Thanks for that link to the best explanation of the current understanding of the lipid question that I've seen!

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Montana!! so good to see you on the board again!!

you are always such a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.

Hope all is well with you and your DH !!

Terese

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My LC web site
LCE Member since 2000

Peg, (and everyone else)

If I may suggest.... pick up a copy of Protien Power. Even if you do Atkins, I highly recommend it for everyone doing low-carb. Not so much for the plan, but for the medical explainations in it concerning cholesterol, etc.

I'm here in CA training to open my Castus in a couple of weeks, and they had me read it before going to the nutritional portion of our training. Even though I virtually wore out my DANDR last year, PP was chock full of helpful information in this regard.

Most significantly, they make a good case for paying MUCH more attention to the ratios rather than the totals. Basically, the LDL carries "cholesterol" TO your cells, while HDL carries it away to the liver (and other places) to be disposed of. As long as they are essentially "in balance" (hense, good ratios) then things are fine, regardless of total.

If your triglycerides continue to be high, that may be indication of a number of other things, but I couldn't glean from your information if that was the case. I agree with everyone else... INSIST they fax you your data, and keep it on file for reference.

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Mikeyrat

Hey Love Montana! So great to see you

I just wanted to say thanks to all who posted such great info - this is an awesome thread!

Peg, I'm rooting for you - and glad your doctor is so supportive. Looks like the tweaking route is going to make both of you happy.

be well,
a.

Thanks again all! Montana, that link was absolutely wonderful! I read every word and actually understood cholesterol for the first time. Thanks so much.

I see my primary care Doc tomorrow morning and I will ask her for a copy of the numbers. I suspect that she told me the ratio when she called but I just didn't compute it.

I've decided to ask her to put me on meds anyway. I'm 60 and who the heck cares if I am on cholesterol meds?? I do take a lot of stuff, but most of it is vitamins and supplements. I'm doing well. I'm healthy. I feel good. I look fabulous! And I just don't want to worry about this one.

My Doc is going on maternity leave at the end of the week and won't be back until Fall. I don't want to worry about this all summer. I spent so much of my life not feeling good, I just CAN'T STAND having to think about something possibly being WRONG!

Peace, Peg
1/1/03
205/171/155
5'8"

okay all you cholesterol watchers. These are my numbers:

LDL: 223
HDL 68
Total 306
Triglycerides: 76
Ratio 4.5

I decided that I would rather eat Atkins and keep the weight off than "tweak" my diet very much. The Dr. added cholesterol meds to my daily regimen at my request. She is going to check me in the Fall and see how it is both with the meds and if I go off. I'm okay with that!

I sent her the link you posted Montana. She was very appreciative.

Peace, Peg
1/1/03
205/171/155
5'8"

It looks like you made a good choice for your situation Peg.

Sometimes adjusting this woe can be very frustrating. I hope it works for you.

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Started Atkins on 9/20/03
235-->190; 150 goal

I'm adding this reply so that my number can be read by more people. I'm interested in what you all have to say about them. I posted them yesterday. Boy, this board has been active in 24 hours!

Peace, Peg
1/1/03
205/171/155
5'8"