My voice seems to be coming back but that may be just because I am not talking like I have to at work. I am trying to be positive and will not wait so long the next time, maybe.
The doc called this afternoon. I am unable to take any cholesterol medicine since it causes extreme muscle pain and weakness. I have been taking Fish Oil Omega 3 capsules and have been told to add red rice something because my levels of triglycerides is almost three times the limit and my other one is high too.
Now I must google, knowing the answer already, that my diet will be, if it tastes good, forget it. I have also had a weight gain that cannot be explained by my sickness or thyroid.
Here's where I need your help. I need recipes that taste better than cardboard, something that will help these numbers go down. Any suggestions you can give to help me change these numbers would be wonderful. I really don't want to stroke out at fifty-six and not even get to try retirement.
15 comments:
Hi, I once had such problems and I have changed my whole diet no grains, no white flour, no milk products and in the evening I had not eaten anything that is very difficult but I was quickly back healthy and lots and lots of water about 3 liter per day drinking.
Much love and stay healthy
Silvia-Maria
I did not know cholesterol meds cause muscle pain and weakness, but it would explain a lot that's going on since I started taking them. I am going to google my meds right now!
I think feeling better is going to take a little time Gail. Maybe some improvement everyday. CH took Red Yeast Rice to lower his cholesterol, it worked and fast. Problem was it was expensive and our insurance of course did not cover it. Sending you quick recovery vibes :)
Gail,
Sending you positive energy and prayers to build up your system, get rid of the cough and get those numbers where they should be.
In this country we all could eat better. My humble opinion.
Check out the internet for ways to change what you need to change and then go with it.
I've found that lots of flavorings and seasonings can make something like rice, or whatever you have to eat tolerable.
God bless!
I would go to the bookstore and get a nice little cook book on low cholesterol cooking. It will give you the most interesting and tasty recipes. There are a few products too that you can buy that will help, such as margarines and non fat milk and yogurt and fatty fish. I'm glad you're taking this seriously, Gail. It doesn't have to be all bad.
I tried the diet and exercise thing for my cholesterol and it did lower some but not enough. My doc says that some cholesterol is from diet but some is just DNA, what the body is going to make no matter what you eat or how much you exercise. Poo. I'm fortunate that the meds don't give me the body pain. I have oatmeal for breakfast every morning but then I like oatmeal.
Pay attention to your health girl. Those days of ignoring it are gone with the fleeting youth. Not that you are old at 56 mind you.
Cut the simple sugars. High sugar diets store cause our bodies to convert the excess to triglycerides and store them. Get your sweets naturally from fruit. I agree with whole grains, too. You don't have to have a cardboard diet...everything in moderation is the key.
If the doc gave you a shot of steroids, that's why you can't sleep. Some antibiotics do that, too.
Hope you feel better, soon.
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/prevention/nutrition/triglycerides.aspx
Hugs.
Oh baby this is something I've done. Hubby took Red Yeast Rice tablets to get his down.
I reduced mine to normal over a summer vacation with diet and exercise after bein' told that I could not do it that way. I refused the cholesterol drugs, I knew too many who experienced liver problems from them.
I went on the American heart association diet. I started using Promise Active in place of margarine on toast etc. It has plant sterol esters that remove cholesterol. I found it is just as important to add good fats as it is to remove bad fats. The omega threes are good. Substitute extra virgin olive oil in any recipe you can. Add more fish to your diet and whole grains are good. I was able to revamp most of our favorite foods.
Hellmann's makes a good fat free mayo. Great Value makes a good sour cream. Borden makes a good sliced wrapped cheese, I prefer the sharp cheddar but the American is good too. The cheese works best if you get the food hot first then put the cheese on to melt...it gets a little funky if you cook it. Switch to fat free or skim milk...you'll get use to it.
