quote:

ORIGINAL: Bearlee

Level,
 
I was just thinking of you…and searched your nic here to see if you were still around; I’ve missed you!
 
Ya know, there is nothing sexier than a man in charge!  Good for you for taking control of your life…I’m on a similar mission myself. 
 
Were you on Lipitor, perchance?  I was on the stuff and having horrible leg cramps.  My doctor took me off the stuff, too.  Google “High Cholesterol meds and muscle aches”…you’ll see the stuff is nasty!  I hope I can follow your example and let my diet make the difference; I don't wanna take the stuff.
 
There’s another thing I’ve discovered about the consequences of little things; who knew that sleep apnea caused High Blood Pressure and even some types of Diabetes; not to mention serious strain on the heart…including heart attacks, stroke and even death!  Dang…I’m not much of a snorer, either…but I do sort of hold my breath while sleeping (the test showed as much as 30-40 times an hour or more, sheeshhhhhhhhhh) to the point that my oxygen level to 73%...which is critical.  But who knew?  <sigh>   Anyway, a simple little breathing mask-thang works wonders!!!  (...like dropping blood pressure to normal and allowing a body to quit taking THOSE meds, too!)
 
Good luck with your tribulations, Level… I’m sending Positive Thoughts!
 
bearlee

Hi bearlee . Thanks for your positive thoughts, they mean the world to me, my friend.

quote:

ORIGINAL: sleazybutterfly

Glad you are doing better, Level.  I just wish I could say I have had the same progress.  Good luck in keeping it up...

Thank you, good lady . If there's any questions I can answer to help you progress, let me know.

quote:

ORIGINAL: SirKenin

I have a very good friend with diabetes.  With the right diet she keeps it well under control.  Good for you.

Hi SK. That's my plan, and though there are no promises in life, I believe in what I'm doing. Sink or swim, it's the ship I've tied my ass to .

quote:

ORIGINAL: Level

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bearlee

Level,
 
I was just thinking of you…and searched your nic here to see if you were still around; I’ve missed you!
 
Ya know, there is nothing sexier than a man in charge!  Good for you for taking control of your life…I’m on a similar mission myself. 
 
Were you on Lipitor, perchance?  I was on the stuff and having horrible leg cramps.  My doctor took me off the stuff, too.  Google “High Cholesterol meds and muscle aches”…you’ll see the stuff is nasty!  I hope I can follow your example and let my diet make the difference; I don't wanna take the stuff.
 
There’s another thing I’ve discovered about the consequences of little things; who knew that sleep apnea caused High Blood Pressure and even some types of Diabetes; not to mention serious strain on the heart…including heart attacks, stroke and even death!  Dang…I’m not much of a snorer, either…but I do sort of hold my breath while sleeping (the test showed as much as 30-40 times an hour or more, sheeshhhhhhhhhh) to the point that my oxygen level to 73%...which is critical.  But who knew?  <sigh>   Anyway, a simple little breathing mask-thang works wonders!!!  (...like dropping blood pressure to normal and allowing a body to quit taking THOSE meds, too!)
 
Good luck with your tribulations, Level… I’m sending Positive Thoughts!
 
bearlee

Hi bearlee . Thanks for your positive thoughts, they mean the world to me, my friend.
 
I wasn't on Lipitor, I used Crestor, I believe. But they're all statins, and all have the potential to devastate your health. I'm taking a supplement of  Co Q-10, 50 mg a day, which is an enzyme that the statins deplete from your body; I've been on it a week, and today is the first day my muscles haven't hurt much. I would avoid the statins like crazy, but that's just my opinion lol.
 
Yes, sleep apnea can be deadly! At the very least, it can keep you from a healthy night's sleep.
 
Be strong and hang in there with your taking control of your life, bearlee; if I can help, please let me know.

quote:

ORIGINAL: RosaB

 Sink or swim, it's the ship I've tied my ass to .

Thanks for that visual my friend. 

Rosa

PS,   If you think I was keeping you in my thoughts before.

LOL Rosa

quote:

ORIGINAL: adaddysgirl

Sounds lie you're on the right path Level.  Good for you! 
 
