my joints feel just a bit better because of the supplement or because of the weight loss. Probably a combo of both.

 
Yep, I really love to make my doctor smile!