The ongoing experiment for healing hearts
In a message dated 3/25/2004 8:16:37 PM US Eastern Standard Time, congogal@... writes: I just thought some find the progression interesting. Al likes to say it's all a "crap shoot," :) but it's nice to feel like you have some sort of strategy! Marcella if it matters my numbers were lower when i had a massive heart attack ..sometimes i wonder if the numbers or anything is a cause or it is the heart period Rose
Thanks for getting us up to speed. Pls keep us apprised as to his progress. Chris << Hi, all. Just thought I'd share husband Al's progress. He had an MI in 3/02 and 4xCABG 4/02 at age 50. At the time, he was not overweight, we ate very well (low meat, high vegetable, low fat, etc.), he walked and did some light jogging almost daily with the dog, and he smoked about 4-5 cigs/day, although he'd been a much heavier smoker in his youth. Recently, he became concerned about possible side effects of statins and is now off statins to see how things go. He also put himself on a few supplements a while back, so I'll show you those, too. Please keep in mind that he did all of this in consultation with his family doc, and he's due for a stress test and cardio visit in June, so we'll know more then. But here's the change over time: 10/02: on 10 mg Lipitor, 1 aspirin, multivite Chole: 199, HDL: 44, LDL: 128, triglycerides: 134 around 11/02, I went on Atkins, and while Al didn't follow the diet, he starting eating more meat and fewer carbs (since I do all the cooking:)) 5/03: same meds/vites Chole: 213, HDL: 47, LDL: 143, triglycerides: 116 After getting these results, doc put him on 40 mg Lipitor (new studies called for more aggressive statin therapies). Around 11/03, Al decided he felt awful--achy, arthritis-like pain in hands, tired, low libido. He cut himself back to 20 mg Lipitor (didn't tell the doc right away) and added Acetyl-L Carnitine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, upped his daily flax oil (cold pressed organic oil and ground flax seed), and added vites B, E and Wobenzyme-N. He also upped his daily exercise. 3/04: Aspirin, Acetyl-L Carnitine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Wobenzyme-N, multi, vites B, E Chole: 163, HDL: 40, LDL: 97, triglycerides: 128 After getting these results, doc said he could try no statins for a while and see how things go. Doc may add large-dose niacin once we know if Al can staty off statins for a bit. Al thinks he feels better already, especially the pain in his hands. I don't know what any of this means or what's responsible for his better numbers in the last round. I'm still on Atkins, Al still eats more meat and fewer carbs, but we've cut back on the fats again. I just thought some find the progression interesting. Al likes to say it's all a "crap shoot," :) but it's nice to feel like you have some sort of strategy! Marcella
oh ann ray i am so glad to read your post.i just recently joined and was considering leaving because everyone seem so recent and i am not and i didnt want to discourage anyone.my by-pass was a triple back in 1998,and it seems as i have been fighting a losing battle ever since.i seem to just be getting worse instead of better. i have done everything the docs have wanted me to do,i feel like a guinea pig they werent sure so lets check it out on her.unlike some i have excellent insurance and i feel like it has worked against me.instead of trying they have just played.i had the by-pass should of been a 4 instead of 3 no matter we will do stents that was a triple also in 1 vein,still had problems,major with depression,side effect of by pass.more pills for that,then chf,then a pacemaker,then oxygen 24/7 asthma and chf.still have major depression and dont know where to turn,was supose to go back to cardio in sept i am afraid to go.enough is enough.i am so sorry if i have bothered anyone this is my last ditch effort to get some help any suggestions. thanks robyn Children from broken homes,should not have to live broken lives.GOD never looses track of his children.Children spell love: T-I-M-E. Yours, give it freely.