Just Say No

I've never been a fan of going to the doctor, mainly because I've been overweight my entire life.  No one likes to be told they are overweight and at risk of a myriad of diseases.  I know what I am and how I got here.  I know I am at high risk for developing diabetes and heart disease.  I know what I need to do to prevent. I know what my struggles are that I need to overcome.

 

For the past several years, I had a doctor whom I really liked.  She was also my parents’ doc, so she really had a good view of my history.  For the past several years, my total and LDL (Bad) cholesterol have been high, but my doc was not concerned at all because my HDL (Good) cholesterol was really good.  She explained my ratio of good to total was where it needed to be, so my heart was ‘protected’.  My numbers last year were:  246 total/ 157 LDL/ 70 HDL/ 97 Triglycerides/ 98 Fasting Glucose.

 

Fast forward one year.  My doc decided to switch specialties, so I had to find a new one.  When I went to my initial appointment, she read my chart and saw my high Cholesterol #s.  She asked if my previous doctor ever discussed going on medication to lower.  I told her no because she indicated my ratios were good. She just ignored me and said well, we will see what the numbers look like now.  So here are my numbers now:  267 total/ 176 LDL/ 80 HDL/ 53 Triglycerides/ 99 Fasting Glucose /

 

Sure the LDL is up a bit more, but I just killed my HDL and Triglycerides – awesome #s right?   No, she didn’t think so… ‘LDL needs to be below 100, so I’m calling in a script for a statin.  Start 1 a day and return in 5 weeks. ‘  I don’t think so!  There is no way I am going on a statin.  Having just read The Great Cholesterol Myth ,by Dr Sinatra, I know this is ludicrous.  The benefit of the statin does not out weigh the numerous risks the manufacturers try to hide.  I am more concerned about my risk of developing diabetes, which is one of the side effects of statins – increases blood glucose. 

 

So I felt empowered when I informed her that I am not going on a statin.  I’m choosing to focus on my nutrition to control my blood markers.  If we need to , we can discuss it in my follow-up appointment scheduled at the end of August.  No one is going to force me to do something I do not feel is right!