DG

Thank you, DG

quote:

ORIGINAL: popeye1250


Level, yes, if you have diabetes you need to keep the weight OFF.
I know people who had diabetes and didn't keep the weight off and had all kinds of complications.
Lost legs, arms.
And those statin drugs suck!
ALL KINDS of complications! I was on them for a while and had muscle weakness, pain, diahrea and other side effects. I just couldn't take them anymore. One time my right hip locked up from Lovastatin and I couldn't walk ten feet.
Now I take Lecithin which, they say cleans out your arteries like drano does for a drain.
The drug companies make big bucks off of that crap statins and they can really do a number on you.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Emperor1956

Level...congrats and good luck. 

Now, about all the abuse people are posting on "statins".  In fact, some people can't tolerate one of the many out there.  A very few can't tolerate ANY statin.  But the fact is, if you can tolerate the drug and you are a cholesterol-former, they will enhance and prolong your life. 

For cost reasons, most drug plans (and therefore most physicians) will start someone on lipitor or crestor.  This is the normal protocol.  If the drug is not well tolerated, then the usual protocol is to move to one of the other, more expensive drugs.

The fact is that cholesterol formation is a significant problem in most adult men and in many women, too.  And if you throw cholesterol, you run a significant risk of cardiac consequences.  Reduce the cholesterol formation, reduce the plaque.

You need a healthy liver to process statins, and therefore liver enzyme tests are recommended when you begin therapy.  It was protocol to test these enzymes yearly, but such a large percentage of the population has successfully used these drugs without problem that the recent ABIM protocols do not require regular liver enzyme testing.  For what its worth, I've been on a statin for 13 years, have had no ill side effects, and have rock-solid LDL and HDL levels.  Significant reduction in plaque formation, as well.

So you pays your money and you takes your chances...but PLEASE talk to a physician, and not a wanna-be advice giver on collarme.

E

quote:

ORIGINAL: Aileen68

Level...I have very high cholesterol and a huge history of heart disease on both sides of my family.  My mother died of a heart attack at 62 and my father has had a quad bypass and an aortic abdominal aneurism (?), along with every relative from that generation having died from heart disease.  Thanks family...you pass on bad genes and no money.  I will attempt to control it for as long as possible without going on statins.  I feel I'm too young to start.  My sister has had adverse reactions to all of the "brands" of statins that she has tried, so I hesitate.  I prefer to try alternative options in terms of vitamins, diet an excercise.  I'm not consistent so my results aren't great, but I'm working on it.  It's much easier to just take a statin and be done with it.  My method isn't covered by insurance.  Supplements run into money when you add up the price of CoQ10 and things like that monthly.  And they require committment and time.  When I'm on the full regimen I take about twenty pills spread throughout the course of the day.  You should see the spread sheet on my fridge.  That is the better alternative though.  Once again...good luck and may your health improve every day.

Yes, the supplements can add up . I take folic acid, CoQ10, magnesium, calcium with vitamin D, a good multi-vitamin, asperin, along with the Januvia for my diabetes, and Benicar for blood pressure.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Level

quote:

ORIGINAL: soultoshare

Well, the doc put me on actos, which is supposed to be a real good drug.  The problem is that he also gave me a testing meter....now, I don't mind the sight of blood....UNLESS IT"S MINE!  (Gulp!)  I can't even read the instructions without getting light headed, so Lord knows how I'm gonna handle this!  I'm such a sissy!  But the good news is the doc feels very good about getting this under control, and that it shouldn't be too hard.  Just some minor life changes, I know I can handle those.

I'll check out the book you suggested, and it's great to know there's someone else I can get info from.....I too have been researching the disease.  Like the saying goes, I have diabetes, it doesn't have me.....

Best wishes!

m

Don't let the meter scare you. It becomes second nature pretty quickly . The meter I use is an Acu-check Aviva, the doc gave it to me, and it goes for about $20 at Wal-Mart. Be aware that as you change batches of test strips, you'll often get slightly different readings, so be prepared for that.
 
Actos is a very good drug, it won't strain your pancreas, but it seems it is often prescribed with a second drug, so if he puts you on another, don't feel you've "failed" or anything, it's pretty routine. If he does this, I'd demand one that did not force your pancreas to put out insulin, get one like metformin/glucophage that protects your organs.

quote:

ORIGINAL: mynded

Glad to hear you're doing better and off to a great start with controlling your diabetes. Will keep you in my thoughts as well. Do you recalibrate your meter with each new bottle of test strips? If you didnt know to do this, it'll cause your results to be inacurrate.