News

In the news this week is this research/ study/ rumor of a new drug. I have come across it thanks to the FH Facebook group I follow. Good read, and interesting findings: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/26/us-cholesterol-idUSTRE77P53O20110826 .

Also, of some interest is this chart attached to the story - pretty amazing for far ahead in Lipitor in drug sales, compared to the rest of the statin pack. No wonder a generic is not in sight yet - it's a goldmine!

Happy reading!

Because You Just Gotta Live Some, Too

One of the member of the Facebook FH group said the other week that she discovered recently she has FH and sometimes “she is just being a brat about it, complaining about the many tests she has to take” and all that jazz … I honestly cannot and would not blame her!

Some days I so wanna be a brat about it! I so wanna ask somebody, anybody, “why me” and “why this”?? But, at the same time, I feel so fortunate compared to other people who have afflictions so much worse than this!

As my sister says, “at least you won’t starve with this disease!”. Well, they want you to, but … I say: at least, you can move, and talk, and walk, and hold a job, and … Trust you me: it could be worse! Not that our lives are easier in this disease, but we’re, in a way, more lucky than others, I think.

So, when I wanna “feel like a brat about it”, I eat. I eat what I am not supposed to be eating. Usually “illegal” stuff, full of cholesterol! It doesn’t happen often or frequently, but it happens.

One morning, I woke up with a sick craving for eggs and bacon! And so, I made one scrambled egg, with turkey bacon and toast, and I tell you this – it was the most savored breakfast by anyone on record, minus all the small children in Somalia who would relish any kind of meal right about now, unfortunately.

My "decadent" breakfast

And it’s summertime! How can one possibly live without funnel cake?? What’s a State fair or any kind of outdoor fair without funnel cake?! I usually hate sweets, but I love funnel cake. And once a year, I allow myself to indulge! And, well, yeah … be a brat!

My funnel cake "fiesta"

But aside from these extravaganzas, I have been doing pretty well with my diet. Still on the same meds (Lipitor+zetia), same dosages, but I have been enjoying fresh produce from my own yard – who would have thought you can have a veggie garden in the desert, right?! But I have one!

So, I have been eating fresh tomatoes all summer, and squash and herbs, and pretty soon there will be the peppers … This is along with other healthy meals, with store bought ingredients, as well: like potato salads, and cucumbers, and cherries, and wheat pasta and oatmeal granola bars, and such ... Summer soups are yummy, with all veggies and some white meat chicken. So, overall, I still stay on track, but ... a once in a while slip won't kill me. I hope.

And just yesterday, I got my new numbers – which look good, I’d say:

- Total cholesterol: 274, from 285
- LDL: 227, from 230
- Triglycerides: 68 from 98 (yay!)
- But the ratio still looks bad: 8.1 (normal up to 3.1) - :-(

I am happy, however – no apheresis, after all! Trying to work on the high BP, as well - with more exercise and less wine and less caffeine, too! We're still very much working on that one!

But I cannot promise anyone that I am not going to be a brat about food some more. After all, we have to at least have the illusion that we still can enjoy life! At least every once in a while …