POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Pre-HAART Long-Term Survivors => Topic started by: aztecan on February 23, 2012, 12:02:08 am
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I would probably make an oil slick.
It seems, my best efforts at diet and exercise, coupled with enough fish oil to cause gill growth, have been for naught.
My lipids are basically unchanged, according to the results I received today.
Overall cholesterol: 206 (down a bit from 220, but still above the magic 200).
LDL cholesterol: 140 (the doctor would like it below 100).
HDL cholesterol: 34 (the doctor would like it above 40 at the least, above 50 would be better.)
Triglycerides: 162 (these have been on the increase, for some reason. They were 140 last time.)
Oh, and of course:
CPK: 668 (They are supposed be no higher than 170, but I can't remember how long it has been since they were that low.)
{{{{{SIGH}}}}}}
The doctor and I sat down in his office and reviewed my lipids over the past several years. He can pull up each type of result and show them over a long period of time. Quite handy.
Aside from a few blips when my numbers were either very good or very bad, my lipids have been pretty constant ever since the last time I could take statins.
The doctor said this is probably as good as it is going to get. He sighed too. :'(
He did try to cheer me up by asking me to think of how bad the lipids would be if I weren't diligent with my diet and exercise.
The doctor said he had heard there is a drug in the works that may increase HDL levels, which would help. But he isn't sure how long that will take to be approved.
I am still taking Niaspan, but the doctor said from what he has been reading, it isn't as effective as once believed. He takes it as well.
So, I guess it is status quo for the time being. I am not sure what else I can cut out of the diet, but it was suggested I keep a food diary to see what I actually eat for a few weeks. It might be easier to make changes then.
There isn't anything I can do about the CPKs except live with the muscle aches and cramping. I am going to try drinking quinine, which, of course, I have to get in tonic water because they don't sell it by itself any longer.
Hmmm, maybe I should break out the gin. It won't make the tonic water any more effective, but it will make drinking it more fun. 8)
Onward and upward, comrades.
HUGS,
Mark
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It's probably a long shot, but did you ever have your lipids tested prior to HIV? What about other close family members, do they have a problem with this issue?
It is my understanding that this condition can be inherited. Within my own family, all 3 of my siblings also have horrible lipids although they don't seem concerned. We all had total cholesterol in the upper 400's and I'm the only one who worked on reducing mine. After 2 heart attacks, angioplasty and stints I might add.
Take care and best wishes buddy
Wolfie
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Oh Mark, I'd never throw you into the pool, unless you could swim :D
I'm kinda in the same boat as you (aint old age fun) :P hey it could be
a lot worse, you could have heart disease or stroke out, and if you
survive any of this, you'd be on lasix for the rest of you life :-[
Cheer up dear, it's not all that bad, hell I look worse on paper than I do in person just ask my ASO-Case-Manager down on Truman St. ;)
HUGS
Dennis in ABQ
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It's probably a long shot, but did you ever have your lipids tested prior to HIV? What about other close family members, do they have a problem with this issue?
It is my understanding that this condition can be inherited. Within my own family, all 3 of my siblings also have horrible lipids although they don't seem concerned. We all had total cholesterol in the upper 400's and I'm the only one who worked on reducing mine. After 2 heart attacks, angioplasty and stints I might add.
Take care and best wishes buddy
Wolfie
Hey Wolfie,
Yes, that is what we talked about yesterday as well. My father had an issue with cholesterol and my mother is on Lipitor, so a part of it is probably hereditary. Also, the ARVs, bless them, also contribute to this.
When I switched to Isentress from Lexiva, my lipids dropped like a rock. I thought I was home free.
But, as often happens, once the ol' bod had a chance to get things back in balance, they climbed to where they are now. It didn't take too long, either.
We didn't worry about lipids when I was on Crixivan. I can just imagine what that do my "grease" levels. ;)
HUGS,
Mark
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Oh Mark, I'd never throw you into the pool, unless you could swim :D
I'm kinda in the same boat as you (aint old age fun) :P hey it could be
a lot worse, you could have heart disease or stroke out, and if you
survive any of this, you'd be on lasix for the rest of you life :-[
Cheer up dear, it's not all that bad, hell I look worse on paper than I do in person just ask my ASO-Case-Manager down on Truman St. ;)
HUGS
Dennis in ABQ
I know, on paper I probably look like I'm a gonner, but in real life, well, not too dead yet. ;D
HUGS,
Mark
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I know, on paper I probably look like I'm a gonner, but in real life, well, not too dead yet. ;D
HUGS,
Mark
Nonsense, you look marvelous for your age darling ;)
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This really sucks, honey. I wish there was something more you could do, but it seems that you have done everything (and then some) humanly possible.
Sending you love and all the positive energy I can muster....
HUGS, Alan :-*
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Bugger it.
lots off love Mark
michael
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Your numbers do not look that bad to me.
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Your numbers do not look that bad to me.
Well, they're not horrible, but not great. The combination of my age, my more than two decades of living with HIV, and my 32 years of being a smoker are contributing factors. Oh, and the family history of cardiac problems.
So, the lower the better, and I can't take statins.
But, if I managed to survive 11 years on Crixivan, 13 years on AZT and Ronald Reagan, I think that makes me a tough old queen. ;)
HUGS,
Mark
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we would be having a Pool Party with the B52,s playing, bright sunshine,bright colours,bright men and men and women and drinks with lots off ice, fragrant homemade ciggies............
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I wish I had a pool to throw you into. Maybe if you come to Philly we can throw you in the Delaware River. Its already oil slicked.
Congrats on yet another year of being a big-ole-survivor
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But, if I managed to survive 11 years on Crixivan, 13 years on AZT and Ronald Reagan, I think that makes me a tough old queen. ;)
HUGS,
Mark
Most of us LTS are tough old queens, we wouldn't still be here if we weren't ;D
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Can't really complain about my cholesterol...last time it was 110 overall, 107 time before that. I don't know if you'd like to try an experiment...but here's my diet.
Monday - Friday
Breakfast - 1/4 cantaloupe with grapes, some Ritz crackers - 8oz protein drink
Lunch - Chix Quesa - different place each day so innards change
Dinner - whole Chix breast sautéed in lemon juice, a cut up apple, a 5oz chocolate yogurt, 8oz protein drink
Saturday-Sunday
Breakfast - two 5oz chocolate yogurts or 1/4 cantaloupe - 8oz protein drink
Lunch - generally skip but, will have a plain burger...no fries...if I do eat something.
Dinner - whole Chix breast sautéed in lemon juice, spinach or baby greens salad with olive oil based mustard vinaigrette, 5oz chocolate yogurt, 8oz protein drink.
I will have a homemade cookie once in a while or a hot chocolate on the weekend. But other than the protein drink I mainly drink water. Got rid of all white sugar...don't use fake stuff. Do use some salt on chix and in vinaigrette.
I think that's it. Don't know if it would make a difference for you but if it did then I'd know it was my diet that was keeping everything low and not genetics. If you have any questions...ask away.
Best of luck...
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Mark,
You've worked very, very hard on your lipids -- harder than anyone I've known. I don't think I'd have the discipline to stick to the diet you've followed. I can only imagine how frustrating this is for you. Still, you are doing all the right things, so just keep doing them. As for the CPKs, adding some gin to that tonic certainly makes sense to me -- don't worry, in Washington DC your fellow AMGers will be sure that you get plenty of "treatment". 8)
Hugs,
Henry