What a difference a good doctor makes!

[rhiannonwins]

Today I had a follow up visit to discuss my bloodwork with my doctor but HE, who has not thrilled me in the past, was busy with pharmacy reps. SO i met with the nurse practionioner. I was THRILLED. She was SO supportive of Atkins and listened to me and was impressed with my Atkins progress and the fact that I'm doing Atkins RIGHT, working out, increasing my veggies...all the right things. She was great. So my results were what I knew from my call last Friday: my cholesterol was up and I'll give you my #'s in a minute. But she knew, that like DANDR says, the it often goes up before it comes down. She wasn't unduly concerned and just wants me to start fish oil capsules and do a re-test in 2 months. She had heard of the supplements and didn't mention Lipitor or anything like that...nothing alarmist.

She was thrilled with my HDL (65) and my TRIG's (60)
My LDL was 159 but she said that it often happens with Atkins and so she said that we should just watch it and rather than cutting out red meat and pork, I should just keep doing what I'm doing for now until we have a 2 month recheck. She said I was an inspiration for my progress and that YES, unlike so many naysayers...she understands that Atkins is a WOL and not a DIET. I was so HAPPY! ELATED to have a doctor that understands!!!

Oh and Asclepius, she said my VLDL number was in the good range..at 12 it was between 5-40.

I mentioned red yeast rice since I'd seen it mentioned here and she said I COULD take it and she understands it's a natural plant statin and believes in it but I should understand it can also lower HDL's since it brings down total cholesterol. I'm not quite ready to go there yet. Maybe I'll check that out at a later date.

I'm just on a high from having a medical professional (other than you, asclepius! ) who gets it and isn't trying to shove pills and stuff at me or convince me that Atkins isn't healthy!

So I wanted to share and let those who had been concerned about my electrolyte balance and blood workup stuff know what was going on.

I have my fish oil, my vitamins, and am also taking more garlic since it was also mentioned in DANDR as being good for LDL.

thanks for all your support!

[FLdoodette]

AWESOME news, Kell! Nothing like an enlightened health professional who gets it! (Although my doc is pretty cool.) Good HDLs ... I envy you! My date with The Lipid Monster is coming up at the end of the month ... ick. But, your report gives me hope! Thanks for sharing

[Asclepius]

WOOHOO!!!!!!!! Lets hear it for infusion of good sense and advocacy in the medical community!!! All of this sounds wunderbar, m'dear!

[rhiannonwins]

Norah and Robin - thanks and YES - it feels FABULOUS to find a good medical professional. Believe me, I've been through the ringer before and post Atkins with ones that are not-so-great or supportive. So y'all know I was worried about the cholesterol thing...but this not only reinforces what I've been doing but was such a source of encouragement!

I went out and bought a stability ball (at gman's urging) so I can amp up my workouts! I'm gonna do some ab work while I watch the Presidential Debate on TV tonight and I'm taking Jax (sweetie pie pit bull) and Bax (cantankerous but lovable beagle) for a walk tomorrow a.m. - which is ambitious in itself...one is trained WELL to walk on a leash and the other thinks it's more fun to take me on a drag! We'll see how THAT goes. ;

[Cinnamonstick]

All I know is your pic looks great! You were about where I am now....WOW! Just joined. YOU LOOK GREAT!!!

[gman]

From our own ADBB Doc to all ... we're very happy to hear all your good news!
Both:
-Medically (the great test results, the advice and stars-in-alignment with Atkins progress) and
-Physically (the college try on SB balancing and the canine ambulation maneuvers).
Congrats also on the overall psych of validation and resulting great attitude. This could be that huge catalyst you were seeking.

[rhiannonwins]

Cinnamonstick - thank you so much...if you go to my album, you will see my "before pick" and you'll see the big change in my face pic. WOW...it is a difference...at least I see it, but again, thank you!

gman - you make me smile! Thanks for the encouragement and for sharing in my joy today!!!

[gman]

Glad to help, it just makes abundant sense to share what works. Jimmie 48 got me going on the stability ball challenge and corny as it sounds, life has been better because it helped me make the gym into a routine. I do have to admit to Jimmie 48 that the good old push up, which can also be done with or of course without the stability ball, is quickly becoming my favorite new exercise.