It's best to cut back your red meat to a couple times a week. I have a thing I do to mock fry things and honestly you can't tell the difference except it's not greasy. Take your meat..round steak, chicken, fish, pork chops, dry them well and dip them in egg whites then coat them in a mixture of....1/2 toasted bread crumbs and 1/2 flour seasoned with garlic, paprika, pepper, Italian seasoning anything that floats you boat.(I make a huge batch throw in in the food processor and keep a mixture of this in the freezer so it's handy to pull out) Coat meat well, I add a little pressure 'cause I love my stuff coated well. Put parchment paper on a baking sheet and spray with Pam (olive oil) Great Value also has a good substitute here. Place your meat on the paper and spray the top of your meat lightly. Bake at 375 on the bottom rack of your oven turning every 10 minutes until golden brown and meat is done. Most meats take about 30 mins. I sprinkle a little Paprika on the last two turns just to all a little more golden color. This is a great tasting alternative to frying. Sometimes to the fish or chicken I add a little cayenne~I like it hot! I'm just that kinda of chick.
I found I was not gettin' enough protein so I drink a soy (helps remove cholesterol) shake every afternoon. I use Spiru-Tein high protein energy shake I get at the health-food store mixed with ice cubes and skim milk. It's chucked full of nutrients.
This is gettin' way too long so if you have any questions just email me. This is not a diet but a lifestyle change. Now the bonus here is that without even makin' it about the weight I lost 25+ pounds in less than three months. This was over five years ago and the weight has stayed off.
God bless ya and good luck Gail.
Oatmeal is great for lowering cholesterol and triglycerides...Hubby eats his every morning...I take garlic tabs which also help...use hot peppers in your diet which add flavor and also help reduce the guck in your blood...herbs are the way to add flavor...just shake a bunch in everything...once you get used to not so much salt, things will taste better...be tough, you can do it...a glass of red wine will also help clear out the veins and will keep you a bit relaxed also so that it's easier to sit still...
BTW: the cheese and sour cream I talk about above is also fat free.
HI GAIL, I JUST HAD MY YEARLY CHECK-UP AND THE DOCTOR WAS VERY PLEASED WITH MY BLOOD PRESSURE,WE ARE WAITING ON BLOODWORK RESULTS.ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO MY CHOLESTEROL LEVELS WERE HIGH AND SHE TOLD ME TO TAKE RED YEAST RICE ALONG WITH C-Q-10,LAST YEAR MY LEVELS WERE BACK WITHIN LIMITS AND SHE THINKS THIS YEAR THEY WILL BE WAY DOWN. THIS COMBINATION WORKED WONDERS FOR ME AND AT WALGREENS THEY ALWAYS RUN BUY ONE GET ONE FREE ON THEIR SUPPLEMENTS OR THERE IS SITES ON THE WEB THAT DO THE SAME.THIS HOLDS THE COST OF THESE DOWN AND THERE IS NO SIDE EFFECTS FROM THESE NATURAL TREATMENTS. ASK YOU DOC ABOUT ADDING THE C-Q-10 AND GIVE THIS A TRY. I JUST TRY TO EAT A LOT OF VEGETABLES AND I EAT ALMONDS ALL THE TIME. A TASTELESS DIET WON'T WORK,I CAN TELL YOU FROM EXPERIENCE. GOOD LUCK,HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER SOON.
P.S. ONE OF MY SONS IS A MAILMAN DOWN HERE AND HE SAYS HE HAS BEEN WORKING 6 DAYS A WEEK FOR A WHILE.MUST BE EVERYWHERE,BUT HE THINKS THINGS WILL CHANGE THIS FALL.MAYBE YOU CAN HOLD ON!! BLESSINGS TO YOU.
I found if I followed the Weight Watchers program, my cholesterol count was very good. And I lost weight as well. A doctor years ago told me to join Weight Watchers and follow their program, and it worked for me. I'm not promoting Weight Watchers, because I'm sure it wouldn't work for everyone. But their program is not difficult. It is eating a balance diet and exercise. It helped me lose weight and made me healthier, when I was your age. Now I'm just a pleasingly plump Gramma. hee, hee.
I'm sorry you're feeling do miserable. I'm an awful cook and very picky, so I have no suggestions but I hope someone else does because my husband's cholesterol is a bit high. I hope you feel better really soon.
Feel better soon....
You are getting a lot of sound advice from your followers. The side effect of the cholesterol pills - is that really with ALL cholesterol pills? Just wondering.
I hope you find a diet that is right for you. Or should I say, a life changing way of eating. Good luck.
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