Oh well, back to the drawing board

[aztecan]

Well, I saw the doctor today, in passing, and he mentioned he had the results of my latest liver profile and cholesterol check.

I've been on Niaspan for about two months now. I had hoped it would prove to be the answer to these darn blood lipids brought on by the ARVs.

The liver is in great shape. (Let's hear it for millk thistle!)

That's the good news.

The bad news is the HDL(the good cholesterol)  is unchanged. It is still a robust 21. It's supposed to be something like 60 or greater.

My LDL (the bad cholesterol) rose a few points, to 139. Not horrendous, but . . .

The triglycerides went up by about 20 points. Hmmmm. Now how did I manage that?

I take Niaspan, Zetia and 4,000 milligrams of fish oil a day, exercise three times a week, watch what I eat and my cholesterol goes up.

Well, phooey.

The doc wants me to double up the dosage on the Niaspan, from 500 to 1,000 milligrams a day. I'll give it a shot.

In the meantime, I'll just sit here and fantasize about bacon.

HUGS,

Mark

[livingpositively]

hmmmm.....bacon wrapped Marky....what must that taste like?   

[aztecan]

Well, I don't know what it tastes like, but its guaranteed to make your ... er .... lipids rise! 


HUGS

[Eldon]

Hey Mark,

I can smell the Bacon cooking from here! LOL!

It is good that your Liver is in great shape. Also, good luck with the Niaspan.



Make the BEST of each and every Day!

[bobik]

Hey Mark,

maybe, maybe it is time to change meds after 10 years? Drop the PI's and change to for example Viramune?

Coen

[simon695]

I Cook My Partner Eggs And Bacon When
He's Grumpy,It Works Like A Charm.
Mind You It Smells So Good My Meat Free
Days Could Be Limited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I Still Make The Best Spaghetti Cabonara
In The Western World! They Beat Me In Asia
With The Same Plus Grated Lime Zest On Top.
                       Si

[Longislander]

Hey Mark, I'll trade your cholesterol #'s for mine any day! lol

Hope you get your nasties and goodies in shape!!

[J.R.E.]

Hell Mark,

Sorry to hear that the numbers aren't quite where you would like them to be. Believe me, I understand the frustration.

I restarted the Zocor last week, only to start having those mild leg muscle cramps start again. So, got to contact the doctor again.

Also, I didn't look at the receipt, until after I got home,(and a few days later) and realized the 30 day supply of Zocor was $50.00. OUCH I was paying $25.00. If I stick with the Zocor, I need to let them klnow upon refilling the prescription, that I would like the generic brand, and save myself a bit !

I have also decided to try another product, that I have seen advertised on TV, see if that will help in bringing down the cholesterol.

let us know how you make out on the next tests, after doubling the Niaspan ( if that is what you decide on doing)

PS... Try the turkey bacon... Not too bad !!



Take care----Ray

[aztecan]

Hey Ray,
I tried the turkey bacon and wasn't particularly enthused. That was several years back, have they improved it since then?

Thanks Coen, I actually thought about that. But, thanks to Lisa's thread about graphing labs, I went back and checked just what was what.

It turns out my lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides) really haven't changed more than 10 points in years, aside from one blip back in 2002 when things shot up like the space shuttle.

I also noted that when I lowered my LDL, which I have done by being very austere with diet, my HDL drops like a stone as well.

I dropped my LDL to 183 at one point, which was great. Unfortunately, the HDL fell to 17, which, now that I think about it, my doctor was very displeased with.

Also, my mother's HDL is historically very low as well. I have a feeling changing meds might help, but I don't know whether it would have as dramatic an effect as I might hope because of heredity.

In the meantime, I'll try the 1,000 milligrams of Niaspan, which I am already taking without a problem.

HUGS,

Mark