WebWoman - I do have good shoes...and they are kept in my exercise room and used for exercise only. Never touched the concrete! LOL I am having a tendon problem all over my body I believe from taking Cipro, although doctors blow me off when I say that I think it's from Cipro. I was not running on my treadmill, I was walking at a casual pace. 2-2.5 mph. I don't dare go faster because according to the insert from the Cipro I am now at a high risk for a ruptured tendon. My PCP wants me to go for physical therapy, but how do you have physical therapy on both arms, one wrist, one hand both knees and both feet, all at the same time? That all the places that I've had the pain. I think I might need to see an orthopedist before I go for any kind of therapy, and if I get an orthopedist who doesn't believe (or doesn't want to admit) that this was caused by the Cipro, then I'm right back where I started. No medical person will ever admit that a problem was caused by another medical person, or a medicine. I'm just not sure that traditional treatment is going to work in this instance.

WebWoman - How long have you been taking Omega-3? I take statins and also an additional capsule to lower my triglycerides, but I think the big difference came when my DR added Omega-3. It really lowered my triglycerides which were really bad. Even with all these meds my good and bad cholestrol are all wrong. The bad is too high and the good is too low. I think I heard somewhere that if you good cholesterol is good, it will take care of the bad cholesterol. It goes in and scrubs the arteries to get rid of the bad. Nothing I have done has improved my Hdl or Ldl, unfortunately.

Carol Sue,

I just purchased the Omega-3's this weekend and started on Sunday. :-)

My triglycerides are low (62) and my HDL (healthy) level is 109 (that's really good - I exercise a lot). Unfortunately, my LDL's are higher than my HDL's so that's why they're worried. I just ordered some Niacin online and will start taking 2-500 mg tablets a day. It reduces LDL without the bad side effects of statins, not to mention that statins don't work for everyone (lots of info out there about niacin).

Hopefully we'll find the right combination to get things balanced out!

Andi

Trying
 

Hello Ladies,
I am happy to hear that you are up for the challenge. Carol Sue,sorry about the tendons in your foot. I would really check that out. It could be shoes or totally something else. Andi, I have been to 2 doctors this morning and I too have a probablem with cholestrol. I wish that doctors would try and get to the cause instead of adding more drugs as well. I was not a fan of Niacin, it causes more hot flashes. So I need to find something that works, I am allergic to so many of the statins. But I was told that the muscle cramping and stiff joints was because I needed to add magnesium when taking statins.
I will try it. I also need to add the omega3. I know that adding fiber will help also. I am still trying to reach that 10lbs before March 31, Thats 12 days before my birthday and it would be a real gift if I can do it. But this week 2 pounds will be incouraging. Next week I have to see my doctor because I have been having chest pain and heart Palpations. :( Never ending with doctors. I just have to lose this weight!

Good morning all,

Well, it seems we all share some of the same health problems :-(

Carol Sue, I did a quick search on Cipro and tendon problems and that drug is just evil!! If it were me, I'd insist the Dr. change it to another anitbiotic. I feel for you and also with your Cholesterol issues.

Izzy, sorry to hear about your health issues too. I've done a lot of research on niacin, and even though it can cause "flushing" at first, once your body gets used to it the flushing is no longer a problem. I'm willing to try anything to avoid statins, which I believe can cause liver and diabetes issues.

The other thing we share is we just have to lose some more weight! I've been drinking LOTS of iced green tea every night (antioxidents) and have been running to the bathroom all morning LOL. Also have been taking soluble fiber pills that are good for eliminating LDL from the body. I thought they would speed up digestion, but so far they've had the opposite effect. hmmmm....

No loss today, but I feel like I'm ready for a whosh!

Keep going, girls!

Andi

WebWoman - I was on the Cipro for 10 days. Halfway through, I started getting pains in the tendons in my shoulders. I thought it would go away when I quit taking the Cipro, and I was so scared having that infection I was afraid to stop the Cipro. Afterwards, I found out it doesn NOT go away after you quit taking the Cipro. I will never take it again, but the damage seems to be already done. I have heard that it's permanant, and also that it will go away eventually. I read that it is not recomended for those over age 60, but apparently the DR was not aware of that, or thought I needed it enough to disregard that warning. It is a very strong antibiotic, and I had a very bad infection.

You are correct that the flush from Niacin goes away eventually. In a couple weeks or so. I have heard that the "no flush" Niacin does not do anything for cholesterol. I didn't know it lowered LDL. I just might start taking it again. I took an OTC called "Slo Niacin". It releases gradually.

Metamucil is advertised to lower cholesterol. I bought some to try, and it tastes like watered down OJ. Not bad. You have to drink 3 cups a day for cholesterol. I haven't had more than one cup a day yet, just starting it a couple days ago.

I take 1200mg of Omega-3 twice a day. It mainly lowered my total cholesterol and my triglycerides. I hope it helps you, but your triglycerides aren't the problem. My triglycerides were in the high 200's (yikes!) now they are in the low 100's.

Izzy - Like both WebWoman and I said, the flush from the Niacin will go away eventually. It really is good for your lipids. I used an extended release called Slo Niacin, sold at WalMart and it was approved by my doctor.

