Author Topic: Latest Lab Results (Read 6177 times)

DanielMark · « **on:** November 18, 2006, 06:35:48 am »

Went for my semi annual HIV checkup on Thursday. Here are the results of my blood work:

LAB RESULTS FROM NOV 1 2006

CD4   816   28.3%

VL   <50   (undetectable)

CHOLESTEROL   7.3   (down from 8.2 in May)

TRIGLYCERIDES   637   (way down from 1069 in May)

What was really interesting to me was that my doc previously wanted me to start on meds to get my cholesterol and triglyceride numbers down. I flat out refused, not wanting to be stuck on more meds for years which would undoubtedly make life less bearable.

Instead, I decided I could get those numbers down simply by changing my diet and getting a bit more exercise. Sure enough, it's working fine. Not as low as we’d like yet, but I’ll keep working on it.

Daniel

Nadine · « **Reply #1 on:** November 18, 2006, 06:47:45 am »

Looking real good Daniel!

Keep it up!

Longislander · « **Reply #2 on:** November 18, 2006, 11:13:35 am »

Good job, Daniel. Keep up the exercise and diet plan, they're working!

GSOgymrat · « **Reply #3 on:** November 18, 2006, 11:51:01 am »

Those are some great numbers!

thunter34 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 18, 2006, 11:57:50 am »

Daniel,

I've got some number envy going on over here. I've been having the high cholesterol blues lately, and my doctor has been wanting to put me on meds for that. I confess I've got the same reticence that you had..."Ugh. Not another pill..."

Talk to me about your diet changes...here or PM if you'd prefer.

DanielMark · « **Reply #5 on:** November 18, 2006, 01:19:46 pm »

Oh, nothing complicated really.

Cut out eggs and mayo and the like. Added lots of foods with Omega 3s. Ate mostly high fibre bread products (tho I alway have).

I haven’t done a set workout routine in eons, so basically I just got out and did more walking, some mornings with the early morning fast mall walkers next door to me.

The trouble with cholesterol lowering meds is that once you begin them you are pretty much stuck on them for life. Well that and the possible side effects. Caution is required too in which ones HIV+ folks can take.

It's all too bloody complicated for me. I live a simple life by choice, and I intend to keep on simplifying it till the day I die. In my opinion, doctors are not gods, they are only guides and mere mortals. It's been 18 years and I'm still here, despite their prognoses and warnings, so I must be doing something right.

Bottom line: my health, my choices.

Daniel

thunter34 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 18, 2006, 01:22:57 pm »

Daniel,

Thanks. And I see from your post we share the same meds regimen. That's why I had the exact same cholesterol pill concerns as you. I told my doctor that I wanted to see what (if any) adjustment I could muster on my own.

Tim

J.R.E. · « **Reply #7 on:** November 18, 2006, 02:56:36 pm »

Quote from: DanielMark on November 18, 2006, 01:19:46 pm

The trouble with cholesterol lowering meds is that once you begin them you are pretty much stuck on them for life.
Daniel

Hello Daniel !!

Congratulations on the numbers !! Looking very good...

Its a funny thing, of the medications that I am on its the ZOCOR -(-for cholesterol ), that I find the hardest to take. It is often the one that I can easily forget to take. I hate taking it the most !! It was the one, that i found most difficult to get started on.

I've been experimenting with a product called "CholestOFF" I have seen it advertised on TV, and decided to give it a shot, and see what it my produce. Its 2 pills, twice a day, 15-30 minutes before eating.

Contains :

Plant sterols/stanols ---900MGS ( which I have heard good studies about)

Sodium----10MGS

Other ingredients : Tricalcium Phosphate, croscarmellose Sodium, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, calcium carbonate, silicon Dioxide, Magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide (artificial color), polyethylene Glycol, Triethyl citrate,polysorbate 80, sodium citrate.

Anyway, I will see what happens on my next blood test come January 11,07. So far no ill effects from taking it, everything is fine.