Hi Everyone
I have the prescription for Niacin, the doctor said it was different from over the counter. But, it doesn't matter as long as it works. My Numbers from blood work was:
WAS SHOULD BE

Cholestrol 215(abn)mg/dl <=200 mg/dl
Triglyceries 162(abn)mg/dl <=150 mg/dl

LDL:127.6 <0.0-100.0
HDL: 55 mg/dl >=51 mg/dl
VLDL:32.4 0.00-6.00
HDL Risk Factor 3.91 0.00-6.00 CALC

UTRASENS CRP 1.68 mg/l <=7.48 mg/l
VITAMIN D 25 HYDROXY 42.9ng/ml 25.0-80.0ng/ml

TSH 0.86 mIU/ml 0.34-5.60 mIU/ml
FT4(FREE tHYROXINE) 1.15ng/dl 0.58-1.64

So Thyroid levels & CRP was good, the other numbers, so..so.

I just need to get this weight off and things will be great.

Good morning BFC Chicks!

I finally dropped a pound and am so excited - you would think I won the lottery LOL.

Carol Sue, Slo Niacin is the same thing that I just ordered online! It should get here tomorrow and I will start taking it. You're right about the Metamucil helping cholesterol - any kind of fiber supplements or fiber in food are excellent ways to rid the body of excess cholesterol. I take a capsule of Glucommannan twice a day that does the same thing. This is from the root of the konjac plant and absorbs up to 200 times its weight in water.

Izzy your blood work numbers aren't all that bad...like me, it's that LDL that is problematic. Have you been able to exercise? I'm going to see if my Doc. will do another panel in a couple of months to see how much these supplements are helping.

It's another record high temp day here, but I'm sure we'll be taking our two walks out in it. DBF is coming over after work and I'm making braised chicken thighs with spring vegetables. Yum!

Keep on going!

:cb:Congrats Andi! 1 lbs. great you are in a new number range from the 160's to 150's...,yaaaaahhhhhh!!!
to answer your question about exercise, Not really.
I know, I have to get into a regular routine. I don't know what is holding me back. I have been so tired, not sleeping well. I am just going to try something to help me sleep and start back to my morning walks. I do better if I workout in the morning. I just need to learn to put myself first. I am always in a hurry to do for others and sometimes I leave me out. I still am hopeful for the 2lbs. loss this week.

After my surgery in Dec I was not taking my fish oil. I just resumed it recently. Here is the difference in my reading with it and without it.

with without
Chol 117 186
HDL 36 39
LDL 58 114
Tri 135 166

My HDL was never really good, but my LDL used to be much worse. When my LDL came down, so did my HDL. My triglycerides used to be close to 300. The fish oil really dropped them.

Izzy - Is the niacin rx for Niaspan? I used to take that. In was rather expensive on my prescription plan so my doctor told me I could switch to Slo-Niacin which is OTC. I would think that the RX one is better, if it's not too high priced. They are both slow release, which is what you need. The flush does stop after your body is accustomed to it, but it isn't harmful, just a little annoying. Even in the beginning it only lasted 30 minutes or less.

Andi - You are in Ohio and I am in Pittsburgh, so we have relatively the same weather going on. This week has been beautiful! I know we will still have some cold before summer, but it has been nice to have the windows open and the breeze blowing through, and the sunshine!

Also, is Supervalu in your area? I used to work for them 12 years ago here in W. PA, but they moved my job to the Dayton office and I lost my job. Boo Hiss! LOL It was for the best in the long run. I ended up working for another company and got another small pension out of it!

Good morning girls,

It's raining off and on here today, which is a good thing because I put Scotts lawn treatment down last night (finally got the timing right). It's a little cooler, as well.

I've been maintaining the exercise at about 1 hour per day although chopped into 3 segments - I know this is making me healthier, but so hard to measure.

Speaking of Niacin...I have a request that my Dr. call me today to make sure that Slo-Niacin is something that she recommends. It came in the mail but I haven't opened it yet till I'm sure. Also have a couple other questions for her.

Carol Sue, I think there may be SuperValu's around, but not in the area where I live - just don't know much about them I guess.

Tonight I'm going up to DBF's house and he's making seafood enchilladas since it's Friday. I'm sure it won't be all that healthy because of the sauce, but he wants to treat me and who am I to say no? ;-) I won't eat very much.

How are you girls doing?

Andi

Good Morning Everyone,
I actually went walking yesterday and enjoyed it, I plan to take my dogs for a walk later this afternoon. I have been working all week and I am so tired.
I have been doing ok, meaning my meals could be a lot better. But they have not been totally bad. Tonight I am cooking grilled chicken and have a nice salad with it, maybe some steamed veggies. I need to up my water and stay consistant with the walking. I hope everyone will have a great weekend. It is so pretty here in Virginia, though it suppose to rain all weekend. Thats ok, maybe I can clean out my closet. Check with you later.

Hugs
Izzy

Good Morning BFC chicks!

Had a good weekend with 2 of my kids in town before they went back to school on Sunday. Made a big turkey pot pie casserole for all the kids and of course ate some of it myself, but overall did not pig-out over the weekend.

I actually got to my 2 pound loss on Sunday morning, but this morning I was up a pound again (Drat!). I'll keep trying, and I want to be at 155 by Easter. :-) Also have to buy a new dress for a wedding on April 21!

Not much exercise over the weekend other than mowing the grass on Sat. and Sunday and chemically killing a few weeds. (sorry Rachael Carson!)

How is everyone else doing???

Andi

Andi Congrats! any weightloss is great! I lost 1/2 pound:( Just can't get back ito the groove. But I am not giving up. You can lose that 1 pound in a day and beback on track. Keep doing good.

Hugs
Izzy