Take care---------Ray

Esquare · « **Reply #8 on:** November 18, 2006, 03:04:37 pm »

Those are great looking numbers.

poet · « **Reply #9 on:** November 18, 2006, 04:48:30 pm »

Great numbers and I agree with the Omega 3's, in foods or as a supplement which came up just yesterday with a nutritionist. I got a whole new picture of good/bad cholesteral as well as triglycerides by showing up before breakfast (after fasting) and before meds. in the morning. I know from NYC experience that the lowering drugs are worthless to me. Win

Eldon · « **Reply #10 on:** November 18, 2006, 06:18:58 pm »

Hey Daniel,

Your numbers are looking really good. Congratulations! I also agree that the Omega 3 helps just as well as I take 2000mg per day as well.

Make the BEST of each Day!

Blixer · « **Reply #11 on:** November 18, 2006, 08:29:35 pm »

Congratulations Daniel! It is good to see the main numbers so great and the fact that you have significantly reduced the triglycerides. I consider myself still to be pretty new to this and I try to keep a healthy diet. But I'd love to find a nutritionist to help make sure I was getting what I needed and taking the supplements that were important. Right now I take a multi-vitiman each day and that's it.

AlanBama · « **Reply #12 on:** November 18, 2006, 08:42:55 pm »

Great results Daniel! Over 800 T-cells?

I'm a bit jealous....

but happy for you none the less.

hugs,

Alan

DanielMark · « **Reply #13 on:** November 19, 2006, 05:02:04 am »

Alan,

CD4 counts can fluctuate a lot. My labs in May showed 1100, for example. When I asked my specialist how this was possible, he told me the range for "normal" is quite wide. Not sure what your numbers are, but never ever give up hope.

David,

A multivitamin is the only supplement I take too. I get Omega 3s from food sources only. I also believe blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels can be adjusted by what we eat or don't eat. If I look at my last lab results, I have all the proof I need of that.

from http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4488

Some of the excess dietary cholesterol is removed from the body through the liver. Still, the American Heart Association recommends that you limit your average daily cholesterol intake to less than 300 milligrams. If you have heart disease, limit your daily intake to less than 200 milligrams. Still, everyone should remember that by keeping their dietary intake of saturated fats low, they can significantly lower their dietary cholesterol intake. Foods high in saturated fat generally contain substantial amounts of dietary cholesterol.

People with severe high blood cholesterol levels may need an even greater reduction. Since cholesterol is in all foods from animal sources, care must be taken to eat no more than six ounces of lean meat, fish and poultry per day and to use fat-free and low-fat dairy products. High-quality proteins from vegetable sources such as beans are good substitutes for animal sources of protein.

Daniel

aztecan · « **Reply #14 on:** November 20, 2006, 09:01:26 am »

Hey Daniel,
Great numbers, but I am confused on the cholesterol figure? Is that your ratio?

Diet can work wonders in controlling cholesterol. But I couldn't stay on that diet, too many adverse side effects.

Keep up the good work.

HUGS,

Mark

david25luvit · « **Reply #15 on:** November 20, 2006, 11:01:28 am »

Excellent Daniel........You Go Boy!

Now that's what I'm talking about.............

Christine · « **Reply #16 on:** November 20, 2006, 02:23:37 pm »

They are great numbers Daniel! Keep up the good work!
Christine

DanielMark · « **Reply #17 on:** November 20, 2006, 04:31:50 pm »

Thanks for the encouragement, youz guyz.

Alex,

The cholesterol measurement is in millimoles per liter (mmol/L).

A mole is an amount of a substance that contains a large number (6 followed by 23 zeros) of molecules or atoms. A millimole is one-thousandth of a mole. A liter measures fluid volume. It is a little bigger than a quart.

Bet you never knew we had these kinds of teeny weeny moles in us did ya?

Daniel

cubbybear · « **Reply #18 on:** November 20, 2006, 07:13:40 pm »

Hey Daniel, my numbers want to be just like your when they grow up. Great work on getting the lipids down naturally!

Onwards and upwards!
xx
Matt

DanielMark · « **Reply #19 on:** November 21, 2006, 07:24:24 am »

Thank you, Matt. Just goes to show tho that doctors should serve as guides and not Uberlord gods. LOL

Alas, I sure do miss the bacon and eggs in the morning!

Daniel

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Author Topic: Latest Lab Results (Read 6177 times)